Renting a Car in Rome
 

We're planing on renting a car in Rome to travel to and around Tuscany. Would it be best to rent the car at the Airport vs. in the city? I'm a little worried about driving in Rome.

Thank you!
Beth

We rented a car in Pisa to drive around Tuscany and returned it to the Rome Airport. It was pretty easy. I would also not drive in the city in Rome. Navigating around the airport was very easy.

Bear in mind that there is generally a higher rate if you pick up a car at an airport.

I would suggest that you look into renting a car in Chiusi or Orvieto (in Umbria, but close to Tuscany). Both are easily reached by train from Rome.

I agree with Eloise. I would not rent a car in Rome or at the airport just to drive out of the city to somewhere else.

Take the train to a closer location and rent the car there.

We recently did the same thing you are planning. We picked up our car at the Rome Termini station & drove up to Tuscany. It wasn't as bad as we thought. If you live near a big city & have ever driven thru a big city, you'll be fine.

When we picked the car up, we asked the best way out of town to the A1 Autostrada. Fortunetly leaving the Termini station, you do not have to drive thru the city center.

The station is on the west side of the city & when you leave the station you drive west avoiding the worse part.

So there was some confusion but the driving was no where near as maddening as we saw in the city center. After about 15/20 minutes, you hit the freeway, head north & everything is fine. The autostrada was easy to navigate. Plenty of gas stations & rest stops.

Do not be afraid to give it a try if that's what you want to do.

skiv,
Eloise has given good advice. Another possible pick up point would be Viterbo.

We dropped off a car at a Termini station location and it was easy access from the autostrada.

We rented from Autoeurope and picked up the car in an underground parking garage at Villa Borghese (near our hotel) and they gave us directions to the autostrada. Picked up our luggage and the rest of our party at the hotel and we were on our way. No problem getting out of Rome.

Just don't drive in Rome unless you have a death wish-- I had to close my eyes as our taxi driver barrelled through the streets at a fast pace, nearly hitting everything in his way, running lights, etc. It is wild there!