Car Hire Rome-fiumicino

Car Hire

Rome Fiumicino’s official title is Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, with its complex located in Fiumicino, some 20 miles from the historic centre of the Eternal City. Its official name honours the fact that Leonardo designed a winged flying machine in the 16th century. Now in the 21st century, over 37 million passengers use the facility every year. It’s the sixth-busiest of Europe’s international air hubs and the main base for Italy’s flag carrier Alitalia. Car hire at Rome Fiumicino is straightforward, with a number of international providers represented on site.

Who to Book With
No less than 10 international and local car rental companies are represented at the airport, including Europcar, Avis, Hertz and Budget, with all depots located in Torre Offici 2, which is easily accessed by following the car rental signs in the Arrivals hall. The pick-up points are located in the Multi-Level Comfort Parking Building and, given the huge demand for rental cars here, the best way to ensure your preferred model at a good price is to book online through our comparator site well in advance.

Best Time to Go
Any time is, basically, a good time to visit Rome for its incredible history, artistic and architectural magnificence, and amazing shopping, dining and nightlife. The city is crowded all year round, but the high summer season and the Christian holidays see a massive influx of tourists and pilgrims. Accommodation and car hire charges at these times are expensive and the roads are busy.

Need to Know Essentials
When collecting your rental car, you should show the following documents:

- Your current UK/EU driver’s licence or an International Driving Permit
- Photo ID via your passport or other legal and valid photo identification
- Your credit card as used for the online booking
- A printed copy of the confirmed booking receipt

For additional information, visit our FAQ's page.

Driving
Driving in Rome could be considered an adventure by some and a nightmare by others due to the habits of the average Italian driver, narrow, crowded streets in the Old Rome district, pedestrianised areas and parking problems. Public transport is more than useful here but, to explore the rest of the glories of the region, self-drive is the best solution. The city lies at the heart of major roads fanning out all across the country, all following the original Roman roads and all in good condition.

More detailed information on driving in Italy is available here.

Transport

Although a hire car is the best means of touring the region, Rome itself has a plethora of public transport options, including the metro, overland commuter trains, trams, regular and hop-on/hop-off bus services, taxis and night buses. The ancient heart of the city and St Peter’s Square are best explored on foot or by taxi if you’re afraid of getting lost.

Trains
Rome’s Metro offers three lines, A, B and C, which cover most areas with major attractions, although stops are limited. Tickets are bought at stations, tobacconists, newsstands, ticket machines and coffee bars, and cost £0.85 for a 1 hour, 15 minute journey, including bus and tram travel. For full-day of travel, the same combined deal costs £3.40.

Buses
Bus routes across the city are provided by ATAC and COTRAL, both of which make use of dedicated bus lanes, although journeys are far slower than on the Metro due to traffic congestion. Both buses and trams can become crowded at peak travel times, and visitors should watch out for pickpockets. Tickets must be purchased before boarding, and the service runs between 05:30 and 24:00, when it’s replaced by night buses.

Taxis
Taxis can be hired on the street, but visitors should only use the metered and licensed yellow or white cabs with a numbered shield shown on their sides and an official illuminated sign. Unmetered, unlicensed cabs are a menace, and proliferate at Rome’s airports and main train stations, as well as on the streets. Fares are reasonable, increasing after 22:00 and on Sundays and holidays.

Exploring

While exploring ancient Rome is best done on foot or by Metro, self-drive on daytrips in the region gives the freedom to travel when and where you want, stopping off at a traditional rural taverna for a delicious meal. The countryside is packed with treasures, such as Etruscan Cerveteri and Vulci, the historic hill town of Frascati and Rome’s ancient harbour, Ostia Antica.

Recommended Drives

Frascati - The drive to Frascati takes around an hour, dependent on traffic in the city, and passes by the Via Latina Tombs before arriving at the historic hill town. Famed for its light white wine, Frascati is home to Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer residence, and overlooks lovely Lake Albano.

Tivoli - To avoid Rome’s uglier, industrial suburbs, take Autostrada A24 (signposted L’Aquila) and turn off to Tivoli just after the main toll booths. The trip takes around an hour and ends in a memorable visit to the town’s two main attractions, the Villa d’Este and Hadrian’s Villa, the country estate of one of Ancient Rome’s best-known emperors. Villa d’Este is UNESCO-listed for its unique terraced water gardens.

Florence - For an unforgettable, if longer, daytrip, Florence is 3 hours away by car. Passing through the loveliest, forested corner of the Umbria region and the Tuscan hills, the A1 highway leads you to Orvieto, Arezzo and on to Florence itself, the magical centre of the Renaissance period.