Things to know when driving Rome Fiumicino Airport
Rome is one of the world’s great historic cities, packed with treasures from the ancient world and the Renaissance. The city stands 22 miles east of Fiumicino, surrounded by the beautiful Lazio region, so a hire car will help you make the most of your visit.
Our airport pick-up location is close to the A91 motorway heading east. After a few miles that cross the Grand Raccordo Anulare beltway. This circles Rome, giving you the chance to bypass the worst rush hour jams and reach outlying districts without crossing the busy center.
Linked to the ‘GRA’, as locals call it, are many of southern Italy’s major routes. You’ll be able to join the A12 heading north along the coast to Civitavecchia; the A1 heading north to Florence and south to Naples, and the A24 heading east to the Adriatic.
Look out too for the SS7 heading south, following the route of the Appian Way, the world’s first highway built over 2,000 years ago. You can still follow the route all the way to the imperial port of Brindisi.
Lazio’s roads vary from excellent modern expressways to a few country routes that feel like they haven’t been maintained since the Roman Empire. They may not have been. It’s all part of the color and character of visiting southern Italy.
And sometimes Rome’s traffic seems chaotic, with mopeds weaving between immaculately dressed pedestrians in the middle of a junction. But you’ll find the locals are so passionate about cars and driving, every car journey can be a fun experience.
Underneath all that Latin brio, Lazio’s rules of the road are the same as the rest of Italy, and similar to most of Europe. The speed limit for expressways is 80mph (reduced to 68mph in the wet) and 68mph on highways (55mph in the wet). In urban areas the limit is 31mph.
More About Traveling Rome Fiumicino Airport
From the relics of the capital of the ancient world to the latest fashion boutiques, Rome is one of Europe’s greatest cities to visit. It always has an atmosphere of lively romance and adventure. But don't neglect the rest of the Lazio region, which stretches from the sandy Mediterranean coast up into the rugged landscapes of the Monti Sabini in the center of Italy. Whether you’re here for business or pleasure, it’s hard to resist exploring a little.
The historic highlights
Rome has been a major world capital for thousands of years and has amassed an extraordinary collection of landmarks to visit. One of the highlights of the ancient city is the enormous gladiators’ arena, the Colosseum. You can still see the tiered seats where crowds of up to 87,000 people would cheer the bloody contests featuring slaves, criminals, and prisoners of war.
You’ll find plenty of relics from the Renaissance period too, including much of The Vatican. The Roman Catholic city-within-a-city includes the famous ceiling of the Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo and the enormous dome of St Peter’s Basilica. If you plan to visit, remember that the Vatican has a strict dress code forbidding bare shoulders, shorts, and short dresses.
Even more modern are the remains of baroque Rome, like the ornate statues, steps, and fountains in many of the best public squares. The most romantic examples are the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, which are great spots to sit and people-watch.
Life in modern Rome
Rome is also a busy modern commercial capital among all the old monuments. It’s a city that rewards a casual wander; you’ll stumble upon all sorts of sights and experiences. Across today’s Rome, you’ll find modern architecture, trendy boutiques, and the latest restaurants.
Head to Via del Corso for the high-end fashion stores and Trastevere for more quirky shops and restaurants. The art nouveau Galleria Alberto Sordi is an exclusive shopping mall and the Monte Testaccio area has the trendiest nightlife venues.
Heading out into Italy
If you have a hire car it’s easy to explore the area around Rome and beyond. For example, the Mediterranean is just a short drive to the west. Head to the old imperial port of Ostia for seafood restaurants and impressive ancient ruins. A little further north are the best local sandy beaches of Fregene and Maccarese.
South of Rome is a series of beautiful volcanic lakes. Castel Gandolfo, home to the Pope’s summer residence, is one of the best to visit. The round volcanic crater is now a circular lake skirted by thick woods with the town’s restaurants overlooking the water.
Even further south you’ll find the old town of Terracina, formerly an important staging point on the Appian Way. Today, it’s a seaside resort with a good beach and interesting old town to potter around. The ancient Romans found the narrow town streets became congested with horses and chariots. So visitors today can drive on Terracina’s unusual claim to fame: it is the site of the world’s first ever bypass.
