Car Hire Rome

Parking in Rome

• Street parking in Rome is colour-coded. White boxes are scarce, but free. Blue boxes are metered parking, with spots free of charge at weekends.
• Park Colosseo (00184) is the perfect car park for access to the Colosseum and Palatine Hill and has around 150 spaces.
• Porta Portese Car Park (00153) is open seven days a week and is located in one of Rome’s liveliest and most popular neighbourhoods, Trastevere.

Speed limits in Rome

• The speed limit for urban areas in Italy is 50 km/h (31mph).
• The speed limit outside built-up areas ranges from 90 to 110 km/h (56 to 68mph).
• The speed limit on motorways (autostrada) is 130 km/h (80mph).

Key roads in Rome

• The A90, also known as the Grande Raccordo Anulare, is an orbital road around the outskirts of Rome. From it, you can access routes into the centre, as well as roads out to Naples and Florence.
• The SS7 leads south-east from the city and passes by Ciampino Airport.
• The A91 goes south-west from Rome and takes you to the coast and Fiumicino Airport.

Traffic in Rome

Rome’s morning rush hour is from approximately 8am to 10am, and the evening rush hour usually lasts from 6pm to 8pm.

How to get from Rome to Naples

The Amalfi Coast and the atmospheric home of pizza are only two and a half hours away.

1. Drive east out of Rome on A24.
2. Join the A1/E45 and follow for 140 miles.
3. Take exit for Napoli Centro/Porto.
4. Merge onto A3 for Naples.

How to get from Rome to Florence

Take the perfect Italian road trip with an excursion to the home of the Renaissance, just over three hours north.

1. Drive north from Rome on SS4.
2. Follow signs for E35/Firenze.
3. Exit left onto A1/E35/E45 for Firenze.

Where to stay in Rome

Hotel Eden

Via Ludovisi, 00187

Already a city icon, this hotel has experienced further transformation since an 18 month restoration. Its location near the Spanish Steps gives it the advantage of Rome-wide views, while its interior features polished marble and cosseted luxury. Rooms are spacious, while the hotel’s spa is a blissful retreat.

Casacau

Via in Arcione, 00187

Enjoy your own boutique apartment, packed with vintage furniture and objects, close to the Trevi Fountain. Rooms are chic and every one unique, whether it comes with a sauna for two or a secret passage to a hidden balcony. A romantic joy, and ideal for couples.

Palm Suite

Via del Colosseo, 00184

Put down roots here and you can easily dig them up for a short stroll to the magnificent Colosseum or the Roman Forum. It’s not just about location. The rooms themselves are mini-masterpieces of mid-century design, with dashes of modernism and cute kitchenettes.

The best restaurants in Rome

Forno Campo de’ Fiori

Piazza Campo de’ Fiori, 00186

Close to a wonderful neighbourhood market, this classic has been turning out pizza for over 200 years. Grab a slice of pizza bianca or one with a speciality topping, such as courgette flowers, then browse the nearby stalls. They do superb bread and sour cherry tarts as well.

La Pergola

Roma Cavalieri, Via Alberto Cadlolo, 00136

Food tastes much better when served on a candlelit terrace, with views that will make you gasp. Even more so when the kitchen boasts three Michelin stars. The 10 course tasting menu may include gems such as lobster with grape molasses or lamb loin with black lentils and ashed buttermilk.

Felice a Testaccio

Via Mastro Giorgio, 00153

For the classic trattoria experience, book a table at Felice a Testaccio. They’ve been doing the simple things well here since 1936 and are best known for their perfect cacio o pepe – pasta tossed with cheese and copious amounts of black pepper.

Best attractions in Rome

St. Peter’s Basilica

Piazza San Pietro, 00120

Consecrated in 1626, the vast St. Peter’s is built on the site of an even older place of worship. It’s draws visitors from all corners of the globe, keen to witness Michelangelo’s Pieta or Bernini’s bronze baldachin. Insider’s tip, hire an approved guide to skip queues and get access to the Sistine Chapel and Vatican museums.

Colosseum

Piazza del Colosseo, 00184

The grand Colosseum has stood in place since AD80 and is in remarkable repair given its age. Once the home of gladiatorial battles where Emperors, their families and acolytes watched on, it’s now a stunning reminder of Rome’s famed past. Book a guided tour in advance – it’s the only way you’ll get to visit the top three floors.

Galleria Borghese

Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 00197

The halls are hushed here compared to the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums, the perfect conditions for a tour of some of the finest art that Rome has to offer. Pre-booking is essential, and well worth it to browse a private collection that encompasses Bernini sculptures and paintings by Titan, Caravaggio and Raphael.