 |
 |
The Rome Fiumicino Airport is the largest airport in Italy, passenger-wise, and ranks in the top 10 globally, just about every years. With traffic count over 50 million passengers per year, it ranks in European traffic behind Heathrow, the Paris International Airport, the Frankfurt Airport and the Barajas Airport in Madrid. For an airport that boasts such heavy traffic, the airport leaves one feeling a little un-serviced and dirty. Most travelers thru the Fiumicino (especially those travelers that have experienced airport such as the Amsterdam Schiphol and the Gatwick Airport in London) seems at best, average.
Several big-time players have desks and cars for rent at the Leonardo Di Vinci. AutoEuropa, Avis, Budget, EasyCar, Europcar, Hertz, Italy By Car, Locauto, Maggiore, and Sixt each service the airport. When it comes to renting a car at the Rome Fiumicino Airport, we especially recommend renting from one of these companies at the airport. You're setting yourself up for trouble renting a car off the airport - at least at the Fiumicino.
Located in Office Tower 2, each of these car rental companies is fairly accessible using the tunnels that connect Terminal to the car rental parking area. All signs to this rental car parking area should be seen from the Arrivals Area. When it comes to dropping off the vehicle, they will be returned to the exact area in which they were rented.
If traveling from the Fiumicino Airport to Rome, you will find that the drive is fairly straightforward. Travel out on the Via Mario De Bernardi towards the Autostrada Fiumicino, or A91. Follow this road all the way to the edge of Rome.
When traveling back to the airport from Rome on A91, watch for overhead signs pointing you back to the terminal.
Several restaurants are worth trying out at the Fiumicino. Before checking in you might try the Rustichelli & Mangoine (offering Pizza and Salads) and the Chef Express (which is primarily a snack joint). After check-in in, you have a lot more options. Several Pizza restaurants (Piazza De Roma, Pizza Chef and Spizzico) exist all throughout the airport. A nice cup of coffee at the Lavazza.
There is a train that connects the Fiumicino Airport to the Roma Termini, called the Leonardo Express. The current fare is 14 Euros and the train departs every thirty minutes, without any stops. The train first departs at about 6:30 am and the last departure is at about 11:30. Check out this site for exact Fiumicino Airport departures. The total trip is 37 kilometers.
Not far from the Fiumicino facility are some hotels. The Seccy Hotel is very nearby and offers a pretty good restaurant right next to it. For about 15 Euros, they'll provide a shuttle service back to the Airport. The Al Porticciolo "Boutique"Hotel sits near the Seccy (a couple of blocks from the Mediterranean). There is Wi-Fi available in the lobby and they serve a pretty mean breakfast, consisting of pasties, ham and eggs. There is no additional cost for the days first meal. Finally, the Hilton Garden Inn near the airport is a little more than serviceable. It is probably the easiest of the three to get you back to the airport the next morning, and if offers free Wi-Fi throughout.
When leaving the Fiumicino Airport, you're most likely headed for Rome - not always of course, there are other things to do in Italy - but it's a pretty safe bet. Upon leaving the airport, you will head east on A91 for about 18 km, then will take the Christoforo Colomobo into Rome. The total driving distance to Rome is estimated at about 40 km from the airport.
Now as far as driving your rental car in Italy, don't be scared. The local authorities (and most of Europe it seems) have become more rigid in their approach to speeders and overall bad drivers, but if you do things the right way, you should be OK.
Urban Type Areas, 50 km per hour
Rural Type Areas, 90 km per hour
Other Motorways, 110 km per hour
Autostrada (Mostly Tollways), 130 km per hour.
As we mentioned above, obviously there are many things to do (and places to visit) in Italy, besides visiting Rome. We have listed some nearby car rental driving distances for your review. These are only estimates, and if you want exact distances you should consider reserving a GPS on your journey. All distances are from the Fiumicino (Leonardo De Vinci) Airport.
Pomezia Italy, 47 km
Anzio Italy, 66 km.
Latina Italy, 77 km.
Napoli Italy, 241 km.
Perugia Italy, 202 km.
Guidonia Italy, 57 km.
When reserving a particular type of vehicle at the airport, you will have choices. From compacts to intermediate/standard vehicles to 7-passenger minivans or minibuses, there will be options. One thing to remember is that sometimes vehicles run out of stock - especially those types of vehicles that the car rental companies don't keep a lot of in stock. Higher-priced vehicles sometimes run out and the best way to remedy that problem is to book early.