Post updated April 16, 2017
The center of Rome is full of ZTL zones (zona traffic limitato – limited traffic zone) which means it’s inaccessible to private cars.
Only taxis, vehicles with disability placards, and residents who live or work in the area have access to enter ZTL areas in the center of Rome’s historic center. Here we’ll go over the various parts of the center of Rome where you could encounter a ZTL area with links to the city’s official online resources for more information.
Entering a ZTL area
At each entrance to a ZTL zone there is an illuminated sign and a placard. The illuminated sign will indicate if the ZTL is active or not.
Varco attivo = you CANNOT enter
Varco non attivo = you CAN enter
A fine for driving through a ZTL zone without authorization can vary between €84-€335. Fines are mailed to the registrant of the vehicle, so if you are driving a rental car the rental company will receive the fine and charge you accordingly.
On the maps below, the little camera icon indicates a monitored entrance to the ZTL zone where your license plate will be checked for authorization.
Varco attivo = ZTL is active, e.g. you cannot enter this area with your car
ZTL Historic Center
We’ll start with the largest area, which encompasses all of the individual zones below. The Historic center is protected with ZTL zones to protect monuments and people from hazardous smog and congestion.
ZTL Historic Center
If your vacation rental is located in this area, visit the RomaMobilità.it page for ZTL Historic Center. Here you can search by address to see exactly where it falls in the ZTL.
The day-time ZTL area (area outlined in orange) is active the following hours:
- Monday to Friday 6:30am – 6:00pm
- Saturday 2pm – 6:00pm
The night-time ZTL area (area in blue) is active the following hours:
- Friday and Saturday 11pm – 3am
*This means, outside these hours you can drive around this area.
ZTL areas are never active on Sundays and holidays, although there may be exceptions around Christmas time. Always pay attention to the illuminated digital displays at the entrances to ZTL areas and check the RomaMobilità.it website for the most up-to-date information.
Note: It’s never permissible to park in a ZTL zone of the historic center, you can only drive through and stop to upload the vehicle. You can find available parking locations on the map of the RomaMobilità.it website.
ZTL Tridente (Piazza di Spagna, Piazza del Popolo, Via del Corso)
ZTL Tridente District
The “Tridente” in Rome is an triangular-shaped area of the city that stretches from Piazza di Spagna to Piazza del Popolo, and includes Via del Babuino, Via del Corso, and Via di Ripetta.
If your vacation rental is located in this area, visit the RomaMobilità.it page for ZTL Tridente.
The ZTL area is active the following hours:
- Monday to Friday 6:30am – 7:00pm
- Saturday 10am – 7:00pm
*This means, outside these hours you can drive around this area.
ZTL areas are never active on Sundays and holidays, although there may be exceptions around Christmas time. Always pay attention to the illuminated digital displays at the entrances to ZTL areas and check the RomaMobilità.it website for the most up-to-date information.
Note: It’s never permissible to park in a ZTL zone of the historic center, you can only drive through and stop to upload the vehicle. You can find available parking locations on the map of the RomaMobilità.it website.
ZTL Trastevere
ZTL Trastevere
Trastevere is the vibrant neighborhood south of the Vatican on the west side of the Tiber river. Many of it’s narrow streets are not accessible to vehicles hence the ZTL restrictions make up most of the neighborhood.
If your vacation rental is located in Trastevere, visit the RomaMobilità.it page for ZTL Trastevere.
The day-time ZTL area (outlined in orange) is active the following hours:
- Everyday 6:30am – 10am
The night-time ZTL area (in blue) is active the following hours:
- Friday and Saturday 9:30pm – 3am
- From May to October, Wednesday and Thursday 9:30pm – 3am
- No night-time ZTL restrictions the entire month of August
*This means, outside these hours you can drive around this area.
ZTL areas are never active on Sundays and holidays, although there may be exceptions around Christmas time. Always pay attention to the illuminated digital displays at the entrances to ZTL areas and check the RomaMobilità.it website for the most up-to-date information.
Note: It’s never permissible to park in a ZTL zone of the historic center, you can only drive through and stop to upload the vehicle. You can find available parking locations on the map of the RomaMobilità.it website.
ZTL Trastevere
ZTL Trastevere
Trastevere is the vibrant neighborhood south of the Vatican on the west side of the Tiber river. Many of it’s narrow streets are not accessible to vehicles hence the ZTL restrictions make up most of the neighborhood.
If your vacation rental is located in Trastevere, visit the RomaMobilità.it page for ZTL Trastevere.
The day-time ZTL area (outlined in orange) is active the following hours:
- Everyday 6:30am – 10am
The night-time ZTL area (in blue) is active the following hours:
- Friday and Saturday 9:30pm – 3am
- From May to October, Wednesday and Thursday 9:30pm – 3am
- No night-time ZTL restrictions the entire month of August
*This means, outside these hours you can drive around this area.
ZTL areas are never active on Sundays and holidays, although there may be exceptions around Christmas time. Always pay attention to the illuminated digital displays at the entrances to ZTL areas and check the RomaMobilità.it website for the most up-to-date information.
Note: It’s never permissible to park in a ZTL zone of the historic center, you can only drive through and stop to upload the vehicle. You can find available parking locations on the map of the RomaMobilità.it website.
ZTL Testaccio
ZTL Testaccio
Testaccio is an up-and-coming hipster neighborhood cradled by the Tiber river near the south end of Rome’s historic center. Known for it’s alternative food scene and young nightlife, Testaccio is a well-connected and lower cost solution to seeing Rome on a budget.
If your vacation rental is located in Testaccio, visit the RomaMobilità.it page for ZTL Testaccio.
Testaccio only has ZTL restrictions during the following night-time hours:
- Friday and Saturday 11pm – 3am
- No night-time ZTL restrictions the entire month of August
*This means, outside these hours you can drive around this area.
ZTL areas are never active on Sundays and holidays, although there may be exceptions around Christmas time. Always pay attention to the illuminated digital displays at the entrances to ZTL areas and check the RomaMobilità.it website for the most up-to-date information.
Note: It’s never permissible to park in a ZTL zone of the historic center, you can only drive through and stop to upload the vehicle. You can find available parking locations on the map of the RomaMobilità.it website.
ZTL San Lorenzo
ZTL San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo ZTL restrictions are active only at night-time and are identical to those in Trastevere:
- Friday and Saturday 9:30pm – 3am
- From May to October, Wednesday and Thursday 9:30pm – 3am
- No night-time ZTL restrictions the entire month of August
*This means, outside these hours you can drive around this area.
If your vacation rental is located in Testaccio, visit the RomaMobilità.it page for ZTL Testaccio.
ZTL areas are never active on Sundays and holidays, although there may be exceptions around Christmas time. Always pay attention to the illuminated digital displays at the entrances to ZTL areas and check the RomaMobilità.it website for the most up-to-date information.
Note: It’s never permissible to park in a ZTL zone of the historic center, you can only drive through and stop to upload the vehicle. You can find available parking locations on the map of the RomaMobilità.it website.
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Have you driven in Rome? Share your experience with ZTL zones in the comments below!
We came to Rome the last 3 weeks because my son graduated from the faculty of philosophy. Since his university is located in the centro histórico we looked for some advise of our sons classmates. They told us that we could park our rented little fiat panda in piazza S. Agostino. The first day we found space in the back near the church steps but the second day we parked near the street and that’s when a policeman told us kindly that we coundn’t be there so I asked him that if Piazza Cavour was okay because I recolected the Ztl info. So we went their and parked. After that day I started to get concerned about the Ztl info available to tourists. And found out that their is barly any info. First the car rentals don’ say nothing. Second in the GPS their is no info or caution info. Third, their is no clear signs visible to the standard driver and I drive over 25 years ago. And their is much more to say but guess I’ve written to much. My advise is don’t rent a car in Rome. I’ve rented this time because my hotel is very far from the center and had to travel to 3 cities around Rome. Went to Napoli, Sorento and Arezzo besides going to the airport many times. Good luck to any renter.
I couldn’t agree more with everything said. Thank you, it couldn’t be more clear. There are zero informations for tourists and the signs are barely visible, not to say not at all sometimes. The car compagnies should provide a pass or at least some temporary ones as people that don’t leave there shouldn’t have to pay for any additional fees.
Hello Jaime,
your comment is really useful for other tourists. It’s quite difficult to enter the city center by car, so we suggest to leave your car in car parks outside the city center.
We are in Rome for a week and suspect we have driven in some ZTL areas. Is there a way to find out now while we are here to see if we owe any money?
Ciao Harvey,
Unfortunately there’s no way to know until a ticket arrives at the address associated with the license plate. Tickets are automatically generated via cameras and the car’s registration, so technically each offense results in a separate ticket. On the upside it’s not uncommon for the cameras to be faulty, so not everyone receives a ticket.
Jonathon
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We are in Rome for 25.12.2019 and suspect we have driven in some ZTL areas.
Cars are not prohibited on Christmas holidays.
I can’t find clear information now, it changes every year. Finger crossed!
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