Car hires in Paris: practical information
Where to rent a car in Paris
You're planning a trip to the French capital? Once you book your flight tickets from London to Paris, consider making a car hire comparison in Paris as well. After all, if you plan to get out of the city, having a car rental is definitely and advantage! Renting a car is not as sophisticated here as in other parts of Europe, but don't worry. You'll find most of the international car hire companies, as well as some French ones: Europcar, Ada, Avis, Hertz, Budget, Sixt, Thrifty, Rentacar, etc.
The easiest places to pick-up car hires in Paris is at the airports, Roissy-CDG, Orly and Paris-Beauvais-Tille, even better as soon as you arrive off of your flight. In the city itself, it's possible just not recommended because of the city driving. If you're only renting a car for a day or two, then grab one from an agency located close to your hotel in Paris for easy pick-up and drop off.
Parking in Paris: what you should know
It's no myth that parking in Paris is a nightmare. It would be very unrealistic to write-up where you can park because, to be honest, you can't guarantee parking anywhere in the city's centre quarters. The city has set up, for drivers on the verge of a nervous breakdown, a website that lists 140+ car parks with all the hours, prices, rules, locations, etc. for your convenience. Just enter the address into your GPS and all systems are a go!
Also note that in order to reduce congestion in the city, Paris has developed large car parks on the outskirts at the main entrances into the city. From there you can park your rent car cheaply in Paris and then travel into the city by metro. Handy if you don't feel like you can handle the heat of driving in the city. It's not for the faint of heart!
Road trips from Paris: what to do, what to see
Traffic conditions make it a nightmare to use a rental car in Paris to get around city sights. Instead travel with metro, tram, velib or by foot. Having a car to get out of the city is a great idea however. Here are some suggested road trips you can make out of the City of Lights.
- A stone's throw away: Beautiful Versailles, what would a trip to the capital be without a trip out to the south-western edge of the city to visit the son of King Louis XIV's palace. The gardens alone are worth visiting. Our recommendation: get the one-day pass for €20 which gives you access to the château, Marie-Antoinette's Estate, Grand Trianon and the Grandes Eaux Musicales.
- A little further: Love the intricacies of Gothic architecture? Head to Chartres to visit the 12th century cathedral of Notre Dame, one of the best examples of a Gothic cathedral in France. It is a little over an hour drive towards the south-west of Paris along the A10, followed by the A11.
- A proper day-trip: Giverny, about 1 hour and a half drive to the north west of Paris was the places that so inspired Claude Monet's famous paintings. Visit the gardens as well as Monet's House. It's best to watch the weather forecast before heading to Giverny since the gardens and its flowers are the best part of the visit. They're best enjoyed when the sun is out so try to avoid rainy days.
For more things to do in Paris, check out Mini-guide: Paris.
