Car hire Lyon: tour the city in style and at ease with a rental

Car hires in Lyon: practical information

Where to rent a car in Lyon

This pretty French city is the capital of the Rhone-Alps region, making it an essential stop on your way to the mountains or a destination all on its own. Cultural, tasty and oh so lovely, did you know Lyon is the birthplace of cinema? If you're planning to spend your holidays in Lyon then it's time to start planning. Start by booking cheap tickets from London to Lyon. Next you'll need a the cheapest car hire from Lyon to get you around the city and so that you'll be able to head out as well to explore the incredible region around Lyon. Saint-Exupéry Airport has a number of car hire companies to choose from: Avis, Hertz, Europcar, National/Citer and Sixt.

Looking for a car hire Lyon train station? Sixt Car Hire, National/Citer and Avis are all located at the Gare SNCF Lyon Part Dieu in the 3e Arrondissement. You'll also find a number of other car hire Lyon city possibilities including Sixt near the Parc de la Tete d'Or, Avis on Rue Audibert and Lavirotte as well as ADA Location at Quai Gailleton.

Driving in Lyon: parking and other tips

Parking in Lyon can be either difficult or expensive. At times, it can be both. If you're parking in the Presqu'île area, watch out because if you accidentally park in a prohibited parking spot, your rent car in Lyon will be towed. It's also quite common to be given a ticket for any unpaid parking in Lyon, up to €11. It's not uncommon to pay upwards of €20/day for parking in central Lyon which is why it's so important to book hotels in Lyon" that offer complimentary parking to their guests.

Try La Reine Astrid, Mercure Grand Hotel Saxe, Sofitel Bellecour Hotel or Campanile. All of which offer parking for free or for an additional room charge.

Road trips from Lyon: what to do, what to see

Perouges

Perouges is about 30 minutes from Lyon and is a popular weekend spot for locals who need to get out of the city for a couple of days. You'll find a number of buildings in the city centre that date all the way back to the middle ages. The best time to visit Perouges is in spring, between April and June when the city hosts its annual music festival. You'll hear everything there from Baroque to Jazz.

Annecy

Annecy is a two hour trip from Lyon. It isn't called the Venice of Savoie for nothing! The town's beautiful lake and canal system will transport you all the way to Italy. You can easily spend a day here. What to see? The Palais d'Ile has had many roles, from a palace to a prison. The beautiful Saint Maurice Church and Annecy Castle are also worth seeing.

Geneva

In winter you can reach some pretty amazing ski resorts within two hours drive with a car hire cheap from Lyon. Rent your equipment from the resort and contact a tour agency to find better deals on lift tickets. Head up to Geneva first, and from there to the slopes. Geneva is 2-hours drive from Lyon and is every bit as beautiful and winter as in summer.