Car hire Paris

Cheap Car Hire Paris

About Car Hire in Paris

The City of Love simply can't be missed. There's something for everyone in such a stunning megapolis that Paris is. History is everywhere you look living in elegant palaces, the straight fin de siècle streets, the world-known museums. The Eiffel Tower is still breathtaking and the night Paris will overwhelm you with beauty. And car hire is a great way to make the most of your trip and see more than just the usual tourist sights.

Although the public transport in Paris is reliable and services almost everything in the city, the car offers you freedom of movement to go further, to the fantastic countryside and small French towns with an authentic flair. Most importantly hiring a vehicle means that you're exploring the city on your own terms and at a comfortable pace. Another awesome advantage of car hire in Paris is the ability to live outside of the busy city centre.

It's not a surprise that such a big capital has many car hire companies to choose from like Enterprise, Sixt, Alamo. If you decide to hire a car and arrive by plane it is strongly advised to book directly at the airport. This way you will have a car drop there too saving you lots of time and nerves.

Hiring a car in Paris

You can find many car hire companies (local and international) around downtown Paris. The thing to understand about the French capital is that the offices don't have one epicentre and are scattered around the city making it quite hard to explore different options on site. That's why it's strongly advised to book beforehand and find the cheapest choices on holidaycars.com. It features both the downtown suppliers and the airport ones.

Driving in Paris

We want to be frank here, driving in Paris is not for everyone. First of all, it's a city of more than 2 million (with 12 overall in the metropolitan area). But most importantly, Paris has its own traffic life that is such an integral part of its character as the Louvre or impressionist paintings at Musee d'Orsay. For a newcomer, it might get a bit stressful. But don't worry, it's still a developed European city and with a little bit of caution and attention at all times you'll adapt.

If we're talking about the banlieues (Parisian suburbs), driving there is more or less calm. It's the central part that usually gets all the bad rep, and rightfully so. Sometimes it might get pretty chaotic with constant honking, limited parking spots, pedestrian crossings, closed streets. Use navigation at all times, know the route beforehand and you will be completely fine.

Tips for driving in Paris:

• To enter the central neighbourhood you'd need Crit’Air, a mandatory ecological certificate. Check if the hired car has one before signing the contract.
• If you're not sure about the street parking spots, use the garages and save yourself an hour of search.
• Avoid the notorious Périphérique (a ring road). If it's not possible, be prepared for the traffic jams. 

Car Hire Agencies in Paris

There are plenty of agencies to choose from in Paris. However, the final choice should always depend on how you come to the city and how you're planning to leave. If you're using a plane, then airport hire is a must, you just don't want to waste time cruising around the immense Parisian centre. There are three airports in Paris: Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly and Beauvais-Tillé Airport. Use holidaycars.com to find the cheapest deals at each of them.

If you arrive by train, Gare du Nord has many well-known brands like Thrifty, Enterprise, Europcar, Sixt, and Alamo to choose from, making it the best area for browsing through different car hire offices. Come prepared, though, it is generally advised to choose a smaller car for the narrow Parisian streets. This way you'll also have a better parking experience.

Top Road Trips from Paris

Parisian environs don't have a shortage of magnificent chateaux and picturesque medieval towns. A car gives you a chance to go to the most famous one, the glorious Palace of Versailles, the golden standard of the opulent royal dwelling with spectacular gardens and bombastic interiors. Not far is a stately Château de Malmaison that used to be Napoleon's country home.

For even more regal sights follow the Seine river to find yourself in Fontainebleau, a lovely city with an iconic (and immensely beautiful) Château de Fontainebleau. Another great Paris road trip would be visiting Provins, which is among the most picturesque medieval towns in France and located less than 100 kilometres in the southeast of the French capital.

If the sea is your goal, Deaville famous for its colourful architecture and endless panoramas of the English channel is a great idea for a journey to catch some holiday vibes. On the way back pay a visit to Rouen, Normandy's precious jewel with a gargantuan UNESCO-protected Cathedral.