- Lyon is part of France’s Crit’Air scheme, meaning you'll need a low emissions sticker on your car to enter certain areas. Before you drive your hire car away, check whether your rental firm provides one.
- Be prepared if you head into the mountains in winter. Snow and ice are a strong possibility – make sure your vehicle is equipped and check your insurance covers you.
- Watch out for toll roads around the city. These days you can usually pay by card, but it's worth having some spare change to hand too, just in case.
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Lyon is foodie paradise, with superb produce and wine from the surrounding region, and a long tradition of fine dining. It’s the perfect starting point for trips into the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and the vineyard-dotted Rhone Valley, so hire a car from Lyon Airport and set out on a gourmet road trip.
Fast facts about hiring a car from Lyon Airport
If you’re arriving into the region via Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS), you’ll be able to hire a car from a number of big companies there, including Avis, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt. Once you’ve picked up your rental car, the drive into Lyon takes around 30 minutes in good traffic.
The car rental offices at Lyon Airport can be reached via free shuttle buses, which run every 15 minutes from terminals 1 and 2.
Car rental companies with desks in Lyon Airport in 2019 include:
- Avis/Budget (Tel: +33 082061 1660)
- Enterprise, National and Alamo (Tel: +33 04 7222 7487)
- Europcar (Tel: +33 082500 9900)
- Hertz and Thrifty (Tel: +33 0825 006969)
- Sixt (Tel: +33 082000 7498)
Hiring a car in Lyon city centre
Lyon is walkable and has good public transport, so if you're spending a few days there, you may not initially need a car. If that's the case, arrange a later pick-up from one of the rental companies in the centre. Enterprise, Hertz and Avis have offices near Lyon Part-Dieu railway station, so you'll still be able to shop around for a cheap deal.
Driving in Lyon city centre
Driving in Lyon is relatively straightforward – much of the city is set out in a grid system, and the signposting is good. Due to the two rivers that run through the city (the Rhone and the Sâone), a large part of the 1st and 2nd arrondissements are only reachable via bridges and tunnels that can get busy at peak times.
Traffic in Lyon will be worse during commuter times and often at a complete standstill if you’re travelling through the city during holiday periods. The l’autoroute du Soleil, which runs through the heart of Lyon, is a particular black spot. It’s a good idea to bring an up-to-date sat-nav with live traffic data, though it might not be able to save you from jams at the busiest times.
Street parking in Lyon is hard to come by, and usually capped at one hour 30 minutes – but it’s free at night, on Sundays and national holidays. There is a good selection of larger car parks in the centre, and while the prices are higher, they are much more convenient. If you’re driving in from elsewhere, try the park and rides on the A6 and D383, which form part of the outer ring road.
Recommended day trips from Lyon
Pérouges
Driving time: 40 minutes
From its medieval architecture to its spectacular position overlooking the Ain Valley, Pérouges is the very definition of a charming walled French town. It is around 37km (23 miles) northeast of Lyon and is perfect for an afternoon of pottering about, soaking up the fairy tale views and sampling artisan produce in a local café or bakery.
Rhone Valley
Driving time: 30 minutes upwards
Lyon is on the doorstep of one of France’s best wine regions, the Rhone Valley. The area runs south alongside the Rhone River, and its beautiful landscape is dotted with great vineyards and pretty towns, from Vienne down to Montélimar. Block out an afternoon – or even a full day – and spend it hopping from place to place, sampling regional produce and tasting wine (but agree who is going to drive first).
Parc Naturel Régional de Chartreuse
Driving time: One hour 30 minutes
Head to this regional park where the mountains reach more than 2,000m at the highest point. It's perfect for summer hikes and bike rides, or for scenic road trips between remote mountain towns. For an overnight trip, push on into the Alps proper – you can be at Lake Annecy in around two hours, and in the shadow of Mont Blanc in around two and a half hours.