Car Hire in Lyon

Situated in the Rhone-Alpes region Lyon is the third largest city in the country and is a popular destination for tourists visiting the city, and venturing further into the Alps. Lyon was originally founded by the Romans and large parts of its Roman heritage remain untouched today.

With just under half a million people living in Lyon, the city is largely built around the two rivers which flow through its centre, the Rhone and the Saone.

Lyon has an airport just outside the city which makes it an ideal base for people heading towards the ski resorts in the French Alps. Many people fly to the city airport before hiring a car for the remainder of their journey to their resort.

Places To Visit When Hiring A Car In Lyon

Getting around the beautiful surroundings of Lyon is made a lot easier if you choose to hire a car, and as well as the vast range of historical places to visit in the city itself, the region around Lyon is one of the most beautiful in France.

Parc de la Tête d’Or

The Parc de la Tête d’Or is located in Lyon and is one of the most beautiful parks you will ever visit. Based on an English Garden the park was constructed in 1862 and covers 105 hectares of space. With wild animals roaming an newly installed African Plain and a botanical garden there really is plenty to see.

The most extraordinary part of the park is the huge greenhouses, a feat of French engineering, which really must be seen to be believed.

Crémieu

Located within easy driving distance of Lyon, Crémieu is a popular location for day trippers, and has a wonderful 15th century market, a ruined chateaux, medieval city gates and a range of museums to keep the whole family entertained.

Pérouges

Located under 20 miles to the north of Lyon is Pérouges, a medieval village with cobbled streets and narrow roads. Pérouges has recently become a popular destination for film makers, fitting given that nearby Lyon is the birthplace of cinema, and Pérouges well preserved setting makes it a lovely little town to visit.

Wine Tours

With both the Beaujolais and the beautiful Chateauneuf Du Pape wine regions on Lyons doorstep there are a huge number of gorgeous vineyards and chateaux to visit in the region.

Pont Du Gard

The Pont du Gard is a roman aqueduct built across the Gard river in France. A decent trek from Lyon itself, the stunning construction is 31 miles long, and offers some breathtaking scenery across the region. The Pont Du Gard was listed as one of the UNESCO world heritage sites in 1985 and is the tallest Roman aqueduct bridge in the world.

Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere

Built with private money between 1872 and 1884 the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere is one of the most stunning pieces of architecture in the city of Lyon and is located on the top of the Fourviere Hill. It can be seen throughout the city and is lit at night.

Visit during the day and visit the north tower, where the tower is often opened up so you can see panoramic views of the city of Lyon.

French Alps

The French Alps offer a huge range of walking, skiing, and other sporting activities for all to try throughout the year, and are as stunning when covered in snow as they are when basked in sun through the summer months. Lyon is the ideal base from which to hire a car to explore the mountains, and with beautiful village after village to see you will never run out of places to see in the mountain region.

Our favourite skiing area is the Three Valleys, or Les Trois Vallees, which offers over 600km of ski pistes connects eight different resorts in one area.

Hiring a car in Lyon

The minimum age to rent a car in Lyon is 21, although drivers under the age of 25 may be charged an additional premium.