France’s third largest city, Lyon mixes the very best of charming tradition with a cool contemporary style.

With an Avis car hired from Lyon Part Dieu Train Station, you’re perfectly positioned to explore the many treasures of Lyon and its surrounding regions.
 

Lyon Part Dieu Train Station is located in the heart of Lyon city. From here it’s easy to find your way to hotels, restaurants and historic cultural attractions within minutes.

To delve into local history, start at Musée Gadagne – a 16th-century mansion home to fascinating exhibitions about Lyon’s local history and its expansion into a global force. Don’t miss the puppetry museum onsite that pays homage to Guignol, an iconic puppet from Lyon. Continue your cultural journey with a trip to Musée des Beaux Arts, a museum that features sculptures and paintings from antiquity onwards, including works by Picasso and Rubens.

If you fancy sampling the city’s famous local nightlife there are many bars to choose from. For a lively night out, head to Le Sucre. This innovative rooftop club hosts live concerts and electronic shows – all on the terrace of a sugar factory from the 1930s.

Before leaving Lyon, you must indulge in the local cuisine to understand why Lyon has been crowned France’s gastronomic capital. Le Bouchon des Filles comes highly recommended. Take your time over courses of tender pig’s cheeks, herring salad and local sausages.
 

When you arrive at Lyon Part Dieu Train Station, it’s also possible to explore smaller towns with your rental car outside of the city for a true sense of local life in France.

Perouges
From Lyon, it’s just a 40-minute drive to the medieval town of Perouges. Admire the medieval city walls and spot the old churches spread around the town. If you have watched the Three Musketeers movie, you might recognise some of the buildings since much of the film was shot here.

You might like to purchase a galette au sucre from a local patisserie, a speciality pastry of the town. These galettes are made from brioche dough, which is flattened and covered with butter and sugar.

Vienne
The charming, quaint city of Vienne is a 30-minute drive south of Lyon (via the A7). An important settlement in Roman times, many ruins from this ancient period still remain. Visit the Temple d'Auguste et de Livie and the Roman amphitheatre, which hosts an annual summer jazz festival. For fine dining, book a table at La Pyramide – a fabulous restaurant with two Michelin stars that serves up elegant French classics like saddle of lamb.

With an Avis car hired from Lyon Part Dieu Train Station, you’re free to explore these French treasures at your leisure.

 

Which side of the road?
In France, please drive on the right side of the road.

Country driving laws

• Mobile phones may only be used with a hands-free device. Do not use headphones or earpieces
• In towns and rural areas, on minor roads and where there is no clear indication of right of way, it may be prudent to give way to traffic coming from the right (“priorité a droite”)
• Bus lanes are reserved exclusively for buses, taxis and bicycles
• It is recommended that drivers use dipped headlights at all times

Speed limits
All speed signs will be in km/h.
For a standard Avis rental vehicle with no trailer:

• Urban areas: 50 km/h (31 mph)
• Rural areas: 80 km/h (50 mph)
• 4-lane expressways (rural areas): 110 km/h (68 mph)
• Motorways: 130 km/h (80 mph)

Unless indicated by road signs.

Be aware of changes to speed limits displayed on road signs due to adverse weather conditions.

Child safety / Seatbelt laws

• It is compulsory for the driver and all passengers to wear a seatbelt
• Children aged under 10 and weighing less than 36kg must be seated in appropriate child restraint
• Children weighing up to 9 kg must travel in a rear-facing car seat, in the back of the car only

Please note - It is the child’s parent / guardian or vehicle renter’s responsibility to fit the child seat.

This road rules information is for provided for general guidance only. We endeavour to keep the information up to date and accurate, but any reliance you place on this information is at your own risk.