We make car rental easy, because we know you can’t wait to feel the freedom of the road and get the very most out of your stay. Wherever your travels take you, your hire car is waiting for you to unlock the world.

You'll find Avis car hire on the Esplanade, opposite the ground floor exit of the airport arrivals hall.

The airport is located in the town of Bouguenais, a short drive from the centre of Nantes. When you leave the airport, take the Nantes ring road - the périphérique de Nantes - and its only a 10 minute drive to the centre of Nantes.

Château des Ducs de Bretagne - or Castle of the Dukes - is a medieval castle and home to the History of Nantes museum. Take a journey through Nantes’ history and learn about the buildings, which date back to the 15th Century.

Nantes has an illustrious past, but it’s also a place where you can explore French contemporary culture. Be sure to check out the programme of the Le Lieu Unique while you’re in town. This old biscuit factory is now the number one place in the city for alternative theatre performances, live concerts and modern art exhibitions. If you want to wind down, there’s even a Turkish bath in the basement.

Nantes is also a city of gastronomic excellence. For classic French fare, book a table at Cocotte Restaurant – housed in a former butcher's shop, they cook up hearty local meat-based dishes. If you have a sweet tooth, visit Gautier Debotté – the finest chocolatier in the city. Serving up sweet treats for almost 200 years, its in-house speciality – finely ground chocolate served in a hard chocolate shell – is a must-try.

The Passage Pommeraye is a beautiful, glass ceiled building that houses boutiques and quirky shops. It’s worth a visit for its stunning architecture alone.
 

Bordeaux is just over 3 and a half hours from Nantes and a very pleasant drive.  Be sure to stop off and take a tour of the famous vineyards before continuing your journey.

Your next stop could be Toulouse, where you can take in the fantastic mix of medieval and modern architecture around the city. Continue motoring until you reach Montpellier - offering a stylish selection of nightlife, restaurants and elegant buildings.

In just over an hour, it’s possible to reach the medieval fortified town of Guerande on the west coast of France. Explore the quaint medieval streets and buildings, where you can find the 15th century St Aubin church. There are many arts and crafts galleries to explore and be sure to try some of the speciality food shops, especially the crêperies. Before leaving, find time to visit the Salt Marshes Museum, where you’ll gain a real insight into this traditional local industry. While you’re at it, pick up some delicious salt-butter caramels from the onsite shop.

Drive 90 minutes north of Nantes and you’ll reach Rennes, the capital city of Brittany. Visit the Musée de Bretagne in the new Les Champs Libres building to learn about the history of Rennes and its surrounding region. Spend time in the Thabor Gardens, where you can stroll around 24 acres of delightful green space. If you’re peckish, there are many affordable places to eat that don’t compromise on quality.

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.