Once you’ve picked up your Avis hire car at Charles de Gaulle Airport, it’ll take you 40 minutes to drive from to central Paris and only 30 minutes’ drive from Disneyland Paris.

Famous landmarks galore can be found in and around the city. Must-sees include the impressive iron structure of the Eiffel Tower, completed in 1889 as the entrance to the World’s Fair. Standing at over 300 metres, the views from the top are breath-taking. Visit the imposing, gothic Notre-Dame cathedral, one of the oldest and most prominent cathedrals in France.

Stylish shopping with a Parisian twist can be found at the lavish Galeries Lafayette department store or the hip boutiques of Le Marais. Take some time out from your cocktail hour to glimpse the illuminated Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe, and don’t leave the city without consuming the sweet, delicate macaroons sold in any of the city’s elegant patisseries.

Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a charming suburb of Paris. It is the home of Paris Saint-Germain football team, one of the top teams in the world, and the Chateau de St-Germain, a former royal palace and home to the National Museum of Archaeology. The museum has over 3,000 archaeological artefacts, one of the biggest collections in Europe. On display you’ll find objects from the Palaeolithic Age through to the Roman and Merovingian Gaul times.
 

Versailles
Versailles is less than an hour’s drive from Paris. Explore the famous Palace of Versailles, a royal chateau built by King Louis XIV and one of the largest and most spectacular palaces in the world. The famous Hall of Mirrors holds 357 mirrors, reflecting the exquisite landscaped gardens through the arched windows. It was where the Treaty of Versailles was signed to end the First World War.

Giverny
Around 1.5 hours from Paris, you’ll find Giverny, the home of Claude Monet and the garden that inspired the painter. Stroll around his garden and admire the famous Japanese bridge and the monumental water lilies that feature in many of his work.
 

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.