Discover Lyon on Your Own Terms: Car Rental Guide and Tips
Lyon is located in the eastern part of France. It is the second city in the country in terms of importance, and the third in terms of area. Thousands of tourists come to Lyon every year to feel like part of the world-famous festival, which the locals call the Festival of Lights. But the city is famous not only for this.
Lyon is considered one of the most ancient cities in France. Back in the 1st century AD. local settlers organized a place of trade here, thanks to which merchants from different countries arrived at this place. Over time, this place began to be populated and already looked more like a city, to which the inhabitants gave the name Lugdun. A little later, the city was captured by the Romans, who made it a Roman colony. Since the Roman Empire flourished at that time, Lugdun also grew at that time and turned into a large city of great commercial importance. During the reign of the Romans, theaters, baths and an odeon were built here. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Lyon fell into disrepair. In the 12th century, the city was divided into two parts, one of which went to Germany, and the second to France. And only in the 14th century the whole city became part of the French kingdom. Gradually, active trade again became the reason for the development of the city, the construction of new buildings in it. A few centuries later, Lyon already had the look with which it pleases us today.
Sights of Lyon
25 km from the city is Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport. Since it is most convenient to travel around the city by car, you need to rent it in advance. You can do this at Bookingautos.com. Having prepared in this way, the rented car will be waiting for you at the airport parking lot. To better navigate the city, it is recommended to preview official website of the city beforehand. On the site you will find information about the Lyon City Card, which was designed specifically for tourists. With it, you can get free admission to museums, unlimited travel on public transport, boat trips on the Saone River. There are cards for one, two, three or four days of stay in Lyon. In general, it really helps to save a decent amount of money.
A must-see in Lyon is the entire Old Town, which has preserved buildings from the Middle Ages, as well as the central square of the city of Bellecour. It is considered the largest and most beautiful in Lyon. The square has a statue of Louis XIV on horseback. In the evening, when the square is lit with lanterns, the picture that opens up is especially pleasing to the eye.
But one of the main attractions of Lyon is still considered the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere, which was built in the 19th century. The building was erected after the end of the Franco-Prussian War, when the locals took an oath that if the city survived, they would build a new church.
If you have time visit the Lyon Confluence Museum, itself the building of which is worth seeing with your own eyes.
And the main reason why many tourists come to Lyon in December is a festival called A festival of light that lasts 8 days. Every evening these days thousands of lights are lit in the city.
Interesting places near Lyon
If you travel around Lyon by car, then you have a great opportunity to visit an interesting place near the city, which is quite problematic to reach by public transport. This is Cheval's Ideal Palace, which is located in the city of Hauterives. The building was recognized as unique by many experts in the field of architecture. He was admired by Pablo Picasso. And the building was built by a simple postman who built his dream house for 33 years.
Lyon Restaurants
There are many gourmet restaurants in Lyon, but even more places serving traditional dishes from this region of France. Such establishments are called bushons. In bouchons, you can order authentic Lyon dishes - dry-cured pork sausages, dandelion salad with bacon and curd cheese with spices, which the locals call "the brains of the Lyon weaver".
Here are some of the best restaurants in Lyon according to tourists:
Le Bouchon des Artistes (98 Mazenod, +33 4 78 03 37 40).
Lyon parking lots
There are many street parking lots in Lyon and almost all of them are paid. You can leave your car for free in such parking lots only on weekends, and in some - from 7 pm to 9 am. The most expensive parking lots are located in the city center, and they are designed only for short-term parking (up to 2 hours). The cost is 2 euros per hour. If you come to the city for a few days, it is best to leave your car in a paid parking lot, where parking time is not limited, and the cost is several times less than in street parking lots.
Addresses of inexpensive parking lots in Lyon:
Rue Jangot Parking (4 Rue Jangot). Price - €1;
Rue Vauban Parking (88 Rue Vauban). The price is €1.20.
Good to know
Most Popular Agency
Sixt
Most popular car class
Standard
Average price
32 € / Day
Best price
23 € / Day
Monthly price chart: Average price per week of rent
January
€193
February
€211
March
€237
April
€293
May
€289
June
€308
July
€289
August
€213
September
€156
October
€134
November
€105
December
€181
* Data calculated based on car bookings for the previous 2 years.
In August rental companies located in Lyon rent much more cars than in the rest of the year. This month marks the smallest range of cars on offer and the highest rental prices. In such a high season, when the number of available cars is minimal, you should arrange a rental as early as possible. This will allow you to get the best rental option at the most favorable price.
The best time to rent a car in Lyon is November. This month, rental prices are minimal, below the annual average by 34%, and start from €26 for a Compact car.
In the summer, you should be prepared for an increase in the cost of rent. Price growth can be about 30-50% with a simultaneous reduction in the range of available offers. For example, the average price during July for Mercedes C Class starts from €49per day.
Average prices for 1 day rental for different car classes:
4x
2x
A/C
3x
Citroen C1
Citroen C1
€18 / Day
4x
2x
A/C
4x
Ford Fiesta
Ford Fiesta
€23 / Day
5x
3x
A/C
4x
Audi A4
Audi A4
€42 / Day
5x
4x
A/C
5x
Ford Foxus Estate
Ford Foxus Estate
€43 / Day
4x
3x
A/C
5x
BMW X1
BMW X1
€43 / Day
4x
3x
A/C
4x
BMW 5 series
BMW 5 series
€59 / Day
8x
4x
A/C
5x
Ford Tourneo
Ford Tourneo
€72 / Day
4x
2x
A/C
2x
BMW 4 Cabrio
BMW 4 Cabrio
€85 / Day
We have the largest selection of cars in Lyon. What do we offer:
New cars 2024 of the year.
Cars of any class from budget to premium.
A wide range of models: convertibles, sedans, SUVs, minivans.
When calculating the rental price for a car in Lyon, seasonal demand, the class of the car itself and the duration of the rental are taken into account. In winter, renting a car is the cheapest. In the summer, rent will cost more expensive. An additional discount for long-term rentals is provided by many car rental companies, which makes your trip even more profitable for the budget. For example, in the spring months, the compact Opel Corsamodel can be rented for just €26 per day. Renting the same car for a week will cost less and will be only €18. The situation is similar with other models of the budget segment. Among them are Mercedes C Class, Ford Foxus Estate, BMW X1, which can be rented for as little as €44-€65 per day. Approximately for €78in Lyon you can rent a convertible car. Premium segment models are more expensive, the rental will cost from €238 per day. If we talk about exclusive models, then when ordering them, you should be prepared for an amount of 450€ or more for daily use.
Recently, in Lyon has seen a rise in demand for electric car rentals. They do not pollute nature and save money. The city has free parking and cheap charging stations. To rent an electric car in Lyon, select the appropriate filter in the car search and fill in the dates you need. The best option could be VW E-Vision.
Documents required for car rental
Driving license
Credit card
Voucher
Passport
Attention!
A valid international driver's license is required!
10 Smart Tips to Make the Most of Your Car Rental
Download desired area of Google maps for offline access
The presence of an offline navigator allows you to save on roaming. It is enough just to download the necessary maps from Google Maps and get directions even without a network connection. To do this, enter the phrase "OK MAPS" in the application, select the desired area and download offline maps to your smartphone.
Book in advance
Lyon is a popular tourist destination, so car rental is consistently in demand. The earlier you book a car, the more options there will be and the lower the prices will be. Choose transport online at least 6 weeks before your visit. Better yet, do it as soon as you start planning your vacation. If plans change, you can cancel your booking without penalty up to 48 hours before it starts.
Which car to choose
Choose a car according to the purpose of your trip. You can drive around the city and its surroundings in a compact car Toyota Aygo or Opel Corsa. These models are the most popular with our customers in Lyon.
In the mountains, more powerful transport will be required. Pay attention to the volume of the engine - it must be more than 1.6 liters. An all-wheel drive crossover would be ideal. Ford Foxus Estate will cost €49 per day. By the way, before leaving, do not forget to refuel with a margin. On the rises, the fuel goes one and a half to two times more. Gas stations in mountain villages are rare.
What you need to pay attention to at the time of receiving a car
Before picking up, you are required to carefully inspect the car and point out to the rental company manager for scratches, damage and defects, such as dirty seat upholstery. You should check the ignition and the fuel level in the tank. You need to know the conditions for returning the car - where exactly, with what amount of fuel to return the car.
The rental agreement must include a telephone number to contact the rental company. It is designed so that customers can get help in emergency situations, such as when a car breaks down or in the event of an accident. A call to the rental company should be done first, even before the arrival of the police.
Insurance recommendations
When you pick up your rental car, you need to take it seriously. This is especially true if you do not intend to purchase additional insurance. You should carefully inspect the received car and fix all scratches, dents, and other defects in the contract. It is also recommended to take a picture of the existing damage to the car, its number, write down the name of the rental company employee.
What types of insurance are available for car rental?
Third Party Liability (TPL). This is a third party liability protection. If you are the culprit of an accident, the insurance will compensate for the costs of the victims for you.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). This is to protect your vehicle from any damage. She works with a franchise. This is the amount that you will have to pay in case of damage in any case. The company will cover anything over the limit. The insurance does not cover theft.
Theft Waiver (T.W.). This is car theft protection. Operates with a franchise.
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI). This is medical insurance for the driver and passengers.
Check out the fuel policy
When you pick up your car, you may be asked to pay for a full tank of fuel right away. This condition will suit you if you plan to travel long distances. For a couple of trips around the city, you don’t need so much fuel, and therefore it doesn’t make sense to overpay. Pay attention to the fuel policy when booking a car. If necessary, use the special filter to select the most convenient option for you.
Rent without mileage limit
The rental company may set a daily mileage limit. You will have to pay extra for exceeding the limit. Please check this condition before booking. It is possible that a more expensive rental option will turn out to be more profitable in the end: it will not require any additional expenses. To filter cars with unlimited mileage - use the "Mileage" filter in the search results.
Compare prices and conditions from different car rental companies
When choosing a rental car in Lyon, you should carefully read all the terms of the rental. This is due to the fact that different companies may differ not only in rental prices, but also in conditions for limiting mileage, the cost of additional services, and the amount of the deposit. To compare rental conditions, it is convenient to use the search and booking system on our website.
How to choose a rental company
Pay attention to the car park. Large and reliable companies regularly buy new cars.
Our clients name the top companies in Lyon - sixt with an average rating 9.8 points and budget with 9.7 points.
We show all the rental conditions of different companies. Read the rules carefully before booking a car.
Getting a car at a rental office
Before signing a car rental agreement, it should be carefully checked for damage and defects. Do not be shy to point out the identified problems and problems - then you will not have to answer for them. When returning, pay attention to the fuel in the tank. Its volume must correspond to that prescribed in the agreement.
Also, do not ignore the phone number provided by the technical support representative when concluding the contract. After all, even the most experienced driver is not insured against a breakdown, accident or other force majeure event. In such a case, contact a specialist before the arrival of the police.
Our advantages
24/7 support in all popular languages
Change or cancel within 48 hours for free!
No additional fees
Car rental reviews: Lyon
Based on 8255 reviews
Rate 4,8/5
Based on 8255 reviews
Tony
4,8
Without a doubt, I will continue to use Bookingautos on a regular basis. Thank you very much for your assistance!
Michael
4,7
Excellent value for money. The pick-up process was a little confusing, but I would use it again!
Luna
4,5
The search was very simple to use, the price was really low, and there were no problems with the rental car company.
Jody
4,9
Everything proceeded as expected. The complete coverage compensation really worked.
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