Visitors taking the train to Paris from cities in the southeast of France like Dijon, Lyon, Avignon, Marseille or Nice, travelling from the French Alps or crossing the border from Switzerland, Italy and Spain arrive at one of the busiest stations in France, Gare de Lyon.

The iconic station known as the gateway to the South of France for passengers escaping to the sunny Cote d’Azur is also the grand entrance to the eastern side of the French capital – the perfect place to begin your Parisian travel adventure with an Avis hire car.

You’ll find our friendly team at Avis Gare de Lyon Train Station at our counter on Level -1 of the Galerie Diderot shopping centre inside Gare de Lyon station. The entrance to the indoor car park where you’ll find your rental car is at 190 Rue de Bercy.

Before you leave Gare de Lyon, check out the grand architecture of this historic Paris landmark. The station was complete in 1849 and today is the perfect blend of modern and classical with plenty of shopping and eateries beneath the ornate façade.

Destinations inside the station itself include the famous Le Train Bleu restaurant. Le Train Bleu opened its doors in 1900 and its interior décor is designed to reflect the major cities and regions of France – creating a memory of home for passengers passing through the capital. Eat here and you’ll be following in the footsteps of famous diners like Brigitte Bardot, Coco Channel and Salvador Dali.

Gare de Lyon is well placed for many of the city’s major sites at the meeting point of three central Arrondissements (districts), the 4th, 11th and 12th. Notre-Dame Cathedral is just a 30min stroll away along the bank of the River Seine. Cross the river and you’ll be in the left bank, 5th Arrondissement with its maze of streets rising up Sorbonne University to the Pantheon. Close by the station is the Place de La Bastille, the historic site of the Bastille Prison stormed in 1789.

Conveniently located in the southeastern side of central Paris, Gare de Lyon is the perfect base to explore popular destinations around the French capital. The magnificent Palaces of Versailles (32km) and Fontainebleau (67km) are both within an hour’s drive.

If you want to head further afield, you can get to Monet’s garden at Giverny in around 1hr40min, a 96km trip west via the A13. Alternatively, if you’ve flown into Paris Charles de Gaulle and fancy a road trip after spending a few days in Paris, hire a car at Avis Gare de Lyon and you can be on the Cote D’Azur in 8 hrs.

While Paris is one of the world’s most visited cities, a road trip across France is a bucket-list experience. Gare de Lyon is close to the edge of the city’s main routes and the A6 motorway is within easy reach just one junction away via the Paris ring road (Périphérique). Whether you want to explore the countryside around the capital or stop off in local towns and villages on your way to Normandy, Brittany or the South of France, hiring a car at Avis Gare de Lyon means you can just take to the open road and drive.

For ideas, travelling tips and booking information, take a look at our Avis France location page. We also have a selection of great drives around France to help you make the most of your car hire experience.

If you are driving in Paris for the first time or haven’t travelled there recently, we’d recommend planning your route in advance and using GPS to navigate. Some key road rules in France include driving on the right and overtaking on the left. Be aware that low beam headlamps must always remain on. Mobile phones can only be used as a built-in audio device. It is forbidden to use headphones or earbuds. In built up areas be aware that bus lanes are reserved exclusively for buses, bicycles and taxis.

If you are driving in rural areas or on secondary roads without road signs, you must give way to drivers coming from the right. You can familiarise yourself with the country’s driving rules before picking up your car here with our guide to driving in France.

While some hotels offer parking, on-street parking in Paris can be hard to find and we would recommend heading to one of the city’s many underground car parks. These are open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Many are bookable in advance online offering a convenient option when you are visiting the city with your Avis rental car.