Essential Tips for Driving in the South of France

Europe . France . Travel Tips

Essential Tips for Driving in the South of France

Last Modified: December 10, 2024

Driving in the South of France is one of the best ways to get around. It is one of the country’s most picturesque areas, full of rolling hills, olive groves, and small towns. Driving allows you to be flexible with your itinerary and enables you to experience the region’s beauty.

Driving a car is also the most efficient way to get around. Many towns do not have direct access to public transportation, and several remote destinations exist. Driving through the French countryside is pretty straightforward. However, every country has its own unique set of rules and regulations that are important to understand. 

This guide covers all the essential tips for driving in the South of France. I have also included everything you need to know about renting a car in France, sample itineraries, and general rules to follow.

So many factors go into the price of a rental car. One of the biggest would be the time of year when you’re renting one. Like anything, the high-peak seasons will come with higher rental prices than if you plan to travel during the shoulder season.

Another factor for the price is the size of the car. The larger the vehicle, the higher the price tag. Small cars are much better to drive in Europe, so spending more money on a larger car does not make sense. With French cities having such an old infrastructure, you will drive through narrow roads and park in very tight spaces. 

European cars are generally manual, but you can rent an automatic car for a higher price. There is a smaller inventory for automatic cars, so renting your well in advance is best.  An additional hidden fee to renting a car is the location of drop-off.

If you plan on picking your car up at one place and dropping it off at another, you will pay an additional cost. I have found that Discover Cars has had some of the best overall car rental prices among other rental companies.

You can save money by booking a car months in advance and searching for discounts online. Two of the sites I use the most are Discover Cars and RentalCars.com. They cross-reference car rentals from different companies to get you the best prices. I also like the ease of choosing your location and customizing what type of car you’d like. 

The airport is one of the most popular places to pick up your rental. Cities like Nice, Marseille, and Paris are all great places to begin your road trip through the South of France. They have large airports and extensive car rental options. 

When you pick up your rental, you will bring your confirmation receipt and required documents to the rental company. We picked our car up from Nice on the French Riviera. There is a large building with dozens of booths designated for the various car rental companies. 

Once you complete the paperwork, you will take an elevator up to the parking deck to your car. Rental companies organize the parking spots, so pay attention to the signs to help you find your car. There are also attendants there who can help you.

Before you leave, check the car for any damages not detailed in your contract. Smaller car rental locations will go over this step with you, but this is skipped in places like Nice, which has thousands of cars in inventory.

Autoroute: These are the main highways throughout France and are indicated with an ‘A.’ Autoroutes are the quickest way to get around, with speed limits up to 130 km/hr., but they do come with tolls. 

Route Nationale: The main roads are known as route nationale, indicated with an ‘N.’ The average speed limit for these roads is around 110 km/hr, but you will want to watch for the speed signs. The Route Nationale is a good alternative for driving long distances in France to avoid tolls. 

Minor Roads: Small roads are indicated with a ‘D’ and have an average speed limit of 80 km/hr. These you will use when traveling locally, but not for long distances. 

City Roads: Whenever you are in a city or urban area, the speed limit drops to 50 km/hr. or below. Speed signs are not posted in the towns nearly as often as in rural areas, so be aware that you don’t go over this speed. Another thing to be mindful of when in cities is one-way roads and narrow streets.

Parking options differ drastically depending on where you travel in the South of France. The larger cities have large parking decks extending underground and street parking in many areas. Generally, the further out from the city center, the cheaper the parking fee will be. 

Smaller towns will be harder to find parking. Many will have small paid parking lots on the edge of the city and spots on side roads. If you plan on spending at least half the day in a given town, the parking lots are better to use. These charge you a flat daily fee, whereas the roadside meters only allow you to pay for 2-3 hours of parking at a time. 

The parking meters in France can take a little bit of getting used to. And in many cases, we experienced long lines to use them. You can download a parking app and pay on your phone to save time. One of the parking apps we used in the Luberon was Pay by Phone, but they may differ depending on where you are. 

Another way to get around the South of France is by train. Depending on your travel plans, trains may be the cheapest and most efficient method. A train is an excellent option for traveling to different towns on the French Riviera.

The SNCF train runs from the early morning to late at night, with trains scheduled every 30 minutes. And with tickets costing as little as €3, it is a budget-friendly option. Since most of the towns along the French Riviera are close to the train stations, you don’t need a car.

Trains will be more difficult if you plan to visit multiple locations in the Provence region. Large cities like Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, and Avignon have TGV and SNCF trains, which can get you around quickly. Smaller villages like Saint-Remy-de-Provence and Gordes will not be accessible by train. 

Guided tours are a great way to experience the South of France if you don’t want to drive. In this case, you will want to pick a larger city to make your base, as these are where the tours are stationed from. 

To fully experience Provence, the Best of Provence Tour: is an all-inclusive tour that will take you to the top destinations in the area. Your guide will take you to two of the prettiest hilltop towns of Gordes and Roussillon and a stop in Fontaine de Vaucluse. If you visit during the summer, you can take photos at one of the Luberon’s prettiest lavender fields before heading to the Pont du Gard aqueduct.

If you’re a wine lover, then you’d like a Half-Day Wine Tasting Tour. Discover the wines of three different vineyards as you are taken around the Côtes du Rhône for an afternoon of tastings. You will be accompanied by a wine specialist that will teach you about the region’s wines, production, and unique landscape.

Spend the day in the countryside, visiting some of the best lavender fields in Provence, including the famous Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque. Stop by the village of Gordes and Toussilon along the way for time on your own to explore and shop for local products.

Hey, I’m Ally! Welcome to Cafes and Getaways. I’ll be sharing details on my latest travel destinations, as well as tips and tricks to help you plan your next adventure.

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