Lourdes is a small town in southwest France, best known as a major pilgrimage destination and set at the foothills of the Pyrenees. While the town itself is compact and well served by rail and local transport, visitors often wonder should you rent a car in Lourdes if they plan to explore beyond the sanctuary and town centre.
Lourdes has good rail connections for its size, with direct trains to several major French cities and onward connections to the wider network. This makes arriving by train straightforward and allows visitors to stay in town without needing a car for day-to-day movement within Lourdes itself.
However, the surrounding region is mountainous and rural, with many scenic valleys, lakes, and villages lying well beyond easy reach of public transport. This means that whether a car is useful depends largely on how much time you intend to spend exploring the Pyrenees rather than remaining in Lourdes alone.
Advantages of renting a car in Lourdes
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Access to the Pyrenees countryside
A car makes it far easier to reach mountain roads, lakes, viewpoints, and small villages that are not well served by buses or trains. -
Flexibility for day trips
Driving allows you to explore at your own pace, without relying on limited rural bus timetables. -
Useful for scenic routes
The area around Lourdes is known for dramatic landscapes, which are best experienced by road 🚗🏔️. -
Convenient for accommodation outside town
Many hotels and guesthouses in the surrounding area are more practical to reach with a car.
Disadvantages of renting a car in Lourdes
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Unnecessary within the town itself
Lourdes is walkable, and key sites are close together. -
Strong rail access
Direct and connecting train services reduce the need for a car if you are not travelling far afield. -
Seasonal congestion
During peak pilgrimage periods, traffic and parking can become more difficult. -
Additional costs
Car hire, fuel, and parking may outweigh the benefits for short or town-focused stays.
Lourdes and Pau are largely interchangeable as arrival airports for this part of southwest France. Both serve the same general region at the foothills of the Pyrenees, and if you are thinking about renting a car, there is little practical difference between the two. Driving distances, road quality, and access to mountain routes are broadly similar, so the choice of airport usually comes down to flight availability rather than onward travel considerations 🚗✈️.
Trains
In contrast, train travel slightly favours Pau. The two towns are only around 25 minutes apart by train, making it easy to move between them without a car. From Pau, there is also a particularly scenic rail route into the Pyrenees, running through the Aspe Valley to Bedous, with a journey time of just over an hour. This line offers one of the more picturesque train journeys in the region and makes Pau especially appealing for travellers planning to explore the mountains by rail 🚆🏔️.
Trains from Lourdes continue past Pau towards Bordeaux, reaching this major rail hub in around two and three-quarter hours. From Bordeaux, fast TGV services run onwards to Paris, giving a total journey time from Lourdes to Paris Montparnasse of just under five hours. It is also possible to arrive from or travel to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport by train with a single transfer in Bordeaux, although for most travellers it is quicker and simpler to use an internal flight connection to Pau ✈️🚆.
Looking east, Lourdes also has fast rail links to Toulouse, with journey times of just under two hours. Like Bordeaux, Toulouse is a major rail and air hub with extensive onward connections. However, unlike Bordeaux, there is currently no direct tram or metro link between the city centre and the airport, although a dedicated airport tram line is under construction. In the meantime, airport access is provided by buses and taxis, which still makes Toulouse a practical alternative gateway for arrivals and departures 🚆✈️.
Conclusion – should you rent a car in Lourdes
Renting a car in Lourdes is a good option if you plan to explore the Pyrenees and surrounding rural areas, where public transport is limited 🚗⛰️. However, if your visit is focused mainly on Lourdes itself, trains, walking, and local transport are usually sufficient. The best choice depends on whether Lourdes is your primary destination or a base for wider regional exploration.
