Europe > France > Pau (PUF)
The Car or no Car advice for Pau can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Pau ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Pau ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Pau?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
Pau works well both as a destination in its own right and as a base for exploring the Pyrenees. While the city itself is easy to navigate without a car, many of the most scenic areas nearby lie beyond the reach of frequent public transport, making the decision more relevant for longer or more exploratory stays.
Advantages of renting a car in Pau
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Excellent access to the Pyrenees
A car makes it much easier to reach mountain roads, lakes, passes, and villages that are not well served by buses or trains. -
Flexibility for scenic routes
The roads south and east of Pau offer some of the most dramatic driving in the region, ideal for independent exploration 🚗🏔️. -
Convenient for rural accommodation
Many guesthouses and hotels outside the city are far more practical to reach by car. -
Useful outside peak travel periods
Rural bus services can be infrequent, particularly outside summer, making a car more reliable.
Disadvantages of renting a car in Pau
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Unnecessary within the city
Pau’s centre is walkable, and local buses cover most urban journeys. -
Strong rail connections
Direct trains link Pau with major cities, reducing the need for a car for arrival and departure. -
Parking considerations
Central areas have paid parking zones and time limits. -
Additional costs
Car hire, fuel, and parking may not be worthwhile for short, city-focused stays.
Trains
Direct trains run between Pau and Lourdes, with journey times of around 25 minutes, making the two cities effectively interchangeable as arrival points for this part of the Pyrenees. Both have airports serving the same region, but they differ slightly in profile: Lourdes tends to attract more budget airline traffic, including carriers such as Ryanair, while Pau offers a smaller number of scheduled services, including flights operated by Air France.
From Pau, rail travel into the Pyrenees is particularly appealing. A scenic regional line runs south into the mountains towards Bedous, following the Aspe Valley and taking just over an hour. This route is one of the most picturesque train journeys in the region and makes Pau especially attractive for travellers who want to explore the Pyrenees without a car.
Pau is also well connected on longer-distance routes. Trains reach Bordeaux in around 2 hours and 15 minutes, with some TGV services continuing onwards to Paris, giving total journey times of just under four and a half hours. It is also possible to reach Pau from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport by train with a single change in Bordeaux, although for most travellers an internal flight transfer is faster and more convenient ✈️🚆.
Conclusion – should you rent a car in Pau
Renting a car in Pau is highly beneficial if you plan to explore the Pyrenees, where public transport becomes limited the deeper you go into the mountains 🚗⛰️. However, if your visit is centred mainly on Pau itself and nearby rail-connected destinations, a car is not essential. The best choice depends on whether Pau is your final destination or a base for wider mountain exploration.