Europe > France > Paris (CDG)
The Car or no Car advice for Paris can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Paris ; 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 Paris ?
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 Paris?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
🚫 Do NOT rent a car if you are staying in Paris.
✅ Only rent a car if you are driving into the French countryside after your stay.
Let’s explore why this is one of the easiest travel decisions you’ll make.
🚇 Why You Should Skip the Car in Paris
To begin with, Paris has one of the most efficient and dense public transport systems in the world. You can reach almost every neighbourhood, monument, and museum quickly using the Metro, RER trains, or trams.
🚦 Key Reasons to Avoid a Car:
-
Traffic slows you down, especially around major landmarks
-
Parking is scarce and expensive
-
Many central areas are pedestrian-only or restricted
-
The Metro, buses, and trains offer excellent coverage
-
Taxis and ride-hailing apps are easy to use and widely available
➡ You simply get around Paris faster and with less stress without a car.
🚶 When Going Car-Free Makes Perfect Sense
-
You are staying anywhere in central Paris (Arrondissements 1–11)
-
You want to visit the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Montmartre, Champs-Élysées, Latin Quarter, Marais, or Notre-Dame
-
You prefer walking through beautiful streets, stopping at cafés and boutiques
-
You plan to use RER trains to Versailles or Disneyland Paris
🚆 Transport Alternatives:
-
Metro: frequent and extensive
-
RER trains: ideal for suburbs and airport transfers
-
Navigo or Paris Visite Pass: unlimited travel on public transport
-
Bateaux-Mouches river boats: scenic optional transport
Cable car
Paris now has a new cable car that operates as part of its public transport system, rather than as a tourist attraction. Known as Câble C1, it is located in the south-eastern suburbs of Greater Paris, serving areas that previously relied mainly on slow or congested road transport.
The cable car links Créteil – Pointe du Lac (Métro Line 8) with Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, passing through Limeil-Brévannes and Valenton. The line is around 4.5 kilometres long and takes roughly 18 minutes end to end, offering a much faster alternative to local buses and acting as a genuine everyday commuting route.
Importantly, the cable car is fully integrated into the Paris region’s transport network. It uses the same tickets and passes as buses, trams, and the Métro, and is designed for regular daily use, including accessibility for bicycles, pushchairs, and wheelchairs. It represents a practical expansion of public transport rather than a novelty 🚠🚆
🚗 When Renting a Car Does Make Sense
Although you should avoid driving in the city, renting a car becomes useful once you leave Paris to explore wider France.
✅ Rent a Car If You Plan To:
-
Drive through the Loire Valley (castles and vineyards)
-
Explore Normandy (Mont Saint-Michel, D-Day beaches)
-
Head to Champagne country (Reims, Épernay)
-
Visit Burgundy, Provence, or the French Riviera
➡ In these cases, a car gives you full freedom to explore picturesque villages and wine routes at your own pace.
🧭 Quick Decision Table
| Your Travel Plan | Car Needed? |
|---|---|
| Paris sightseeing only | ❌ No |
| Walking, shopping, dining in the city | ❌ No |
| Versailles or Disneyland Paris (day trip) | ❌ No (RER train) |
| Loire Valley or Champagne road trip | ✅ Yes |
| Driving to Normandy or Provence | ✅ Yes |
🎯 Final Verdict
-
🚫 Skip the car if your visit is focused on Paris itself.
-
🚗 Rent a car only when you want to explore the French countryside after your Paris stay.
🥐 In Paris, the Metro is your freedom. The car is your burden.
