Europe > 🇫🇷  France > Avignon (AVN)

TL;DR: Ideal base for southern France
car v no car
car v no car
The Car or no Car advice for  Avignon can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Avignon ;  is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).

🚆 🚌⛴️ Do you need to rent a car in Avignon ?

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 strictly need to rent a car.

🇫🇷 Mode

Score

🚆 Trains - includes all types of inter-city rail based transport: Strong regional and intercity rail connections. trains score 7
🚌 Bus & Metro - includes bus rapid transit, trams, suburban rail and metro / subway: Local buses serve city and suburbs. buses score 6
👀 Guided Tours - includes bus or car based private tours and guided walking tours: Historical and cultural tours are very popular. walking score 8
🚶‍♂️ Walking - includes both urban walking and rural hiking: Compact historic centre is highly walkable. walking score 8
🚴 Cycling - includes urban cycling and bike share + rural cycling. Considers safety and hire availability: Calmer streets support some cycling. cycling score 6
⛴️ Ferries & Cruises - includes river crossings, dinner cruises, lake steamers etc (not long duration cruise packages): No ferries or water transport. ferries score 0
  • For all transport modes, a score of 0 = very poor or none available; 10 = outstandingly good.

💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Avignon?

These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.

🇫🇷 Factor

Score

🚗 Car Availability & Cost - is there a wide choice of self-drive rental cars at decent prices? Self-drive common with fair pricing. car rental availability score 6
⛽ Fuel & Toll Costs - Expensive fuel, toll motorways nearby. Typical: $7/gal | 1.85 €/l fuel and tolls score 4
🛣️ Road Quality - High-quality French roads. road quality score 7
⚠️ Road Safety - Strong national road safety record. road safety score 9
🅿️ Parking Availability & Cost - Parking regulated but available. parking score 6
  • For all factors, a score of 0 = very poor; 10 = outstandingly good


Avignon Car Rental Costs

J F M A M J J A S O N D
3 3 4 4 4 5 6 6 5 4 4 4
Price bands:
  • From 1 ($0-10 per day) to 10 ($90-100 per day);
  • For typical cheapest available economy hire car;
  • Jan - Mar 2027 / Apr - Dec 2026.
  • Prices correct as of Feb 2026 - estimates only, not a guarantee.
🚗Do we need a car in Avignon? Is it worth it? Should we rent one? | Comment
Avignon is one of Provence’s most beautiful cities, famous for its medieval walls, the Palais des Papes, and its vibrant festival scene. The historic centre is compact, walkable, and easy to enjoy without a car. Public transport covers nearby towns, and trains link Avignon with the rest of France. So, should you rent a car in Avignon? The answer depends on whether you want to stay inside the city walls or explore the wider Provençal countryside. Because Avignon is both a rail hub and a gateway to vineyards, the choice varies by traveller.


🚶 Why You Don’t Need a Car in Avignon

First of all, the walled city is small and perfect for walking. You can reach:

  • Palais des Papes

  • Pont d’Avignon

  • Main squares

  • Cafés and restaurants

Parking inside the walls is limited and expensive.

In short: no car needed for the historic centre.


🚆 Trains Make Exploration Easy

Avignon is unusually well connected:

  • Avignon Centre (local trains)

  • Avignon TGV (high-speed services)

You can reach:

  • Arles

  • Nîmes

  • Orange

  • Marseille

  • Montpellier

All without driving.

➡ Rail is often faster than renting a car.


🚌 Buses Work for Short Trips

Regional buses reach small villages and vineyards.
Timetables vary, but they cover many popular stops, including the famous Pont Du Gard near Nimes.

➡ Buses help if you want to avoid driving.


🚗 When Renting a Car Helps

A car becomes useful if you want to explore deeper into Provence.
It helps for:

  • Luberon hill towns (Gordes, Roussillon, Ménerbes)

  • Lavender routes

  • Mont Ventoux

  • Isolated vineyards

  • Scenic roads impossible by train

Provence is rural, so driving gives full freedom.

➡ For countryside touring, a car is the best choice.


🧭 Quick Decision Table

Your Plan in Avignon / Provence Car Needed?
Staying inside the old town ❌ No
Visiting major cities via TGV ❌ No
Day trips to Arles or Orange ❌ No
Short countryside trips ❔ Optional
Exploring Luberon villages ❔ Optional
Lavender routes or Mont Ventoux ❔ Optional / often easiest with a car
Full Provence road trip ✅ Yes

🎯 Conclusion: Should You Rent a Car in Avignon?

  • ❌ Skip the car if you stay inside the medieval walls and rely on trains for Arles, Nîmes, and Marseille.

  • ❔ Consider renting a car if you want to explore Luberon, lavender fields, vineyards, and scenic rural Provence.

In the end…

Avignon works very well without a car, but Provence becomes magical once you start driving into the countryside.


Search for Car Rental in Avignon with Economy Bookings .com

🚗Do we need a car in Avignon? Is it worth it? Should we? | Comment

🚗 ✅ ❌ Summary Table

This summary score brings together how much you really need a car, whether it’s worth it, and an overall recommendation.

🇫🇷 Factor

Score

Road Trips - Is Avignon a good place to start a road trip? Excellent Provence road trip hub road trip score 7
Road Trip Length - How long might a typical road trip last? | In a loop / out and back / one way? 4–5 days - Provence and Luberon loop

🔁

Structures - Are there loads of impressive bridges and tunnels around Avignon? Historic bridges and autoroutes structures score 7
🚦 Overall Need for a Car - Is it necessary to hire a car in Avignon? (high score = yes). need score 5
💶 Is It Worth It? - High score = good value worth score 7
Partial car rental doodle Partial Rental: Is it worth renting a car in Avignon for some of the time, rather than all or nothing (e.g. for a 7 day trip)?

4/7

Do most people visiting Avignon rent a car? (From 0 to 10). worth score 5
🚗Should You Rent a Car in Avignon?
overall should you rent a car score 7

Frequently Asked Questions

Visited? – Have we visited Avignon in person (year)? 2001
  • How do we define "road trips" and suggest their duration?
Updates – When was this page last updated:
  • Automatic*: Feb-26
  • Manual*: Oct-25
  • Automatic = update of table data; Manual = update of page text | How do we update pages ?
What are the general advantages and disadvantages of renting a car in any location?
  • Pros include – time freedom, wider access, often best value for groups of 4–7.
  • Cons include – hassle of driving on unfamiliar roads and parking, often expensive for solo travellers and couples, less environmentally friendly than public transport.
I'm still not sure whether or not to rent a car in Avignon – can you offer more advice?
  • We always welcome comments using the form below.
  • Unfortunately we can’t take phone calls or answer individual emails.
Can you advise us on how to get the best car rental deal in Avignon?
  • Our most useful advice is not to rent a car you don’t need!
  • After that, our advice is similar to what you would expect anywhere else – book well ahead, use your own CDW insurance, watch out for fuel contracts, avoid fines and shop around.

👍🏾 / 👎🏻 Will You Rent a Car in Avignon?

Will you rent a car?Would you rent a car in Avignon, or would you rely on tours or public transport instead? Everyone travels differently, and the right choice often depends on where you’re going, how long you’re staying, and what kind of trip you’re planning.

Hopefully this page has given you a quick, practical overview of the pros and cons of renting a car in Avignon, and whether it’s really necessary or not. Maybe it’s helped you make up your mind — or maybe you’ve already visited and have insights to share.

We always welcome comments, questions, and comparisons with other cities.

All feedback is read, and any questions or clarifications are usually replied to within 24 hours.  

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *