Tips for driving in Europe

When helping clients to plan their travels in Europe, many mention they are keen to hire a car for at least some part of their trip but are, understandably, apprehensive about driving in large cities. Driving on the 'wrong' side of the road can be hard enough, but navigating your way through busy streets that are often very narrow and one-way, can quickly raise the blood pressure. So, what do we recommend?

The rail network in most countries in Western Europe is excellent and it's often the first choice of transport for travellers but for those wanting to visit more rural locations or countries where the rail system is a little less sophisticated (or barely exists, such as Croatia), driving is the next best thing.

Personally, I'd always try to avoid driving in the large cities if possible as not only can the traffic make life difficult, parking spaces can be hard to find and expensive. Some cities, like Florence, have restrictions on vehicles in the town centre with fines imposed for those entering the 'forbidden' areas. Unexpectedly ending up in the wrong part of town could see you hit with an added holiday expense! Use the excellent public transport system whilst visiting London, Paris, Rome, etc. and save the car hire for your rural travels.

Most airports are built on the outskirts of a city so it's generally quite easy to pick up a hire car from the airport and jump straight onto the motorway/autobahn, therefore avoiding city traffic. In Paris, for example, Orly airport (which can be reached by public transport from central Paris), is located on the southern outskirts of the city and is a great pick-up point for travellers heading south or west. Other airports are similarly located on the edge of town and are linked to motorways so even if you've arrived into a city by air and have spent a few days there, it's always a good idea to go back to the airport to collect your hire car rather than picking it up at a downtown location. Vehicles in the Peugeot/Citroen/Renault Leasing program are usually able to be collected from major airports, also.

A GPS is the traveller's best friend. Hang the expense and hire one with your rental car or lease vehicle. Whilst not fool-proof, it will make getting from A to B a whole lot less stressful.

Having a car will give you the freedom to discover those off-the-beaten-path villages that so often can be the highlight of a European trip, as well as the flexibility to travel where and when you choose. Don't rule out driving in Europe - it can have wonderful rewards.

For more European driving tips, check out the Holidays to Europe Driving Guide >>>