Paris–Orly: South-Side Start to a French Adventure

The Eurodrive guide

Paris from the south — your road south awaits.

Orly sits just south of Paris, and that location is a gift to road-trippers: you're already pointed toward the Loire, Burgundy and the sun-warmed south. With a brand-new car and the capital a short hop away, you can have the best of both — a taste of Paris and an easy escape into the countryside. Here's how to make it count.

First things first: the practical essentials

Refuelling near the airport. If you didn't take the optional full-tank service at pick-up, you can refuel near the airport — there's no obligation to return the car full. The closest option is the AVIA station at Orly, right by the terminals, open daily 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Just outside the airport, the Total on Avenue de la Victoire is another choice on weekdays and Saturdays (closed Sundays).

Getting into the city. The Orlyval shuttle connects to the RER B, while tram T7 and the metro reach central Paris in around 35–45 minutes. By car, the A6 runs north into the capital — or straight south toward Lyon and the sun.

Where to spend your first night. The Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prés, on the city's south side, make an easy and atmospheric first base, with parking garages close by.

Your vehicle. Your brand-new Renault is waiting at the Orly delivery centre, already nose-first toward the open road south, under the short-term lease programme.

Paris's elegant south-side garden.

What to see and do

The historic heart. The Île de la Cité, Notre-Dame rising once more above the Seine, and the bridges linking the two banks — this is where Paris began.

The Left Bank. Landing at Orly drops you on the city's southern doorstep, so start here: the Latin Quarter, the Panthéon, Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the elegant Jardin du Luxembourg, where Parisians read, play chess and doze in the famous green chairs.

The grand classics. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe need no introduction — give them a full day and pace yourself.

Montparnasse. Ride to the top of the Tour Montparnasse at dusk: it offers the one skyline view that actually includes the Eiffel Tower, sparkling on the hour once night falls.

Burgundy, three hours south.

Foodie Paris: markets, pastries and the bistro

The markets. On the south side, the rue Mouffetard market tumbles down a medieval street near the Latin Quarter; across town, the Marché d'Aligre and Marché Bastille pile up cheeses, charcuterie and oysters. Come hungry.

Pastry, the Paris way. The Paris-Brest — a ring of choux pastry and praline cream — was created here in 1910 for the Paris–Brest–Paris cycle race; add the éclair, the mille-feuille and a warm morning croissant from any good boulangerie.

The bistro. For the real thing, take a terrace table and order the classics: a jambon-beurre at lunch, then steak-frites, onion soup or œuf mayo, washed down with a glass of red.

Evenings on the Seine.

Your first road trip out of Paris

Orly's southern position makes the open country feel close, and you can escape without ever crossing Paris. Versailles and its palace are a short drive west; Chartres and its cathedral sit an hour south-west; and the great châteaux of the Loire — Chambord, Chenonceau — are under two hours away. Follow the A6 south and Burgundy's vineyards around Beaune appear in about three hours, with Lyon, France's gastronomic capital, beyond. For families, Disneyland Paris is an easy run on the eastern ring road.

The perfect first-day loop. Head due south, away from the city traffic: reach Fontainebleau and its royal château buried in one of France's finest forests (about 45 minutes), wander the painters' village of Barbizon, then take in the sumptuous Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte near Melun before looping back to Orly — around 120 km of forests and castles, without a single Paris traffic jam.

When to come: climate and seasons

With a temperate oceanic climate, the Paris region is a year-round destination. April–June and September–October are the loveliest: mild days, gardens in bloom, long light evenings and manageable crowds. Summer is warm and lively, but in August many Parisians leave — the city breathes and traffic eases. Winter is cool and often grey, with snow a rarity: think Christmas lights, festive markets and long afternoons in the museums. The region is flat, so no winter-tyre rules apply here — but if your route climbs toward the Alps or the Jura between 1 November and 31 March, France's Mountain Law requires winter tyres or chains in the ranges concerned.

Driving tips for France

Tolls: Many French motorways are tolled, including the A6 heading south. Most toll gates accept contactless bank cards — keep one within reach.
Speed limits: 130 km/h on motorways (110 in rain), 80 on main roads, 50 in towns.
Fuel: "essence" (SP95/SP98) for petrol engines, "gazole/diesel" for diesel.
City driving: Paris and its inner suburbs form a low-emission zone (Crit'Air). Good news: your Eurodrive vehicle is exempt — no sticker is needed.

How far by car?

Approximate driving times from the delivery center.

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Photos : Jean-Pierre Lavoie (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Jorge Royan (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Sheri (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Herry Lawford (CC BY 2.0) — Wikimedia Commons.