Once you’ve picked up your car from Marseille-Provence airport, it’ll take you 30 minutes to drive to central Marseille, via the A55.

Marseille is a port city in the South of France, full of art and culture. The city has a vast array of interesting monuments, cathedrals and of course, the seaside. Marseille offers a melting pot of cultures and a good way to experience this is by checking out the outdoor street markets, where you’ll find typical Provencal food and seafood fresh off the boats.

Marseille has some beautiful beaches. The Plage du Prado beaches are probably the most visited, with sandy beaches and clear water - plus sports such as beach volleyball. Plage des Catalans is the beach closest to the Old Port of Marseille, with restaurants and bars nearby to enjoy.
 

Aix-en-Provence
You can drive to Aix-en-Provence in just over half an hour from Marseille-Provence airport. Aix-en-Provence is known as the brainiest city in France due to its schools and universities. You’ll find beautiful gardens and squares and many fountains – legend has it that Aix-en-Provence has over 1,000 fountains. Walk down Cours Mirabeau, a fountain studded street with grand Renaissance hotels, to get a feel for the ‘real’ Provence.

Nice
A popular road trip is from Marseille to Nice, capital of the French Riviera. Well known for year-round sunshine, a lively atmosphere and the stunning Bay of Angels, there is plenty to keep you occupied in Nice.
The Old Town of Nice is described as 'quirky, colourful and vibrant’. With its beautiful narrow cobbled streets, lined with cafes and restaurants, large squares where people hang out and the daily flower market, there’s always something going on. The view from the top of Castle Hill is stunning, you can see the whole of Nice, and it’s a great place to take a breather from city life.

Antibes
Before you reach Nice, spend some time enjoying the picturesque seaside resort town of Antibes. It attracts the rich and famous and you’ll find mega yachts docked in the harbour. Fans of Picasso should check out the Musée Picasso, the first museum devoted to Picasso’s work, displaying an impressive collection of paintings and drawings by the man himself.
 

Which side of the road?
In France, please drive on the right side of the road.

Country driving laws

• Mobile phones may only be used with a hands-free device. Do not use headphones or earpieces
• In towns and rural areas, on minor roads and where there is no clear indication of right of way, it may be prudent to give way to traffic coming from the right (“priorité a droite”)
• Bus lanes are reserved exclusively for buses, taxis and bicycles
• It is recommended that drivers use dipped headlights at all times

Speed limits

All speed signs will be in km/h.

For a standard Avis rental vehicle with no trailer:

• Urban areas: 50 km/h (31 mph)
• Rural areas: 80 km/h (50 mph)
• 4-lane expressways (rural areas): 110 km/h (68 mph)
• Motorways: 130 km/h (80 mph)

Unless indicated by road signs.

Be aware of changes to speed limits displayed on road signs due to adverse weather conditions

Child safety / Seatbelt laws

• It is compulsory for the driver and all passengers to wear a seatbelt
• Children aged under 10 and weighing less than 36kg must be seated in appropriate child restraint
• Children weighing up to 9 kg must travel in a rear-facing car seat, in the back of the car only

Please note - It is the child’s parent / guardian or vehicle renter’s responsibility to fit the child seat.

This road rules information is for provided for general guidance only. We endeavour to keep the information up to date and accurate, but any reliance you place on this information is at your own risk.