Cheap car hire in Paris, France

At globalCARS.com.au, we specialise in rental cars for holidays or business to Paris at discounted prices. Whether you're a business traveller on the go, a student on a budget or family on a holiday use our online, prepaid car rental booking service to get to your destination in comfort for less.

Experience Enchanting Paris by Car

A car trip through beautiful Paris is like travelling through time: the ancient Roman remains of Lutetia, the grand medieval abbeys, gothic masterpieces, the classical architecture and iconic museums, palaces and monuments, Paris has it all.

Pull up at a café in Montmartre to enjoy hot chocolate with croissant and jam. Zip down past the Arc de Triomphe on the majestic Champs-Élysées down to Place de la Concorde, the obelisk and the world-famous Louvre museum. Cross the Seine to the Musée d'Orsay or drive out to the amazing Chateau Versailles, the majestic Bois-de-Boulogne or the marvellous Fontainebleau palace; yes, there's nothing like driving through enchanting Paris - a feast for the senses fit for a king.

Things to see and do in Paris:

The Eiffel Tower

Paris would not be Paris without its iconic tower. One of the most famous monuments in the world, the 324 metre edifice was built by Gustave Eiffel in 1889 for the World Fair where it was the star attraction. See beautiful Paris in all its glory from its centrepiece tower. Open every day, mornings to late evenings.

Notre-Dame De Paris

No visit to Paris would be complete without a tour of the Notre Dame De Paris Cathedral, the mythical home of the famed Hunchback of Notre Dame. A masterpiece of gothic architecture, the cathedral conceived by the Bishop Maurice de Sully was built between the 12th and the 14th centuries (1163-1345). The French road distances are established from the "0 km" point located on the square in front of the cathedral entrance.

Arc de Triomphe

Yet another world famous monument, the Arc de Triomphe was built in honour of the French Army and inaugurated in 1836. The Arc offers excellent panoramic views of Paris and is a great vantage point to admire the stunning Champs Elysées. The tomb of the Unknown Soldier (to remember the 1 500 000 soldiers killed in the First World War) is located at its base. Every day 6.30pm, the commemorative flame is revived by veterans in a special ceremony.

Seine river banks

Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, the banks of the Seine are where the history of Paris began. A boat trip or a stroll along the river lined with splendid monuments is an ideal way to enjoy the timeless charm of this heritage.

Musée du Louvre

Arguably the greatest art museum in the world, the Louvre Museum presents collections of western art from the Middle Ages to 1850 and from the antique civilisations that preceded and influenced this art. Home to great masterpieces like Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Michelangelo's David (to name but a few), the Louvre is a visual feast not to be missed.

Musée d'Orsay

Originally a railway station constructed on the eve of the 1900 World Fair, this architectural jewel was used as a station until 1939. Redesigned as a museum and inaugurated on 1st December 1986, the Musée d'Orsay displays the arts of the period from 1848 to 1914 through its collections of paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, sculpture and photography. Known primarily for its remarkable collection of Impressionist works, the museum's impressive collections feature the works of great artists such as Monet, Degas, Manet, Renoir, Cézanne and Van Gogh.

Chateau de Versailles

First built as a 'hunting retreat' for King Louis XIII, the Chateau Versailles has survived wars, revolutions and many expansions. It remains an inspiring site filled with glorious paintings, gold lined walls and exquisite gardens. Of particular interest, the Hall of Mirrors, erected to the glory of Louis XIV and now the chief masterpiece of Versailles, features 17 windows overlooking the chateau's majestic gardens. These windows are matched on the opposite wall by seventeen arcaded and exceptionally large mirrors - to great effect. The chandeliers, the gold trimmed walls and painted ceilings transform the room into a unique tribute to the absolute power of the monarchy. An architectural marvel not to be missed.

Velib' - Paris' new bike transit system

On July 15, 2007, the city of Paris will debut a new self-service "bicycle transit system" called Velib'. Parisians and visitors alike will be able to pick up and drop off bicycles throughout the city at 750 locations -- offering a total of 10,648 bikes. By the end of the year, there will be a Velib' station approximately every 900 feet for a total of 1,451 locations and 20,600 bikes.

To access the bikes , riders can select a one-day card for 1 euro, a weekly card for 5 euros or an annual card for 29 euros. After the purchase of an access card, riding for the first half-hour is free and a supplement of 1 euro will be charged for an additional half-hour, 2 euros for another 30-minutes and 4 euros for every addition half-hour after that.

Example: a 25 minute trip = 0 euros, a 50 minute trip = 1 euro, an hour and 15-minute ride = 3 euros. Each Velib parking station will be equipped with muni-meters to purchase one and 7-day passes and to pay any additional charges once the bike is dropped off. The Velib' meters will also provide information on other station locations.

Application forms for the annual card will be available starting June 13 at Paris District City Halls, 300 métro stations and 400 pastry shops throughout the city.

The city of Paris has over 371 km (230 miles) of cycling lanes.

For more information visit: http://www.en.velib.paris.fr/comment_ca_marche