6 Base Towns in France That Work Great Without a Car
If you’re planning a trip to France and don’t want to rent a car, you’re not stuck in the big cities. These six towns work especially well as travel bases. Each one has reliable train or bus connections to nearby sights, so you can settle in and explore without dealing with traffic, parking, or highway tolls.
Here’s a closer look at six great hub towns where you can stay a few nights and see more than you’d expect, all without driving.
1. Avignon: Provence, Roman History
Avignon sits on the high-speed TGV line, with direct trains from Paris in under 3 hours. The old town is compact and easy to navigate on foot, with the Papal Palace and medieval walls right in town.
From the main train station, you can hop on regular TER trains to Arles and Nîmes in less than 45 minutes. Both cities are full of Roman ruins and have lively town centers.
To reach the Pont du Gard, there’s a regional bus that leaves from the Avignon Poste stop. And if you want to see hilltop villages in the Luberon, local tour companies run small-group day trips that leave from central Avignon.
2. Annecy: Alpine Views
Annecy looks like a postcard, but it’s more than a quick stop. The town is flat, scenic, and built around canals and a clear-blue lake. You can reach Annecy by direct train from Lyon, or from Paris.
Once in town, buses run up to Semnoz for hikes and panoramic views. Another line goes to La Clusaz, a small alpine resort that’s just as pleasant in summer as in winter.
If you’re staying a few days, it’s easy to rent a bike and ride along the lake to Talloires or Duingt. All of this without a car, and without climbing any serious hills on foot.
3. Bayonne: Beautiful Basque Coast
Bayonne is a strong pick for exploring the Basque coast by train. It’s on the TGV line, with direct access from Bordeaux or Paris.
The town itself has a walkable center with half-timbered buildings, museums, and good food.
From the Bayonne station, coastal trains run frequently to Biarritz (less than 10 minutes), Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and Hendaye. You can even connect to Euskotren in Hendaye for a ride into San Sebastián in Spain, which takes under 40 minutes.
Buses also run inland to smaller Basque towns like Espelette. It’s a rare region where both coasts and countryside are doable without renting a car.
4. Colmar: Wine Villages, Alsace Day Trips
Colmar is well-placed for travelers who want to see the prettiest parts of Alsace. The old town is fully walkable, with colorful houses, canals, and plenty of restaurants. It’s also a solid base for public transport.
Regional trains from Colmar reach Strasbourg in about 30 minutes, and Mulhouse in 25. Buses and minibuses run regularly to Eguisheim, one of the most visited wine villages in the area.
Other nearby villages like Turckheim and Kaysersberg are reachable by seasonal shuttles or local tours. It’s easy to visit two or three villages in one day and return to Colmar without driving a single kilometer.
Top day trip tours from Colmar
5. Nice (French Riviera)
Nice is one of the easiest places to use as a hub without a car. The TER coastal train runs every 30 minutes or so and stops at Antibes, Cannes, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze-sur-Mer, Monaco, and Menton.
The local bus system fills in the gaps, including the famous hairpin road up to Èze Village.
Nice also has a tram system and an easy connection from the airport to the city center. If you stay in the old town or near the main avenue, you can walk almost everywhere.
It’s possible to spend five or six days here and take a different day trip every time without spending more than a few euros on transport.
6. Tours – Château-Hopping in the Loire Valley
Tours is on the main TGV line, and trains from Paris take just over an hour. It’s often overlooked in favor of Amboise or Blois, but Tours works better as a hub. The town has two train stations and is well connected by both rail and road.
Local TER trains run to nearby châteaux towns like Chinon, Amboise, and Loches. For bigger sights like Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau, and Villandry, public buses or minivan tours are available from the Tours tourism office.
Some travelers base there for 4 or 5 nights and cover all the major castles by train and bus, no car needed.