The 2023 Rugby World Cup will be held in September and October 2023, with events spread across nine participating cities in France. If you’re planning on attending the World Cup, adding a hire car to your packing list is a great way to get more out of your trip. Not only will you have the convenience of your own wheels to zoom — of should that be “vroom” — around the city and get to the games, you’ll also be able to explore the beautiful French countryside, or even attend games in multiple cities.
Read on for some quick tips for those new to driving in France, along with a brief introduction to each World Cup city, some competitive rates on hire cars over the match periods, and some frequently asked questions and answers.
The matches will be held in Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Paris (Saint-Denis), Saint-Étienne, and Toulouse. In case your geography is a bit rusty, here’s a map marking each stadium for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Select the city you are visiting for the Rugby World Cup to find out more.
A world capital for both wine and gastronomy, Bordeaux sits near the Atlantic coast, about 600 km to the west of the French capital of Paris and a hire car is the perfect way to explore these very attractions between the 2023 Rugby World Cup matches.
The French port city will be hosting five 2023 Rugby World Cup matches at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux between September 9 and 30, 2023. The stadium is to the north of the city centre, about 11 km — or a 25 minute drive — from Bordeuax’s central railway station.
VroomVroomVroom makes searching, comparing and booking a local hire car in Bordeaux for the 2023 Rugby WorldCup easy. Don’t miss a single match with our reliable car hire options from France’s leading rental car companies.
| Number of World Cup matches | Five. |
|---|---|
| World Cup match dates | 9th September: Ireland V Romania 10th September: Wales V Fiji 16th September: Samoa V Chile 17th September: South Africa V Romania 30th September: Fiji V Georgia |
| Vehicle types | Car, Convertible, Crossover, Limousine, Monospace, Passenger Van, Pick Up, SUV, Special, Sport and Wagon/Estate. |
| Closest airport | The closest or most popular airport is Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD). |
| Car rental brands | Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, GoldCar, Hertz, Key'n Go by GoldCar, National, Sixt and Wisecars. |
 Starts at EU 42.42/day From Sept 09, 2023 to Sept 17, 2023 |  Starts at EU 45.22/day From Sept 09, 2023 to Sept 17, 2023 |
*Rates last updated on July 1, 2023 Rental rate prices displayed were available in response to a search at 10:00 pm on July 1, 2023 by an Australian resident aged between 30 and 69 years old, for the specified travel dates, with a pickup and return time of 10:00 am. Rates and vehicle availability may change without notice. Use our price comparison tool to get current rental rates. Rates include all mandatory fees for the rental and exclude credit card surcharges and extras.
The Rugby World Cup matches in Bordeaux are being held at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, which is to the north of the city centre, about 11 km — or a 25 minute drive — from Bordeuax’s central railway station, Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean. On Google Maps and other driving navigation aids, the stadium may be marked as Matmut Atlantique, this is in reference to a sponsorship deal — Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux and Matmut Atlantique are the same place.
All but one of Bordeaux’s games are in the first week of the tournament, but there is a two day break in the middle. If you wanted to see another game over those two days, the New Zealand V Namibia game in Toulouse is your best bet. Toulouse is around a 245 km — or a two and a half hour — drive from Bordeaux.
A medium-sized city very close to the border with Belgium in the French far north, Lille is nicknamed the “Capital of Flanders” in a nod to its historical region, but the city has had an eventful history, from the Middle Ages right through to the modern day. Located about 230 km to the north of the French capital of Paris, a hire car is the perfect way to explore Lille, its attractions, and its pleasant surrounds, between the 2023 Rugby World Cup matches.
The city will be hosting five 2023 Rugby World Cup matches at the Decathlon Arena - Stade Pierre Mauroy between September 14 and October 8, 2023. The stadium is to the southeast of the city centre, about 6 km — or a 15 minute drive — from Lille’s central railway station.
VroomVroomVroom makes searching, comparing and booking a local rental car in Lille for the 2023 Rugby WorldCup easy. Don’t miss a single match with our reliable car hire options from France’s leading rental car companies.
| Number of World Cup matches | Five. |
|---|---|
| World Cup match dates | 14th September: France V Uruguay 23rd September: England V Chile 30th September: Scotland V Romania 7th October: England V Samoa 8th October: Tonga V Romania |
| Vehicle types | Car, Crossover, Limousine, Passenger Van, Pick Up, SUV, Sport and Wagon/Estate. |
| Closest airport | The closest or most popular airport is Lille Airport (LIL). |
| Car rental brands | Alamo, Avis, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National, Sixt and Wisecars. |
 Starts at EU 36.49/day From Sept 30, 2023 to Oct 8, 2023 |  Starts at EU 42.19/day From Sept 30, 2023 to Oct 8, 2023 |
*Rates last updated on July 1, 2023 Rental rate prices displayed were available in response to a search at 10:00 pm on July 1, 2023 by an Australian resident aged between 30 and 69 years old, for the specified travel dates, with a pickup and return time of 10:00 am. Rates and vehicle availability may change without notice. Use our price comparison tool to get current rental rates. Rates include all mandatory fees for the rental and exclude credit card surcharges and extras.
The Rugby World Cup matches in Lille are being held at the Decathlon Arena - Stade Pierre Mauroy, which is to the southeast of the city centre, about 6 km — or a 15 minute drive — from Lille’s central railway station, Gare de Lille-Europe.
The matches being held in Lille are widely spread across the tournament, with the busiest period being the final week when there are three matches in the lead-up to the finals. The closest centre for other matches is in Paris, some 230 km away, when there are two matches scheduled for the first two days of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Set in the south of France, Lyon is the third largest in the country, a beautiful city rich in history, and with a wealth of attractions. The surrounding region is equally beautiful and well-suited to short and overnight road trips by rental car. Located about 390 km to the southeast of the French capital of Paris, a hire car is the perfect way to explore Lyon, its attractions, and its pleasant surrounds.
The city will be hosting five 2023 Rugby World Cup matches at Groupama Stadium between September 24 and October 6, 2023. The stadium is to the east of the city centre, about 18 km — or a 25 minute drive — from Lyon’s central railway station.
VroomVroomVroom makes searching, comparing and booking a local hire car in Lyon for the 2023 Rugby WorldCup easy. Don’t miss a single match with our reliable car hire options from France’s leading rental car companies.
| Number of World Cup matches | Five. |
|---|---|
| World Cup match dates | 24th September: Wales V Australia 27th September: Uruguay V Namibia 29th September: New Zealand V Italy 5th October: New Zealand V Uruguay 6th October: France V Italy |
| Vehicle types | Car, Crossover, Limousine, Passenger Van, Pick Up, SUV, Sport and Wagon/Estate. |
| Closest airport | The closest or most popular airport is Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS). |
| Car rental brands | Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National, OK Mobility, Sixt and Wisecars. |
 Starts at EU 42.59/day From Sept 24, 2023 to Oct 6, 2023 |  Starts at EU 43.84/day From Sept 24, 2023 to Oct 6, 2023 |
*Rates last updated on July 1, 2023 Rental rate prices displayed were available in response to a search at 10:00 pm on July 1, 2023 by an Australian resident aged between 30 and 69 years old, for the specified travel dates, with a pickup and return time of 10:00 am. Rates and vehicle availability may change without notice. Use our price comparison tool to get current rental rates. Rates include all mandatory fees for the rental and exclude credit card surcharges and extras.
The Rugby World Cup matches in Lyon are being held at Groupama Stadium, which is to the east of the city centre, about 18 km — or a 25 minute drive — from Lyon’s central railway station, Gare de la Part-Dieu. On Google Maps and other driving navigation aids, the stadium may be marked as OL Stadium, this is in reference to a sponsorship deal — Groupama Stadium and OL Stadium are the same place.
The matches being held in Lyon are clustered between September 24 and October 6. The closest centre for other matches is Saint-Étienne, which hosts the Australia V Portugal match on October 1. As Saint-Étienne is only 70 km — or an hour drive — away, this would be an easy additional match to fit in.
The oldest, and the second-largest city in France, Marseille sits in the heart of the south of France and boasts a beautiful coastline. Aside from its wealth of museums and galleries, the city is also a mere thirty minute drive from Aix-en-Provence, which lies to the north. The surrounding region is classic south of France fare and is ideally suited to overnight excursions by rental car. Located about 775 km to the south of the French capital of Paris, a hire car is the perfect way to explore Marseille, its attractions, and its pleasant surrounds.
The city will be hosting six 2023 Rugby World Cup matches at Stade de Marseille between September 9 and October 15, 2023. The stadium is to the east of the city centre, about 7 km — or a 17 minute drive — from Marseille’s central railway station.
VroomVroomVroom makes searching, comparing and booking a local rental car in Marseille for the 2023 Rugby WorldCup easy. Don’t miss a single match with our reliable car hire options from France’s leading rental car companies.
| Number of World Cup matches | Six. |
|---|---|
| World Cup match dates | 9th September: England V Argentina 10th September: South Africa V Scotland 21st September: France V Namibia 1st October: South Africa V Tonga 14th October: Quarter Final 1 15th October: Quarter Final 3 |
| Vehicle types | Car, Crossover, Passenger Van, SUV, Sport and Wagon/Estate. |
| Closest airport | The closest or most popular airport is Marseille Provence Airport (MRS). |
| Car rental brands | Europcar, Hertz, National, Sixt and Wisecars. |
 Starts at EU 23.04/day From Sept 09, 2023 to Oct 15, 2023 |  Starts at EU 28.59/day From Sept 09, 2023 to Oct 15, 2023 |
*Rates last updated on July 1, 2023 Rental rate prices displayed were available in response to a search at 10:00 pm on July 1, 2023 by an Australian resident aged between 30 and 69 years old, for the specified travel dates, with a pickup and return time of 10:00 am. Rates and vehicle availability may change without notice. Use our price comparison tool to get current rental rates. Rates include all mandatory fees for the rental and exclude credit card surcharges and extras.
The Rugby World Cup matches in Marseille are being held at Stade de Marseille, which is to the east of the city centre, about 7 km — or a 17 minute drive — from Marseille’s central railway station, Gare de Marseille Saint Charles. On Google Maps and other driving navigation aids, the stadium may be marked as Orange Vélodrome, this is in reference to a sponsorship deal — Stade de Marseille and Orange Vélodrome are the same place.
The matches being held in Marseille are spread across the tournament, including two of the quarter finals. The closest centre for other matches is Nice, which lies around 200 km — a two hour and twenty minute drive — to the east, and which hosts three matches between September 16 and 20, which could work well combined with the matches in Marseille.
A riverside city towards the west coast of France, Nantes is known for its museums, architecture, and lively art scene. Its surrounds, particularly to the north, are well regarded for the rolling farmlands and pretty coastal beaches, further north still you can see the spectacular cliffs near Étretat.
The city will be hosting four 2023 Rugby World Cup matches at Stade De La Beaujoire between September 16 and October 8, 2023. The stadium is to the north east of the city centre, about 6 km — or a 14 minute drive — from Nantes’ central railway station.
VroomVroomVroom makes searching, comparing and booking a local hire car in Nantes for the 2023 Rugby WorldCup easy. Don’t miss a single match with our reliable car hire options from France’s leading rental car companies.
| Number of World Cup matches | Four. |
|---|---|
| World Cup match dates | 16th September: Ireland V Tonga 30th September: Argentina V Chile 7th October: Wales V Georgia 8th October: Japan V Argentina |
| Vehicle types | Car, Convertible, Crossover, Limousine, Passenger Van, Pick Up, SUV and Wagon/Estate. |
| Closest airport | The closest or most popular airport is Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE). |
| Car rental brands | Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, National, Sixt and Wisecars. |
Starts at EU 36.29/day From Sept 30, 2023 to Oct 8, 2023 |  Starts at EU 44.83/day From Sept 30, 2023 to Oct 8, 2023 |
*Rates last updated on July 1, 2023 Rental rate prices displayed were available in response to a search at 10:00 pm on July 1, 2023 by an Australian resident aged between 30 and 69 years old, for the specified travel dates, with a pickup and return time of 10:00 am. Rates and vehicle availability may change without notice. Use our price comparison tool to get current rental rates. Rates include all mandatory fees for the rental and exclude credit card surcharges and extras.
The Rugby World Cup matches in Nantes are being held at Stade De La Beaujoire, which is to the north east of the city centre, about 6 km — or a 14 minute drive — from Nantes’ central railway station, Gare de Nantes.
The matches being held in Nantes are spread across the tournament, with only two matches on consecutive days. The closest centres for other matches are Bordeaux to the south and Paris to the east, but both are over 350 km away.
Nice is located on the French Riviera, by the foot of the French Alps, and just 13 km from the casino state of Monaco. A beautiful and historic city, it was proclaimed a World Heritage Site in 2021. Busy yourself in the cities many museums and cafes, or explore the countryside and stunning coastline in a rental car. The French Alps are just five hours away by hire car.
The city will be hosting four 2023 Rugby World Cup matches at Stade De Nice between September 16 and September 24, 2023. The stadium is to the west of the city centre, about 10 km — or a 20 minute drive — from Nice’s central railway station.
VroomVroomVroom makes searching, comparing and booking a local hire car in Nice for the 2023 Rugby WorldCup easy. Don’t miss a single match with our reliable car hire options from France’s leading rental car companies.
| Number of World Cup matches | Four. |
|---|---|
| World Cup match dates | 16th September: Wales V Portugal 17th September: England V Japan 20th September: Italy V Uruguay 24th September: Scotland V Tonga |
| Vehicle types | Car, Convertible, Crossover, Limousine, Passenger Van, Pick Up, SUV and Wagon/Estate. |
| Closest airport | The closest or most popular airport is Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE). |
| Car rental brands | Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National, Sixt and Wisecars. |
 Starts at EU 42.30/day From Sept 16, 2023 to Sept 25, 2023 |  Starts at EU 46.62/day From Sept 16, 2023 to Sept 25, 2023 |
*Rates last updated on July 1, 2023 Rental rate prices displayed were available in response to a search at 10:00 pm on July 1, 2023 by an Australian resident aged between 30 and 69 years old, for the specified travel dates, with a pickup and return time of 10:00 am. Rates and vehicle availability may change without notice. Use our price comparison tool to get current rental rates. Rates include all mandatory fees for the rental and exclude credit card surcharges and extras.
The Rugby World Cup matches in Nice are being held at Stade De Nice, which is to the west of the city centre, about 10 km — or a 20 minute drive — from Nice’s central railway station, Gare de Nice-Ville. On Google Maps and other driving navigation aids, the stadium may be marked as Stade Allianz Riviera, this is in reference to a sponsorship deal — Stade de Nice and Stade Allianz Riviera are the same place.
The matches being held in Nice are all taking place over a nine day period, from September 16 to 24. If you’d like to fit one more game in, the France V Namibia match on September 21 kicking off in Marseille is a great fit.
Saint-Denis is a northern suburb of the French capital, Paris. The epicentre of French art, culture, and history, the capital boasts some of the best museums on the planet and a near-unrivalled food, cafe, and bar scene. Set north of the centre of the country, it is an ideal base for road trip excursions around the country.
The city will be hosting ten 2023 Rugby World Cup matches at Stade De France between September 8 and October 28 24, 2023. The stadium is located in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis, which is to the north of the city centre, about 6.5 km — or a 30 minute drive — from Paris’ central railway station.
VroomVroomVroom makes searching, comparing and booking a local hire car in Paris for the 2023 Rugby WorldCup easy. Don’t miss a single match with our reliable car hire options from France’s leading rental car companies.
| Number of World Cup matches | Ten. |
|---|---|
| World Cup match dates | 8th September: France V New Zealand 9th September: Australia V Georgia 23rd September: South Africa V Ireland 7th September: Ireland V Scotland 14th October: Quarter Final 2 15th October: Quarter Final 4 20th October: Semi Final 1 21st October: Semi Final 2 27th October: Bronze Final 28th October: Final |
| Vehicle types | Car, Crossover, Limousine, Passenger Van, Pick Up, SUV, Sport and Wagon/Estate. |
| Closest airport | The closest or most popular airport is Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). |
| Car rental brands | Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, National, Sixt and Wisecars. |
 Starts at EU 39.56/day From Oct 14, 2023 to Oct 28, 2023 |  Starts at EU 48.30/day From Oct 14, 2023 to Oct 28, 2023 |
*Rates last updated on July 1, 2023 Rental rate prices displayed were available in response to a search at 10:00 pm on July 1, 2023 by an Australian resident aged between 30 and 69 years old, for the specified travel dates, with a pickup and return time of 10:00 am. Rates and vehicle availability may change without notice. Use our price comparison tool to get current rental rates. Rates include all mandatory fees for the rental and exclude credit card surcharges and extras.
The Rugby World Cup matches in Paris are being held at Stade De France in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis, which is to the north of the city centre, about 6.5 km — or a 30 minute drive — from Paris’ central railway station, Gare du Nord.
There are matches being held in Paris from the very first day of the tournament, along with the bulk of the quarter-, semi- and grand-final matches.
Traditionally a coal mining centre, Saint-Étienne is undergoing an extensive programme of urban renewal as it reinvents itself into a “design capital.” Set in the central east region of France, is is a good base for road trip explorations into the surrounds, and the French Alps are just three hours away by rental car.
The city will be hosting four 2023 Rugby World Cup matches at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard between September 9 and October 1, 2023. The stadium is to the north of the city centre, about 3.3 km — or an 11 minute drive — from Saint-Étienne’s central railway station.
VroomVroomVroom makes searching, comparing and booking a local hire car in Saint-Étienne for the 2023 Rugby WorldCup easy. Don’t miss a single match with our reliable car hire options from France’s leading rental car companies.
| Number of World Cup matches | Four. |
|---|---|
| World Cup match dates | 9th September: Italy V Namibia 17th September: Australia V Fiji 22nd September: Argentina V Samoa 1st October: Australia V Portugal |
| Vehicle types | Car, Convertible, Limousine, Passenger Van, Pick Up, SUV and Wagon/Estate. |
| Closest airport | The closest or most popular airport is Saint-Étienne–Bouthéon Airport (EBU). |
| Car rental brands | Enterprise, Hertz, Sixt and Wisecars. |
 Starts at EU 31.76/day From Sept 9, 2023 to Sept 23, 2023 |  Starts at EU 32.57/day From Sept 9, 2023 to Sept 23, 2023 |
*Rates last updated on July 1, 2023 Rental rate prices displayed were available in response to a search at 10:00 pm on July 1, 2023 by an Australian resident aged between 30 and 69 years old, for the specified travel dates, with a pickup and return time of 10:00 am. Rates and vehicle availability may change without notice. Use our price comparison tool to get current rental rates. Rates include all mandatory fees for the rental and exclude credit card surcharges and extras.
The Rugby World Cup matches in Saint-Étienne are being held at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, which is to the north of the city centre, about 3.3 km — or an 11 minute drive — from Saint-Étienne’s central railway station, Gare de Saint-Étienne-Châteaucreux.
The matches being held in Saint-Étienne are quite spread out, with no two games within a few days of one another. The first match is on September 9 and the final one on October 1. Saint-Étienne is only about 65 kilometres — a one hour, twenty minute drive — from Lyon, which is hosting some matches on dates close to games at Saint-Étienne.
Set in the south of France, Toulouse is about 150 kilometres from the coast and is best known as being an aviation centre, with it being a major manufacturing centre for Airbus. Set in a particularly beautiful region of France, Toulouse is a terrific base for hire car road trips into the countryside or south to the coast.
The city will be hosting five 2023 Rugby World Cup matches at Stadium De Toulouse between September 10 and October 8, 2023. The stadium is to the southwest of the city centre, about 5 km — or an 15 minute drive — from Toulouse’s central railway station.
VroomVroomVroom makes searching, comparing and booking a local hire car in Toulouse for the 2023 Rugby WorldCup easy. Don’t miss a single match with our reliable car hire options from France’s leading rental car companies.
| Number of World Cup matches | Five. |
|---|---|
| World Cup match dates | 10th September: Japan V Chile 15th September: New Zealand V Namibia 23rd September: Georgia V Portugal 28th September: Japan V Samoa 8th October: Fiji V Portugal |
| Vehicle types | Car, Convertible, Crossover, Limousine, Monospace, Passenger Van, Pick Up, SUV, Sport and Wagon/Estate. |
| Closest airport | The closest or most popular airport is Toulouse–Blagnac Airport (TLS). |
| Car rental brands | Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, GoldCar, Hertz, Key'n Go by GoldCar, National, Sixt and Wisecars. |
 Starts at EU 33.25/day From Sept 10, 2023 to Sept 23, 2023 |  Starts at EU 34.96/day From Sept 10, 2023 to Sept 23, 2023 |
*Rates last updated on July 1, 2023 Rental rate prices displayed were available in response to a search at 10:00 pm on July 1, 2023 by an Australian resident aged between 30 and 69 years old, for the specified travel dates, with a pickup and return time of 10:00 am. Rates and vehicle availability may change without notice. Use our price comparison tool to get current rental rates. Rates include all mandatory fees for the rental and exclude credit card surcharges and extras.
The Rugby World Cup matches in Toulouse are being held at Stadium De Toulouse, which is to the southwest of the city centre, about 5 km — or an 15 minute drive — from Toulouse’s central railway station, Toulouse-Matabiau.
The matches being held in Toulouse are quite spread out, with five days to a week between each game. The first match is on September 10 and the final one on October 8. Toulouse is about 250 kilometres — a two hour, fifty minute drive — from Bordeaux, which is hosting some matches on dates close to games at Toulouse.
