Train from Paris-to Caen or Bayeux, if we want to rent a car at the train station?

There aren't any suitable car rental options at the train station in Bayeux. Hertz is the only option in town that would allow drop-off in Nice but it is well over a mile away (otherwise there are few garages and supermarkets that rent cars, but you need to go back to the pickup place, and I am not sure how often they deal with foreigners).

Caen it is, then! Mind that rental offices there are closed on Sundays as well as over lunchtime.

Google Maps can help.
https://www.google.ca/maps/search/car+rentals/@49.175604,-0.3509147,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m8!2m7!3m6!1scar+rentals!2sPl.+de+la+Gare,+14000+Caen,+France!3s0x480a429db9f39ee7:0x97b0609ad1c2d4b6!4m2!1d-0.348726!2d49.175604

It's a bulky link but it shows the neighbourhood around the Caen station (gare) and links to various rental agencies. It might be more efficient to arrive in the afternoon, stay overnight and begin your rental the next morning.

Caen is a city with more facilities than Bayeux, from hotels to restaurants. The castle fortress of William the Conqueror in the centre is worth a stroll and Caen has its own war museum in the suburbs. It suffered heavy bombardment before and during the invasion and some of that damage is commemorated with street markers.

Hello from Wisconsin,

1. You are correct to avoid renting in Paris unless you are at the airport. From the CDG airport to Caen is under 3 hours. I would not recommend getting off an 8 hour plane ride and hopping into a car and driving around the edge of Paris.

2. In Caen the car rental I used is across the street from the train station. Very handy. I did have to walk to the end of the block to get the physical car. However, barring repairs and strikes it is an 11 hour train ride!! YIKES. Maybe my source is wrong. Hard to believe it is 11 hours.

3. You might consider taking a train to Chartres (1.5 hr train ride) and enjoying that city. Spend the night and pick up a rental there and head for Bayeux (2.5 hour drive). There is a Hertz not so far from the Cathedral. Chartres will not disappoint. A nice B&B is Les Conviv'hôtes owned by Sylvi Menard.

wayne iNWI

We have rented in Caen and the train is not a long trip. It is about 2.5 hours with no changes and there are many direct trips from St. Lazare to Caen daily.

Note that the rental agencies in Caen at the train station take leisurely lunch hours so be sure you time your arrival to get a car when they are open. Or plan on having lunch before getting the car.

Hi fro Wisconsin,
11 hours I found hard to believe. 2.5 hours is more like it. That Is why I remember it being a very viable option. Thanks for getting the hours correct.

wayne iNWI

Took train from Paris to Caen last month. Rented car from Enterprise right across street from train station. Very easy. Other rental companies are in same area. Don’t try to rent in Bayeux.

We just returned yesterday from a similar trip. We had started in Nice, flew to Orly and rented a car there. We drove to Rouen and then slept in Honfleur (one night) then two nights in Bayeux. Renting a car at Orly was much cheaper than elsewhere. Booked through Costco travel. We stopped at Caen WWII museum on the way from Honfleur to Bayeux. The driving out of Paris wasn't bad at all.

We were just in France last month and rented a car in Caen for a couple of days to see the Normandy Beaches. We stayed in Bayeux. We rented from Europe Car just outside the train station in Caen. It was easy and they were friendly.

I've rented in Caen, Bayeux and Cherbourg (drop off only). Caen is certainly much simpler than Bayeux, and it is only a 20+ minute drive between the two.