Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport (ETZ) serves the Lorraine region of northeastern France, sitting roughly midway between the historic cities of Metz and Nancy, and a rental car is the most practical way to reach either city or explore the wider borderlands near Germany and Luxembourg. The airport is a modest regional facility well outside both cities, with counters from international and local rental companies, and the manageable passenger volumes here typically make for a fast, low-stress pickup compared with larger French hubs.
From ETZ, Metz, known for its cathedral and riverside old town, lies roughly thirty to forty minutes north along the connecting autoroute, while Nancy, celebrated for its Art Nouveau architecture and grand central square, sits a similar distance to the south. Because the airport sits between the two cities rather than adjacent to either, travelers heading to Metz and Nancy on the same trip find the drive between them straightforward, generally under an hour depending on traffic. The Luxembourg and German borders are both within roughly an hour's drive as well, making this a genuinely cross-border base for a rental car.
Driving is on the right throughout France, and Lorraine's autoroutes are part of the standard French toll-booth network rather than a vignette system, so expect to pay tolls in cash or by card at booths on the main routes connecting Metz, Nancy and destinations further afield; a toll transponder can speed up frequent crossings if your rental offers one. Roads directly around the airport and between the two main cities are well maintained and clearly signed, while rural Lorraine roads further from the autoroute corridor are quieter and slower going. Fuel stations are common along the autoroutes and in both cities, and winter can bring occasional snow and ice to this part of northeastern France, so cautious speeds are sensible from December through February on any exposed or rural stretch.