Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

La Rochelle travel guide

La Rochelle Tourism | La Rochelle Guide

You're Going to Love La Rochelle

With a population of 76.810, La Rochelle is a must-see destination in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything La Rochelle has to offer.

When to visit La Rochelle

La Rochelle in October
Estimated hotel price
$77
1 night at 3-star hotel
La Rochelle in October
Estimated hotel price
$77
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to La Rochelle in July, when the average temperature is 68 °F, and the highest can go up to 73.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 39.2 °F, with an average temperature of 42.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in October, when precipitation is around 3.1″. In contrast, March is usually the driest month of the year in La Rochelle, with an average rainfall of 1.6″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to La Rochelle

Plane

When flying to La Rochelle, you’ll arrive at La Rochelle Laleu (LRH), which is located 4 km from the city center. The shortest flight to La Rochelle from the United States departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 22h 25m.

Train

SNCF is the most popular train carrier serving La Rochelle, followed by Train. The train journey from La Rochelle to Paris takes 2h 50m and costs around $106 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Lille, expect to pay about $155 for a 5h 05m trip. Located 1.0 mile from the city center, La Rochelle is the busiest station in La Rochelle. Another popular train station is La Rochelle Porte Dauphine, located 0.1 miles from the center.

Car

Another option to get to La Rochelle is to pick up a car rental from Bordeaux, which is about 96 miles from La Rochelle. You’ll find branches of Rentscape and Fox, among others, in Bordeaux.

Bus

You can travel by bus to La Rochelle using BlaBlaCar Bus or FlixBus. From Bordeaux, the bus ride to La Rochelle takes 225 km and will cost you around $33. From Toulouse, the ticket costs about $42 for a journey of 365 miles. La Rochelle’s bus station is located 0.4 miles from the city center.

Plane

When flying to La Rochelle, you’ll arrive at La Rochelle Laleu (LRH), which is located 4 km from the city center. The shortest flight to La Rochelle from the United States departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 22h 25m.

Train

SNCF is the most popular train carrier serving La Rochelle, followed by Train. The train journey from La Rochelle to Paris takes 2h 50m and costs around $106 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Lille, expect to pay about $155 for a 5h 05m trip. Located 1.0 mile from the city center, La Rochelle is the busiest station in La Rochelle. Another popular train station is La Rochelle Porte Dauphine, located 0.1 miles from the center.

Car

Another option to get to La Rochelle is to pick up a car rental from Bordeaux, which is about 96 miles from La Rochelle. You’ll find branches of Rentscape and Fox, among others, in Bordeaux.

Bus

You can travel by bus to La Rochelle using BlaBlaCar Bus or FlixBus. From Bordeaux, the bus ride to La Rochelle takes 225 km and will cost you around $33. From Toulouse, the ticket costs about $42 for a journey of 365 miles. La Rochelle’s bus station is located 0.4 miles from the city center.

Airports near La Rochelle

LRHLa Rochelle Laleu
BODBordeaux
NTENantes Atlantique

Airlines serving La Rochelle

KLM
Good (1,430 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,631 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,009 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,580 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,102 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,813 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,683 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,052 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,506 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,529 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,095 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,606 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,337 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,090 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (178 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,891 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (5,221 reviews)
Thai Airways
Good (366 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,629 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,392 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in La Rochelle

From 5-star hotels such as the Maison des Ambassadeurs to great affordable options like the Lagrange Appart'hotel Lescale Marine, La Rochelle offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $95 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $138 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hôtel Eco La Rochelle Centre les Minimes and Hotel Henri IV. There are also lots of vacation rental options in La Rochelle, with prices from $39 to $681 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in La Rochelle are about 4% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in La Rochelle by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of La Rochelle

Most booked hotels in La Rochelle

See all
Best Western Plus Central Park Hotel & Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, 2998 reviews)
$100+
View
Hotel De La Maree - Ile De Re
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, 991 reviews)
$93+
View
Maisons du Monde Hôtel & Suites - La Rochelle Vieux Port
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 3828 reviews)
$102+
View
Hôtel Kyriad La Rochelle Centre Ville
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 3465 reviews)
$65+
View
Hôtel Atalante - Relais Thalasso & Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, 1267 reviews)
$178+
View
The Originals Résidence, Hôtel de Ré
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1987 reviews)
$84+
View

Renting a car in La Rochelle

Expect to pay $7.42 per gallon in La Rochelle (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $89.03 and $118.71. The most frequently booked car type in La Rochelle is Compact (Peugeot 2008 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Peugeot 3008 or similar) are, on average, 34% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Expect to pay $7.42 per gallon in La Rochelle (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $89.03 and $118.71. The most frequently booked car type in La Rochelle is Compact (Peugeot 2008 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Peugeot 3008 or similar) are, on average, 34% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Find car rentals in La Rochelle