Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring 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. Consider staying at least one whole day in La Rochelle to see all of its attractions.

When to visit La Rochelle

La Rochelle in February
Estimated hotel price
$185
1 night at 3-star hotel
La Rochelle in February
Estimated hotel price
$185
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to La Rochelle in July, when the average temperature is 20 °C, and the highest can go up to 23 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 4 °C, with an average temperature of 6 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in October, when precipitation is around 80 mm. In contrast, March is usually the driest month of the year in La Rochelle, with an average rainfall of 40 mm.

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 centre.

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 $42 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Lyon, expect to pay about $86 for a 7h 01m trip. Located 1.6 km from the city centre, La Rochelle is the busiest station in La Rochelle. Another popular train station is La Rochelle Porte Dauphine, located 0.2 km from the centre.

Bus

You can travel by bus to La Rochelle using FlixBus or BlaBlaCar Bus. From Bordeaux, the bus ride to La Rochelle takes 201 km and will cost you around $42. From Nantes, the ticket costs about $29 for a journey of 249 km. La Rochelle’s bus station is located 0.6 km from the city centre.

Plane

When flying to La Rochelle, you’ll arrive at La Rochelle Laleu (LRH), which is located 4 km from the city centre.

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 $42 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Lyon, expect to pay about $86 for a 7h 01m trip. Located 1.6 km from the city centre, La Rochelle is the busiest station in La Rochelle. Another popular train station is La Rochelle Porte Dauphine, located 0.2 km from the centre.

Bus

You can travel by bus to La Rochelle using FlixBus or BlaBlaCar Bus. From Bordeaux, the bus ride to La Rochelle takes 201 km and will cost you around $42. From Nantes, the ticket costs about $29 for a journey of 249 km. La Rochelle’s bus station is located 0.6 km from the city centre.

Airports near La Rochelle

LRHLa Rochelle Laleu
BODBordeaux
NTENantes Atlantique

Airlines serving La Rochelle

KLM
Good (1,434 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,692 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,657 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,025 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,150 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,840 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,076 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,701 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,519 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,603 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,635 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,124 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,346 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,111 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (5,245 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (187 reviews)
Thai Airways
Good (376 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,897 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,427 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,606 reviews)
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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 $170 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $252 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 holiday rental options in La Rochelle, with prices from $67 to $1,145 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in La Rochelle are about 11% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

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, Excellent reviews)
$195+
View
Hôtel Kyriad La Rochelle Centre Ville
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$124+
View
Hôtel & Spa du Château
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$121+
View
B&B HOTEL La Rochelle Centre Les Minimes
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
$97+
View
Appart'City Classic La Rochelle Centre
0 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
$112+
View

Hiring a car in La Rochelle

Expect to pay $3.32 per litre in La Rochelle (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $39.84 and $53.12. The most frequently booked car type in La Rochelle is Economy (Class Economy Car or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Renault Twingo or similar) is, on average, 59% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Expect to pay $3.32 per litre in La Rochelle (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $39.84 and $53.12. The most frequently booked car type in La Rochelle is Economy (Class Economy Car or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Renault Twingo or similar) is, on average, 59% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in La Rochelle