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 January
Estimated hotel price
$178
1 night at 3-star hotel
La Rochelle in January
Estimated hotel price
$178
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 La Roche-sur-Yon takes 1h 03m and costs around $30 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Paris, expect to pay about $62 for a 2h 49m 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 BlaBlaCar Bus or FlixBus. From Nantes, the bus ride to La Rochelle takes 249 km and will cost you around $44. From Toulouse, the ticket costs about $88 for a journey of 531 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 La Roche-sur-Yon takes 1h 03m and costs around $30 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Paris, expect to pay about $62 for a 2h 49m 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 BlaBlaCar Bus or FlixBus. From Nantes, the bus ride to La Rochelle takes 249 km and will cost you around $44. From Toulouse, the ticket costs about $88 for a journey of 531 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 (1,405 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,558 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,001 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,500 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,032 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,779 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,007 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,661 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,484 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,564 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,055 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,335 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,047 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (5,188 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (174 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,872 reviews)
Thai Airways
Good (361 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,365 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,672 reviews)
easyJet
Good (1,841 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 $168 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $257 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 Hôtel Henri IV. There are also lots of holiday rental options in La Rochelle, with prices from $69 to $1,253 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in La Rochelle are about 3% 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
Maisons du Monde Hôtel & Suites - La Rochelle Vieux Port
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$196+
View
Hôtel Kyriad La Rochelle Centre Ville
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$129+
View
Hôtel Confort La Rochelle Centre les Minimes
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
$211+
View
Appart'City Classic La Rochelle Centre
0 stars
Good (7.5, Good reviews)
$108+
View
Hotel Première Classe La Rochelle Sud - Aytré
1 star
Good (6.9, Good reviews)
$69+
View

Hiring a car in La Rochelle

Expect to pay $3.44 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 $41.19 and $54.92. The most frequently booked car type in La Rochelle is Compact (Volkswagen Polo or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Standard car hire (Volkswagen Passat or similar) is, on average, 54% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Expect to pay $3.44 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 $41.19 and $54.92. The most frequently booked car type in La Rochelle is Compact (Volkswagen Polo or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Standard car hire (Volkswagen Passat or similar) is, on average, 54% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in La Rochelle