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.

When to visit La Rochelle

La Rochelle in October
Estimated hotel price
$123
1 night at 3-star hotel
La Rochelle in October
Estimated hotel price
$123
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
Average
Celcius (°C)
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 Eurostar. The train journey from La Rochelle to Paris takes 2h 55m and costs around $97 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bordeaux, expect to pay about $94 for a 3h 40m 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.

Car

Another option to get to La Rochelle is to pick up a car hire from Bordeaux, which is about 154 km from La Rochelle. You’ll find branches of Rentscape and TravelCar, among others, in Bordeaux.

Bus

You can travel by bus to La Rochelle using FlixBus or BlaBlaBus. From Nantes, the bus ride to La Rochelle takes 185 km and will cost you around $48. From Bordeaux, the ticket costs about $49 for a journey of 201 km. La Rochelle’s bus station is located 0.6 km from the city centre.

Airports near La Rochelle

Airlines serving La Rochelle

Lufthansa
Good (2,984 reviews)
KLM
Good (511 reviews)
British Airways
Good (2,161 reviews)
SWISS
Good (650 reviews)
Delta
Good (3,693 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (1,743 reviews)
Air France
Good (642 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (3,649 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,196 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (1,709 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (162 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (794 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (591 reviews)
Finnair
Good (866 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (2,551 reviews)
LOT
Good (484 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (445 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (219 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (574 reviews)
Air Serbia
Good (70 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 Le Champlain, 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 $307 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Première Classe La Rochelle Centre - Les Minimes and Appart'city La Rochelle.

Where to stay in popular areas of La Rochelle

Most booked hotels in La Rochelle

ibis La Rochelle Vieux-Port
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$160+
Kyriad La Rochelle Centre - Les Minimes
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
$145+
Hotel Première Classe La Rochelle Sud - Aytré
Good (7, Good reviews)
$81+

Hiring a car in La Rochelle

Expect to pay $3.27 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 $39.19 and $52.26. Mini (Fiat 500 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in La Rochelle, while also 51% cheaper than other types, on average.