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.
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.
When flying to La Rochelle, you’ll arrive at La Rochelle Laleu (LRH), which is located 4 km from the city centre The shortest flight to La Rochelle from Canada departs from Toronto and takes around 11h 40m.
SNCF is the most popular train carrier serving La Rochelle, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from La Rochelle to Nantes takes 1h 46m and costs around C$ 33 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Paris, expect to pay about C$ 29 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.
Another option to get to La Rochelle is to pick up a car rental from Bordeaux, which is about 154 km from La Rochelle. You’ll find branches of Goldcar Rental SP and Rentscape, among others, in Bordeaux.
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 C$ 30. From Bordeaux, the ticket costs about C$ 44 for a journey of 201 km. La Rochelle’s bus station is located 0.6 km from the downtown.
From 5-star hotels such as the Maison des Ambassadeurs to great affordable options like the Lagrange Apart'hotel L'escale Marine, La Rochelle offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around C$ 140 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to C$ 223 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Premiere Classe La Rochelle Centre - Les Minimes and Appart'City Classic La Rochelle Centre.
Expect to pay C$ 2.80 per litre 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 C$ 33.55 and C$ 44.74. Mini (Renault Twingo or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in La Rochelle, while also 65% cheaper than other types, on average.