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. La Rochelle deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

When to visit La Rochelle

La Rochelle in January
Estimated hotel price
C$ 148
1 night at 3-star hotel
La Rochelle in January
Estimated hotel price
C$ 148
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 2 miles from the city centre The shortest flight to La Rochelle from Canada departs from Toronto and takes around 27h 30m.

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 C$ 75 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rouen, expect to pay about C$ 111 for a 5h 19m trip. Located 1.0 mile from the city centre, La Rochelle is the busiest station in La Rochelle. Another popular train station is La Rochelle Porte Dauphine, located 0.1 miles from the centre.

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 Ok Mobility and Sixt, among others, in Bordeaux.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to La Rochelle, including BlaBlaCar Bus, FlixBus and ALSA. From Bordeaux, the bus ride to La Rochelle takes 125 miles and will cost you around C$ 15. From Nantes, the ticket costs about C$ 12 for a journey of 155 miles. La Rochelle’s bus station is located 0.4 miles from the downtown.

Plane

When flying to La Rochelle, you’ll arrive at La Rochelle Laleu (LRH), which is located 2 miles from the city centre The shortest flight to La Rochelle from Canada departs from Toronto and takes around 27h 30m.

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 C$ 75 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Rouen, expect to pay about C$ 111 for a 5h 19m trip. Located 1.0 mile from the city centre, La Rochelle is the busiest station in La Rochelle. Another popular train station is La Rochelle Porte Dauphine, located 0.1 miles from the centre.

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 Ok Mobility and Sixt, among others, in Bordeaux.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to La Rochelle, including BlaBlaCar Bus, FlixBus and ALSA. From Bordeaux, the bus ride to La Rochelle takes 125 miles and will cost you around C$ 15. From Nantes, the ticket costs about C$ 12 for a journey of 155 miles. La Rochelle’s bus station is located 0.4 miles from the downtown.

Airports near La Rochelle

LRHLa Rochelle Laleu
BODBordeaux
NTENantes Atlantique

Airlines serving La Rochelle

KLM
Good (1,448 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,759 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,714 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,141 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,210 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,864 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,104 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,236 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,729 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,531 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,677 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,685 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,357 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,159 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,133 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (192 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (5,259 reviews)
Thai Airways
Good (381 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,444 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,918 reviews)
Show more
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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 C$ 130 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to C$ 194 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 C$ 47 to C$ 867 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in La Rochelle are about 36% 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)
C$ 136+
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Maisons du Monde Hôtel & Suites - La Rochelle Vieux Port
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
C$ 127+
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Hôtel & Spa du Château
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
C$ 96+
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B&B HOTEL La Rochelle Centre
2 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
C$ 87+
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B&B HOTEL La Rochelle Centre Les Minimes
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
C$ 79+
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Renting a car in La Rochelle

Expect to pay C$ 2.76 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$ 33.11 and C$ 44.15. Compact (Peugeot 208 or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in La Rochelle, while also 23% cheaper than other types, on average.

Expect to pay C$ 2.76 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$ 33.11 and C$ 44.15. Compact (Peugeot 208 or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in La Rochelle, while also 23% cheaper than other types, on average.

Find car rentals in La Rochelle