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. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything La Rochelle has to offer.

When to visit La Rochelle

La Rochelle in January
Estimated hotel price
AED 399
1 night at 3-star hotel
La Rochelle in January
Estimated hotel price
AED 399
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 AED 88 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Lille, expect to pay about AED 459 for a 5h 41m 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

Several bus lines operate bus routes to La Rochelle, including BlaBlaCar Bus, FlixBus and ALSA. From Nantes, the bus ride to La Rochelle takes 249 km and will cost you around AED 95. From Toulouse, the ticket costs about AED 220 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 Paris takes 2h 50m and costs around AED 88 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Lille, expect to pay about AED 459 for a 5h 41m 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

Several bus lines operate bus routes to La Rochelle, including BlaBlaCar Bus, FlixBus and ALSA. From Nantes, the bus ride to La Rochelle takes 249 km and will cost you around AED 95. From Toulouse, the ticket costs about AED 220 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 (1,442 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,736 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,690 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,087 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,197 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,855 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,094 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,188 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,719 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,524 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,644 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,660 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,140 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,353 reviews)
TAP Portugal
Good (2,123 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (190 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (5,249 reviews)
Thai Airways
Good (379 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,912 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,437 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 AED 356 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to AED 503 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 AED 143 to AED 2,431 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in La Rochelle are about 8% 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)
AED 411+
View
Maisons du Monde Hôtel & Suites - La Rochelle Vieux Port
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
AED 356+
View
Hôtel Kyriad La Rochelle Centre Ville
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
AED 261+
View
Hôtel & Spa du Château
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
AED 253+
View
B&B HOTEL La Rochelle Centre Les Minimes
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
AED 209+
View

Hiring a car in La Rochelle

Expect to pay AED 7.17 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 AED 85.94 and AED 114.58. The most frequently booked car type in La Rochelle is Standard (Peugeot 508 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Renault Clio or similar) is, on average, 66% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Expect to pay AED 7.17 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 AED 85.94 and AED 114.58. The most frequently booked car type in La Rochelle is Standard (Peugeot 508 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Renault Clio or similar) is, on average, 66% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in La Rochelle