Why go
- City in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
- Served by Rochefort-Saint-Agnant (BA 721) Airport (RCO).
History
La Rochelle is a city on the west coast of France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department. With 78,535 inhabitants in 2021, La Rochelle is the most populated commune in the department and ranks fourth in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region after Bordeaux, the regional capital, Limoges and Poitiers.
Where to stay
7 Rue du Colombier, 17310 Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, France · closdesaigrettes.fr
67 Av. des Pins, 17310 Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, France · hotel-iledelumiere.com
104 Chem. de Saint-James, 17550 Dolus-d'Oléron, France · hotel-vert-bois-oleron.com
4 Av. Jean Guiton, 17000 La Rochelle, France · hotelcentralpark.fr
14 Rue Gargoulleau, 17000 La Rochelle, France · hoteldelapaix-larochelle.com
24 Rue des Epis, 17310 Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, France · hotel-faceauxflots-oleron.fr
30 Rue Rambaud, 17000 La Rochelle, France · hotelchamplain.com
8 bis Av. du Général Leclerc, 17000 La Rochelle, France · le-manoir-la-rochelle.fr
17 Rue de l'Ouvrage À Cornes, 17000 La Rochelle, France · masqhotel.com
13 Rue Sardinerie, 17000 La Rochelle, France · hotel-saint-nicolas.com
3 Rue de la Monnaie, 17000 La Rochelle, France · hotelmonnaie.com
88 Rue de la République, 17370 Saint-Trojan-les-Bains, France · hotellecoureau.com
292 Rue nationale, 17190 Saint-Georges-d'Oléron, France · hotel-echappee-oleron.fr
Av. Prte Neuve, 17000 La Rochelle, France · all.accor.com
2 Pl. des Anciens Combattants, 17310 Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, France · le-square-hotel.fr
51 Bd du Capitaine Leclerc, 17310 Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, France · logishotels.com
43 Rue du Minage, 17000 La Rochelle, France · maisondesambassadeurs.com
6 Av. Coligny, 17000 La Rochelle, France · accostage-hotel.fr
33 Av. du Dr Daniel Planet, 17000 La Rochelle, France · athomeresidence.fr
36 Cr des Dames, 17000 La Rochelle, France · hotel-ocean-larochelle.com
7 Rue de la Fabrique, 17000 La Rochelle, France · hotellafabrique.com
2 Av. de l'Océan, 17550 Dolus-d'Oléron, France · le-grand-large.fr
23 Rue Verdiere, 17000 La Rochelle, France · hotel-atlantic.fr
30 Quai Duperré, 17000 La Rochelle, France · hotel-marine.com
accès PMR, 3 Rue St Jean du Pérot, 4 Pl. de la Chaîne, 17000 La Rochelle, France · larochelle.maisonsdumondehotel.com
15 Rue Bazoges, 17000 La Rochelle, France · hotelfrancois1er.fr
2 Rdpt de la République, 17180 Périgny, France · hotel-la-rochelle.brithotel.fr
2 Quai Louis Durand, 17000 La Rochelle, France · hoteltourdenesle.com
51 Rue de Périgny, 17000 La Rochelle, France · la-rochelle-centre.kyriad.com
27 Rue de la Huguenote, 17000 La Rochelle, France · odalys-vacances.com
31 Rue des Gentilshommes, 17000 La Rochelle, France · henri-iv.fr
66 Bd Winston Churchill, 17000 La Rochelle, France · le-rochelois.fr
23 Quai Valin, 17000 La Rochelle, France · leyachtman.com
20 Av. du Général de Gaulle, 17000 La Rochelle, France · hotel-larochelle-gdm.com
8 Rue Franc Lapeyre, 17000 La Rochelle, France · appartcity.com
Indoor
Restaurants & places to go
Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa Features: outdoor seating · Plage de la Concurrence, La Rochelle, 17000 · christophercoutanceau.com
Regional, Restaurant · Restaurant proposant des plats et des bun's (pain composé d'une garniture) faits sur place. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-14:30 Features:… · buns-garden.fr
Argentinian, Restaurant · Restaurant d'empañadas Opening hours: Su-We 11:00-14:30; Th-Sa 11:00-14:30,19:00-22:00 · 19 Rue des Dames · elgauchito.fr
International, Regional, Restaurant · World cuisine. Opening hours: We-Su 18:00-00:00 · 23 Rue Léonce Vieljeux, La Rochelle, 17000 · instagram.com
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Café & Boutique Opening hours: Mo 13:00-18:00; Tu-Fr 08:00-14:00; Sa 08:00-17:00; Su 09:30-13:30 Features: outdoor seating, step-free… · loptimistcafe.com
Cafe · Bar à chat, salon de thé et brunch Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-19:00; PH 12:00-18:00 · lechatrenthe.fr
Tapas, French, Restaurant · La tapisserie bordelaise, restaurant de partage Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-15:00,19:00-23:00 Features: vegetarian options · 13 Rue…
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:00-14:00,18:00-22:00; Fr 11:00-14:00,18:00-23:00; Sa 11:30-15:30,17:30-23:00; Su 11:30-15:30,17:30-22:00 Features:… · dominos.fr
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-00:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, delivery, step-free access · 7 Rue du 14 Juillet, Puilboreau, 17138 · restaurants.burgerking.fr
Sandwich, Salad, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-14:30 Features: takeaway, delivery, step-free access · classcroute.com
French, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-23:00 · courtepaille.com
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-22:30 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway · kfc.fr
Thai, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-We 11:45-14:00,18:30-22:00; Th-Fr 11:45-14:00,18:30-23:00; Sa 11:45-15:00,18:30-23:00; Su 11:45-15:00,18:30-22:30… · restaurants.pitaya-thaistreetfood.com
Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-14:30, Su-Th 19:00-22:00, Fr,Sa 19:00-22:30 Features: vegetarian options, step-free access · 30 Rue de la… · delarte.fr
French Tacos, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-15:00,18:00-23:00; Sa 11:30-23:00; Su 12:00-23:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, step-free access ·… · o-tacos.com
Sushi, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:30 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway · 36 Rue Chaudrier, La Rochelle, 17000 · sushishop.fr
Vietnamese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-14:00,19:00-22:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, vegetarian options · o-pho-dannam.eatbu.com
Mexican, Restaurant · Opening hours: We-Mo 12:00-14:00,19:00-21:30 Features: vegan options · 16 Rue des Cloutiers, La Rochelle, 17000 · leboniato.wixsite.com
Local, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 12:00-21:30 Features: outdoor seating, step-free access · 12 Rue Chef de Ville, La Rochelle, 17000 · gueuleton.fr
Asian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-14:30,17:45-21:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, delivery, step-free access · 34 Avenue Roger Salengro · lasiane-aytre.eatbu.com
Fish, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Th 12:00-14:00,17:30-00:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-02:00 Features: outdoor seating · 37 Quai Valin · merluberlularochelle.fr
Friture, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 10:00-14:30; Fr 10:00-20:30; Sa,Su 09:00-14:30,18:00-20:30 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, delivery · rotisseriedupre.fr
Breakfast, Cake, Coffee Shop, Tearoom, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo off; Tu off; We-Su 11:00-18:30 Features: vegan options · 15 Rue Bletterie, La Rochelle, 17000 · pianodanslatheiere.fr
Lebanese, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:00-14:30, 18:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-14:30, 18:00-23:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, vegan options · 3 Rue de la… · babylon17.fr
Chinese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-22:00 Features: vegetarian options, air conditioning · 18 Rue de la Chaîne, La Rochelle, 17000 · baozibar.fr
Peruvian, Japanese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-14:30,19:00-22:30 · 10 Rue Chef de Ville, La Rochelle, 17000 · koya-larochelle.com
Crepe, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Th 11:00-22:00+; PH,Fr,Sa 11:00-22:30+ Features: outdoor seating, vegetarian options · 2 Rue du Port · creperielarochelle.wixsite.com
Seafood, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-02:00 · 14 Rue de l'Ange Gardien · equinoxelarochelle.fr
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-14:00,18:30-22:30 Features: vegetarian options, step-free access · 21 Rue des Dames · lamaisonducurry.fr
Syrian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-15:00,18:00-23:00 Features: outdoor seating, halal · 13 Quai de Marans · unvoyageadamas.com
Korean, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Th 11:30-14:30,18:30-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:30-14:30,18:30-22:30; Su 11:30-14:30,18:30-21:30 Features: outdoor seating,… · bunsik.fr
American, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Th 11:45-15:00,19:00-22:00; Fr 11:45-15:00,19:00-22:30
Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-18:45 Features: step-free access
Poke, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · restaurants.pokawa.com
Hot Dog, Fast Food · Opening hours: Su-We 11:00-22:00; Th-Sa 11:00-23:00 Features: outdoor seating, vegetarian options, step-free access · 39 Quai Valin · restaurants.frankshotdog.fr
Bagel, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 41 Rue de la Scierie, La Rochelle, 17000
Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-15:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, step-free access · 19 Rue Albert 1er, La Rochelle, 17000 · mille-et-une-saveurs-restaurant-la-rochelle.eatbu.com
Ice Cream · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:45-23:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; PH closed Features: outdoor seating · 21 Quai Valin · romeo-createur-givre.fr
Savory Pancakes, Pancake, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 12:00-14:00; Th-Sa 19:00-23:00 Features: outdoor seating, vegetarian options, step-free access · 8…
Fish And Chips, Restaurant · Opening hours: Th-Mo 11:30-14:00, 18:30-21:00 · 15 Rue Saint-Jean du Pérot, 17000
Portuguese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu,Th-Su 11:45-13:00, Th-Sa 19:00-21:00
African, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Su 09:00-20:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, step-free access · Avenue Louis Guillet, La Rochelle, 17000
Moroccan, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Su 11:30-14:00, 18:00-21:00 · 28 Rue de Suède, La Rochelle, 17000
Kebab, Fast Food · Features: halal, step-free access · kifkebab.com
Japanese, Korean, Fast Food · Japanese/Korean fast food · 11 Rue du Cerf-Volant · taktak-streetfood.fr
353 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
La Rochelle Île de Ré Airport (LRH) 4 km to the centre
La Rochelle, NAQ, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 4 airlines (Ryanair, Air France, Airlinair, Flybe) · direct flights to 8 destinations incl. Poitiers, Southampton, Charleroi, Dublin, East Midlands… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 4 airlines, 8 direct destinations
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 5 routes: Charleroi, Dublin, East Midlands, London, Porto
- Air France AF (ATR 42, Dash 8-400) · 2 routes: Poitiers*, Southampton*
- Airlinair A5 (BEH, ATR 42) · 2 routes: Paris, Poitiers
- Flybe BE (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Southampton
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Rochefort-Saint-Agnant (BA 721) Airport (RCO) 33 km to the centre
Rochefort/Saint-Agnant, NAQ, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Niort - Marais Poitevin Airport (NIT) 61 km to the centre
Niort/Souché, NAQ, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Les Sables-d'Olonne Talmont Airport (LSO) 56 km to the centre
Les Sables-d'Olonne, PDL, FR — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
St Pierre d'Oléron Airfield 26 km to the centre
NAQ, FR
La Tranche-sur-Mer ULM 31 km to the centre
La Tranche-sur-Mer, PDL, FR
Getting there by ferry
Embarcadère Vieux-Port
Ferry terminal · 0.6 km from the centre · Yélo
Les Minimes
Ferry terminal · 2.6 km from the centre · yélo
Quai d'Acadie
Ferry terminal · 17 km from the centre · La Charente Maritime
Jetée Barbotin
Ferry terminal · 17 km from the centre · La Charente Maritime
Liaison Maritime Fouras - Île d'Aix
Ferry terminal · 18 km from the centre
Passeur Yélo.
Ferry route
Vieux-Port - Les Minimes
Ferry route · Yelo
Bus de mer
Ferry route
Liaison Maritime La Rochelle - Île d'Aix
Ferry route
La Rochelle - Saint-Martin-de-Ré
Ferry route
Liaison Maritime La Rochelle - Saint-Denis
Ferry route · Saint Denis Croisières
Liaison Maritime La Rochelle - Oléron (Boyardville)
Ferry route
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Rochefort-Saint-Agnant (BA 721) Airport (RCO); 19 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: LRH has direct flights to 8 destinations on 4 airlines (incl. Poitiers, Southampton, Charleroi, Dublin, East Midlands…). By water: 5 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Embarcadère Vieux-Port, 0.6 km); routes include Passeur Yélo., Vieux-Port - Les Minimes, Bus de mer.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for La Rochelle. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Local transit
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach