Ideally situated on France’s Atlantic coast, midway between Bordeaux and Nantes, La Rochelle is a charming town known as La Ville Blanche for its pale limestone buildings. Once a major port for French explorers, it’s super walkable, easy to reach by train from Paris or Bordeaux, and perfectly placed for day trips to several nearby islands.
It also happens to be a dream for food lovers, full of galleries and museums for art and history fans, and there’s plenty to keep the kids entertained too.
So, is La Rochelle worth visiting? Absolutely, and here’s why.
The old port in La Rochelle at sundown
Wander the Atmospheric La Rochelle Old Town
Need some ideas of what to do in La Rochelle? The Old Town is a great place to start. Stepping through the Great Clock Gate will lead you into a maze of cobbled streets and arcaded walkways.
The architecture is impressive with 17th-century merchant houses, timber-framed façades, and standout spots like the classical Saint-Louis Cathedral and the old stock exchange. And La Rochelle is home to 291 protected historic buildings.
You’ll also find Les Halles Market right in the middle of it all. This daily market is the go-to spot for local produce, with colourful stalls selling everything from fresh seafood to seasonal fruit and regional treats.
Around the market and down the side streets, there’s no shortage of places to browse with boutiques, galleries, and cafés where you can watch the world go by. The whole area is easy to explore on foot, or you can do like the locals and hop on a bike.
Restaurants line up alongside the port
Explore the Old Port and Its Iconic Towers
La Vieille Port is the heart of the town. Framed by three imposing towers and lined with restaurants, it’s the perfect spot to watch the world go by.
At the entrance to the port are the city’s famous towers: Saint-Nicolas, La Chaîne, and La Lanterne. La Tour Saint-Nicolas, the biggest of the three, was built to protect the southern entrance and to keep an eye on who came and went by sea.
The three towers watching over the old port at La Rochelle
Just opposite, La Tour de la Chaîne once held a huge chain stretched across the port to block unauthorised ships from entering. Further along is La Tour de la Lanterne, a former lighthouse and prison, where you’ll still see graffiti carved by prisoners hundreds of years ago.
Climb to the top of the Lantern Tower and you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views over the old town, the harbour, and out towards the Atlantic. It’s one of the top things to do in La Rochelle.
Take a Closer Look at La Rochelle’s Past
Beyond the harbour and the old town, La Rochelle has a nice selection of museums to explore. The Maritime Museum sits right by the water and includes several old boats you can actually get on board, including a weather ship, a fishing trawler, and a tugboat. Inside, the museum tells the story of La Rochelle’s deep ties to the sea, with everything from navigation tools and old photos to personal accounts from people who worked on the ships.
A short walk away, The Bunker Museum is hidden in plain sight in the city centre. Built during World War II by the German navy, the concrete shelter is now a self-guided museum, filled with artefacts, videos, and scenes that paint a picture of life during the war.
The Fine Arts Museum, housed in an 18th-century townhouse near Place de Verdun, has a collection of paintings that spans several centuries. It won’t take long to get around, but it’s a calm space and a nice way to dip into the city’s cultural side. (At the time of writing, The Fine Arts Museum was closed for renovation.)
The Natural History Museum covers everything from archaeology to zoology, with exhibits like the skeleton of an orca, a now-extinct dodo, and France’s first giraffe, gifted to Charles X in the 1820s. Plus, it’s free to enter on the first Sunday of the month (except in July and August).
Best Things to Do in La Rochelle with Kids
La Rochelle is ideal if you’re travelling with kids. It’s small enough to get around easily, and there’s no shortage of things to do, whatever the weather.
Aquarium La Rochelle
Home to thousands of marine creatures, from sea turtles and jellyfish to sharks and tiny reef fish. La Rochelle Aquarium is right next to the Old Port, it’s well laid out, and you can cover it in a couple of hours.
The Beaches
La Rochelle has a couple of easy-to-reach beaches. Plage de la Concurrence is the closest. It’s small but calm and good for paddling. Plage des Minimes is a bit further but has more space and a nice stretch of sand. You’ll find locals at Plage de Chef de Baie, which is more relaxed and has a bit of green space behind it.
La Grande Roue
The big wheel near the Old Port runs from April to January and gives you a fantastic view over the town. Three loops cost €6, and it’s usually not too crowded outside of summer.
Parc Charruyer
If you need a change of pace, Parc Charruyer is a long stretch of green that cuts through part of the city. There’s a mini zoo, tree-covered paths, a skate park, and plenty of room for them to run off some extra energy.
The Best Day Trips From La Rochelle
If you’d like to relax and get out on the water. Boat trips from La Rochelle leave regularly from the Old Port and nearby piers, heading along the coast or out to the surrounding islands.
Out at sea around La Rochelle
Some are short hops across the harbour or down the canals, while others take you further to the surrounding islands of Île de Ré, Île d’Aix, or Île d’Oléron, for half or full-day excursions. You can also book a trip past the dramatic Fort Boyard, the 19th-century fortress turned 1990s game show set.
One of the most popular day trips from La Rochelle, the Île de Ré is linked by a bridge and great for a bike ride through salt marshes and whitewashed villages (with the added advantage of being flat!) Île d’Aix, reached only by boat, is tiny, car-free, and home to a stuffed camel said to have belonged to Napoleon. While Île d’Oléron is bigger, quieter, and famous for its oysters and colourful fishing huts.
How to Get to La Rochelle
The main train station, Gare de La Rochelle, is just a short walk from the Old Town and well-connected by the high-speed TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) and regional trains. You can go direct from La Rochelle to Paris, and it takes from 2 ½ hours. La Rochelle to Bordeaux takes from around 2 hours 20 minutes.
If you’re flying in, La Rochelle does have its own small airport with seasonal flights from the UK, Ireland, and parts of Europe. Otherwise, Paris, Bordeaux, or Nantes are your best bets, with easy train connections straight into town.
The centre is flat and walkable, or there are several places where you can hire a bike. It’s easy and practical to get around without having to drive, but if you do want to hire a car, you’ll find rental firms at the airport or near the train station.
Boats line up in the Old Port
Accommodation in La Rochelle
As a popular destination for both French holidaymakers and international visitors, La Rochelle accommodation covers every option, with hotels, gîtes, Airbnbs, and chambres d’hôtes for every budget. You’ll find modern chains, converted townhouses, seaside flats, and family-run guesthouses, all depending on how you like to travel. Staying near the Old Town or the Port makes life easy as you’ll be close to the restaurants, shops, and main sights.
I suggest checking the following sites:
La Rochelle has just the right mix of activity and downtime to keep you occupied without overloading your itinerary. It’s well-connected, walkable, and has a wonderful selection of restaurants.
If you’re planning on continuing to Paris for a few nights, here are a few suggestions for the best accommodation near The Eiffel Tower and the best restaurants near The Eiffel Tower. If you’re staying local, consider planning out an island-hopping route to explore Ré, Aix and Oléron, I’ll be sharing ideas for those soon.
