City or town
Things to see in La Rochelle (France): 37 places and when to go
La Rochelle is a town in France with around 77,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 37 places in and around it, mainly History (13), Wildlife (8), Food and drink (8). The best known are La Rochelle Cathedral, La Rochelle station and Notre-Dame-de-Ré abbey. The best time to come is March to October; also possible: November to February. In June there are 15 h 33 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 27. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- France · 46.1667, -1.15
- Population
- About 77,000
- Places
- 37 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- What people come for
- History (13) · Wildlife (8) · Food and drink (8) · Nature (7) · Temples (4) · With kids (3)
- Best time
- March to October.
- Also possible
- November to February.
- Nearest airport
- BOD Bordeaux, 153 km as the crow flies
What to see in La Rochelle
The places in and around La Rochelle, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- La Rochelle CathedralCathedral located in Charente-Maritime, in France645 m
- La Rochelle stationRailway station in La Rochelle, France1.6 km
- Notre-Dame-de-Ré abbeyAbbey located in Charente-Maritime, in France12 km
- La Rochelle submarine baseHistory4.7 km
- Fort de La PréeFortress at La Flotte, Charente-Maritime, France11 km
- Fort ÉnetIsland in Charente-Maritime, France18 km
- Aquarium de La RochellePublic aquarium in France1.5 km
- Ernest Cognacq MuseumMuseum in France17 km
- The Chain TowerHistoric site in La Rochelle, France1.3 km
- Lantern TowerLighthouse in Charente-Maritime, France1.3 km
- Saint Nicolas TowerTower in La Rochelle1.2 km
- Citadel of Saint-Martin-de-RéFort in La Rochelle, France17 km
- Église Sainte-CatherineChurch located in Charente-Maritime, in France14 km
- Fier d'ArsBay27 km
- Phare de ChauveauLighthouse in Charente-Maritime, France10 km
- Réserve naturelle nationale de la baie de l'AiguillonProtected area13 km
- Chef de BaieBeach5.1 km
- Maison de la VinatrieHouse in Saint-Martin-de-Ré, France17 km
- Minimes BeachBeach in La Rochelle, France3.3 km
- Réserve naturelle nationale de Lilleau des NigesProtected area in France28 km
- Réserve naturelle nationale de Moëze-OléronProtected area in France27 km
- Réserve naturelle régionale du marais de la VacherieProtected area in France26 km
- Arrêté de protection d'habitat naturel de la Vallée du CuréProtected area17 km
- Bières de RéBrewery13 km
And the other 13, by what you come to do:
- Food and drink: Brasserie Autrement, Casse cou, Frichti et tire-bouchon, La Barbette, La Beun'aise, La Rieuse, Science Infuse
- Temples: Ancienne église Saint-Nicolas
- With kids: Parc Animalier Charles-Édouard Beltremieux, "Warrior Game"
- Nature: Pointe D'Arçay
- Hot springs: Spa Nuxe, Thalasso Spa Marin
When to go to La Rochelle
The best time to visit La Rochelle is March to October; also possible: November to February. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanPossible8:49
- FebPossible10:06
- MarBest time11:36
- AprBest time13:20
- MayBest time14:46
- JunBest time15:33
- JulBest time15:14
- AugBest time13:58
- SepBest time12:18
- OctBest time10:39
- NovPossible9:10
- DecPossible8:27
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 15 h 33 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 27. In June, 37 of the 37 places are at their best.
When to go to France in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to La Rochelle
The nearest main airport is Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD, Bordeaux), 153 km as the crow flies. How to get around France (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron13 places28 km
- Avenue Camille Pelletan13 places29 km
- Saint-Hilaire-la-Palud8 places35 km
- Le Bernard22 places38 km
- Les Mathes10 places52 km
- Vouvant15 places54 km
And all of France, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in La Rochelle?
The best known: La Rochelle Cathedral, La Rochelle station, Notre-Dame-de-Ré abbey, La Rochelle submarine base, Fort de La Prée. In all, 37 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit La Rochelle?
March to October; also possible: November to February. In June there are 15 h 33 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 27.
How do you get to La Rochelle?
The nearest main airport is Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD), 153 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with La Rochelle as the destination and these 37 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
- FranceBefore travelling to France: 6 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. For Spanish citizens, entry only takes an ID card (DNI).
- History5933 places for history in France, from Eiffel Tower to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: March to October. Each with its own season by altitude and daylight.
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.