Things to do in La Rochelle

Find and book activities, attractions and tours

La Rochelle featuring heritage elements and a coastal town
La Rochelle which includes a coastal town and heritage elements
Minimes Beach featuring a sandy beach
La Rochelle showing a bay or harbor
Minimes Beach featuring flowers and a sandy beach as well as an individual male

La Rochelle Attractions

Eager to know the most popular experiences and activities in La Rochelle? Awesome shopping, delicious food and plenty of interesting tourist attractions are only the beginning. Get those bags packed and discover the gems of this thriving city.

Find out what makes La Rochelle tick with some of the very best tours & day trips. Browse through our top {28 fun activities in La Rochelle fun activities in La Rochelle}, and book with ease knowing that we offer free cancellation and no added fees.

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Most popular activities in La Rochelle

Tours & day trips

See all 25 activities
Discover La Rochelle: Discovery Walking Tour of La Rochelle

Discover La Rochelle: Discovery Walking Tour of La Rochelle

Activity duration is 2 hours
Free cancellation available
Price is $82 per adult*
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Holiday & seasonal tours

See all 5 activities
Saint-Martin-de-Ré : Island coasts in the wind's sway (2h)

Saint-Martin-de-Ré : Island coasts in the wind's sway (2h)

Activity duration is 2 hours
Free cancellation available
Price is $48 per adult
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Private & custom tours

See all 3 activities
La Rochelle Private Digital Guide

La Rochelle Private Digital Guide

Activity duration is 2 days
Free cancellation available
Price is $4 per adult
La Rochelle Private Digital GuideOpens in new tab

Recommended things to do in La Rochelle

Number of things to do
28
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
La Rochelle Private Digital Guide: $4
Top 5 things to do
Under $25
With kids

What to do in La Rochelle

Free Things to Do in La Rochelle

Leave your wallet in the hotel room. It's possible to occupy yourself in La Rochelle without surrendering a penny.

Musee Grevin - Chat to the friendly staff and learn about the interesting collections held at this museum.

La Rochelle Grosse Cloche - You'll feel like you've traveled back in time while learning the secrets of this historic attraction.

Porte de la Grosse Horloge - If you'd love to see a few of the more important or interesting places in the community, start here.

Chapelle Notre-Dame de l'Esperance - Whatever your beliefs, this place will invoke a sense of reverence.

Concurrence Beach - Skip rocks across the water's surface, watch the sun come up or just relish the views from the foreshore.

Charruyer Park - Rejuvenate your mind and soul by spending time in nature.

Things to Do in La Rochelle with Kids

La Rochelle boasts loads of nearby fun activities for you and your kids. Our family friendly experiences will keep everyone happy for hours.

 

Looking for sports, concerts, or theater events in La Rochelle? Search event tickets to see what's happening today, or to plan what to do this weekend!

 

 

Discover the most popular places to visit in La Rochelle

Minimes Beach which includes a sandy beach as well as a small group of people

Minimes Beach

4/5(3 reviews)

Spend the afternoon enhancing your tan on La Rochelle’s largest beach, before viewing the lavish yachts in the port.

Minimes Beach
Le Vieux Port de La Rochelle

Vieux Port

4.5/5(13 reviews)

Explore the waterfront in La Rochelle with a trip to Vieux Port. While you're in the area, stroll along the beautiful beaches.

Vieux Port
La Rochelle Hotel de Ville

La Rochelle Hotel de Ville

4.5/5(7 reviews)

After visiting La Rochelle Hotel de Ville, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in La Rochelle. Wander the waterfront and beautiful beaches in the area.

La Rochelle Hotel de Ville
Tour St. Nicolas

Tour St. Nicolas

5/5(4 reviews)

Learn about the local history of La Rochelle when you spend time at Tour St. Nicolas. Wander the waterfront and beautiful beaches in the area.

Tour St. Nicolas
Tour de la Chaine

Tour de la Chaine

4.5/5(3 reviews)

You can learn about the history of La Rochelle with a trip to Tour de la Chaine. Wander the waterfront and beautiful beaches in the area.

Tour de la Chaine
Tour de la Lanterne

Tour de la Lanterne

5/5(4 reviews)

You can learn about the history of La Rochelle with a trip to Tour de la Lanterne. Wander the waterfront and beautiful beaches in the area.

Tour de la Lanterne
Natural History Museum as well as a couple

Natural History Museum

Get a closer look at the stuffed animals and other unusual items found by French explorers during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Natural History Museum
Musée des Beaux-Arts

Musée des Beaux-Arts

2.5/5(2 reviews)

You can spend an afternoon browsing the exhibits at Musée des Beaux-Arts during your trip to La Rochelle. Wander the waterfront and beautiful beaches in the area.

Musée des Beaux-Arts
New World Museum

New World Museum

3.5/5(2 reviews)

You can spend an afternoon browsing the exhibits at New World Museum during your travels in La Rochelle. Wander the waterfront and beautiful beaches in the area.

New World Museum

Discover the most popular landmarks and neighborhoods in La Rochelle

Natural History Museum showing a house and a park

La Rochelle City Centre

4.5/5(14 area reviews)

La Rochelle City Centre is known for its waterfront views, and you can plan a trip to Vieux Port and La Rochelle Hotel de Ville while you're in town.

La Rochelle City Centre
Minimes Beach

Les Minimes

Les Minimes is beloved for its captivating waterfront views. Take some time to explore sights in the area like Port des Minimes and Minimes Beach.

Les Minimes
This building is indexed in the Base Mérimée, a database of architectural heritage maintained by the French Ministry of Culture, under the reference PA17000061 .
Photo by Guiguilacagouille (page does not exist) (CC BY-SA)

La Ville-en-Bois

Travelers to La Ville-en-Bois praise its captivating waterfront views. If you've got some more time to explore, be sure to make a stop by Musée des Automates and Musée des Modeles Reduits.

La Ville-en-Bois
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Saint-Nicolas

Saint-Nicolas might not have many top sights, but Vieux Port and La Rochelle Hotel de Ville are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Saint-Nicolas
Sunset in La Rochelle

Le Gabut

You'll enjoy the restaurants and waterfront in Le Gabut. You might want to make time for a stop at Tour St. Nicolas or Bay of Biscay.

Le Gabut
Default Image

La Pallice

Travelers like the historic sites in La Pallice, and Port de la Pallice is a top attraction you might want to visit.

La Pallice
See our Where To Stay guide

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Popular day trips from La Rochelle

Photo by Bonnie Bareford

Rivedoux-Plage

Photo "LʼHoumeau" by Dostotheone (CC BY) / Cropped from original
Photo by Dostotheone (CC BY)

LʼHoumeau

Frequently asked questions

Is La Rochelle worth visiting?
La Rochelle offers an interesting mix of culture, local charm and attractions. Whether you're into the outdoors, history or traditional food, there's a lot you'll find here.
How do I spend a day in La Rochelle?
After you've checked off top attractions like Aquarium La Rochelle and Natural History Museum, spend the rest of your day exploring the food and retail options in La Rochelle.
What is the top tourist attraction in La Rochelle?
Aquarium La Rochelle is one of the top tourist attractions in La Rochelle and deserves a place on every sightseeing list of the area.
Is three days enough to stay in La Rochelle?
Three days will give you time to tick off many city attractions, including Aquarium La Rochelle, Natural History Museum and Vieux Port. The average stay in La Rochelle is three days. If you feel the urge to extend your trip, Saint-Martin-de-Re isn't far away.
Is La Rochelle a walkable city?
Some key attractions in La Rochelle, such as Aquarium La Rochelle and Natural History Museum, are within walking distance. You can also discover several of the city's neighborhoods on foot. Only 0.1 miles from central La Rochelle is La Rochelle City Centre and Le Gabut is 0.3 miles away.
What are some activities to do in La Rochelle with kids?
If you're looking for sights and tours for all the family, take a look at these terrific ideas for what to do in La Rochelle with kids.

What to do in La Rochelle for adults?
Whether you're a culture enthusiast, food connoisseur or fan of nature, there are loads of things to do in La Rochelle for adults including Musee Grevin and Mytiliculture Museum.
Are there free things to do in La Rochelle?
From enjoying parks to strolling around exciting neighborhoods, it's easy to discover free things to do in La Rochelle. If you're stuck for ideas, ask for tips from a local tour guide. Port des Minimes is a great spot for anyone planning to save on their sightseeing activities.