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.
Airports
✈ 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.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
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.