Visiting La Rochelle and its surroundings without a car
You have now arrived at La Rochelle. And now, how to get around the Atlantic destination? Don't panic: we tell you everything and prove to you by A+B that you can easily do without a car and still have a good holiday.
A city on a human scale where everything can be done on foot or by bike
Accommodation in the city, on the port, in the Saint-Nicolas district or near the parks, and you can explore La Rochelle on foot or by bike. Like Nordic cities such as Amsterdam or Copenhagen, you will quickly see that the maritime city is bike friendly. A pioneer in self-service cycling, with its many cycle paths and its position on the routes of two cycle routes - the Vélodyssée and the Vélo Francette - the destination is a freewheeler.
From port to port, from cobbled streets to arcades, from the terraces of the Old Port to museums, everything can be done on foot or by bicycle. So much so that the Tourist Office offers, in addition to the traditional guided walking tours, cycling tours to discover the destination in local style.
Itineraries and trips with Loopi
Your Loopi assistant guides you on the most suitable roads, tracks and paths to reach your destination.
Yélo La Rochelle: your journeys without constraint throughout the agglomeration
In the La Rochelle conurbation, everything is done to make your travel easier thanks to the Yélo offer from the Maison de la Mobilité.
- Ride along the 230 km of cycle paths in the area and beyond with a self-service bicycle. Head for the authentic ports of l'Houmeau, Nieul-sur-Mer, Marsilly or les Boucholeurs and their oyster huts.
- Dompierre-sur-Mer, Saint-Xandre, Périgny, Vérines, etc.: explore the destination and discover its villages, their heritage and local know-how, or go to your bed and breakfast using the bus network.
- Need to use a car occasionally? No problem! With the Yélo Mobile car-sharing service, you can access a fleet of electric or hybrid vehicles available in a few clicks.
Getting around ... by sea
Take the ferry and sea bus to cross the Old Port more quickly and get around as if you’re on a mini-cruise.
The joys of the seaside, beaches accessible without a car in a few minutes
With its three urban beaches, the Atlantic belle allows you to enjoy all the advantages of a city by the sea. After a shopping spree, a stroll through the museums or a visit to an exhibition, you can end the day with your feet in the water for a refreshing break just a few pedal strokes away.
From the Concurrence beach, the closest to the Old Port, through the Minimes beach, the most suitable for paddle and other water sports, to the wilder Chef de Baie beach, there is a sandy beach for all tastes.
Reaching the large sandy beaches at the gates of La Rochelle
For those who love the big beaches, you can take the bike or the bus to Aytré or Châtelaillon-Plage, which is a classified seaside resort:
- To reach Aytré you can take a Yélo bike or the Yélo bus line n°1 (n°41 on Sunday).
- To reach Châtelaillon-Plage, follow the Vélodyssée trail for 13.7km by bike. You can also take the bus with the Yélo line n° 16 or with the line 9 of the transports "Les Mouettes"; or even the train with the cadenced link.
Boarding the islands by sea
Travelling on the water, a means of transport that is as practical as it is pleasant and that is sure to be part of the good memories of your holidays.
Whether you are staying in La Rochelle and want to make a stopover on the island of Ré, the island of Oléron, the island of Aix or conversely whether you are on holiday on the islands and want to visit La Rochelle, the sea links are the solution. For a day or for several days, the schedules of the cruisers are adapted to all your projects and allow you to spend a stay in all serenity.
Explore the Charente-Maritime and the major sites around La Rochelle
Would you like to extend your discovery of the area to the communes of Charente-Maritime?
Every day, including Sundays and public holidays, the regular intercity bus routes allow you to travel anywhere in the department: Ile de Ré, Royan, Saintes, Rochefort, Ile d'Oléron, Ile d'Aix from Fouras, Marans, Saint-Jean-d'Angély or Surgères. Comfortable and ecological, the bus is a good alternative, let yourself be driven to your destination.
The TER Nouvelle Aquitaine train is also a good option for navigating around the destination to discover the region's nuggets. Rochefort and the Arsenal des Mers, Niort and the Marais Poitevin, Fontenay-le-Comte and the heritage of the Vendée are all within easy reach by train.
You can take your bike with you on the TER, so don't forget it to make it easier to get around once you're there!