Our most recommended things to do in La Rochelle

From La Rochelle: Sailing Cruise to Fort Boyard

1. From La Rochelle: Sailing Cruise to Fort Boyard

Get on board a sailing catamaran cruise from La Rochelle with a qualified captain and crew and set off to explore Fort Boyard. Sail through the islands as the wind blows and the tides rise and fall. Board your superb 16-meter sailing catamaran at the old harbor of La Rochelle. After the welcome briefing, cross La Rochelle Bay admiring the Richelieu Tower and the Sailing Harbour of Les Minimes. Once outside the channel, the crew will establish the sails and direct the catamaran through the islands to the legendary Fort Boyard. Sit back and enjoy the views or eat your picnic if you brought one with you.  Once at the Fort, you will sail around it, trying to approach it as much as possible in order to get the best views and photo opportunities.  On the way back, relax in the big trampolines under the sky. Enjoy the smooth rocking from the sea. Have a chat with the crew to learn more about the local landscapes, the history, or the boat. Arrive back at the dock with a head full of memories and a photo album full of wonderful pictures.

La Rochelle: 2-Hour Sunset Sailing Cruise

2. La Rochelle: 2-Hour Sunset Sailing Cruise

Embark on boat trip on a maxi-catamaran of 16 meters. Meet at the dock located in front of the 2 historic towers of la Rochelle. After a welcome speech, you will sail up the channel, looking one last time at the city in full daylight. Admire the Richelieu Tower and the harbour of Les Minimes on the way. Once at sea, the crew will stop the engine and open the sails as the sun come down. Set up your picnic if you brought one and take in the views of the ocean as the sun sets on the horizon.  Have a chat with the crew to learn more about the local landscapes and history, or to ask questions about the boat. Start up a conversation to get to know the other passengers.  Once the sun has set, you will slowly start your way back, enjoying the lights of the city at night. You will arrive at the dock after passing between the two towers of the old harbor.

La Rochelle: Catamaran Cruise

3. La Rochelle: Catamaran Cruise

Head out on a boat trip on a 16-meter maxi-catamaran and admire the La Rochelle coast. Your crew will be able to tell you about the local landscapes and history and also a bit more about the boat itself. Meet at the dock located in front of the 2 historic towers of La Rochelle. After an introduction, you will sail up the channel, admiring the Richelieu Tower and the harbor of Les Minimes on the way. Once at sea, the crew will stop the engine and open the sails for you to relax and soak up the views. Enjoy an apéritif if you brought one and take in views of the ocean, enjoying the lights of the end of the afternoon.

La Rochelle: Entry Ticket to the 3 Towers

4. La Rochelle: Entry Ticket to the 3 Towers

Gain entry to the 3 medieval towers of La Rochelle with one ticket: Saint Nicolas, de la Lanterne, and de la Chaîne. Learn about their tumultuous history and royal past. Get your entry ticket for the main attractions in the Old Port of La Rochelle — the 3 Towers. Dating back to medieval times, learn about the tumultuous history of each of these towers.  From prisons for Huguenots and foreign sailors in the 16th-18th centuries, to military prisons in the 19th century, plenty was happening in La Rochelle in times gone by.  Discover the Saint Nicolas Tower dating back to the 14th century. See how it was equipped with royal living quarters, as well as a chapel, while functioning as a defense tower.  Mosey around the De La Chaîne Tower, also dating back to the 14th century. Home to exhibitions since 1998, it used to be a place to collect taxes from incoming boats and the entrance to the port. Learn how the tower was damaged and rebuilt in the 19th century.  Explore the De La Lanterne Tower, the old lighthouse, ship disarmer, and, later, prison for many centuries. Count the 600 graffiti prisoners left on the walls over the years.

La Rochelle: 3-Hour Sailing cruise

5. La Rochelle: 3-Hour Sailing cruise

Meet at the Kapalouest pontoon, just in front of the old port, and start your sailing excursion. Once aboard the Columbus, the crew will give a quick safety briefing before setting sail. Sail along the channel admiring various monuments on the bay including, the Richelieu tower and the bout du monde lighthouse. Once in the bay, the crew will unfurl the sails and shut down the engines. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and let the waves gently rock you. Chat with the crew and learn about the local environment, history, and the nautical way of life. You will be back at the dock after 3-hours, after a final passage between the two towers. The Columbus is a sailboat full of history and maritime heritage. This large 18-meter monohull was built in La Rochelle in the PINTA shipyards. Its first vocation was ocean racing since it participated in the Vendée Globe with the skipper and Rochelais owner Jean-Yves Terlain in 1992. In the early 2000s, the ship was transformed into an expedition sailboat dedicated to safeguarding the marine environment. It is best known for its numerous missions in defense of the environment and oceans with the Sea Shepherd, WWF, and BLOOM. Today it continues to charm and raise awareness among the general public when hosting its passengers in La Rochelle.

La Rochelle: Coastline Sailing Cruise

6. La Rochelle: Coastline Sailing Cruise

Start the day with a breath of fresh and salty air on a sailing tour. Meet at the dock, right in front of the two towers of the old harbor. Once aboard the 16-meter maxi-catamaran, the crew will give a quick safety briefing before setting sail. Head up the channel, admiring the different landmarks of the bay such as the Richelieu Tower, the sailing harbor of Les Minimes, or the "end of the world" lighthouse. Once out in the bay, the crew will unfurl the sails and stop the engines. Generally in the morning, the sea is quiet and few sailboats roam the sea. Take in the peaceful atmosphere, lie down on the trampolines, and let the waves rock you gently. Chat to the crew to learn more about the local environment, history, and nautical lifestyle. You will be back at the dock just before lunch, after one last parade between the old towers.

Escape Game Outdoor : La perle de La Rochelle

7. Escape Game Outdoor : La perle de La Rochelle

Escape The City c’est un jeu de piste connecté, une sorte d’escape-game outdoor – ou Live City Game – qui vous propose d’explorer votre ville d’une manière ludique et en équipe ! C'est quoi le principe ? Une fois votre équipe constituée, une mission vous sera proposée par un compagnon digital directement accessible depuis votre smartphone. Vous devrez alors enquêter à la recherche d’indices, résoudre des énigmes originales et interagir non seulement avec votre guide mais aussi avec vos co-équipiers.😎 La Mission : La mer est agitée, le vent s'est levé, un danger plane au dessus de la Rochelle.🌊 Le Kraken géant endormi depuis des siècles menace la ville, accompagne la Sirène Ariesea à travers la ville et résous les énigmes qui te permettront de sauver la ville. 🧜‍♀️ En équipe, parcours les rues et le vieux port à la recherche d'indices.🔎

La Rochelle : Birthday Mission Outdoor City Game

8. La Rochelle : Birthday Mission Outdoor City Game

This year, forget the traditional birthday balloons! Stroll the streets and alleys of the White City with your friend who is celebrating his or her birthday! In teams and in a totally new way, come to the end of a playful urban itinerary dotted with unusual photo and video challenges... It's time to have fun together to create a day of unforgettable memories with your loved one! Arm yourselves with your good humor, your enthusiasm and your courage to carry out our wackiest missions and challenges! Because after all... There's no way this day is going to end the way it started! So offer this fabulous gift to the person who blows out the candles and especially on behalf of the whole team: HAPPY BIRTHDAY

La Rochelle: Private Guided Walking Tour

9. La Rochelle: Private Guided Walking Tour

Meet your guide and embark on a walking tour of La Rochelle, taking the sights of the Old Town, the City Center, and the Old Port. Known as "La Ville Blanche" (the white city), learn about this popular tourist destination which has a long history and rich cultural heritage. Discover the fantastic medieval architecture of the city, including the famous Lantern Tower and Saint Nicholas Tower. Hear stories of Eleanor of Aquitaine, the antics of Henry IV, and Cardinal de Richelieu. Learn about the modern developments of the city with its picturesque marina, terraces, and tranquil English-style parks.

La Rochelle: Outdoor Bachelorette Party Smartphone Game

10. La Rochelle: Outdoor Bachelorette Party Smartphone Game

Challenge yourself through surprising missions! Want to challenge the bride-to-be in the White City? This is the perfect game! Get maximum points by completing all sorts of challenges on the theme of weddings and their traditions around the world. On the program: MCQs to solve, take photos and videos in improbable poses or even sing a song... It's time to have fun and create memories that the bride won't soon forget! Go to the Quai of the famous writer Georges Simenon and write the story of this girly adventure!

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What people are saying about La Rochelle

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 806 reviews

Very nice boat and trip - very good value. I was a little apprehensive when booking the trip (rain or shine and not a good pic of the boat). Captain and mate were very friendly and had just enough English to provide information about the various sites - other guests were more skilled in French/English and filled in the gaps. Wish we could have been closer to the shoreline for sightseeing, but tide was out.

If you go to La Rochelle it is mandatory to take a catamaran ride! With the sunset it's wonderful, we take full eyes! The guides are nice: a little history of La Rochelle, a glass of delicious Pineau des Charentes (and offered!) Go for it!

Agnes was an excellent guide. She went at our pace and we learned a lot about La Rochelle that we weren’t acquainted with. Beautiful seaport city!

Had a great time on the boat. The shipper tells interesting things about what we see.

A great experience! thanks to Tristan and Jérémy for their sympathy!