Making the most of La Pallice La Rochelle
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
La Pallice is a commercial port 6 km west of La Rochelle's historic fortified harbour.
From the ship, the bridge to Ile de la Re forms an attractive view.
This working port has only limited temporary facilities and nothing within walking distance. The nearby La Sirene bus stop is served by line 1 directly to La Rochelle's main interchange at Place de Verdun. Buses leave every 20 mins and cost around 2 euro, payable with coins or small notes.
A ship-to-town shuttle costs 10 Euro. The cruise line announces it shortly before arrival, the previous night, to avoid undermining sales of its regular excursions.
Expect very few taxis, if any.
La Rochelle is a charming, pleasant place for a few hours of strolling and shopping, with plenty of outdoor cafés.
Bring the available printable maps.
Check the Cruise Calendar for La Rochelle.
La Rochelle receives an exceptional 2400 hours of sunshine each year, matching the French Riviera. Along with neighbouring Ré, Oléron, Aix and Madame islands, this makes it an ideal holiday resort. Beaches, greenery, fortifications and chalk cliffs create a varied and beautiful backdrop for enjoying life. More than three million people visit annually, making La Rochelle France's third most visited city.
La Rochelle becomes magical after dark. Light, atmosphere, building shadows across the streets and a deep-blue sky create captivating scenes for photographers. Illuminated architecture reflected in the water is unforgettable, fitting for a town defined by water...
Close to the old port, Aquarium de La Rochelle is the city's most popular sight and one of Europe's largest aquariums. It reopened in 2001 after an expansion made it six times its former size. More than 10,000 flora and fauna species now occupy displays across two floors. The Aquarium de La Rochelle stands 100m from the tourist office.
Displays are organised by marine area, including the Caribbean Room and Atlantic Room. A shark tank holds several shark species in more than 1.5 million litres of water. Inside Jellyfish Tunnel, the view extends through 360 degrees, with jellyfish swimming overhead and below.
The Vieux Port towers in prosperous, powerful La Rochelle are exceptional examples of palatial and defensive design. Their circular galleries command impressive harbour and island views. Tour Saint-Nicolas, guarding this important trading port's entrance, represents the bond between king and town. It and its harbour neighbour, Tour de la Chaîne, date from the 14th century and share the architect responsible for Chateau de Vincennes.
Getting around
Boat excursions from the harbour to nearby islands are popular, including Ile de Ré and Ile d'Oleron. Aix, Oléron and Ré can all be seen on the horizon. Ré connects to La Rochelle by a 2km road bridge and offers excellent beaches, good food and cycle trails.
For an affordable Ile de Re visit, take bus number 3 from the principal railway station, 200m from the tourist office where timetables are available. An adult all-day ticket is only 5 Euros, covering exploration across the island and the return trip. Reaching St Martin's picturesque town harbour takes about one hour.
A shore excursion can explore by boat the tranquil rural channels of 'Green Venice' national park, or visit one of the appealing beaches on nearby Ile de Re.
Money
The euro is the currency.
Staying connected
French is the local language.
Many pavement cafés offer free WiFi; look out for signs reading Wi-Fi Gratuit.
The local emergency number is 112.
View the available webcam.
Opening Hours and
Most French shops, businesses, information services, museums and banks open throughout the day. Smaller shops and enterprises may close for lunch between 12.30pm and 2pm. Standard hours are 8 or 9am until 6.30 or 7.30pm, Monday to Saturday for large shops and Tuesday to Saturday for smaller ones, some of which open on Monday afternoon. Boulangeries and food shops can always be found on closure days, usually until noon on Sunday.
La Rochelle has plenty to do on a Sunday, particularly in summer, including island boat trips and the town beach. The Aquarium opens year-round and has an excellent restaurant on its top floor, while the Natural History Museum is well worth seeing. Sundays are quiet, as in most French towns: shops close, but restaurants are often busy with families meeting for Sunday lunch.