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France is one of the most visited countries in the world, with more than 100 million guests in 2023 alone. I live in Paris myself, and I can tell you what it feels like incredible busy all year roundwhether it’s the Olympics or not, summer or winter.
Despite being ultra-popular, France is not exactly cheap to travel to.
Consumer prices are notoriously higher than most European counterparts, and the cost of accommodation in Paris has soared this year.
As a travel writer I still love to travel around and discover France, whether it’s the castle-studded hinterland or the endless miles of unspoilt coastline, and like the average tourist I’m always looking for the next one ( affordable) hidden gem in the country I call home.
Thanks to a 2024 study published by a local news channel Le ParisienI recently discovered one beautiful medieval coastal town that is not only often bypassed by foreign visitors, but considerable cheaper than Paris, Lyon, Nice and the like:
Hidden gem on the west coast of France!
La Rochelle is located on the west coast of France, where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
It is a historic settlement that was originally developed as a trading port in the Middle Ages. No wonder it is the administrative headquarters of the Charente-Maritime department.
Although it is best known for its thriving fishing industry, which still plays a key role in the economy as it did in the Middle Ages, it is probably one of the most charming cities I’ve been to France (and believe me, I’ve been all over the country looking for these beauties).
I don’t know about you, but the reason I love France – and Europe as a whole – is the unparalleled Old World charm: sometimes it feels like you’ve stepped into a movie scene with fairytale castles and cobbled streets, and La Rochelle is no exception.
The waterfront, or Old Portunfolds along the azure Bay of Biscay, and it’s the striking trio of medieval towers – the Chain Tower, the Lantern Tower and St Nicholas’ Tower – that will first grab your attention.
These towers have guarded the entrance to the inner harbor for centuries.
The old city as a whole is incredibly well preserved for a thousand-year-old city, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stopped for photos of half-timbered buildings and the strange, lonely cafe on the street corner that just belongs on your Instagram grid.
This is what impressed me most about La Rochelle
One of the most striking monuments in the city is Great watchor ‘Big Clock’, which like those of Rouen or Bordeaux, stands atop an imposing tower, formally linked to the fortifications of La Rochelle, and you simply cannot miss it while strolling through the historic center.
If you like history, I highly recommend taking a walk along the ramparts, which run around the old town and offer views of the maze of pedestrian streets below and the rows upon rows of traditional bakers and merchant houses (it was one of my favorite things to do during my visit).
If you like to try local food, the Old Market is the place to go: an indoor market hall, here you will find everything French, from pastries to fresh fruit, to local vegetables and cheese, and on Wednesdays and Saturdays the food stalls even extend into the surrounding streets.
It’s also not far from La Rochelle’s most popular water attraction: after all, this is one of France’s main Atlantic hubs, and the sea is an integral part of the fabric of this city. Was it built around it?
So needless to say the public aquarium is one must see.
Even if you’re not particularly a fan of aquariums, the fact is that this one costs less than $20 to visit (or the equivalent in euros), covers an area of over 8,445 m², contains a whopping 3 million liters of seawater and more than 12,000 animals should be enough to convince you to stop by.
La Rochelle Is Honestly Affordable
On to my favorite part: according Le Parisiena renowned publication in France, La Rochelle does one of the most affordable city breaks in the country right now, and while I usually take these studies with a large grain of salt, I tend to agree with them:
The fact that they compared 785 municipalities with at least 5,000 inhabitants, assessing factors such as weather, accessibility and tourist offer, which La Rochelle passes with flying colors, should be credible enough, but I couldn’t to see and confirm it with my own eyes.
Whether you’re a museum rat or just here to sample the culinary delights of La Rochelle – I still remember it fondly melt-in-your-mouth grattons charentais––a visit of three to four days will not cost you nearly as much as in Paris or the French Riviera:
Here is an overview of the prices of all the main attractions in the city:
- The Three Medieval Towers – $10.35
- The Aquarium – $19.61
- The Maritime Museum – $6.54
- The bunkers from the Second World War – $10.35*
*Prices are quoted in US dollars based on the current Euro exchange rate, which is subject to change.
In total, it costs $46.85 to visit the main museums in La Rochelle, or if you book the La Rochelle Ocean Pass, a 2, 3 or 7 day exemption from public transport and museum fees, this could cost you a slightly more expensive $47.93 ––still the worth it in my books!
Additionally, the Ocean Pass allows you to visit the nearby island of Aix, the jewel of the Charente estuary, and a coastal paradise with a long sandy beach overlooking the iconic Fort Boyard, a 19th-century fortress of pure stone built on a rock. prominent sandbar.
Plus, you can walk the ramparts at sunset, walk through the vast harbor and admire the beautiful French architecture are of course free!
How much exactly are we talking about?
Back to La Rochelle, however, it is one of the cheapest destinations in France:
That’s not to say it’s particularly cheap, as nowhere in France is it really compared to budget-friendly alternatives in Eastern Europe, but you’ll have to try a little harder to break the bank here if you are the spending type:
Visits to informal cafes or creperies will cost you an average of $15-17, while a two-course sit-down dinner, paired with a glass of wine, will cost around $35, and room rates range from $90.41 for a Ibis stay up to $136 for a more traditional 4-star listing such as Le Masq.
I myself stayed at the budget-friendly $65 per night hotel Hotel de la Paixand to absolute surprise, their room rates have not increased recently due to the Olympics. I guess I should be happy that La Rochelle is. a whole 300 miles west of busy Paris.
The single room is simple but very comfortable, and the continental breakfast, plus the great location, within walking distance of all the main attractions, were two other highlights for me – I doubt I’ve ever stayed anywhere in France with these specifications, and at such an attractive rate.
In total, a stay of four days in La Rochelle is It will probably run you $600-$635based on my own personal spending: I’m not necessarily a budget traveler, I eat out at mid-range restaurants, and I generally check every cultural attraction off the list, so you can definitely do it cheaper.
All in all, I had a satisfying long weekend in La Rochelle, and I can certainly vouch for that Le Parisien‘s findings: it is relatively cheap compared to other places in France, the cultural wealth is enormous, and a welcome bonus, it is much less crowded than my own hometown.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
