A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Heidelberg vs. La Rochelle for Food, Old Town, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Heidelberg or La Rochelle?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Heidelberg and La Rochelle. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a charming, scenic, and character-filled town. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and nightlife.

La Rochelle

La Rochelle is a relaxing, laid-back, and quaint coastal town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Heidelberg and La Rochelle: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Heidelberg or La Rochelle?

Visitors will generally find more to do in La Rochelle than Heidelberg. While Heidelberg is larger than La Rochelle, La Rochelle has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. La Rochelle is more popular for its museums, food, beaches, hiking, and small town charm, while Heidelberg is known for its nightlife, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Heidelberg is more touristy than La Rochelle and is known for its picturesque beauty, romantic atmosphere, and its classic old town. La Rochelle is popular for its medieval towers, maritime history, and beautiful setting. It is also home to The Old Port.

How is Heidelberg different from La Rochelle?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between La Rochelle and Heidelberg. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Heidelberg or La Rochelle?

La Rochelle is a great coastal town for its historical sights. However, Heidelberg does not have museums and landmarks.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around La Rochelle. Filled with history, the town itself is like a living museum. Within town there are many sights such as the Vieux Port, La Rochelle Aquarium, Musée d'Histoire Naturelle, and Musée du Nouveau Monde de La Rochelle.

Heidelberg does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Heidelberg or La Rochelle? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

La Rochelle is an amazing coastal town to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Heidelberg is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Eat your way through La Rochelle, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. It may be small, but its filled with delicious cafes, bistros, and local restaurants. Seafood is the obvious choice in this coastal town and many visitors head to Vieux Port to eat, as many restaurants there offer waterfront views. If you want something a little less touristy, head to the St. Nicolas District, which was the town's former fishing district. Rue de la Fourche is also a charming road with many places to grab a bite or a drink. Or head to Rue St Jean-du-Perot, which is just off the old port.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Heidelberg makes for a great culinary experience. The old town is filled with local restaurants that offer an assortment of traditional dishes. The restaurants offer a mix of outdoor and indoor seating and classic dishes include saumagen, lewwerkneedl, and dampfnudeln.

Is Heidelberg or La Rochelle Better for Nightlife?

Heidelberg is great for nightlife and partying. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for its evening party scene.

Many people head to Heidelberg for the nightlife scene. As a university town, you'll find a very young population and many bars, pubs, and nightclubs where you can hang out.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in La Rochelle. While it's known as a peaceful, seaside town, you'll still find wine bars, pubs, and even a club or two around town.

Is Heidelberg or La Rochelle Better for Beaches?

La Rochelle is a good destination for the beach. However, Heidelberg is not a beach destination.

La Rochelle offers a nice beach destination. There are three main beaches in town that each attract a crowd on warm summer days. Plage de la Concurrence, Plage Chef de Baie, and Plage des Minimes are the closest beaches to La Rochelle, and they are popular for sunbathing and water sports. They have a mix of sand, pebbles, and cliffside views that attract locals and tourists alike.

Heidelberg is not a beach destination.

Is Heidelberg or La Rochelle Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the amazing old town areas in both Heidelberg and La Rochelle.

Heidelberg offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The charming old town, or Altstadt, is lined with cafes that spill out onto the street and churches with bells that chime hourly. The area is filled with activity and there are many shops, ice cream vendors, and restaurants to choose from.

La Rochelle has a world-famous historical area. The old town is filled with wandering cobblestone streets, charming squares, and cafes that spill into the street.

Is Heidelberg or La Rochelle Better for Hiking?

La Rochelle is a good destination for hiking. However, Heidelberg is not a hiking destination.

La Rochelle offers some nice hiking trails. There are many coastal walks just outside of town that take you along the scenic coastline. It's beautiful to stroll through the countryside and pass through many quaint villages.

Heidelberg is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Heidelberg or La Rochelle?

If you're looking to go shopping, Heidelberg and La Rochelle both offer plenty of good spots.

Heidelberg has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The pedestrian area is the best place to pass your time shopping. There are name brand stores mixed in with local independent shops which you'll mostly find on the side streets. Popular items to buy include wooden toys, Christmas decorations, and candy.

La Rochelle is a great destination for shopping. The old town is filled with boutique shops as well as some name brands. Another fun place to visit is Les Halles, which is an indoor market with fresh produce, seafood, and many local cheeses.

Is Heidelberg or La Rochelle Better for Families?

Both Heidelberg and La Rochelle are good family-friendly destinations.

Heidelberg offers lots of family activities. With its many ice cream shops, playgrounds, and impressive castle, this city makes a nice stop for families with kids. The restaurants usually have a kid's menu and there are a number of kid-friendly museums and activities.

La Rochelle is a family-friendly place to visit. It's a coastal town with a port that you can explore. There's also an aquarium and many great seafood restaurants. A nice day trip is to go to l'Ile de Ré, which has nice beaches, some with playgrounds.

Is Heidelberg or La Rochelle Better for Couples?

La Rochelle is an amazing coastal town to visit for couples. Also, Heidelberg is not as popular, but is still a nice town for romance.

La Rochelle is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. This beautiful coastal town is seeped in history. There are beautiful squares, romantic parks, and cobblestone streets that you can wander down. It's also nice to take a coastal walk before grabbing dinner at a local seafood restaurant.

Heidelberg is a very popular place to visit for couples. This beautiful city offers an impressive backdrop for a couple's getaway. The view from the castle looks out beautifully over the city and the old town has many excellent restaurants and activities that are great for couples.

Is Heidelberg or La Rochelle Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Heidelberg is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Heidelberg. Prices are reasonable and there are a handful of hostels around town. As a university town, you can be assured there are plenty of fun activities and cheap places to eat.

La Rochelle is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There aren't a ton of hostels in the area, but there are just enough that you should be able to find a place to stay.

Is Heidelberg or La Rochelle Better for Students?

For students, both Heidelberg and La Rochelle are good places to visit.

It's common for students to visit Heidelberg. It is a beautiful student town with a lot of activities for young visitors. This is not the most popular study abroad destination, but it does have a lot to offer for those who visit.

La Rochelle is a good town to visit for students. It's a touristy city with a lot for students to see and do, but the atmosphere is generally quiet and peaceful.

Is Heidelberg or La Rochelle Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Heidelberg is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for its public transit.

Public transit in Heidelberg can get you to some places easily. There are trams and buses that connect the old town to the train station.

La Rochelle has a few public transit options. Public transit around town is operated by Yeló, and mostly consists of buses.

Is Heidelberg or La Rochelle a more walkable city?

Heidelberg and La Rochelle are superb when it comes to walkability.

Heidelberg is a very walkable destination. The old town is particularly walkable.

La Rochelle is very walkable. It's filled with meandering cobblestone streets that are best explored on foot. Most places around town can be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Heidelberg Worth Visiting? and Is La Rochelle Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in La Rochelle or Heidelberg?

How long in Heidelberg or La Rochelle?

It's fun to spend time in either Heidelberg or La Rochelle. Generally, people tend to spend more time in La Rochelle due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Heidelberg, and 2-4 days is enough time in La Rochelle.

Families should spend more time in La Rochelle than Heidelberg. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in La Rochelle, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in La Rochelle than Heidelberg. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in La Rochelle that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Heidelberg than La Rochelle if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Heidelberg.

One day in Heidelberg or La Rochelle?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the charming town of Heidelberg. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

La Rochelle might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Heidelberg or La Rochelle?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the lively destination of Heidelberg. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Even though La Rochelle is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the food. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this coastal town.

Five days in Heidelberg or La Rochelle?

The lively town of Heidelberg offers shopping and nightlife. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

La Rochelle, a popular coastal town, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Heidelberg or La Rochelle?

Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting Heidelberg. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

La Rochelle is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the food. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Germany, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Germany, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Heidelberg and La Rochelle, we can see that Heidelberg is more expensive. And not only is La Rochelle much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to La Rochelle would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Rochelle and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Heidelberg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Heidelberg than you might in La Rochelle.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Heidelberg Expensive? and Is La Rochelle Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Heidelberg or La Rochelle?

Heidelberg has a larger population, and is about 87% larger than the population of La Rochelle. When comparing the sizes of Heidelberg and La Rochelle, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Heidelberg or La Rochelle?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Heidelberg or La Rochelle in the Summer?

Both La Rochelle and Heidelberg are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Heidelberg this time of year. Also, many travelers come to La Rochelle for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Heidelberg is generally around the same temperature as La Rochelle. Daily temperatures in Heidelberg average around 21°C (69°F), and La Rochelle fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).

It's quite sunny in La Rochelle. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Heidelberg. Heidelberg usually receives less sunshine than La Rochelle during summer. Heidelberg gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while La Rochelle receives 267 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Heidelberg usually receives more rain than La Rochelle. Heidelberg gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Heidelberg or La Rochelle in the Autumn?

Both La Rochelle and Heidelberg during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Heidelberg for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, many visitors come to La Rochelle in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere.

Heidelberg is cooler than La Rochelle in the autumn. The daily temperature in Heidelberg averages around 12°C (54°F) in October, and La Rochelle fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

In the autumn, Heidelberg often gets less sunshine than La Rochelle. Heidelberg gets 102 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Rochelle receives 141 hours of full sun.

Heidelberg usually gets less rain in October than La Rochelle. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heidelberg or La Rochelle in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Heidelberg and La Rochelle. Many visitors come to Heidelberg in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to La Rochelle for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Heidelberg can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Heidelberg is much colder than La Rochelle. Typically, the winter temperatures in Heidelberg in January average around 3°C (37°F), and La Rochelle averages at about 7°C (44°F).

Heidelberg usually receives less sunshine than La Rochelle during winter. Heidelberg gets 38 hours of sunny skies, while La Rochelle receives 72 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Heidelberg usually receives less rain than La Rochelle. Heidelberg gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Heidelberg or La Rochelle in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Heidelberg as well as La Rochelle. Most visitors come to Heidelberg for the natural beauty during these months. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to La Rochelle because of the beaches and the small town charm.

In April, Heidelberg is generally around the same temperature as La Rochelle. Daily temperatures in Heidelberg average around 11°C (52°F), and La Rochelle fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the spring, Heidelberg often gets less sunshine than La Rochelle. Heidelberg gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Rochelle receives 187 hours of full sun.

Heidelberg usually gets more rain in April than La Rochelle. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for La Rochelle and Heidelberg