A Travel Price Comparison for France La Rochelle vs. Annecy for Food, Old Town, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit La Rochelle or Annecy?

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

Should I visit La Rochelle or Annecy? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

La Rochelle

La Rochelle is a quaint, charming, and peaceful coastal town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking.

Annecy

Annecy is a quaint, storybook, and charming alpine town. You'll find plenty of local activities in this small town. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the hiking, shopping, and museums.

La Rochelle and Annecy: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in La Rochelle or Annecy?

Visitors will usually find more to do in La Rochelle than Annecy, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. La Rochelle is better known for its museums and beaches, while Annecy is more popular for its hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Annecy is more touristy than La Rochelle and is known for its charming old town and its beautiful, lakefront, alpine setting. La Rochelle is well known for its medieval towers, maritime history, and beautiful setting. Also, La Rochelle is famous for The Old Port.

How is La Rochelle different from Annecy?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

La Rochelle is a great coastal town for its historical sights. Also, Annecy is not as popular, but is still a nice alpine town for its sights and museums.

Many visitors head to La Rochelle specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Annecy. The old town and lakefront setting is what brings the tourists, but there are several unique landmarks around town as well. Palais de l'Île is the most photographed spot in the old town. Also worth visiting are Musée-Château d'Annecy, Eglise Saint-Maurice, and Cathédrale Saint-Pierre.

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

Both La Rochelle and Annecy offer world-class local cuisine and restaurants.

For foodies, La Rochelle is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. 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.

Annecy has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. Fresh caught fish and local French specialties make this town a wonderful culinary destination. The old town is filled with restaurants, cafes, and markets where you can enjoy local ingredients. There are many local dishes to try with some of the most popular being Tartiflette, Raclette, and Gratin de crozets. Fondue is also popular. You'll find cheese is a common component in many dishes.

Is La Rochelle or Annecy Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is notable in both La Rochelle and Annecy.

If you're looking for night time activities La Rochelle has a few options to choose from. While it's known as a peaceful, seaside town, you'll still find wine bars, pubs, and even a club or two around town.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Annecy. There are bars and pubs to visit with one of the most popular bar-hopping streets being Rue Sainte-Claire.

Is La Rochelle or Annecy Better for Beaches?

La Rochelle is very good for the beache. However, Annecy is not a beach destination.

Many people head to La Rochelle to enjoy the beach. 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.

Annecy is not a beach destination.

Is La Rochelle or Annecy Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the world-class old towns in both La Rochelle and Annecy.

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.

The historic old town of Annecy is revered around the world. This is among the most beautiful old towns in Europe. It sits along the banks of Lake Annecy and the water integrates beautifully into the setting.

Is La Rochelle or Annecy Better for Hiking?

Annecy is great for hiking. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for the nearby hiking options.

Many visitors go to Annecy for the hiking trails. There are a range of hikes just out of town that cover all ability levels. There are flat, waterfront strolls as well as more strenuous mountain treks. La Tournette is one of the most famous hikes in the area. Other options include Circuit des 3 Croix de Sevrier and Gorges du Fier.

Many people include a hike when visiting La Rochelle. 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.

Is the Shopping Better in La Rochelle or Annecy?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting La Rochelle. 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.

Many visitors go to Annecy to go shopping. Three times a week you can check out the Old Town Market. Another popular shopping street is Rue Royale.

Is La Rochelle or Annecy Better for Families?

Annecy is great for its kid-friendly activities. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Annecy is very family-friendly. Families can enjoy getting out on the lake by renting a boat or going for a swim. Check out Wibit Water Park or let the kids play at Leisure Center Orange Montisel. There's also a great playground for kids right by the waterfront. Hiking and exploring are also fun for the whole family.

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 La Rochelle or Annecy Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both La Rochelle and Annecy make for a world-class place to visit.

La Rochelle makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. 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.

For those traveling as a couple, Annecy has plenty to offer. It's a romantic French mountain town with beautiful scenery and a wonderful lake. Couples can enjoy outdoor activities or wandering through one of the best old towns in the region. The beauty and natural setting make this a wonderful couples destination.

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

For backpackers, both La Rochelle and Annecy are notable places to visit.

Plenty of budget travelers visit La Rochelle. 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.

Annecy is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's a world class mountain destination that attracts families and vacationers, but there aren't as many hostels around town as backpackers would like.

Is La Rochelle or Annecy Better for Students?

La Rochelle is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, Annecy is not popular with students.

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

Annecy is not popular with students.

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

La Rochelle and Annecy both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While La Rochelle offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Public transit around town is operated by Yeló, and mostly consists of buses.

Annecy has a few public transit options. The Sibra public transport system offers buses that travel through Annecy and around the lake, stopping at many towns along the way.

Is La Rochelle or Annecy a more walkable city?

La Rochelle and Annecy are great when it comes to walkability.

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

Annecy is a very walkable destination. The old town is filled with pedestrian streets that are perfect to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Annecy or La Rochelle?

How long in La Rochelle or Annecy?

It's fun to spend time in either La Rochelle or Annecy. In our opinion, La Rochelle has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in La Rochelle than Annecy. However, 2-4 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in La Rochelle than Annecy 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 La Rochelle.

One day in La Rochelle or Annecy?

La Rochelle might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the charming alpine town of Annecy. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Most people visit for the food. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in La Rochelle or Annecy?

La Rochelle is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the breathtaking small town of Annecy. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. This alpine 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.

Five days in La Rochelle or Annecy?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in La Rochelle. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. 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. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The quaint alpine town of Annecy offers shopping and museums. 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.

A week in La Rochelle or Annecy?

La Rochelle is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Rochelle and Annecy, we can see that Annecy 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 Annecy would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Annecy 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 La Rochelle Expensive? and Is Annecy Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, La Rochelle or Annecy?

La Rochelle has a larger population, and is about 56% larger than the population of Annecy. When comparing the sizes of La Rochelle and Annecy, 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 La Rochelle or Annecy?

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 La Rochelle or Annecy in the Summer?

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

La Rochelle is cooler than Annecy in the summer. The daily temperature in La Rochelle averages around 20°C (67°F) in July, and Annecy fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

It's quite sunny in Annecy. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Rochelle. La Rochelle usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Annecy during summer. La Rochelle gets 267 hours of sunny skies, while Annecy receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, La Rochelle usually receives less rain than Annecy. La Rochelle gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Annecy receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Annecy in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, La Rochelle is around the same temperature as Annecy. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Rochelle in October average around 15°C (59°F), and Annecy averages at about 14°C (56°F).

In the autumn, La Rochelle often gets more sunshine than Annecy. La Rochelle gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Annecy receives 127 hours of full sun.

La Rochelle usually gets less rain in October than Annecy. La Rochelle gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Annecy receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Annecy in the Winter?

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

Annecy can be very cold during winter. In January, La Rochelle is generally much warmer than Annecy. Daily temperatures in La Rochelle average around 7°C (44°F), and Annecy fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

La Rochelle usually receives more sunshine than Annecy during winter. La Rochelle gets 72 hours of sunny skies, while Annecy receives 62 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, La Rochelle usually receives more rain than Annecy. La Rochelle gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Annecy receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Annecy in the Spring?

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

La Rochelle is around the same temperature as Annecy in the spring. The daily temperature in La Rochelle averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Annecy fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

In the spring, La Rochelle often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Annecy. La Rochelle gets 187 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Annecy receives 174 hours of full sun.

La Rochelle usually gets less rain in April than Annecy. La Rochelle gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Annecy receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Annecy and La Rochelle