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

Should you visit La Rochelle or Avignon?

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

Should I visit La Rochelle or Avignon? 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 relaxing, laid-back, and quaint coastal town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Avignon

Avignon is a charming, scenic, and picturesque town. You'll find plenty of local activities in this small town. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food.

La Rochelle and Avignon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in La Rochelle or Avignon?

Tourists will generally find more to do in La Rochelle. Although La Rochelle and Avignon are both popular with visitors, La Rochelle has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. La Rochelle is more popular for its nightlife, beaches, and hiking, while Avignon is known for its museums and small town charm. Avignon is more touristy than La Rochelle and is known for its architectural beauty and historical importance. La Rochelle is popular for its medieval towers, maritime history, and beautiful setting. It is also home to The Old Port.

How is La Rochelle different from Avignon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Avignon 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 Avignon?

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

The museums and tourist attractions in Avignon are world-renowned. The town is filled with historical landmarks such as Palais des Papes, Pont Saint Bénézet, Musée du Petit Palais, and Basilique Métropolitaine Notre-Dame des Doms.

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.

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

Both La Rochelle and Avignon offer amazing 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.

Avignon has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. For such a small town you'll find many great eateries where you can sample French cuisine. You'll find bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, chocolatiers, and cafes to try. Cooking classes are also a popular activity in town.

Is La Rochelle or Avignon Better for Nightlife?

La Rochelle is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Avignon is lacking in good options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe 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.

Avignon is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There's a limited nightlife scene but the bars you'll find are usually centered around Place de lHorloge, Place du Palais, Rue Carnot, and Place des Corps-Saints.

Is La Rochelle or Avignon Better for Beaches?

La Rochelle is a good destination for the beach. However, Avignon 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.

Avignon is not a beach destination.

Is La Rochelle or Avignon Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the amazing old towns in both La Rochelle and Avignon.

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 Avignon is revered around the world. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

Is La Rochelle or Avignon Better for Hiking?

La Rochelle is a good destination for its hiking trails. However, Avignon 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.

Avignon is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in La Rochelle or Avignon?

If you're looking to go shopping, La Rochelle and Avignon both offer plenty of good 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 Avignon to go shopping. There are several shopping streets in town like Rue de la Republique, Rue Joseph-Vernet, and Rue St Agricol.

Is La Rochelle or Avignon Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either La Rochelle or Avignon.

La Rochelle offers lots of family activities. 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.

Avignon is a family-friendly place to visit. Families can enjoy cooking classes, boat tours, and exploring the old town together.

Is La Rochelle or Avignon Better for Couples?

La Rochelle is renowned for couples. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

Couples visit Avignon frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Filled with history, couples can enjoy strolling through the old town or dinner on amazing French food.

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

For backpackers, both La Rochelle and Avignon are good 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.

Avignon is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

Is La Rochelle or Avignon Better for Students?

La Rochelle is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Avignon is not popular with students.

Plenty of students 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.

Avignon is not popular with students.

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

La Rochelle and Avignon both offer good 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.

Avignon has a few public transit options. There are city buses as well as tourist shuttles around town.

Is La Rochelle or Avignon a more walkable city?

Avignon is very popular for its high level of walkability. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for its ease of walking around.

Avignon is a very easy town to get around on foot. There's almost no traffic in the city center so it's easy to explore on foot.

La Rochelle is a very walkable destination. 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 La Rochelle Worth Visiting? and Is Avignon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Avignon or La Rochelle?

How long in La Rochelle or Avignon?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in La Rochelle or Avignon to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in La Rochelle than Avignon because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for La Rochelle, and 1-2 days is enough time in Avignon.

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

Couples should spend more time in La Rochelle than Avignon. 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 Avignon 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 Avignon?

La Rochelle is a small town with plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. One reason most visitors come is for the food. This coastal town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the charming town of Avignon. 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.

A weekend in La Rochelle or Avignon?

La Rochelle might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. One reason most visitors come is for the food. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that La Rochelle has to offer.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the charming small town of Avignon. 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.

Five days in La Rochelle or Avignon?

La Rochelle is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

The historical town of Avignon offers museums and food. 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 Avignon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in La Rochelle. Since La Rochelle is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. One reason most visitors come is for the food. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Many people enjoy the food and shopping when visiting Avignon. 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.

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 Avignon, we can see that Avignon 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 Avignon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Avignon 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 Avignon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, La Rochelle or Avignon?

Avignon has a larger population, and is about 17% larger than the population of La Rochelle. When comparing the sizes of La Rochelle and Avignon, 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 Avignon?

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 Avignon in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both La Rochelle and Avignon. Most visitors come to La Rochelle for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Avignon because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, La Rochelle is cooler than Avignon. Typically, the summer temperatures in La Rochelle in July average around 20°C (67°F), and Avignon averages at about 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Avignon this time of the year. In La Rochelle, it's very sunny this time of the year. La Rochelle usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during summer. La Rochelle gets 267 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 354 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, La Rochelle usually receives more rain than Avignon. La Rochelle gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Avignon in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to La Rochelle as well as Avignon. The autumn months attract visitors to La Rochelle because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere. Additionally, the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Avignon this time of year.

In October, La Rochelle is generally around the same temperature as Avignon. Daily temperatures in La Rochelle average around 15°C (59°F), and Avignon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, La Rochelle often gets less sunshine than Avignon. La Rochelle gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 178 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Avignon. La Rochelle usually gets less rain in October than Avignon. La Rochelle gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Avignon in the Winter?

Both Avignon and La Rochelle are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to La Rochelle this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Avignon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

La Rochelle is around the same temperature as Avignon in the winter. The daily temperature in La Rochelle averages around 7°C (44°F) in January, and Avignon fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

La Rochelle usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during winter. La Rochelle gets 72 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 146 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, La Rochelle usually receives more rain than Avignon. La Rochelle gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Avignon in the Spring?

Both Avignon and La Rochelle during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to La Rochelle for the beaches and the small town charm. Also, many visitors come to Avignon in the spring for the small town charm.

In the spring, La Rochelle is cooler than Avignon. Typically, the spring temperatures in La Rochelle in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Avignon averages at about 13°C (56°F).

In Avignon, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, La Rochelle often gets less sunshine than Avignon. La Rochelle gets 187 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 218 hours of full sun.

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

Typical Weather for Avignon and La Rochelle