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

Should you visit La Rochelle or Girona?

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

Should I visit La Rochelle or Girona? 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. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Girona

Girona is a charming, beautiful, and colorful city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food.

La Rochelle and Girona: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in La Rochelle or Girona?

Visitors will usually find more to do in La Rochelle than Girona, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. La Rochelle is better known for its food, nightlife, beaches, hiking, and small town charm, while Girona is more popular for its shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. La Rochelle is well known for its medieval towers, maritime history, and beautiful setting. Also, La Rochelle is famous for The Old Port. Girona is well known for its ancient ruins, colorful old town, grand cathedral, and impressive local cuisine.

How is La Rochelle different from Girona?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both La Rochelle and Girona.

La Rochelle offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

Many visitors head to Girona specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Wander the ancient city walls, explore the beautiful Girona Cathedral, and learn about the Church of Sant Feliu. There are also some interesting museums in town including the Museum of Jewish History, the Archaeology Museum, and the Film Museum. Also make sure you walk across the famed Eiffel Bridge.

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

La Rochelle is an unbeatable place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its 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.

Girona has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The small city is filled with cafes and restaurants that spill out into the street. There are also markets such as El Lleó Marketplace where you can check out fresh, local items. Many restaurants also have Catalonian style tapas, seafood such as octopus, and garlic shrimp. For breakfast, there are many pastry shops where you can enjoy a European breakfast.

Is La Rochelle or Girona Better for Nightlife?

La Rochelle is a good destination for nightlife and partying. However, Girona is not a good city for its evening party scene.

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.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Girona. It's a surprisingly quiet town, especially compared to other nearby party cities, but there are some nightclubs, bars, and music venues that are worth checking out.

Is La Rochelle or Girona Better for Beaches?

La Rochelle is a good destination for the beache. However, Girona 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.

Girona is not a beach destination.

Is La Rochelle or Girona Better for its Old Town?

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

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 Girona is revered around the world. It's a beautiful medieval old town with many wandering streets that are lined with storefronts and classic European cafes.

Is La Rochelle or Girona Better for Hiking?

La Rochelle is a good destination for the nearby hiking options. However, Girona 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.

Girona is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in La Rochelle or Girona?

Girona is great for its shopping opportunities. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for its shopping areas.

Girona is well-known for its shopping. In and around the old town you'll find modern shops, local eateries, charming markets, and anything you might need to purchase. There's also no shortage of souvenir and trinket shops, but they have a bit of personality and character to them.

Many visitors go to La Rochelle to go 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 La Rochelle or Girona Better for Families?

La Rochelle is a good destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Girona is not a good city for its kid-friendly 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.

Girona is not always a place people visit with their families. While the old town is beautiful, with charming colorful buildings, the city itself doesn't have a wide number of activities for kids. There are ice cream shops where they can enjoy a sweet treat. There are also several museums and many restaurants have kid-friendly menus.

Is La Rochelle or Girona Better for Couples?

La Rochelle is an unbeatable place for its romantic activities. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

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.

Girona makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The setting is both beautiful and romantic. Couples can enjoy wandering the streets, popping in the many shops, and soaking up the atmosphere. There are also many great restaurants that make for a wonderful night out. Head up the hills towards the cathedral for the best viewpoints, or wander along the river and enjoy the colorful atmosphere.

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

For backpackers, both La Rochelle and Girona 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.

Girona is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Prices aren't too crazy and it's not hard to find a place to stay for an affordable price, but you won't find the lively backpacker scene that is common in many nearby cities.

Is La Rochelle or Girona Better for Students?

For students, both La Rochelle and Girona are notable places to visit.

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.

Girona is a good coastal town to visit for students. It's a smaller city with affordable accommodation and many great restaurants. It has a quintessential European atmosphere that makes it a fun place to spend some time as a student

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

La Rochelle and Girona 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.

Girona has a few public transit options. The town is small enough that you can likely walk anywhere you want to go, but if you need transit, there are 10 local bus routes.

Is La Rochelle or Girona a more walkable city?

Girona 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.

Girona is a very easy city to get around on foot. Everything is easily accessible on foot and its best not to bring a car into town.

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 Girona Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Girona or La Rochelle?

How long in La Rochelle or Girona?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in La Rochelle or Girona to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in La Rochelle than Girona 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 Girona.

Families should spend more time in La Rochelle than Girona. 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 Girona. 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 Girona 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 Girona?

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

A weekend in La Rochelle or Girona?

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 shopping and museums when visiting the colorful destination of Girona. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This city 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 Girona?

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 ancient city of Girona 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 Girona?

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 food and shopping when visiting Girona. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.

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

Which is Bigger, La Rochelle or Girona?

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

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Girona in the Summer?

Both Girona and La Rochelle during the summer are popular places to visit. 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 Girona because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

La Rochelle is cooler than Girona in the summer. The daily temperature in La Rochelle averages around 20°C (67°F) in July, and Girona fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Girona, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in La Rochelle. In the summer, La Rochelle often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Girona. La Rochelle gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 279 hours of full sun.

La Rochelle usually gets less rain in July than Girona. La Rochelle gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Girona receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Girona in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both La Rochelle and Girona. The autumn months attract visitors to La Rochelle because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere. Furthermore, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Girona this time of year.

In the autumn, La Rochelle is around the same temperature as Girona. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Rochelle in October average around 15°C (59°F), and Girona averages at about 16°C (61°F).

La Rochelle usually receives less sunshine than Girona during autumn. La Rochelle gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 170 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, La Rochelle usually receives less rain than Girona. La Rochelle gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Girona receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Girona in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to La Rochelle as well as Girona. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to La Rochelle this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Girona for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, La Rochelle is generally cooler than Girona. Daily temperatures in La Rochelle average around 7°C (44°F), and Girona fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the winter, La Rochelle often gets less sunshine than Girona. La Rochelle gets 72 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 148 hours of full sun.

La Rochelle usually gets more rain in January than Girona. La Rochelle gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Girona receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Girona in the Spring?

Both Girona and La Rochelle are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to La Rochelle for the beaches and the small town charm. Also, many visitors come to Girona in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

La Rochelle is cooler than Girona in the spring. The daily temperature in La Rochelle averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Girona fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

La Rochelle usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Girona during spring. La Rochelle gets 187 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 177 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, La Rochelle usually receives less rain than Girona. La Rochelle gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Girona receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Girona and La Rochelle