A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Rochelle vs. Sestri Levante for Food, Couples, Beaches, and Families

Should you visit La Rochelle or Sestri Levante?

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

Should I visit La Rochelle or Sestri Levante? 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 peaceful, relaxing, and laid-back 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.

Sestri Levante

Sestri Levante is a scenic, local, and quaint seaside town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the food and beaches.

La Rochelle and Sestri Levante: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in La Rochelle or Sestri Levante?

Tourists will generally find more to do in La Rochelle. Although La Rochelle and Sestri Levante are both popular with visitors, La Rochelle has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. La Rochelle is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, hiking, and shopping, while Sestri Levante is known for its resorts and impressive beauty. La Rochelle is popular for its medieval towers, maritime history, and beautiful setting. It is also home to The Old Port. Sestri Levante is popular for its two bays and coastal setting.

How is La Rochelle different from Sestri Levante?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

La Rochelle is great for its historical sights. However, Sestri Levante does not have museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into 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.

Sestri Levante does not have museums and landmarks.

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

La Rochelle is renowned for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Sestri Levante is not as popular, but is still a nice seaside town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Many restaurants in La Rochelle have been singled out for their culinary prowess. 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, Sestri Levante makes for a great culinary experience. You'll find many restaurants along the central road in the old town, Via XXV Aprile. Seafood is popular, as are many other Italian favorites. If you're visiting during the summer months then it's best to make reservations as wait times can be long.

Is La Rochelle or Sestri Levante Better for Nightlife?

La Rochelle is a coastal town with good options for its evening party scene. However, Sestri Levante is not a good destination for nightlife.

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.

People don't go to Sestri Levante for the nightlife. There are a few places to grab a drink, but if you're looking for nightlife, you'll really need to head out of town.

Is La Rochelle or Sestri Levante Better for Resorts?

Sestri Levante is a popular place for its luxury resorts. However, La Rochelle is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, Sestri Levante makes a nice vacation spot. There are a number of hotels in the old town or by the beach. You'll also find a decent selection of vacation rentals. During peak season you'll want to make your reservations early.

La Rochelle is not a resort destination.

Is La Rochelle or Sestri Levante Better for Beaches?

For a relaxing beach holiday, both La Rochelle and Sestri Levante are good choices.

La Rochelle is a good option for a beach vacation. 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.

Many people head to Sestri Levante to enjoy the beach. Home to two beaches, this makes a nice holiday spot if you're hoping to relax by the water. The beaches can get crowded with Italians during the summer months, but it still offers a charming seaside spot. Many people head to the beach by the the Bay of Silence in part because it's free. Make sure you arrive early. By the Bay of Fairytales you can rent chairs and umbrellas and enjoy a little more space.

Is La Rochelle or Sestri Levante Better for its Old Town?

La Rochelle is renowned for its historic old town charm. However, Sestri Levante does not have a historic old town.

The old town of La Rochelle is one of the most recognized in the world. The old town is filled with wandering cobblestone streets, charming squares, and cafes that spill into the street.

Sestri Levante does not have a historic old town.

Is La Rochelle or Sestri Levante Better for Hiking?

La Rochelle is a coastal town with good options for hiking. However, Sestri Levante is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around 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.

Sestri Levante is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in La Rochelle or Sestri Levante?

La Rochelle is a coastal town with good options for its shopping areas. However, Sestri Levante is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

La Rochelle has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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.

Sestri Levante is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is La Rochelle or Sestri Levante Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either La Rochelle or Sestri Levante.

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.

Sestri Levante is a family-friendly place to visit. This is a great spot for families that want a relaxing holiday with a small town vibe. The picturesque setting is said to have inspired fairytales, and today kids will enjoy playing on the playgrounds or exploring at the adventure park. There are also hikes, activities, and restaurants that are great for kids and adults alike.

Is La Rochelle or Sestri Levante Better for Couples?

La Rochelle is renowned for couples. Also, Sestri Levante is not as popular, but is still a nice seaside town for romance.

La Rochelle is a great coastal town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. 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.

Sestri Levante is a nice destination for couples. This scenic setting offers a relaxing holiday for couples who want to enjoy quiet time together. There are plenty of outdoor activities and a cultural town with a lot of beauty to explore. It's one of the lesser known destinations in the area, so you will have a peaceful small town vibe that's great for a romantic getaway.

Is La Rochelle or Sestri Levante Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

La Rochelle is a coastal town with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Sestri Levante is not a good destination for backpackers.

La Rochelle is a good coastal town to visit for backpackers. 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.

Sestri Levante is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are some dorm rooms in town, but most backpackers head to one of the more well known destinations in the area. The atmosphere and history makes for a unique experience for those who do make the trip.

Is La Rochelle or Sestri Levante Better for Students?

La Rochelle is a coastal town with good options for its student-friendly activities. However, Sestri Levante 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.

Sestri Levante is not popular with students.

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

La Rochelle and Sestri Levante 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.

Sestri Levante has a few public transit options. The town can be explored on foot and there are buses and trains that can be used for day trips.

Is La Rochelle or Sestri Levante a more walkable city?

Sestri Levante 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.

Sestri Levante is a very easy seaside town to get around on foot. There are pedestrian promenades and charming streets through town that are best explored 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 Sestri Levante Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sestri Levante or La Rochelle?

How long in La Rochelle or Sestri Levante?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both La Rochelle and Sestri Levante. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in La Rochelle than in Sestri Levante. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for La Rochelle, and 1-3 days is enough time in Sestri Levante.

Families should spend more time in La Rochelle than Sestri Levante. 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 Sestri Levante. 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 Sestri Levante 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 Sestri Levante?

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

Visitors enjoy the food when visiting the relaxing seaside town of Sestri Levante. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this seaside 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 Sestri Levante?

La Rochelle is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Visitors enjoy the food when visiting the relaxing small town of Sestri Levante. This seaside 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 Sestri Levante?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in La Rochelle. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. It offers something for everyone. One reason most visitors come is for the food. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The relaxing seaside town of Sestri Levante offers food. 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 Sestri Levante?

La Rochelle is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One reason most visitors come is for the food. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Many people enjoy the food when visiting Sestri Levante. Anyone can find something fun to do here. 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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy, and The Best Historical Tours in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, La Rochelle or Sestri Levante?

La Rochelle has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Sestri Levante. When comparing the sizes of La Rochelle and Sestri Levante, 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.