Take a Stroll Through the Old Port and Discover La Rochelle’s Rich History

English-Speaking Guide
Complimentary Guided Tour
Comfortable Walk

Join our free walking tour for a fantastic introduction to La Rochelle! Available during the high season, this tour is the ideal way to get your bearings and discover the city’s most iconic sights, including the three famous towers of La Rochelle, the Old Town, and many more. As we stroll around the Old Port, your local, English-speaking guide will share fascinating stories and anecdotes about the city’s history, culture, and people.

On this tour, you’ll see traditional buildings, squares, and scenic parks while you learn about the unique history that has shaped La Rochelle into the charming city it is today. From the stunning Statue of Duperré to the impressive Porte des 2 Moulins and the breathtaking lookout at Fort des Dames. Ready to explore? Book now to secure your spot! If there is no availability for your chosen date, check out the Discovery Walking Tour and use the following code: FTDL2025 to get a 15% discount.

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Tour Highlights

It’s free! Decide what you think it is worth at the end, or show your appreciation with tips
Discover La Rochelle’s key sights and get your bearings on a short walking tour before venturing off on your own
Enjoy clear, engaging commentary from a passionate English-speaking guide
Visit the towers and other iconic landmarks
An easy-going, accessible tour suitable for all ages and fitness levels
Click the Tabs for More Tour Details

Trip Details

La Rochelle Free Walking Tour Details

Price

This tour has no upfront cost. You decide what it is worth at the end with your tip – reserve your spot in the booking calendar.

Departure time

Options of:

  • 10am
  • 2pm

Meeting point

You will receive clear directions to meeting point in your confirmation email after booking the tour.

Availability

If there is no availability for the date your require, please check out the Discovery Walking Tour by clicking here and use the following code to get a 15% discount: FTDL2025

Duration

1.5 hours depending on group size

Group size

No maximum

Included

English-speaking guide

Not included

  • Entrance fees to museums or landmarks
  • Gratuities (at your discretion)

What to bring

  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Appropriate clothing for the weather
  • Water (potable water fountains are available on the tour to refill water bottles)

Places You Will See on Our La Rochelle Free Walking Tour

Get to know a little bit about the sights you’ll be seeing on your Free La Rochelle Walking Tour:

The Towers of La Rochelle: These emblems of La Rochelle’s chequered history are not to be missed during your stay in La Rochelle

The Old Port: This is the hub of La Rochelle’s local life

Le Mail: This grand, tree-lined avenue, often called the ‘Rochelais’ Champs-Élysées, offers beautiful views of the waterfront.

Porte des 2 Moulins (Two Mills Gate): A historic gate that was once the entrance to the old town.
Lookout at Fort des Dames: An ideal lookout point for stunning views of the coastline.

Big Clock Tower: This historic clock tower represents La Rochelle’s historic center.

Plus other interesting landmarks that La Rochelle has to offer!

This Tour is Perfect For:

A Tight Schedule We understand that you are on your holidays and time is precious so this is a great way to get a quick but sufficient overview of La Rochelle.
The Budget Conscious We understand that holidays can be expensive so if you are on a strict-ish budget then take this tour and you can decide what you think it is worth at the end!

Frequently Asked Questions

The meeting point is in the Old Port and clear directions to the meeting point will be sent in your booking confirmation email.

Tours need to be booked in advance. They can be booked on the website up until 4 hours before the starting time. Within 4 hours you can contact us by phone call or WhatsApp to see if it is possible to join the tour.

Yes, I have had children as young as 3 months and adults as old as 92! Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. There are 2 sets of steps on the tour but these can be accommodated with advance warning. Some of the streets are cobblestoned but in general can be navigated by buggies/strollers or electric mobility scooters.

Both private tours and group tours are offered. Private tours are especially recommended for those who want a more personalised experience or those who are in a larger group of people.

The tours are only conducted in English, by a native English-speaking guide.

Please check the weather conditions before coming on the tour and dress appropriately. For sunny and/or warm weather light clothes are recommended along with sunglasses, a hat, and suncream. For colder/rainier days, please wear warm clothes as well as a raincoat and umbrella if necessary.

Yes, it is available but please give some advanced warnings in the booking notes so I can adequately prepare. Also, to have a more fruitful experience please consider a private tour to cater to any specific needs.

Have more questions? Check out our FAQ page!

FAQ PAGE
See What Previous Tour Guests Say About Us

Kevin B

TripAdvisor Reviews

This was a wonderful tour. I highly recommend it. John was very knowledgeable about La Rochelle. At each stop we saw something interesting and learned about La Rochelle’s history and where are the best places to eat, the markets, the beaches and so on. At one of the shops John had arranged for us to sample some of the local liquor known as Pineau, and some of the local Brandy. It was a great introduction to La Rochelle. I am only disappointed that we were not able to go on a wine tasting tour that John also offers. I bet that would have been great too!

Visited in September 2024

Su Yin Chan

Google Reviews

I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting La Rochelle. It really brought the city to life. John was very knowledgeable, interesting & personalised his tour to suit all ages in our varied group (ages 10 to 77). From sport to history, politics & local gossip, we could have listened to him all day. We went for dinner in one of the restaurants he recommended and it turned out to be one of the best meals of our trip. Thank you John for a memorable afternoon

Visited in July 2024

Fintan

Get Your Guide Reviews

Our guide, John, was a mine of information which he shared with us all in a very informative but relaxing way. Top class! He handled all iur questions with ease and even dished out sweets to those who solved his riddles. We were even treated to an od hoc pineau sampling. All in all a great experience with a very knowledgeable, friendly guide. Take a bow, John👏

Visited in October 2024

Conor Coughlan

Facebook Reviews

I did this tour on my first full day in La Rochelle, and I’m so glad I did. Not only did we see the city’s main attractions, we got a great overview of La Rochelles’ fascinating history. John was an excellent guide, and he hit the perfect balance of information and fun for me. It was never boring. It was more like walking through the streets with a storyteller, and that really brought it to life. He was also super knowledgeable and answered any questions people had about places we were passing. The great thing about this tour is that it’s not just history and tourist attractions – you also get a real feel for the city’s atmosphere and its culture as you walk through the streets. John gave great suggestions on where to eat and what to try, and we were also lucky enough to sample some local pineau on our tour. It’s impossible to fit an entire city into a couple of hours, but it felt like we covered so much great stuff. And thanks to John’s tips, I left knowing exactly how I was going to spend the rest of my time in La Rochelle. This tour is brilliant at any time, but book it as one of the first things to do, and you’ll get even more out of it.

Visited in September 2024

Adam

Airbnb Reviews

If your in La Rochelle it is a must. I am staying here for a week with my partner and we took this tour the day after we arrived so now we know our way around and can make a plan on how we want to spend the rest of our holiday. John is extremely friendly with a great knowledge of the history of La Rochelle. He told historic stories and modern stories. The 2 hours flew and I would of happily spent another 2 hours walking around this beautiful location hearing all about it. Amazing experience and top notch tour guide 🙌 All in English too which was ideal!!

Visited in August 2024

Mel

TripAdvisor Reviews

John was the perfect tour guide. Very knowledgeable about the history and geography of the area. It was 2 hours very well spent, I learned a lot of interesting facts. There were 6 of us in the group which was a nice small group. John even managed to get us a pineau tasting experience, he lives locally so knows everyone.

Visited in September 2024

Ronan Cassidy

Google Reviews

I’d highly recommend the walking tour of La Rochelle. John was a great guide, giving an overview of the history of La Rochelle, delivered in a witty and engaging manner. Our group consisted of families, older couples and solo travellers and everyone came away from the tour with the same opinion. Highly recommend for anyone visiting La Rochelle on short or long term trips.

Visited in July 2024

Bisbis1241

TripAdvisor Reviews

Delightful walking tour in English. We had a delightful and informative English speaking walking tour of La Rochelle with John. He was so knowledgeable of the history of the town and was ready to respond to questions we had. It was a really enjoyable experience and we recommend his tour highly.

Written 7 February 2025

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Alternative La Rochelle Tours

If you’re looking for a more in-depth, informative experience of La Rochelle, we recommend our 2-hour Discovery La Rochelle Walking Tour(opens in a new tab). For those seeking a completely personalised experience, our Private Tour(opens in a new tab) offers a tailored itinerary with one-on-one attention from your guide.

Discovery Walking Tour
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Private La Rochelle Tour
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