Getting to the Île de Ré from La Rochelle
The Île de Ré is a corner of paradise between Bordeaux and Nantes. It’s easily accessible by a bridge, linking the island to the continent. This bridge is open 24/7.
The bridge of Ré is financed by an eco-tax for the protection and management of green spaces. Thus, all visitors contribute to the preservation of the environment. The high season fare for a round trip is 16€, compared to 8€ in the low season.
However, for longer stays, temporary memberships are available in the building next to the bridge. It is open from 5:30 A.M. to 9:30 P.M.
The island is 30 km long, so for the more athletic, one day is enough to cycle around it.
How many villages are on the Île de Ré ?
The island is divided into 10 villages: Ars en Ré, La Couarde, Rivedoux-plage, La Flotte, Loix, Saint-Clément-des-Baleines, Les Portes-en-Ré, Sainte-Marie-de-Ré, Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, and Saint-Martin-de-Ré. Travel Paradise has 24 villas all around the island, giving you the opportunity to discover each village.
Getting to the Île de Ré from La Rochelle
Arriving by plane
Since January 1st, 2019, La Rochelle’s airport includes the Ile de Ré – La Rochelle and Rochefort Charente-Maritime airports.
It is a small and easily accessible airport where only 2 airlines land.
Serving La Rochelle :
- Easyjet with booking available from : Bristol, Genève, Londres-Gatwick, Lyon and Manchester.
- And Ryanair with booking available from :Bruxelles-Charleroi,Cork, Dublin, Londres-Stansted, Marrakech and Marseille.
How to get to the island from the airport?
Once at the airport, which is just 2 km away from the bridge, there are several options to get to the Île de Ré. You can rent a car or arrange a taxi transfer.
Keep in mind that it is quite difficult to get around by car during the summer due to the dense traffic. That is the reason why we include the rental of bicycles, electric or otherwise, so you can get around without any trouble.
We can organize your entire transfer from the moment you arrive : round trip Ile de Ré airport, round trip La Rochelle train station airport.
Our villas are located between 10km and 45km from the airport. We contact the professionals for you for all-inclusive vacations.
Arriving by boat
How to get to the Île de Ré by sea? You can arrive through the harbor with your own boat.
There is a visitor access to the harbors of Ars en Ré, La Flotte and Saint martin-en-Ré. They will ask you to pay for your spot for the night. We can book a spot for you with the harbor master’s office.
You can also take the shuttle boats from La Rochelle to the Île de Ré for a pleasant change of scenery. A shuttle service between the island and the mainland makes the trip in just over an hour.
It allows both pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy the trip.
Boarding takes place at the Vieux port and Minimes’ harbor, arriving at Saint-Martin-de-Ré after crossing the bridge. Of course, Travel Paradise can book your trip in advance if necessary.
There are also shuttles departing from La Tranche-sur-Mer and the Île d’Oléron.
Arriving by train from La Rochelle station.
Located in the heart of the city, La Rochelle station is famous for its remarkable architecture, ranked among the most beautiful stations in France.
It is served by a multitude of trains from Paris, Bordeaux, Nantes, and other cities such as Angoulême, Poitiers, or Biarritz.
How to get to the Île de Ré La Rochelle station ?
The station’s three platforms accommodate high speed trains (TGV), InterCity, and regional trains (TER) from Poitou-Charente and Pays de la Loire, operated by SNCF.
The TGV connects La Rochelle to Paris-Montparnasse in just 3 hours, while the TER takes you to Bordeaux in 2 hours and to Poitiers in 1h30.
Public transport options, such as city buses and taxis, are available to get around town. You can also ask us to rent a car, or to simply pick you up and take you to your villa.
It is worth noting that the station building itself is a historic monument in La Rochelle-Ville, worth pausing to admire before going off to discover the Île de Ré.
La Rochelle station is just 13 km from the island. Your luxurious villa will be waiting for you, so there are plenty of options to choose from:
By bus: Regular bus services connect La Rochelle station to various places on the Île de Ré, including the main villages such as Saint-Martin-de-Ré, La Flotte, and Le Bois–Plage–en–Ré. Timetables and routes are available from local transport companies .
By car: We offer luxury services to make your trip to the Île de Ré as easy as possible.
We can book a driver, a taxi, or a car for your entire week, or to pick you up from La Rochelle station.
