Île de Ré
Île de Ré is an Atlantic island off western France, reached by a bridge from La Rochelle. Visitors come to cycle its tracks, eat oysters and walk Vauban's walled old town.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Île de Ré is an island off France's Atlantic coast, in the Charente-Maritime department of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, near La Rochelle. It is about 30 km long and 5 km wide, and its highest point is 20 metres above sea level. A 2.9 km bridge connects it to the mainland, so most visitors arrive by car and pay a toll of €8 or €16 return, depending on the season. Saint-Martin-de-Ré, the main port, has an old town inside citadel walls that Vauban fortified in 1681. The old town is part of the Fortifications of Vauban, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cycling is the practical way to explore. The island has a network of cycle tracks, and many residents rarely use cars. Oysters and fresh fish are sold year-round, and markets run in the main towns. A steady light breeze blows over the island and the sea is generally cool, so bring a layer. Summer is the busiest season, with about 220,000 summer residents against about 17,650 year-round residents. Plan a long weekend for a first visit, or a week if you want to cycle between villages.
Île de Ré in five
- Rent a bike instead of bringing a carThe island is flat and has well-marked cycle routes between the villages. A bike avoids the parking problem and the summer traffic, and rental shops are in every main village.
- Cross the bridge early or late in summerTraffic builds on the bridge from La Rochelle on summer weekends and changeover days. Check the bridge toll and traffic advice on the official site before you travel.
- Reach the island by bus from La RochelleA bus service runs from La Rochelle over the bridge to the main villages. Check the island's timetable, which changes by season, and carry luggage that fits the rack.La Rochelle travel guide
- Visit Saint-Martin-de-Ré for the fortificationsThe harbor town has Vauban-designed ramparts that are part of a UNESCO listing. Walk the walls in the morning and leave time for the harbor cafes.
- Book summer rooms earlyThe island is small, and rooms and campsites sell out for July and August. Compare villages by how close they are to a beach or a cycle route.
Need to know
- Airport
- La Rochelle-Île de Ré (LRH) and Nantes are the nearest airports
- Getting there
- Bridge from La Rochelle; bus or car
- Getting around
- Bike, bus or car; flat cycle paths between villages
- Best base
- Saint-Martin-de-Ré, Ars-en-Ré or La Flotte
- Time needed
- 2–4 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh10°Low7°Mild, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh11°Low7°Mild, quietFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low9°Cool, windyMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, windy
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Spring, freshAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, fresh
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low13°Warm, cyclingMayPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, cycling
- JunePartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh20°Low17°Warm, beach daysJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, beach days
- JulyClear6 rainy daysHigh22°Low18°Warm, packedJulyClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 26 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, packed
- AugustClear6 rainy daysHigh22°Low18°Warm, packedAugustClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 33 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, packed
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh20°Low17°Warm sea, calmerSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, calmer
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh18°Low14°Mild, oystersOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, oysters
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh14°Low11°Cool, wetNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh11°Low8°Cold, quietDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 108 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
Average daily high and low in Île de Ré, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Île de Ré
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
13
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 61%
- Wind
- 43 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 3%
Île de Ré
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°8°3%Monday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Tue12°8°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed11°6°8%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Thu13°7°8%Thursday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Fri13°8°8%Friday: Fog. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sat13°8°9%Saturday: Fog. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Sun15°12°37%Sunday: Drizzle. High 15°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 37%.
Updated 06:51 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- JulLes Francofolies de La RochelleLa Rochelle, a day trip
Day trips by train
- La Rochelleabout 30 min by bus or carA port city with three medieval towers and an aquarium.Read the guide
- Saint-Martin-de-Réabout 20 min by bike from La FlotteA harbor town with fortifications and shops.
- Ars-en-Réabout 30–40 min by bike from Saint-MartinA village at the island's quieter end, with salt marshes.
- Bordeauxabout 2 hours by train and busA city of wine and a main rail hub to the south.Read the guide
Before you go to Île de Ré
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Île de Ré, checked
- Carry your passport or national identity card, and check entry rules for your nationality on France-Visas before you travel.Source
- The bridge from La Rochelle charges a toll for cars, and the rate depends on the season. Check the current rate with the bridge operator before you drive.
- Stay out of the WWII bunkers on the beaches. Some are derelict, so do not enter them.
- For emergencies anywhere in France, call 112.
Plan around Île de Ré
Regions, cities and how to plan the whole trip
Read the guideLa RochelleThe port city at the foot of the bridge
Read the guideAtlantic CoastBeach towns and islands along the coast
Read the guideBordeauxThe big city to the south by train
Read the guideTrain or passWhen a Eurail pass pays in France
Read the guideÎle de Ré FAQ
Is Île de Ré worth visiting?
Yes if you want cycling, beaches and a slow week. It is not a sightseeing destination, and it is crowded in July and August. Choose spring or September for the best balance.
How do you get to Île de Ré?
By the bridge from La Rochelle, by bus or by car. Check the toll and traffic on the official site, and plan around summer weekends and changeover days.
Do you need a car on Île de Ré?
No. The island is flat and has good cycle routes, so most visitors rent a bike. A car adds parking trouble in summer and a toll on the bridge.
How many days do you need on Île de Ré?
Two days cover the main villages by bike. Three or four days let you add beach time and oysters. Stay longer only if you want a seaside break.
When is the best time to visit Île de Ré?
May to June and September for mild weather and fewer crowds. July and August are the busiest, with crowded roads and high prices. Winter is quiet but many shops close.