Île de Ré | Relax on the paradise French island

The French Peninsula Ile de Ré (Location here) is located on the west side of France and can be reached via a bridge from the mainland. This place guarantees the ultimate holiday feeling. Because as soon as you drive over the bridge you come into contact with the wonderful atmosphere that prevails there. It's all about ecotourism and protecting the diversity of flora and fauna. Enjoy the relaxing tranquility on this paradise island. 

Exploring by bike!

The island is quite large, about 85 square kilometers. The best way to explore the island is by bike or on foot. It is best to park the car in one of the parking lots near the toll bridge that allows you to reach the island. This bridge costs €8 in winter and €16 return in summer. By the way, 80% of this amount goes directly back to preserving the island's nature. From the place La Rochelle (Location here) you have access to the bridge. This is also a nice place to visit if you have time to spare. 

The charming villages on the island consist of many narrow streets, making cycling the best way to explore. Bring your own bike, or rent one from many places on the island. There are several possibilities.

What makes Île de Ré so special?

The island is known for its white houses with colored shutters and traditional salt extraction. You can also experience the effects of ebb and flow here. When we arrived here it was high tide and the water was at its highest. Later in the day the sea largely disappeared. Many boats suddenly lay on land and the harbor was completely dry. At a certain point the water started to flow slowly into the harbor again and the boats floated up through the sea. Really cool to experience it this way! 

Unfortunately we only had one day to visit this wonderful island, because you can easily spend 3 days to a week here!

La flotte

Since we were short on time, we chose to visit part of the island. We went to the town, among other things La flotte in the northeast of the island (location here). This is truly one of the most beautiful villages here. Narrow streets, white houses, the salty smell of the sea. Everything comes together here. 

Abbaye des Chateliers 

One of the sights of this village are the remains of Abbaye des Chateliers (Location here). In its heyday, this ruin was an important religious and cultural center in the region. The building has been badly affected by several wars. Currently, only a number of side walls are left standing. You can visit this ruin for free. 

Saint-Martin-de-Ré 

We also visited the harbor village: Saint-Martin-de-Ré (Location here). Here you can clearly see the effects of the sea tides. There are also all kinds of nice shops and nice restaurants where you can relax on the terrace. It's a nice place where you won't get bored easily. We found the shops to be very varied and not necessarily aimed only at tourists. It has retained its charms and this really appealed to us. 

UNESCO-worthy fortress

Fort de la Pree (Location here) was built in 1625 and formed the island's defense line. During the Second World War the structure was added to the Atlantic Wall of the Germans. It has the shape of a star and surrounds the entire village with its 14 kilometer long walls. This enormous structure is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today the fort is a museum. You can book a tour for €7 per person. This takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes and is only possible during the school holidays and between June and September.

What else can you see?

The island has many nice places to visit. If you have time left or are here for more than one day, I definitely recommend the places below.

Plage de Gros Joncs

One of the most famous beaches is located in the southwest Plage de Gros Joncs (Location here). It is a nice place for surfing, swimming and admiring the sunset. Located near the entrance to the beach La Cabane Verte and Ré Surf. Here you can book all kinds of water activities, such as kayaking and windsurfing. 

Le Portes-en-Ré

If you are going to discover the island on the west side then this is the place The Portes-en-Ré (Location here) recommended. This charming village is located at the very end of the island. Partly thanks to its location, it has retained its own authentic character. Here you will find one of the largest bird reserves in Europe: Lilleau of Niges, with more than 300 species to spot! There are several beautiful hiking and biking trails along the edge of the reserve.

You can also visit the salt marshes around this area. Would you like to know how salt marshes work and how the salt is extracted? Then definitely go to it ecomuseum Marais Salant. This is about 15 kilometers from the village, so keep this in mind. The museum is open from the end of March to the beginning of November and entrance fee is between €3 and €6. 

Of course there are many more great places on this island. Get on your bike and explore for yourself! Stroll through the narrow streets and enjoy the wonderful island life.

Practical Information

The best travel time

From May to October is the best time to go here. During this period there is a pleasant temperature and little chance of precipitation. We visited the island in mid-April and the weather was incredibly nice! We were very lucky because in the morning there was quite a nice breeze, which died down shortly afterwards. 

How do you get there?

From Utrecht it is about a 10-hour drive to the island. You can also take the train to Paris and then take the train here La Rochelle to take. From there you can travel to the island by bus or taxi. Keep in mind that your total travel time will then be approximately 7,5 hours. The best way to get around on the island is by bike or on foot.

Accommodation

There are several nice accommodation options such as hotels, campsites and B&Bs. It all depends on which part of the island you want to visit and how long you have time. In principle, everything is easily accessible by bike, so you can easily stay in one and the same place. Below I share some nice tips.

You can spend the night near La Flotte The Little Ship from around €65 per night based on two people (click here). You can also rent bicycles here. Bee HOOliRé17 3étoiles (click here) you have a holiday home with two bedrooms from €183 per night and is located directly on the beach. This accommodation is on the west side of the island. You can contact us from €80 per night Le Chai Rit (click here). Here you also have an entire holiday home with two bedrooms. This location is close to the toll bridge on the east side.

Do you want to discover more of France? Then also read: Roadtrip Normandy | 4x special locations