8 Things to do on the Island of Île de Ré
A FRENCH ISLAND GETAWAY
Sitting off France’s western coast, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, is the island of Île de Ré.
This jewel of France is known for having a high rate of annual sunshine, picture-perfect beaches, vibrant vineyards, ancient villages and delicious seafood.
With less than 20,000 inhabitants, this UNESCO island has a laid-back feel. Focusing on ecotourism, conviviality and local produce, the island is one to be remembered.
When visiting Île de Ré, enjoy the slow way of life and meet the passionate locals behind the island’s produce. Then later that day see their hard work on the restaurant table.
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So here are 8 recommendations for things to do on the sunny Île de Ré.
“I’ve been working & living on Ile de Ré for almost 6 years and I love it. I very often have the feeling of living in a “cocoon” as my quality of life is just so great. Spring & Autumn are the best seasons to come – Winter is also very nice. Nature is fabulous and preserved – this is why it’s so important to care for it. I am very fond of our local products too, such as oysters, shrimp, wine, salt, potatoes …etc. The ocean is of course one of the reasons I love to live here.
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1. explore the islanDS 10 VILLAGES
Île de Ré, known as the “White Island” is dotted with 10 unique villages.
These villages all have their character while being filled with traditional white houses, wooden shutters and flowered alleys. At times it’s hard to believe you’re in France and not on a Greek island in the Mediterranean.
Most houses on Île de Ré are white and single-storey. They have a limited colour pallet of green, blue or white shutters, permitted by the local council. Many are covered in hollyhocks, bougainvillaea or roses, which make the streets come alive. This blended colour palette really brings charm to the whole island, unifying each and every village with the soft, natural colours of the sky, sea and sand.
Here are a few of our favourite villages to visit.
Saint-Martin-de-Ré
Saint-Martin-de-Ré is known as the mini capital of the island. Situated inside an impressive star-shaped fort, the ancient village became a UNESCO world heritage site in 2008. The village sits within the 17th-century fortressed walls around a scenic harbour filled with restaurants, boutiques and cafes.
La Flotte
Next door to Saint-Martin-de-Ré is La Flotte. Classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Known for its tiny harbour, long sandy beach, and colourful market.
La Couarde-sur-Mer
In the heart of the island, you’ll find La Couarde-sur-Mer. Surrounded by sandy beaches, vineyards and salt marshes. We loved cycling through the narrow streets, lined with vibrant independent boutiques and restaurants filled with locals dining out.
2. ELECTRIC BIKE
When visiting Île de Ré you’ll notice the lack of cars and the amount of bikes cycling around you.
Île de Ré is home to a network of over 130km (80 miles) of cycling paths. Pretty impressive when you compare that to the size of the island. It can take just under 2 hours to ride from La Rochelle Airport on the mainland to the top of Île de Ré, so this gives you an idea of how small the island is, but how achievable it is too.
Electric cycling is a great way to explore Île de Ré. Dip through the vineyards, the salt marshes, fields of wildflowers and the cobbled streets of the picture-perfect villages. Each village is connected by bike lanes, and nearly all the beaches too, making it easy to explore.
Most villages have bike shops where you can hire tandems, electric bikes, trailers for children as well as classic bikes so they’re easy to find.
When possible we prefer to cycle rather than drive as you get to experience the destination to the full. Rather than driving from A to B, you get to find hidden gems along the way, enhancing your journey.
If you fancy something more adventurous then explore the island by Segway! We rolled along the cobbled streets of La Flotte, through the picturesque harbour, all the way up to the impressive Abbaye des Châteliers.
3. learn ABOUT SALT
The 4 S’s - Sun, sea, sand and salt. These make up the theme of the island.
Île de Ré is covered in nearly 400 hectares of salt marshes, producing “white gold” as it’s known here. Looking at the island from above on Google Maps, you’ll see the extensive marshes which cover around 18% of the island’s surface. No wonder then that if you buy salt in the country, there’s a high chance it came from the island!
Salt has been harvested here since the middle ages, when there used to be around 1,000 “saunters” (salt makers) on the island. Today there are around 100 left, still using the traditional methods and old-age techniques.
Take a visit to Pick Sel, a marsh run by the talented salt-maker Romain. Here you can learn about how the salt marshes are created and how the salt is harvested.
We’d never paid much attention to salt or where it came from. So it was so fascinating to learn about how it’s made and the techniques. Leaning this definitely makes us appreciate salt more when using it!
When we travel we like to bring something home with us as a souvenir. Something that’s from the destination and preferably, something we can eat / drink or cook with. From the island we brought home a few jars of salt, local wine and good memories!
4. Visit a WINERY
France has a reputation for producing the best wine in the world. So you can’t visit the country and not give it a try!
Row after row of vines thrives across the island. Every road you drive down, every path you cycled, is lined with vines.
Right on the edge of the sea is the Domaine Arica winery. Run by married couple Simon and Marine, they’re the only independent company on the island producing organic wine. Have a wine tasting, while learning about the grape varieties, tasting techniques and vines grown on the island.
Something we loved about the Île de Ré, is that wherever you go, a restaurant, a cafe, a hotel, they all seem to support each other, highlighting their local produce. We noticed Domaine Arica’s wines in a few eateries on the island, as well as Pick Sel salt on the tables. This is something we’ve lost touch with where we live in the UK, having imported food and drink much cheaper than local produce so it was nice to see this regularly on the island.
5. EAT LOCAL SEAFOOD (INCLUDING OYSTERS!)
When it comes to food and drink, Île de Ré is known primarily for potatoes, wine, salt and oysters. Influenced by its position in the Atlantic, fresh, locally-caught seafood is easy to come by.
Oysters and other seafood can be found in oyster bars, restaurants and local markets all throughout the island. Even serving oyster-flavoured ice cream in La Martinière, the island seems to be obsessed with the shellfish!
With traditional cuisine made up of fresh, quality produce, largely from producers in the region, we thoroughly enjoyed our meals on the island.
Here are a few restaurants we’d recommend and enjoyed ourselves.
Experience panoramic ocean views at Ré Ostréa. Sit right opposite the sea as you eat oysters, that had been caught from the oyster farm in front of you.
Have a posh dinner with sea views and live music at La Brasserie de la Plage in La Flotte. Watch from your table, sparkling wine in hand, as the sun sets behind the lighthouse in the distance.
With laid-back vibes, coastal decor and even a camper van fitted with a table, Bordin Zinc was our favourite meal while in Île de Ré. Surrounded by the cobbled streets, colourful shutters and fragrant roses, sit outside, chat with the staff and listen to the reggae music.
Le Balaou in La Couarde-sur-Mer is a family-atmosphere restaurant, a few minutes walk from the beach. Try their exquisite seafood, paired with local wine, from the vineyard sitting 2 minutes down the road.
If you want a massive plate of seafood while sitting on the beach then head to Les Copains Bâbord. Having been oyster farmers in La Flotte since 1966, it’s safe to say they’re seafood experts.
6. RELAX AT THE BEACH
Being an island, Île de Ré is obviously surrounded by beaches. Strips of uninterrupted golden fluffy sand, backed by the bright blue seas, are perfect for relaxation or water activities.
The most beautiful beaches are known to be on the south and west coast of the island. These are cushioned by dunes and forests. Whereas the northern coastline is more rocky, with small coves.
La Conche des Baleines on the north of the island is a remote, dune-swept beach backed by pine forests. Sitting next to the Phare des Baleines, (translating to the "Whale Lighthouse”), this beach merges into the Plage de la Conche and Plage du Lizay.
If you want to catch some waves then head to Plage de Gros Jonc, known as the best beach for surfing. Here you can hire equipment and/or take a lesson.
If you love the French coast head to our article “8 WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO ON THE BRITTANY COASTLINE”
7. STAY AT THE SLOW VILLAGE
Slow Village Île de Ré is an eco-friendly campsite, perfecting "the art of slowing down and taking time”. With the concept of combining ecotourism and conviviality, the Slow Village really reflects everything Île de Ré stands for.
Slow Village has the largest private swimming pool on the island, multiple sports facilities, a restaurant and even a herb garden, which you can help yourself to if you fancy cooking.
With car-free grounds and cosy cabins, you get to wake up in the middle of the woods. Chill on your deckchairs and listen to the birds, while you relax in nature.
➜ Booking.com Link: Slow Village
8. EXplORE THE NATURE RESERVE
Lilleau des Niges, on the north of the island, is one of the best places to see birds in their natural habitat. Being a National Nature Reserve and a paradise for bird lovers, the reserve is made up of 220 hectares of former salt marshes.
Welcoming millions of birds every year, due to the favourable climate, the reserve allows itself to be a migratory crossroad for many species of birds on their journeys.
To protect the birds, visitors aren’t allowed to walk in the centre of the reserve but there are plenty of walking and cycle paths around the edges to wander through.
During your visit, enjoy the Maison du Fier. A former salt shed turned museum, they host exhibitions to learn about the flora and fauna on the island. It’s here where you can hire binoculars and telescopes, which is a great way of seeing the birds!
Read our article “A WONDERFUL DAY OUT IN THE SEASIDE VILLAGE OF LE CONQUET, BRITTANY” for more France inspiration.
GETTING AROUND Île de Ré
We had a hire car as we were travelling around the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occatanie regions for 10 days. But if you’re just visiting Île de Ré and/or La Rochelle then a car isn’t necessary.
We know hiring a car can be one of the biggest travel expenses when it comes to visiting another country. So flying to La Rochelle and visiting the island is a great way of cutting out that big expense.
Even though we had a car we didn’t use it very often. We either walked, electric biked or Segwayed to places we wanted to visit. This is the most peaceful way of seeing the island and a great way to experience nature and its surroundings.
WHEN TO VISIT Île de Ré
Île de Ré is a popular destination in the summertime for the French. The island during these summer months can get extremely busy. So we’d recommend visiting in spring or autumn time.
If you want to avoid the high season, April to June and September to November are optimal months to visit as it’s quieter and the weather is still pleasant.
During our visit in May, we had beautiful hot weather. Visitors to the beaches were sparse, the restaurants and cafes were filled with locals and we felt like we had this secret French island all to ourselves. The calmness of local life is the real ethos of the island.
How to get to Île de Ré
The island of Île de Ré is situated just across the water from the coastal city of La Rochelle.
There is only one way to enter the island on land, and that’s by the 3km bridge. Open 24/7, the bridge has a small fee to go across but a high percentage of this money is an eco-tax which goes towards preserving the island’s nature.
From the bridge, the airport is a short 5-minute drive and the train station is a 10-minute drive.
If you’re coming from London you can reach Paris in under 2 hours and 15 minutes with the Eurostar (a high-speed train). From Paris you can then catch the TGV (another high-speed train) to La Rochelle in just under 3 hours. If you’re not hiring a car you catch a bus from the station.
If you’re doing your trip carless, you can get a coach to one of the 10 villages on the island from La Rochelle airport.
Locals that make Île de Ré special
Raphaël & Hugo from Le Bordin Zinc
Simon from Domaine Arica
Catherine from Restaurant le Balaou
Romain from Picksel
Didier from Ré Ostrea
Camille from the Île de Ré Tourism office
We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Île de Ré! If you have any other suggestions or have any questions please let us know in the comments below.
Our trip to Île de Ré was in partnership with the Nouvelle-Aquitaine & Explore France
