Royan tourism and travel guide
Visit Royan: highlights and tourist information
France This Way comment: At Royan you will enjoy the beaches and also the promenade along the seafront
Royan is situated in the Charente-Maritime department and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
Important note
This page features a summary of highlights that you might like to explore near Royan. For detailed visitor information see the Royan travel guide.
Tourist classifications for Royan include "town of art and history" and "ville fleurie 4*".
Below you can see some of the places that we have visited and reviewed and can recommend when you are sightseeing close to Royan in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Popular places to visit nearby include Meschers-sur-Gironde at 9 km and Mornac-sur-Seudre at 10 km.
Royan, France: places to visit and attractions
Note that all distances below are 'direct' and real driving distances will be greater!
Le Verdon-sur-Mer
Seaside resort at 9 km (direction south-south-west), in the Gironde departmentThe small resort of Le Verdon-sur-Mer is quiet but has long sandy beaches...
See Le Verdon-sur-Mer guide
Meschers-sur-Gironde
at 9 km (direction south-east)The beaches and rocky coast attract visitors to Meschers, and you can also see...
See Meschers-sur-Gironde guide
Mornac-sur-Seudre
Most Beautiful Village at 10 km (direction south-east)Not far from Royan the centre of Mornac-sur-Seudre is attractive and very pleasant to...
See Mornac-sur-Seudre guide
Church Sainte-Radegonde of Talmont
Church at 13 km (direction south-east)The Church Sainte-Radegonde is a roman style church of the 12th century on the...
See Church Sainte-Radegonde of Talmont guide
Talmont
Most Beautiful Village at 13 km (direction south-east)Talmont-sur-Gironde is one of the prettiest villages in Charente-Maritime, well known for the imposing...
See Talmont guide
La Palmyre
at 14 km (direction north-west)You will find a beach at La Palmyre but it is best known for...
See La Palmyre guide
Soulac-sur-Mer
Seaside resort at 15 km (direction south-west), in the Gironde departmentSoulac-sur-Mer is a long established beach resort at the north of the Medoc peninsula...
See Soulac-sur-Mer guide
La Tremblade
Seaside resort at 19 km (direction north-west)Visit the beach and port at La Tremblade, and explore the sand dunes...
See La Tremblade guide
Saint-Vivien-de-Medoc
at 22 km (direction south), in the Gironde departmentWhile Saint-Vivien-de-Medoc would not be considered a tourist destination, you might like to stop...
See Saint-Vivien-de-Medoc guide
Ronce-les-Bains
Seaside resort at 22 km (direction north-west)Ronce-les-Bains is a long established resort with several beaches nearby, and an important centre...
See Ronce-les-Bains guide
Brouage
at 25 km (direction north-north-west)The town of Brouage is visited for the substantial fortifications and citadel, dating from...
See Brouage guide
Montalivet
Seaside resort at 30 km (direction south), in the Gironde departmentThe resort of Montaliver has a 12 kilometre beach, and has been popular since...
See Montalivet guide
Amphitheatre in Saintes
Ancient Monument at 32 km (direction east-north-east)The amphitheatre in Saintes was built by the Romans in the First century AD...
See Amphitheatre in Saintes guide
Saintes
at 33 km (direction east-north-east)The town of Saintes is very interesting, with an extensive old-town to explore and...
See Saintes guide
... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Charente-Maritime
Find Royan hotels & holiday rentals
Hotel search
Reserve excursions near Royan
Map of places to visit near Royan
Markets in and near Royan
Market days in Royan: weekly market: every day except Monday;
- Royan: market every day except Monday (0km)
- Vaux sur Mer: market Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday - seasonal market only (3km)
- Vaux sur Mer: market Monday (3km)
- Saint Georges de Didonne: market all days exc. Thursday - seasonal market only (3km)
- Saint Georges de Didonne: market Sunday and Monday (3km)
- Breuillet: market Thursday & Sunday (8km)
- Meschers-sur-Gironde: market Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - seasonal market only (9km)
- Saujon: market every day except Monday and Friday (9km)
- Les Mathes: market every day except Monday (14km)
- Cozes: market Wednesday (15km)
More information about Royan, Poitou-Charentes
Tourist attractions near Royan, France
What to do at Royan? Some places with official tourist classifications and other places of interest to visit nearby that should provide inspiration if you are visiting Royan.
Grand sites of France
- Brouage Fortifications (25km)
Heritage sites
- Soulac-su-Mer basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-fin-des-Terres (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (15km)
- Saintes basilique St Eutrope (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (32km)
- Pons ancien hopital des pèlerins (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (37km)
- Saint-Jean-d'Angély, abbaye royale (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (52km)
Most beautiful villages in France
(see also beautiful French villages)
- Mornac-sur-Seudre (10km)
- Talmont (13km)
Churches and religious monuments
- Abbaye aux Dames de Saintes (Saintes) (34km)
- Eglise de Saint-Savinien (Fenioux) (44km)
- Abbaye de Fontdouce (Saint-Bris-des-Bois) (47km)
Remarkable gardens
- La Roche Courbon (29km)
- Parcs et jardins du château de Beaulon (33km)
- Jardins de la Boirie (42km)
Sites of natural beauty
- Pointe de Suzac (3km)
- Forêt de Suzac (6km)
- Pointe de Grave (11km)
- Pointe de la Coubre (18km)
- Forêt domaniale de la Coubre (20km)
- Hiers-Brouage (25km)
- Forêt de Saint-Trojan (28km)
- Forêt de la Lande (35km)
- Forêt de Pons (37km)
Towns of Art and history
Zoo and/or wildlife park
- Zoo de la Palmyre (13km)
Geography and distances
Royan is in the west of France at 60 kilometres from La Rochelle, the department capital (general information: Royan is 440 kilometres from Paris).
Geographical Information
Commune: Royan
Canton: Royan
Arrondissement: Rochefort
Department: Charente-Maritime
Region: Poitou-Charentes
New region: Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Postcode: 17200
Distance to Royan
from La Rochelle (prefecture): 60 km
from Paris: 440 km
from Calais: 629 km
from Nice: 689 km
from Bordeaux: 94 km
from Strasbourg: 740 km
Getting here
Most visitors will arrive by car typically from a channel ferry ports such as Saint Malo, Caen or Cherbourg, a drive af about 4-5 hours. For driving distances to Royan from anywhere in France see driving distances and route planner.
We have 6 other places listed as being close (less than kilometres from ): Medis, Saint-Augustin, Saint-Georges-de-Didonne, Saint-Palais-sur-Mer, Saint-Sulpice-de-Royan and Vaux-sur-Mer.
This page in French: Visiter Royan