Île d'Oléron is connected to the mainland by the Viaduc d'Oléron, a 3-km toll-free bridge from the village of Bourcefranc-le-Chapus near Rochefort. The island is about 175 km north of Bordeaux and 200 km southwest of Nantes by road — allow roughly 2 hours from Bordeaux.
There is no rail connection to the island. The nearest SNCF stations are Rochefort and Saintes, both served from Bordeaux and La Rochelle. From Rochefort, buses run to the island. Most visitors arriving by public transport take a bus from La Rochelle or Rochefort.
By ferry: A seasonal ferry service connects Boyardville to Fort-des-Barres on the Île d'Aix from roughly April through October — a pleasant short crossing for those combining a visit to both islands.