The old town is small and entirely walkable — door to door across the centre takes about fifteen minutes. The Vieux Port, the arcaded streets, the cathedral, and the main museums are all within a few minutes of each other.
For the marina at Les Minimes and the U-boat pens at La Pallice, the easiest options are the city bus network (Yélo) or the bus-boat ferry across the harbour. The harbour ferry (bateau-bus) runs every ten minutes in summer and is part of the Yélo network.
La Rochelle is one of the most cycle-friendly cities in France. The city pioneered free public bikes — Vélo Service Jaunes — in 1976, and the network is still in place. Bike rental at the Place de Verdun or at Les Minimes. The cycle paths run all the way out to Les Sables-d'Olonne and across the Île de Ré bridge.