After the summer months, visitor numbers fall considerably. Beaches, cycle paths and villages are easier to explore at your own pace, particularly for families who want to take their time rather than trying to fit everything into a single day. A walk along an empty beach or a simple stop in one of the island’s villages can easily become part of the day.
This quieter period does not mean that the island comes to a standstill. Île de Ré is inhabited all year round and retains a genuine local life, although some restaurants, shops and activities reduce their opening hours or close temporarily during the colder months. It is therefore worth checking opening times before your stay, particularly in the less frequented villages.
Winter also offers a different perspective on the island’s landscapes. Sandy beaches, dunes, forests, salt marshes and wetlands become a greater part of the experience, while the tides regularly transform the coastline and foreshore. The Atlantic and the Gulf Stream contribute to the island’s relatively mild climate, with winter temperatures generally remaining moderate.
With around 138 kilometres of cycle paths, cycling remains one of the most natural ways to explore the island outside the main season. The routes connect picturesque villages, forests, marshes and the coast, with far fewer people than during the summer months. Bike hire is available in villages across the island, including options suitable for families and children.
There are just as many possibilities on foot. The Côte Sauvage, sandy beaches and woodland trails offer walks of different lengths. Whether cycling or walking, the island’s relatively short distances make it easier to plan days out with the family. Children’s bike hire can also make cycling a practical option for families who do not bring their own equipment.
In Les Portes-en-Ré, the Lilleau des Niges Nature Reserve is one of the island’s most interesting natural sites during the colder months. Its marshes and wetlands welcome several species of migratory birds, including Brent geese, Eurasian curlews and Eurasian spoonbills.
The areas around the reserve make it possible to observe the wildlife without setting out on a long hike. At low tide, mudflats appear and give the landscape a completely different character. Winter is a perfect time to discover this natural setting at a slower pace and appreciate the richness of the northern part of the island.
Winter is also well suited to moments of wellbeing. Several establishments offer treatments, massages and thalassotherapy programmes, with spaces dedicated to relaxation and the benefits of seawater.
These addresses provide an interesting alternative when the weather is less suited to outdoor activities. A thalassotherapy session or treatment can easily become part of the stay while maintaining a connection with the island’s maritime environment.
Saint-Martin-de-Ré offers an insight into the island’s history through its port, narrow streets and Vauban fortifications. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the fortifications form one of the island’s major historic landmarks. The Ernest Cognacq Museum adds another dimension to the visit, while the church bell tower offers views over the rooftops and port.
A few kilometres away, La Flotte brings together narrow streets, a market and a harbour. Nearby, the Abbaye des Châteliers, listed as a historic monument, is one of the oldest and most evocative buildings in this part of the island. La Savonnerie de Ré also offers an introduction to a local craft. The village and its surroundings are also a good place to look for local produce, including fresh oysters. Together, Saint-Martin-de-Ré and La Flotte combine heritage with everyday island life.
Listed among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, Ars-en-Ré is recognisable by its black-and-white church spire, which was long used as a landmark by sailors. Its harbour, small streets and surrounding marshes make it one of the characteristic villages of the northern part of the island.
Loix, meanwhile, occupies a peninsula surrounded by salt marshes. The landscape is more open and rural, with cycle paths offering a way to explore the area alongside the tides and traces of its traditional salt-making activity.
Les Portes-en-Ré provides access to the natural landscapes of the Fier d’Ars. Dunes, forests and wetlands dominate this part of the island, creating an ideal environment for longer walks.
In Saint-Clément-des-Baleines, the Phare des Baleines is the main landmark. From there, the Côte Sauvage and long beaches invite you to continue walking beside the Atlantic, with wide, uninterrupted views of the ocean.
Where you stay will depend on the atmosphere you are looking for and the part of the island you want to explore. Some may prefer to be close to a harbour and village shops, while others will be drawn to the beaches, marshes and more open landscapes of the west and north.
In Saint-Martin-de-Ré, Villa Campani stands at the foot of the Vauban fortifications, just a few minutes’ walk from the harbour. Its location makes it easy to explore the streets, shops and heritage of Saint-Martin while remaining well placed for visiting other villages on the island.
Also in Saint-Martin-de-Ré, Villa Gardenia is only 50 metres from the harbour and close to the centre. This 18th-century house is well placed for enjoying the quays and narrow streets of Saint-Martin during the quieter winter season.
In Les Portes-en-Ré, Villa Orphée offers a base close to the Petit Bec and Lizay beaches. At the north-western end of the island, this area is particularly suited to walks between beaches, dunes and natural landscapes.
Also in Les Portes-en-Ré, Villa Dune sits at the foot of the dunes, facing La Loge beach, with direct access to the coast. In winter, this location makes it easy to head out for a walk along the beach before continuing towards the village or exploring other landscapes in the north of the island.
In Ars-en-Ré, Villa Offenbach is around 750 metres from the Côte Sauvage beach and one kilometre from the village centre. Its location makes it possible to alternate between walks by the ocean and time in Ars-en-Ré, with its harbour, streets and surrounding marshes.
Finally, in Loix, Villa Enchant’Ré lies in the heart of the village, around 350 metres from the beach. Loix is surrounded by salt marshes and has a harbour, market and cycle paths for exploring the peninsula at a relaxed pace, even outside the main season.
Villa île de Ré by Villanovo offers a selection of villas across different parts of the island, including our villas in Saint-Martin-de-Ré, La Flotte, Ars-en-Ré, Loix and Les Portes-en-Ré. Our collection also extends to Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, Rivedoux-Plage, Saint-Clément-des-Baleines and Sainte-Marie-de-Ré, giving you a choice of locations depending on the part of the island you would like to discover.
Depending on the property, some houses with pools on Île de Ré feature a private pool, sometimes heated. Others may include a Jacuzzi, spa, garden, direct access to the beach or sea and, in some cases, household staff. These facilities are particularly welcome in winter, when more time may be spent at the villa.
Our dedicated concierge team is available before your arrival and throughout your stay, with services adapted to your needs and to what each property can provide. Grocery delivery, bike hire, booking a private chef or arranging wellbeing treatments can all be organised in advance to make the first days on the island easier.
During your stay, the concierge team can also share recommendations suited to the season, whether you are looking for a good address that remains open in winter, an activity for the family or an experience to organise directly at the villa. This support gives you greater flexibility while preserving the freedom to organise each day at your own pace.
