Before you go

Your trip to Bordéus.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Bordéus – Nova Aquitânia Destination Bordéus and the vineyards Capital

How to get there

Aéroport de Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD) Mérignac · 12 km
Aéroport Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG) Roissy-en-France · 610 km
Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean 3 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

The TGV departs from Paris-Montparnasse and reaches the Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean in about 2 hours. Aéroport de Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD) receives flights from other European cities and has a tram to the station and the center. Check before booking.

How many days

One day is enough for the historic center, the quais (riverfront quays) of the Garonne and the Cité du Vin. With two days, add the museums, a climb up one of the towers and the Chartrons neighborhood. Bordéus also serves as a base for day trips to Saint-Émilion, the Médoc and the Dune du Pilat, one per day.

When to go

From April to October, with long days and open terraces. The Miroir d'eau usually operates from spring to autumn and stops in winter because of ice. Harvest in the surrounding area typically takes place in September and October. In winter, from December to February, it gets dark early.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

Not within the city. The center is explored on foot and the tram connects Gare Saint-Jean, the airport, the Cité du Vin and the Bassins des Lumières. To Saint-Émilion, Pauillac and Arcachon there is a regional train (TER). A car or an organized tour helps to visit several wine estates in the same day.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Bordéus

Morning
Cathedral, Pey-Berland and Grosse Cloche
Start at the Cathédrale Saint-André and climb the steps of the Tour Pey-Berland to see the rooftops. Descend along rue Saint-James to the Grosse Cloche, the former gate of the medieval wall.
Afternoon
Place de la Bourse and the quays
Have lunch in the center and walk to the Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d'eau. Follow the quays of the Garonne to the Place des Quinconces and pass by the Grand-Théâtre, on the Place de la Comédie.
Late afternoon
Cité du Vin
Take tram B to the Cité du Vin, in the Bacalan district. Go through the permanent exhibition and finish at the belvedere on the 8th floor, with views over the river and the city.
Evening
Dinner in the center
Return to the center and dine near Place du Parlement or rue Saint-Rémi. Dinner usually starts from 19:30. Try the entrecôte à la bordelaise and, for dessert, the canelé, the city's typical pastry.

2 days in Bordéus

Day 1

Morning
Saint-André and Musée d'Aquitaine
Visit the Cathédrale Saint-André and the Tour Pey-Berland. Then enter the Musée d'Aquitaine, a few blocks away, to understand the history of the city and the port.
Afternoon
Grosse Cloche and Saint-Michel
Pass by the Grosse Cloche and continue to the Basilique Saint-Michel. The ascent of the spire is usually open from April to October. The neighborhood has cafés on Place Meynard and the Marché des Capucins nearby.
Late afternoon
Bourse, Miroir d'eau and Grand-Théâtre
Walk along the quays to the Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d'eau, which reflects the façades at the end of the day. Finish at the Place de la Comédie, in front of the Grand-Théâtre.
Evening
Rue Sainte-Catherine and dinner
Walk a stretch of rue Sainte-Catherine, the long pedestrian street in the center, and dine in the small streets between Place du Parlement and Place Saint-Pierre.

Day 2

Morning
Jardin public and CAPC
Start at the Jardin public and walk to the CAPC, a contemporary art museum in a former warehouse of the Chartrons. The neighborhood preserves the houses of the former wine merchants.
Afternoon
Cité du Vin
Have lunch in the Chartrons and take tram B to the Cité du Vin. Allow two to three hours for the exhibition and the belvedere on the 8th floor.
Late afternoon
Bassins des Lumières or Musée Mer Marine
Choose between the projections at the Bassins des Lumières, inside the former submarine base, and the Musée Mer Marine. Both are in the Bassins à flot neighborhood, near the Cité du Vin.
Evening
Bassins à flot
Dine in the Bassins à flot neighborhood, around the old docks, or return by tram to the center. Many restaurants close the kitchen between lunch and dinner.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Bordeaux airport to the center?

The Aéroport de Bordeaux-Mérignac is about 12 km from the center. The tram departs from the airport door and goes to Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean. There are also express buses and taxis. Check the line and schedules before you go.

Is it worth buying a transport pass?

If you plan to use the tram and buses several times, 24-hour or multi-day tickets usually pay off. The city also has a tourist card that bundles transport and entry to museums and monuments. Compare with what you intend to visit before buying.

What to eat in Bordéus?

The canelé, a small cake with a caramelized exterior and a soft interior, is the typical pastry. On restaurant menus you'll find entrecôte à la bordelaise, with red wine and shallot sauce, and oysters from the Arcachon basin. Lunch is usually served from 12:00 to 14:00 and dinner from 19:30.

Can you visit the vineyards without leaving Bordéus?

Partly. The Cité du Vin presents the vineyards of Bordéus and the world, and some wine estates in the metropolitan area are accessible by tram or bus. To see vineyard landscapes, the most common option is a day trip to Saint-Émilion or the Médoc by train, car or tour.

Is Bordéus a good base for the Dune du Pilat?

Yes. The regional train links Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean to Arcachon in about 1 hour, and from there local buses go to the dune. By car it's about 65 km. You can do it in a day, including Arcachon's shoreline.

Back to Bordéus