Before you go

Your trip to Saint-Émilion.

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

Saint-Émilion – Nova Aquitânia Destination Bordéus and the vineyards about 40 km from Bordéus

How to get there

Aéroport de Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD) Mérignac · 55 km
Gare de Saint-Émilion Saint-Émilion · 2 km
Gare de Libourne Libourne · 8 km

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

The regional train (TER) departs from Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean and stops at Saint-Émilion station, about 2 km from the village, with only a few services per day. Another option is to take the train to Libourne and continue by taxi or bus. By car it’s about 40 km. Confirm before booking.

How many days

One day is enough for the village, the guided tour of the Église monolithe, climbing a tower and visiting a wine estate. Those staying overnight in the village enjoy the empty streets in the late afternoon and can visit more estates the following day.

When to go

From April to October, when all monuments are open and estates receive more visitors. Harvest usually takes place in September and October. In winter, from December to February, the Tour du Roy closes and there is little activity.

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

Do you need a car?

For the village itself, no: you can go by train or on a tour, and the streets are explored on foot, with slopes and stone paving. To visit estates in the surroundings, a car, bicycle, taxi or a tour with a driver is useful. Anyone going for wine tastings should hand over the driving to someone else.

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 Saint-Émilion

Morning
Tourist office and Église monolithe
Arrive early and go to the tourist office, next to the Collégiale, to buy the guided tour Saint-Émilion souterrain, which includes the Église monolithe. Also visit the cloister of the Collégiale.
Afternoon
Wine estate
Have lunch in the village and head to a reserved visit at an estate (château) in the surroundings, on foot, by bike, by taxi or on a tour. The visit usually includes the vineyard, the cellar and a tasting.
Late afternoon
Tour du Roy and Cordeliers
Climb the Tour du Roy, when open, to see the rooftops and the vineyards. Afterwards, enter the Cloître des Cordeliers, with ruins of the cloister and caves dug into the rock.
Evening
Dinner or return to Bordéus
Dine at a village restaurant, from around 19:30, or take the train back to Bordéus. Check the time of the last train before you leave.

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 Bordéus to Saint-Émilion?

By regional train (TER) from Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean to Saint-Émilion station, about 2 km from the village, which is reached on foot along the road through the vineyards. There are also trains to Libourne, 8 km away, with taxis and buses. By car it's about 40 km. Half-day and full-day tours depart from central Bordéus.

Do you need to book visits to the wine estates?

Yes, in most cases. The properties of the Jurisdição receive visitors by appointment, arranged directly with them or through the Saint-Émilion tourist office. During the harvest, in September and October, some reduce visits.

Is Saint-Émilion good for people with reduced mobility?

It's difficult. The village is on a hillside, with steep slopes and uneven stone paving, and the towers have no lifts. The upper part, near the Collégiale, is flatter.

What is the Jurade de Saint-Émilion?

It is the local wine brotherhood, heir to the village's old medieval government, reestablished in 1948. In June the jurors judge the new wine and in September they proclaim from the top of the Tour du Roy the start of the harvest.

What to bring from Saint-Émilion besides wine?

The macarons de Saint-Émilion, almond biscuits made in the village according to an old recipe, sold in the pastry shops in the centre.

Back to Saint-Émilion