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Destinations / France

Bordeaux

Golden stone, river quays and world famous wine

foodarchitecturecoupleshistory
Plan your trip to BordeauxSee the top 10
261,000Population
1.0 millionMetro area
FrenchLanguage
EURCurrency
3 daysIdeal stay
$170-280Typical day

Bordeaux is an elegant city of 18th century facades on the Garonne. It is the gateway to vineyards like Saint Emilion and Medoc. Riverside quays and the Cite du Vin draw visitors.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. Place de la Bourse is an 18th century royal square facing the Garonne, and the Water Mirror in front of it is a thin sheet of water that reflects the facades. It is the city's best known image.

    45 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Come at dusk, when mist rises from the mirror and the buildings are lit.
    See on the map

  2. Cite du Vin is a museum of wine culture in a curving building by the river. Interactive exhibits cover wine around the world.

    2.5 hoursTime needed
    about $26-32Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    Dated ticket with the belvedere tasting is 23 EUR; open ticket 28 EUR (2026).

    Tip. Finish at the top floor bar, where a tasting comes with your ticket.
    See on the map

  3. Saint Emilion is a medieval wine village, a UNESCO site, with a monolithic church carved into the rock. It is surrounded by vineyards.

    Full dayTime needed
    FreeCost
    recommendedBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Book wine tastings ahead, and take the train from Bordeaux.
    Official siteSee on the map

  4. Saint Andre Cathedral is a Gothic cathedral where Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future Louis VII. Its bell tower, the Pey Berland Tower, stands apart.

    45 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Climb the tower for views over the rooftops.
    See on the map

  5. Rue Sainte Catherine is one of the longest pedestrian shopping streets in Europe. It is lined with shops and cafes.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Visit on a weekday, as it gets crowded on Saturdays.
    See on the map

  6. The Dune du Pilat is the tallest sand dune in Europe, on the Atlantic coast near Arcachon. It overlooks the ocean and pine forest.

    Half a dayTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free; parking.

    Tip. Climb at sunset, and combine with oysters in Arcachon.
    Official siteSee on the map

  7. The Medoc is the wine region on the left bank of the Gironde north of Bordeaux, home to famous chateaux such as Margaux and Lafite. Its classified estates are known for red wines.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $20-60Cost
    yesBook ahead

    Tour.

    Tip. Book visits ahead, as many chateaux open by appointment only.
    See on the map

  8. The Grosse Cloche is one of the oldest belfries in France, part of the medieval city walls. Its huge bell was rung to announce the grape harvest.

    15 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Look for the golden lion weathervane on top.
    See on the map

  9. Bassins des Lumieres is a digital art center in a former World War II submarine base. Immersive shows project art on huge walls over water filled basins.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    about $15-20Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. Book a time slot online.
    Official siteSee on the map

  10. Chartrons is the former wine merchants quarter along the river, with antique shops, cafes and a Sunday market on the quay. Its warehouses once stored barrels for export.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Walk the quays on Sunday morning for the market.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Short on time?

Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Bordeaux in three days

Add Saint Emilion and Dune du Pilat.

  1. Place de la Bourse and Water Mirror45 minutes · Free
  2. Cite du Vin2.5 hours · about $26-32
  3. Saint Andre Cathedral45 minutes · Free
  4. Saint EmilionFull day · Free
  5. Rue Sainte Catherine1 hour · Free
  6. Dune du PilatHalf a day · Free
  7. Medoc chateauxFull day · about $20-60
  8. Grosse Cloche15 minutes · Free
  9. Bassins des Lumieres1.5 hours · about $15-20
  10. Chartrons2 hours · Free
Beyond the city

Day trips

Arcachon

Oysters.

40 mi · Train about 1 hour

Cognac

Brandy houses.

75 mi · Car about 1.5 hours

Médoc châteaux

Famous wine estates.

31 mi · Tour or drive, about 1 hour

Sauternes

Sweet wine country.

31 mi · Drive, about 1 hour

Saint-Émilion Medieval Village

UNESCO-listed medieval village surrounded by vineyards, featuring an underground monolithic church carved into limestone cliffs.

25 mi · Direct TER regional train from Bordeaux Saint-Jean in just 32 minutes.

Médoc Wine Route (Château Margaux)

Legendary wine highway lined with nineteenth-century fairy-tale châteaux producing premier Grand Cru Classé wines.

22 mi · Direct regional bus line 705 or guided wine tour along Route des Châteaux in 45 minutes.

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: May to June and September to October. Pleasant weather and harvest.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.9JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

49°F
Typical daily high
Average43°F
Rain3.2 in
About10 rainy days
Sun strength1.4 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Jun

Bordeaux Fête le Vin

June in even years

A wine festival on the quays.

Jun

Bordeaux Wine Festival

June

Wine tastings along the river.

Year

Vinexpo

Early year

A trade event not open to the public.

Going on specific dates? A Hodolog trip shows the forecast and the usual weather for your exact days. Request access
Know before you go

At a glance

4/5
Safety

The US State Department rates France at Level 2 (increased caution) for terrorism and unrest; Bordeaux is generally safe.

5/5
Walkability

Flat and walkable.

4/5
Public transport

Trams and buses with TBM tickets.

Sources disagree on: population.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
123456

1. Saint Pierre

$$$

Best for: first-timers

Old town.

2. Chartrons

$$$

Best for: couples

Wine bars.

3. Saint Michel

$$

Best for: budget

Market.

4. Near Gare Saint-Jean

$$

Best for: budget, rail

Handy for trains.

5. Centre-Ville / Triangle d'Or

$$$$

Best for: first-timers, luxury travelers, shoppers

Heart of the classical eighteenth-century city, walking distance to the Grand Théâtre, Place de la Bourse, and dining.

6. Bastide

$$

Best for: budget travelers, skyline view seekers

Across the stone bridge on the right bank, offering views looking back across the river to the classical facades.

Getting there and around

Main airportBordeaux Merignac Airport (BOD), 7 mi from the center
To the centerTram A or a shuttle takes about 30 to 40 minutes.
Around townWalk and use trams.
Ride appsUber, Bolt, Heetch
Taste it

What to eat

Caneles

Caramelized cakes.

Entrecote bordelaise

Steak with wine sauce.

Oysters from Arcachon

Fresh.

Canelé

A small caramelised custard cake.

Lamproie

A traditional river fish dish.

Canelé de Bordeaux

Traditional cylinder-shaped fluted pastry with a dark, thick caramelized crust and a moist, custard center flavored with rum and vanilla.

Entrecôte à la Bordelaise

Ribeye steak grilled over dry vine shoots (sarments) and smothered in a rich sauce of red Bordeaux wine, shallots, bone marrow, and butter.

Arcachon Oysters

Fresh Atlantic oysters harvested in the nearby Bay of Arcachon, served fresh on ice with lemon, shallot vinegar, and warm crépinette sausage.

Bordeaux Grand Cru Wine

World-renowned red blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from the Left Bank (Médoc) or Right Bank (Saint-Émilion).

Good to know

PlugsType C and E, 230 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingService is included; leave small change or up to 5 to 10 percent for great service.
PaymentsCards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere.
EtiquetteGreet with bonjour, and take time over meals. Wine is part of the culture, so ask for local recommendations.
  • Trams are clean and efficient, and the center is easy to walk.
  • The airport shuttle bus links the airport and the center.
  • Wine harvest is in September and October.
  • Many shops close on Sundays, though markets open in the morning.
  • Book château visits ahead.
  • Many shops close on Sunday and Monday morning.
  • Do not drink and drive on wine trips; use tours.
  • Some museums close Monday.

A short history

Romans founded Burdigala. It was English for three centuries after 1154. The wine trade and Atlantic trade brought wealth, including from the slave trade. UNESCO listed the Port of the Moon in 2007.

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Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Bordeaux