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Adventure Travel With a Glass of Wine

Guide to Bordeaux

Planning to visit Bordeaux? Jennifer, Tim and Coco live right in the historic center in the quartier Hôtel de Ville – Quinconces of the city of Bordeaux. As ambassadors we are local experts on what to see in Bordeaux, things to do in Bordeaux, where to drink, where to eat, where to stay and more in the city and the Nouvelle Aquitaine region. To help you plan your trip to the Port of the Moon, we’ve put together Bordeaux Travel Guide, a dedicated destination site with all of our Bordeaux tips. And check back because we’re always adding new things, which is why we’re the leading English-language Bordeaux blog!

Miroir d'Eau, Bordeaux, France Bordeaux Itineraries for Your Perfect Trip to the World Capital of Wine

You probably came for the wine, but there’s a lot more to Bordeaux beyond the vineyards. Many visitors miss out on exploring the city itself, which is a shame because it’s one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities in France. No matter whether you plan to spend a weekend or a week in Bordeaux, we’ve already planned out the perfect itineraries for a wine-fueled trip that includes the best of the city of Bordeaux, the most beautiful and unique wineries to visit and even the best beaches beyond the Bordeaux vineyards.

Considering purchasing a 24, 48 or 72 hour Bordeaux Metropole City Pass for during your stay. The pass gives you free access to 8 museums and 7 monuments (including La Cité du Vin entry before 12pm), a free guided city tour of your choice, discounts at other attractions and châteaux visits, and unlimited access to Bordeaux’s public transportation network. It’s well worth the price if Bordeaux sightseeing is part of your itinerary.

3 Days in Saint-Emilion Itinerary

3-Day Saint-Émilion Itinerary

Best Things to Do in Bordeaux

Bordeaux, known as the Port of the Moon, is second only to Paris with the most protected historical buildings in France. The entire center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the largest and most complex urban development yet to be included on the list, encompassing 347 listed buildings that span history over 2000 years. Don’t miss touring at least of few of Bordeaux’s museums and historically significant buildings during your stay. Climb our grandiose towers La Flèche and Tour Pey Berland for the best views stretching across Bordeaux.

 

Free Things to Do in Bordeaux

Aside from the many museums and monuments, there’s a plethora of free places to visit in Bordeaux and things to see in Bordeaux. From the various markets to attractions like the Miroir d’Eau, there’s a lot to entertain you while enjoying taking a break from wine tasting.

The Best Bordeaux Chateaux to Visit for Wine Tasting Experiences

Bordeaux’s wine region encompasses 65 appellations and more than 7000 individual châteaux. Not all are open to the public, and selecting which châteaux to visit from the ones that are open to the public can still feel like an overwhelming task. As residents of Bordeaux, we’re on an ongoing quest to visit as many châteaux as possible.

Not all visits are created equal. Some châteaux offer more traditional visits with a look at their vineyard, tanks, barrel room and finish with a tasting of a couple different vintages. Other châteaux, many which are recipients of Bordeaux’ prestigious annual Best in Wine Tourism Award, offer something unique like opportunities to blend your very own Bordeaux wine, special workshops and tastings, on-site gastronomic restaurants and more. We’re constantly sleuthing out the best of the best to recommend English-speaking châteaux that will make your trip to Bordeaux a special one.

Some tips for visiting Bordeaux’s best chateaux:

  • You don’t need to book a guided wine tour to visit Bordeaux châteaux. You can book visits and various special tours or workshops directly with most Bordeaux châteaux for a modest fee.
  • Book your visit well ahead of your trip, and definitely don’t just plan to show up unexpectedly for a tour and tasting. Nearly all visits and tastings are by appointment only.
  • We recommend you the website Rue des Vignerons to easily book wine tastings and wine tours in many châteaux and wineries in Bordeaux with instant confirmation. Some wine tours are free and allow you to visit family-owned wineries and famous Grand Cru Classé châteaux.
  • Weekdays are best for visiting châteaux. Most châteaux are closed on Sundays.
  • Plan 1 – 2 hours for most classic châteaux visits. Booking 3 visits in a single day is a full day of wine tasting, and distances between châteaux are often greater than you might think.
  • Many famous châteaux aren’t open to the public, but you very well might know the wine of a château that is open to the public for visits. Don’t be afraid to visit the château that you already know and love the wine from!

Most châteaux that are open for visits have a shop in which they sell their wine direct, and purchasing a bottle (or more) is very much appreciated. You can definitely take your wine back home on the plane with you and some château will even ship all over the world for a fee. To help you easily fly with your wine, check our our How to Pack Wine in Your Checked Luggage guide.

Each château we recommend is listed alphabetically here. Some are even easily accessible by public transportation from Bordeaux Center. Click the link for each château to read our full review, details on how to book your visit and information on how to get there.

 

 

Bordeaux Events and Festivals

Bordeaux is a city of festivals and events, especially between the months from April to August. From the bi-annual Fête le Vin to foodie festivals like Les Epicuriales de Bordeaux and Bordeaux.So.Good, this is a city that likes to show off their best of the best. Take a look at the festivals that might be happening during your visit.

 

Where to Eat in Bordeaux

While not all restaurants we recommend take reservations, most restaurants do. We highly recommend making a reservation as restaurants in France typically only have one seating and turn guests away once the restaurant is full or fully booked. To take the stress out of language barriers, we love using LaFourchette app and website. It’s free and easy to make a reservation in just a few clicks. Download LaFourchette app before your trip, or use the easy links for each restaurant to book your reservation below.

The Best Wine Bars in Bordeaux

Most wine bars in Bordeaux are like tapas bars. More often than not their license requires that customers order food in order to also order a glass of wine or even a pint of beer. So most have a light menu of cheese and charcuterie boards or a combination of cheese and charcuterie. The most beloved wine bars also tend to fill up quickly and it’s best to make a reservation. Just as with many Bordeaux restaurants, many Bordeaux wine bars are also on the free TheFork app, which you can download before your trip.

Where to Find the Best Pastries and Chocolate in Bordeaux

It’d practically be a sin to come to Bordeaux and not indulge in the fabulous pastries and chocolates made my so many artisans in the city. Lucky for you, we try far too many and can recommend the absolute best of the best.

Day Trips from Bordeaux

Where to Stay in Bordeaux

Bordeaux consists of the city of Bordeaux and the Bordeaux wine region, which is divided up in to the Left Bank and Right Bank on either side of the Garonne River. The city of Bordeaux is on the Left Bank, along with the major Bordeaux areas of Margaux, Pauillac and Médoc. Saint-Émilion and Pomerol are on the Right Bank. In addition to the wine producing areas, the Bassin of Arcachon – home to Europe’s largest sand dune – is located about one hour from Bordeaux. We’ve compiled a selection of the best accommodations from Bordeaux Center, the Left Bank, the Right Bank and the Bassin of Arcachon to help you plan your trip to our beautiful wine region.

These recommendations contain affiliate links. When you book on Booking.com through our affiliate site, we earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Some hotel photos were provided courtesy of the properties.

Rue Vital Carles, Bordeaux, FrancePractical Info for Bordeaux

Airport: Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport BOD

There are also other airports near Bordeaux including Bergerac-Roumanière Airport, Angoulême-Brie-Champniers Airport and Agen-La Garenne Airport that are all within 100 kilometers of Bordeaux.

Train Station: Arrive to Bordeaux from Paris in just 2 hours on Oui.SNCF at Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean. Follow our complete guide to taking the Paris Bordeaux TGV for everything you need to know.

Getting from the airport to Bordeaux city center: Use Tram A, which departs every 10 minutes from in front of the main arrivals hall. A single fare costs €1.80 and tickets can be bought from the machine in front of the arrivals hall or from the TBM app. A 10-ride ticket can also be purchased for €13.70. Unlimited public transportation is also included in the 24, 48 and 72 hour Bordeaux Metropole City Pass.

Taxis cost an average of €40 to the city center.

Private airport transfers are also available. The driver will be waiting at arrivals with your name on a placard, offer water and comfortably get you to your hotel or destination.

Getting from Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean to city center: Bordeaux has an excellent tram system. Download the TBM app (find all the apps we suggest downloading for your trip to Bordeaux here) or use the route planner on the TBM website.

Getting around Bordeaux: Much of Bordeaux’s historic center is car-free and the compact city can easily be explored on foot. The trams run through parts of the car-free center, there are 65 bus lines, there is the VCUB bike sharing system and boats.

One TBM card is good for the tram, bus and boat. One ride is valid for 60 minutes and you can transfer between tram, bus and boat during that time. You can purchase a single ride for €1.80, 2-ride card for €3.20 or 10-ride card for €13.70. Passes for 1 or 7 days are also available. Unlimited public transportation is also included in the 24, 48 and 72 hour Bordeaux Metropole City Pass.

You may want to rent a car to explore the wine châteaux of the Bordeaux wine region, and a variety of car rentals types are available from city-sized cars to luxury sedans or sports SUVs. We recommend SIXT, with convenient locations at Bordeaux Mérignac Airport, right in the city center or at Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean. Distances are greater than you think between châteaux, so it’s best to plan a full day if you plan to explore the Médoc or Saint-Émilion.

If you prefer to have your own driver to have a worry-free day out in the Bordeaux vineyards, opt for the SIXT car rental service with private driver SIXT Ride.

WiFi in Bordeaux: There are over 15,000 free public WiFi hotspots in Bordeaux that travelers can use. The possibility of being hacked is always a possibility when using free WiFi networks, no matter where you’re traveling these days. Consider using a virtual private server (VPN) for security. Cybersecurity companies like ExpressVPN provide a secure VPN for France that can encrypt your connection.

Bordeaux Weather: Bordeaux has an oceanic climate with long, relatively dry summers. The hottest month is July and the coldest month is January. January is also the rainiest month. Check the 15 day forecast.

Place de la Comedie, Bordeaux, FranceStill have questions?

Feel free to get in touch with questions about Bordeaux and the surrounding area or for help with planning your trip at [email protected] or join our Bordeaux travel Facebook community

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