Travel guide · France
Bordeaux travel guide
18th-century stone quays, wine bars and the gateway to Saint-Émilion
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mariette, Public domain
Quick answer
Bordeaux curves along a crescent bend of the Garonne known as the Port of the Moon, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007 lined with pale 18th-century limestone façades. The compact centre runs from Place de la Bourse and its Miroir d'Eau to the Grand Théâtre, the cathedral and the long pedestrian Rue Sainte-Catherine, all linked by four tram lines. It is the capital of the world's best-known wine region: the Cité du Vin explains it, and Saint-Émilion, the Médoc and Sauternes sit within an hour's drive. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- France
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- BOD
- Mid-range daily budget
- $170–$280 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Wine, Place de la Bourse, Miroir d'Eau and Cité du Vin
Why visit Bordeaux
- The riverside Place de la Bourse, the Grand Théâtre and the old Saint-Pierre quarter make one of France's most harmonious 18th-century cityscapes, almost all of it walkable.
- Wine is everywhere: the Cité du Vin museum, wine bars pouring dozens of appellations by the glass, and châteaux in Saint-Émilion and the Médoc within an hour.
- Saturday oysters and white wine at the Marché des Capucins and Sunday breakfast at the Marché des Quais are the city's best food rituals.
- A fast TGV line puts Bordeaux about two hours from Paris, and the Atlantic coast at Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat is an easy day trip.
- Former docks at Bassins à Flot and the right-bank Darwin barracks show a newer, creative side of the city beyond the heritage centre.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
Landmark · Saint-Pierre
Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau
The royal square built between 1730 and 1775 by the Gabriel father and son opens onto the river, with the Three Graces fountain at its centre.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Photo spot
- After dark
- Couples
Museum · Bassins à Flot
La Cité du Vin
Opened in 2016 in a swirling gold-toned building on the Garonne, the Cité du Vin is a museum of world wine culture rather than a Bordeaux tasting room.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Views
- Food
- Architecture
Religious site · Hôtel de Ville
Cathédrale Saint-André and Tour Pey-Berland
Bordeaux's Gothic cathedral, where Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future Louis VII of France in 1137, has a long, single nave and a richly carved north portal.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Iconic
Architecture · Triangle d'Or and Quinconces
Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux
Victor Louis's neoclassical theatre, opened in 1780, has a portico of twelve Corinthian columns topped by statues of the nine Muses and three goddesses.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- After dark
Landmark · Triangle d'Or and Quinconces
Esplanade des Quinconces
One of the largest city squares in Europe, the Esplanade runs from the river to the Monument aux Girondins, a tall column with dramatic bronze fountains of horses and allegorical figures commemorating the Girondin deputies of the Revolution.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
Historic site · Saint-Pierre
Porte Cailhau
This turreted 15th-century gate, built in 1495 to celebrate Charles VIII's victory at Fornovo, once opened from the old town onto the river port.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Saint-Pierre is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, food lovers and nightlife
Saint-Pierre
Medieval lanes, café squares and wine bars between Place de la Bourse and the cathedral
$$$$ · Best for luxury, shopping, first-timers and couples
Triangle d'Or and Quinconces
Grand boulevards, luxury boutiques and the Grand Théâtre
$$$ · Best for families, couples, food lovers and quiet stays
Chartrons
Old wine-merchant quarter with antiques, brunch cafés and a Sunday quay market
$ · Best for budget, food lovers and solo travellers
Saint-Michel
Basilica spire, grocers from around the Mediterranean and good-value eating
What to eat
- Canelé — Bordeaux's signature small cake has a dark, caramelised crust and a soft custard centre flavoured with rum and vanilla, baked in fluted copper moulds.
- Entrecôte à la bordelaise — Rib steak grilled and served with a bordelaise sauce of red wine, shallots and beef marrow, traditionally cooked over vine cuttings.
- Arcachon oysters — Oysters from the Arcachon Bay, about an hour west, are eaten raw with lemon or shallot vinegar.
- Lamprey Bordeaux-style — The region's most traditional dish: lamprey eel slowly stewed in red wine with leeks and its own blood to thicken the sauce.
- Bordeaux red wine — Most Bordeaux reds are blends: Cabernet Sauvignon dominates on the gravel soils of the left-bank Médoc and Graves, while Merlot leads on the right bank around Saint-Émilion and Pomerol.
- Sauternes — Sweet white wine from Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes affected by noble rot in the misty Sauternes and Barsac area south of the city.
When to go
The best times to visit Bordeaux are May to June and September to October, when the weather suits walking and vineyard visits and the riverfront is at its best. September and early October add the grape harvest. July and August are hot and busy but lively, while November to March is cool and damp but quiet and good value for museums and wine bars.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Mild days, blossom in the Jardin Public and vineyards coming into leaf; showers are common and April brings the wine trade's en primeur tastings. |
| Summer | June–August | Long, warm evenings on the quays and at the Miroir d'Eau, with occasional heatwaves; the coast at Arcachon gets crowded in August. |
| Autumn | September–November | Harvest season in the vineyards, cèpes on menus and golden vine colours in October; it turns wet by November. |
| Winter | December–February | Cool, damp and quiet, with low prices, a Christmas market in December and empty museums; some châteaux limit visits. |
Getting there and around
Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport is about 12 km west of the centre. Tram A runs from the airport to the city centre in roughly 40 minutes, and an express shuttle bus runs to Gare Saint-Jean. A taxi takes about 20–40 minutes depending on traffic.
Central Bordeaux is flat and compact, and most sights are within a 30-minute walk of Place de la Bourse. Four tram lines (A, B, C and D) run by TBM cover the centre, the quays, Gare Saint-Jean, the Cité du Vin and the airport, backed by buses, river shuttles and a bike-share scheme.
Plan your days
Two days covers the old town, the riverfront, the Cité du Vin and a market morning. Four days lets you add a vineyard day in Saint-Émilion or the Médoc and a coastal day at Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- French
- Plugs
- Type C and E sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, and restaurants serve a free carafe on request.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Service is included in restaurant prices by law.
Bordeaux is generally calm for visitors. Pickpockets work on crowded trams, on Rue Sainte-Catherine and around Gare Saint-Jean, and the streets around the station can feel rough late at night. In summer heatwaves, plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning and evening.
Flights to Bordeaux
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Bordeaux?
Two days covers the old town, the riverfront, the Cité du Vin and a market morning. Four days lets you add a vineyard day in Saint-Émilion or the Médoc and a coastal day at Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Bordeaux?
The best times to visit Bordeaux are May to June and September to October, when the weather suits walking and vineyard visits and the riverfront is at its best. September and early October add the grape harvest. July and August are hot and busy but lively, while November to March is cool and damp but quiet and good value for museums and wine bars.
+What is Bordeaux known for?
Wine, Place de la Bourse, Miroir d'Eau, Cité du Vin, Canelés, 18th-century architecture and Saint-Émilion. The riverside Place de la Bourse, the Grand Théâtre and the old Saint-Pierre quarter make one of France's most harmonious 18th-century cityscapes, almost all of it walkable.
+Is Bordeaux expensive?
Bordeaux is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $170–$280 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Bordeaux?
Not for the city, where trams and walking cover everything and parking is expensive. A car or an organised tour is the easiest way to visit Médoc and Sauternes châteaux, but Saint-Émilion and Arcachon are reachable by train.