Free things to do · Bordeaux · France
10 free things to do in Bordeaux
Bordeaux without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Bordeaux without paying an entry fee: Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau, Esplanade des Quinconces, Grosse Cloche and Basilique Saint-Michel are all free. Eat your main meal at lunchtime, when the formule menu costs far less than dinner.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 10
- Low-cost extras
- 7
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–March and November
Free sights and experiences
Landmark · Saint-Pierre
1.Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau
Come at dusk, when the floodlit façades reflect in the water; the pool is usually switched off during the colder months.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Photo spot
- After dark
- Couples
Landmark · Triangle d'Or and Quinconces
2.Esplanade des Quinconces
Combine it with the Grand Théâtre and the tourist office on Cours du 30 Juillet, all a few minutes apart.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
Historic site · Saint-Pierre
3.Grosse Cloche
Walk under the arch and continue north along Rue Saint-James and Rue du Pas-Saint-Georges to reach Saint-Pierre's squares.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Religious site · Saint-Michel
4.Basilique Saint-Michel
Visit on a weekend morning, when the square is at its liveliest, then walk to the Capucins market for lunch.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Garden · Chartrons
5.Jardin Public
Pick up pastries on Rue Notre-Dame or Cours de Verdun and picnic on the lawns, which are open to sit on.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Landmark · Saint-Michel
6.Pont de Pierre
Walk across at sunset and continue along the right-bank Quai des Queyries for the classic panorama of the left bank.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
- History
Architecture · Bassins à Flot
7.Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas
Watch a lift from the Cité du Vin belvedere or the quays if a large ship is due; lifts are announced in advance by the city.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
- Photo spot
Experience · La Bastide
8.Darwin
Combine it with the Jardin Botanique de la Bastide and a walk back along the right-bank quays at sunset.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Food
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Fondaudège
9.Basilique Saint-Seurin
Walk on to the Palais Gallien Roman amphitheatre ruins, about five minutes north.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
Historic site · Fondaudège
10.Palais Gallien
Pair it with the Basilique Saint-Seurin and the Jardin Public for a quiet half-day loop away from the crowds.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Saint-Pierre | Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau and Grosse Cloche | 30–45 minutes + 15 minutes |
| Triangle d'Or and Quinconces | Esplanade des Quinconces | 20–30 minutes |
| Saint-Michel | Basilique Saint-Michel and Pont de Pierre | 45 minutes + 30 minutes |
| Chartrons | Jardin Public | 1–2 hours |
| Bassins à Flot | Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas | 20 minutes |
| La Bastide | Darwin | 1–2 hours |
| Fondaudège | Basilique Saint-Seurin and Palais Gallien | 45 minutes + 20 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
Religious site · Hôtel de Ville
Cathédrale Saint-André and Tour Pey-Berland
The cathedral is free; pay separately for the tower and climb it in the morning for clearer light over the river.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Iconic
Historic site · Saint-Pierre
Porte Cailhau
Photograph it from Place du Palais, then walk five minutes to Place du Parlement for a coffee.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Museum · Victoire
Musée d'Aquitaine
Start upstairs with the 18th-century port rooms if your time is short; they connect most directly to what you see on the quays.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Gallery · Chartrons
CAPC musée d'art contemporain
Check the programme before you go; the main nave is sometimes closed between exhibitions.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Market · Saint-Michel
Marché des Capucins
Arrive before 11am on Saturday to get a stool at an oyster bar; weekday mornings are calmer for shopping.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Riverfront quays
Garonne river cruise and BatCub shuttles
Ride the BatCub from Quinconces to Stalingrad on the right bank for a cheap mini-cruise, then walk back across the Pont de Pierre.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Views
- Couples
- Outdoors
Museum · Bassins à Flot
Cap Sciences
Check which exhibition is running; the programme rotates and some are aimed at teenagers rather than toddlers.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
More ways to save
- Eat your main meal at lunchtime, when the formule menu costs far less than dinner.
- The Bar à Vin in the Maison du Vin de Bordeaux pours a wide range of appellations by the glass at modest prices.
- Use the BatCub river shuttles for a scenic river trip at the price of a transit ticket.
- Bordeaux's municipal museums have offered free entry on the first Sunday of the month; check the current policy before you go.
- Saint-Émilion and Arcachon are both reachable by inexpensive regional trains, so you do not need a tour or a hire car for them.
- Hotel prices drop sharply from November to March, except during major trade fairs.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bordeaux expensive to visit?
Bordeaux is moderately priced for most visitors, but 10 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Bordeaux?
Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau: Come at dusk, when the floodlit façades reflect in the water; the pool is usually switched off during the colder months.