How many days · Bordeaux · France
How many days do you need in Bordeaux?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Captaintapas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
4 days is the sweet spot for Bordeaux, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. 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.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 4 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 8.8 h (Dec) to 15.6 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau, La Cité du Vin, Cathédrale Saint-André and Tour Pey-Berland and Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux |
| 2 days | Good | Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, Esplanade des Quinconces and Porte Cailhau |
| 3 days | Good | Grosse Cloche, Basilique Saint-Michel and Musée d'Aquitaine |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Saint-Émilion |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Saint-Émilion and Médoc wine route |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Bordeaux add up to roughly 11–15 hours of visiting time — about 2 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are La Cité du Vin (2–3 hours), Musée d'Aquitaine (1.5–2 hours) and Jardin Public (1–2 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau | 30–45 minutes | Saint-Pierre |
| La Cité du Vin | 2–3 hours | Bassins à Flot |
| Cathédrale Saint-André and Tour Pey-Berland | 1–1.5 hours | Hôtel de Ville |
| Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux | 1 hour | Triangle d'Or and Quinconces |
| Esplanade des Quinconces | 20–30 minutes | Triangle d'Or and Quinconces |
| Porte Cailhau | 30 minutes | Saint-Pierre |
| Grosse Cloche | 15 minutes | Saint-Pierre |
| Basilique Saint-Michel | 45 minutes | Saint-Michel |
| Musée d'Aquitaine | 1.5–2 hours | Victoire |
| CAPC musée d'art contemporain | 1–1.5 hours | Chartrons |
| Jardin Public | 1–2 hours | Chartrons |
| Bassins des Lumières | 1–1.5 hours | Bassins à Flot |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 4 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau and La Cité du Vin |
| With children | 5 days | Slower days and time for Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau |
| With day trips | 6 days | Add Saint-Émilion and Médoc wine route |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 8.8 hours of daylight) than in June (about 15.6 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Bordeaux with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Bordeaux?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 4 days is more comfortable. 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.
+Is a week too long in Bordeaux?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Saint-Émilion and Médoc wine route.