Month guide · Bordeaux · France
Bordeaux in January
What January is really like in Bordeaux: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 10°C (50°F), lows of 3°C (37°F), about 12 rainy days and roughly 9.1 hours of daylight. Cool and often damp, with short days; museums and wine bars are quiet and hotel prices are low.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 10°C (50°F) / 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days
- About 12
- Daylight
- About 9.1 hours
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Bordeaux: days average 10°C (50°F) against a yearly average high of 19°C (66°F), and nights fall to about 3°C (37°F). Rain falls on roughly 12 of its 31 days. Compared with December (11°C (52°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around 12°C (54°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:36
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:47
- Daylight
- About 9.1 hours
Winter (December–February). Cool, damp and quiet, with low prices, a Christmas market in December and empty museums; some châteaux limit visits.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 1 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Winter sales — citywide shop discounts (usually from early or mid-January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Bassins à Flot
La Cité du Vin
Allow at least two hours for the permanent tour before heading up to the belvedere, and arrive by tram B (stop La Cité du Vin).
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Views
- Food
- Architecture
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
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
Bordeaux's contemporary art museum occupies the Entrepôt Lainé, an 1820s warehouse built to store colonial goods such as coffee, cocoa and sugar.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 10°C, lows near 3°C and 12 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Bordeaux?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Bordeaux in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Bordeaux?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cool and often damp, with short days; museums and wine bars are quiet and hotel prices are low.
+How warm is Bordeaux in January?
Average highs are around 10°C (50°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Bordeaux in January?
Expect rain on about 12 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.