Comparison · Bordeaux vs Napa Valley · France / United States
Bordeaux vs Napa Valley
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mariette, Public domain
Quick answer
Choose Bordeaux for wine, Place de la Bourse, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife; choose Napa Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon and winery tastings. Bordeaux is generally less expensive, and the two are about 9,084 km (5,644 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 9,084 km (5,644 mi)
- Less expensive
- Bordeaux
- Best time for Bordeaux
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Napa Valley
- April–June and September–October
Plan either trip
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Side by side
| Bordeaux | Napa Valley | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | France | United States |
| Known for | Wine, Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau | Cabernet Sauvignon, Winery tastings and Fine dining |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$170–280 | US$350–600 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 27°C (81°F) | July, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 10°C (50°F) | January, 14°C (57°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 3 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | BOD | SFO, OAK, STS |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Napa Valley in March–April and November. Both are at their best in May–June and September–October.
| Month | Bordeaux | Napa Valley | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10°C (50°F), 12 rainy days | 14°C (57°F), 10 rainy days | No clear pick |
| February | 12°C (54°F), 10 rainy days | 17°C (63°F), 9 rainy days | No clear pick |
| March | 15°C (59°F), 10 rainy days | 19°C (66°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | Napa Valley |
| April | 18°C (64°F), 11 rainy days · shoulder season | 22°C (72°F), 5 rainy days · best time | Napa Valley |
| May | 21°C (70°F), 10 rainy days · best time | 26°C (79°F), 2 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| June | 25°C (77°F), 8 rainy days · best time | 29°C (84°F), 1 rainy day · best time | Both at their best |
| July | 27°C (81°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | 31°C (88°F), 0 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| August | 27°C (81°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | 31°C (88°F), 0 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| September | 24°C (75°F), 8 rainy days · best time | 30°C (86°F), 1 rainy day · best time | Both at their best |
| October | 19°C (66°F), 11 rainy days · best time | 26°C (79°F), 3 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| November | 14°C (57°F), 12 rainy days | 19°C (66°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | Napa Valley |
| December | 11°C (52°F), 12 rainy days | 14°C (57°F), 9 rainy days | No clear pick |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bordeaux for…
Wine, Place de la Bourse, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. 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…
.jpg){kind=link}
Choose Napa Valley for…
Cabernet Sauvignon and winery tastings. Napa Valley is a narrow valley about 50 km long, running from the Carneros wetlands at the top of San Francisco Bay north to Calistoga at the foot of Mount St Helena. Highway 29 and the parallel Silverado Trail link the towns of Napa, Yountville, Oakville…
Top sights compared
| # | Bordeaux | Napa Valley |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau | Napa Valley Wine Train |
| 2 | La Cité du Vin | Oxbow Public Market |
| 3 | Cathédrale Saint-André and Tour Pey-Berland | Downtown Napa tasting rooms |
| 4 | Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux | Castello di Amorosa |
| 5 | Esplanade des Quinconces | Beringer Vineyards |
Food compared
| Bordeaux | Napa Valley |
|---|---|
| Canelé | Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Entrecôte à la bordelaise | Carneros sparkling wine and Chardonnay |
| Arcachon oysters | Tasting menus |
| Lamprey Bordeaux-style | Oysters |
Which is cheaper?
Bordeaux is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about US$170–280 per person there, against US$350–600 in Napa Valley (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Bordeaux on a budget.
Bordeaux or Napa Valley from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Bordeaux | Napa Valley | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | +6 h | −3 h |
| Time vs Los Angeles | +9 h | Same time |
| From New York (JFK) | 3,600 mi (5,790 km) | 2,560 mi (4,120 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 5,750 mi (9,250 km) | 371 mi (596 km) |
| U.S. plugs | Adapter needed | U.S. plugs fit |
From New York, Napa Valley is about 1,040 miles (1,670 km) closer than Bordeaux in a straight line. Napa Valley is also the smaller time change: 3 hours from New York in January, against 6 for Bordeaux.
Can you visit both?
They are about 9,084 km (5,644 mi) apart, so combining them means a flight. With 8 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bordeaux or Napa Valley cheaper?
Bordeaux is usually less expensive: about US$170–280 a day mid-range against US$350–600 (estimates).
+Is Bordeaux or Napa Valley better for a first trip?
Pick Bordeaux for wine, Place de la Bourse, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife, or Napa Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon and winery tastings.
+How far is Bordeaux from Napa Valley?
About 9,084 km (5,644 mi) in a straight line.