What are the best things to visit in Bordeaux ? What to see and do in Bordeaux so you don’t miss a thing ?
This week, I invite you to join me on a weekend trip to Bordeaux to discover this magnificent city! I was truly charmed by the beauty of the historic center, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, by the pleasant banks of the Garonne River, and by the wealth of its new museums.
Are you ready to tour with me the best things to visit in Bordeaux?
BEST THINGS TO VISIT IN BORDEAUX – PRACTICAL TIPS
How to get to Bordeaux ?
Where to stay to see the best things to visit in Bordeaux ?
Ideally located a stone’s throw from the Place des Quinconces and the historic center of Bordeaux, the Hôtel de Sèze is the perfect hotel for a romantic getaway. It is housed in a superb period building that has been recently renovated, with tasteful decor and attentive staff! It even has a pleasant spa where you can relax!
Organize your time to see the best things to visit in Bordeaux
A weekend in Bordeaux gives you a first glimpse of the city and allows you to enjoy its museums. However, if you want to explore the surrounding area, it is best to allow more time.
For example, you should allow at least two hours to visit the Cité du Vin, but you could easily spend a good half-day there (with lunch, for example). Allow an hour for the Bassins de Lumières, two to three hours to visit the historic center, and two hours to stroll along the other side of the Garonne.
You can download a map of Bordeaux right here!
How to get around in Bordeaux ?
You can easily visit Bordeaux in two days on foot, by tram, and by boat. You can get around very easily by bike (there are many bikes available for hire), by tram, or by boat. The historic center is easy to explore on foot, but you will need to take the tram to reach the Cité du Vin, the Bassins de Lumières, and the Darwin Ecosystem.
My top picks to eat in Bordeaux
– Frida: hidden in an inner courtyard, this is one of Bordeaux’s trendiest spots, where you can enjoy delicious tapas to share. Very pleasant open-air café atmosphere in the evening.
– Latitude 20 at the Cité du Vin: this brasserie and wine bar offers excellent dishes to enjoy on the terrace or inside during the day. There is also a restaurant with panoramic views if you want to dine at the Cité du Vin.
What to bring back from Bordeaux ?
The Cité du Vin shop sells every imaginable wine-related product: beauty products, wine accessories, gourmet treats, and more. There is also a wine merchant who can advise you on the thousands of bottles available in the store, sourced from over 70 countries!
Cannelés bordelais are, of course, also a must. I recommend those from La Toque Cuivrée, which are crispy and moist to perfection!
Other ideas to bring back from Bordeaux include bouchons bordelais (almond-flavored petits fours flavored with fine Bordeaux wine) and sel de château, a gourmet salt macerated in wine. You can find these at L’Échoppe de la Lune, a great place to pick up gourmet products from Bordeaux.
BEST THINGS TO VISIT IN BORDEAUX HISTORIC CENTER
For the first of your two days in Bordeaux, head to the historic center, definitely one of the best things to visit in Bordeaux! Listed by UNESCO for its architectural unity and continuous economic influence for over 2,000 years, Old Bordeaux is a real gem waiting to be discovered.
Here are the best things to visit in Bordeaux historic center !
Place des Quinconces
Once home to a fortress, it is now one of the largest squares in Europe! Facing the Garonne River, it is overlooked by the majestic Girondins Column, which pays tribute to the Girondin deputies who were victims of the Reign of Terror.
The Saint Pierre district
In Bordeaux, I found the architectural beauty that I love so much in Paris, with a very special elegance. The superb mansions and classical facades of the Saint Pierre district are more resplendent than ever since the blackened limestone was restored to its former glory thanks to the renovation of the historic center.
Today, it is an almost entirely pedestrianized neighborhood, centered around pretty little squares where locals like to sit and enjoy a drink or a meal. I invite you to stroll through the charming streets of the Saint Pierre district to get the most out of Bordeaux!
Don’t miss the Place de la Comédie, home to the Grand Théâtre, the Porte Cailhau and the Place de la Bourse. The latter is famous for its magnificent water mirror, which beautifully reflects the 18th-century facades!
And don’t hesitate to take a stroll along the quays facing the water mirror, it’s a very beautiful walk…
The Palais Gallien
The remains of this ancient 2nd-century Roman amphitheater stand proudly in the middle of the city! I really like the special atmosphere of the ancient ruins covered in greenery, which sometimes reappear in the middle of the city… And in Bordeaux, there are surprises around every corner!
The Saint Paul district
Adjacent to the Saint Pierre district, Saint Paul is a little older. It still has a few Renaissance facades and even the oldest house in Bordeaux! It dates back to the 13th century and is located on Impasse Rue Neuve. Right next door, the Grosse Cloche bell has been ringing out the municipal life since the Middle Ages… Saint Paul also has some very pretty, lively and green squares!
The Cathedral and Pey-Berland Tower
The beautiful Saint André Cathedral is also worth a visit, especially for its superb bell tower. Separated from the cathedral, it is better known as the Pey-Berland tower and stands 50 meters high! I recommend climbing to the top, where you can enjoy a superb view of the rooftops of Bordeaux and the Garonne River!
Practical information – Pey-Berland Tower: open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (closed on Mondays during the off-season), closed between noon and 2:00 p.m., more information on the website – €9 (free for those under 25 and job seekers)
The Saint Michel district
More popular than its neighbors Saint Pierre and Saint Paul, this charming neighborhood stretches around the beautiful Gothic basilica of Saint Michel. It is particularly known for its daily markets and antique dealers. I especially recommend taking a stroll through the Passage Saint Michel, which is home to many antique shops. And if you like markets, the Capucins market is a must-see during your weekend in Bordeaux!
The Chartrons district
Right next to Place des Quinconces is the Chartrons district! To me, it is one of the best things to visit in Bordeaux : it is my favorite district !
This was once the merchants’ quarter, where Bordeaux wine was made until the 18th century.
Today, its beautiful buildings surrounded by greenery and pretty shops make it a popular place for Parisian families who have moved to Bordeaux… In any case, it’s a very pleasant neighborhood to stroll around!
You’ll also find the Jardin Public, a huge green space well known to Bordeaux residents.
BEST THINGS TO VISIT IN BORDEAUX : THE CITÉ DU VIN
Practical information – Cité du Vin: open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. on weekends and in summer) – €22 (children 6-17 years old €9), family pack (2 adults + 2 children): €54
Book your ticket for the Cité du Vin !
What is the Cité du Vin about ?
To me, the Cité du Vin is one of the best things to visit in Bordeaux ! The wine capital was the perfect place to host this unusual “museum”! You’ll notice its striking curves from afar, reminiscent of the movement of wine in a glass during tasting.
The architecture is just as impressive inside. The entrance was designed to be dark to evoke wine cellars. As you climb the floors, you gradually reach the light, culminating in the superb panoramic terrace.
Although the Cité du Vin is located in Bordeaux, it is by no means limited to Bordeaux wines, quite the contrary! The foundation that manages the Cité du Vin aims to protect and promote wine culture around the world. It is therefore much more than a museum! Conferences, workshops, and exhibitions are organized to showcase this incredible heritage.
I particularly enjoyed the display of numerous vineyards from around the world… Even the wine shop on the ground floor offers wines from more than 70 countries around the world (out of the 90 wine-producing countries)!
Visit the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux
Far from being a museum like any other, the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux is above all an experience! I’m not usually impressed by very modern scenography, which often fails to add much to the content of visits. But I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised at the Cité du Vin!
The scenography, which is quite incredible and very interactive, serves to enhance the visitor’s discovery and greatly enriches the content. A truly immersive visit awaits you, thanks to the visitor’s guide that you will be given.
You can explore the permanent exhibition at your own pace, following your own interests. The challenge has been met, as even the youngest visitors and those most reluctant to embrace technology are easily won over!
Throughout the visit, you will discover wine in all its facets! Topics as varied as the origins of wine—8,000 years ago in the basin that now encompasses Iran, Georgia, and Armenia—intoxication in art, wine routes around the world, and how to choose wine are explored in a fun and original way.
For example, you can try to recognize smells and colors, sit at the table of chef Hélène Darroze, or lie back in an armchair to admire the works of art on the ceiling… What a program!
The tour ends with a glass of wine on the top floor of the Cité du Vin, with a breathtaking view of the whole of Bordeaux! You can even choose your wine from among the fifteen or so suggestions made each day by the oenologist.
BEST THINGS TO VISIT IN BORDEAUX : BASSINS DE LUMIÈRES
Practical information – Bassins de Lumières: open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. from April to September), late nights on Fridays and Saturdays – €16 (several reduced rates, free for children under 5) – website
Another museum not to be missed in Bordeaux is Les Bassins de Lumières! The former submarine base built during World War II is now home to the largest digital art center in the world! The Bassins de Lumières offer a wonderful spectacle, both visual and auditory, paying tribute to the greatest artists in the history of art.
I had the chance to discover Monet, Renoir, Chagall, and their contemporaries in a whole new light… A magical experience that I highly recommend! Everyone can enjoy the visit at their own pace.
You can sit down or stroll around the pools while the works swirl around you.
The digital and totally immersive exhibitions change every year. They follow the same format as the Atelier des Lumières in Paris and the Carrières des Baux de Provence. But what makes the Bassins unique is the way they make use of the magnificent reflections in the pools.
I really liked the mix of genres, where the military gives way to the artistic… It’s hard to imagine that a few decades ago, military submarines were here!
BEST THINGS TO VISIT IN BORDEAUX RIGHT BANK
On the Garonne River…
The Garonne River plays a major role in Bordeaux! Its pretty curve even gave the port of Bordeaux its nickname: the port of the moon!
Now moved downstream, the port of Bordeaux has been a source of wealth for centuries. You can still enjoy the Garonne, especially with the Bat3 (pronounced “batcube”). This Bordeaux transport service connects the two banks and allows you to discover the city from the water for the price of a tram ticket!
It’s also a great way to get to the Cité du Vin!
Practical information – Bordeaux shuttle boat (Bat³): price of a bus ticket (€1.70) or included in the 24-hour pass (€5) – check timetables on the website
Darwin Ecosystem
This former disused barracks, nestled on the right bank of the Garonne, has been converted into a particularly pleasant alternative venue. Lively, creative, and committed, Darwin Ecosystem also offers a different way of consuming.
The trendy and welcoming atmosphere breathes new life into the remains of the barracks, which now house restaurants, gyms, shops, and cafés!
Right next to Darwin Ecosystem, you can also take the time to stroll along the banks of the Garonne. The right bank is very green and almost wild in places, a striking contrast to the bustling city on the left bank.
OTHER THINGS TO VISIT IN BORDEAUX
Here are some other ideas to explore if you’re visiting Bordeaux in 2 days!
– A cannelés workshop: in the heart of Bordeaux, learn how to make your own cannelés during a workshop with Sandra, a pastry chef!
– The Bordeaux vineyards (15 minutes away): after visiting the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux, you’ll undoubtedly want to explore the Bordeaux vineyards… Grand cru wines, majestic châteaux, and prestigious wines await you. To discover them, you can choose a tasting tour or even book a day-long experience!
– Château de la Brède (35 minutes away): home of Montesquieu, this is a must-see in the Bordeaux region!
– Entre-deux-mers (45 minutes away): between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, this green area combines vineyards, bastides, and pretty villages. The fortified village of Rions is particularly worth a visit.
– Arcachon and its basin (1 hour away): the famous and fabulous basin has everything you could dream of for a vacation: a relaxed lifestyle, magnificent landscapes, oyster farming villages, and local products. For more information, see my article “Best things to visit in Bordeaux : a local’s guide‘
– The Dune du Pilat (1 hour away): no introduction needed! For me, it’s one of the most beautiful natural sites in France! Check out my blog for practical tips for visiting the Dune du Pilat
– Cap Ferret (1 hour 20 minutes away): France’s most exclusive and charming peninsula, a little corner of paradise that’s totally unspoiled and completely different from anywhere else. Don’t miss it! Take a 6 Must-see Spots & Itinerary to visit Cap Ferret in my dedicated article!
And for more information on organizing your weekend in Bordeaux, visit the Bordeaux Tourism website.
This report follows an invitation from the Cité du Vin. However, I remain entirely free to express my own opinions and am completely sincere in my recommendations! A huge thank you to the organizers of this trip for their valuable advice, which allowed me to discover Bordeaux for the first time!
Coming soon on La Marinière en Voyage…
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