Top things to do in Bordeaux
Attractions, tours and activities in Bordeaux
Recommended museums in Bordeaux
Where to discover culture and the arts in Bordeaux
Bordeaux: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in Bordeaux
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Bordeaux-Lac
3.2 miles from city centre
Fairy stories don’t often begin in the marshlands. Yet this one does. Bordeaux-Lac’s fortunes changed when its humble marshes were transformed into a princely lake. Shazam! Now it has views that would make Rapunzel green with envy – swathes of forest, a huge rose garden and a pro golf course. Add the shiny new football stadium and you’ve got your happy ending.
Places to stay from £33 per night
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Bordeaux City-Centre
In the city centre
A triumvirate of triumphant buildings. Grand Théâtre, Saint-Seurin Basilica and Saint-André Cathedral stand proudly in the city’s historic heartland. Smart-suited businessmen zip by in their shadow, as tourists happily pose for pictures. Duck inside to brush up on your Bordelais history.
Places to stay from £22 per night
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Bastide
1.3 miles from city centre
Once upon a time, Bastide was its own city. Now part of Bordeaux’s urban sprawl – and the only district on the Garonne River’s right bank – it’s a beacon for peace-seeking urbanites who stroll in leafy Parc des Berges. Its paths cross thickets and estuaries, perfect for an afternoon away from city life.
Places to stay from £26 per night
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Saint Jean Station District
1.4 miles from city centre
Saint-Jean Station is marked for rapid renewal. Visitors will soon make the 2.5-hour journey from Paris on high-speed trains, and flood out into this area that seems to be a state of constant development. It’s an area filled with regal hotels in various states of glory – some faded, some lustrous - surrounded by cafés, restaurants and greengrocers.
Places to stay from £44 per night
About Bordeaux
Including tips for the best time to visit Bordeaux
Renowned for its world-famous wines, Bordeaux sits on the flat banks of the Garonne River in southwest France's Gironde region. Offering a treasure trove of historic sights, the city is well worth exploring on foot, or by cycling along one of its many bike lanes.
Bordeaux's tourism thrives on its wine production, with vineyard tours and tasting sessions one of the best things to do while you're on your holidays. As the second-largest wine-growing region on the planet, it produces over 800 million bottles per year. Guided tours of major vineyards like Canon Fronsac, The Médoc, Graves and Sauternes are offered daily and wine festivals are held every summer.
To the west, you'll find over 250 km of golden-sand beaches lined with picturesque pine forests primed for hiking. Another point of interest close to the city is Saint-Émilion – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s home to the famous castles of Château Ausone and Château Cheval Blanc, as well as a notable vineyard. Several train services make the 35-minute trip between Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion every day.
Regular shuttle buses run between Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport and the centre around every 45 minutes, but those with early morning or late evening flights will need to take a taxi to get around.
Tonight
From £75 per night
This weekend
From £307 per night
Next weekend
From £333 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | € 10 = £8.58 |
| Language | French |
| Average weekend price | £84 per night |
| Average weekday price | £93 per night |
| Typical stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Bordeaux
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Bordeaux
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Saint-Catherine Street
0.3 miles from city centre
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La Cite du Vin
2.2 miles from city centre
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Place de la Bourse
0.5 miles from city centre
Bordeaux reviews
What other travellers say about Bordeaux
The appearance of Bordeaux is absolutely exhilarating with...
4 May 2024
The appearance of Bordeaux is absolutely exhilarating with its miles of warm glowing limestone 18th century buildings. The number of trees and small gardens gives a great feeling, and the number of modern, quiet trams is truly impressive. Although visiting alone, I always felt safe and found locals helpful.
A week was the right amount of time because Bordeaux is not...
1 May 2024
A week was the right amount of time because Bordeaux is not only beautiful, the locals are soooo much more polite than Parisians. They would literally walk up to. you to ask if you needed help to find your way around, just amazing. Also, the architecture and history of this city is gorgeous. And don't forget the great food. I lived in Paris for 2 years and heard Bordeaux was Paris without the huge crowds and surely Parisians and that was the case. The river cruise is nice to get a different view but the tourist bus was more informative and displayed much more obviously. The tram system is amazing. You can take it from the airport into the center but be sure to get the TMB app for your phone to buy and activate tickets. Don't recommend the tram if you have more than 1 suitcase. If you have an early flight, the trams start about 4am. If you have to see the Louvre and other museums, etc in Paris, they are worth it, just be ready for horrid crowds and nasty shops and impolite servers. Understandably they are really tired of clueless tourists and just trying to make a living. St Emilion is not worth the trip unless your aim is to buy some Bordeaux wine from the source but it's only wine shops every few meters. Make sure the weather forecast is good for your trip if you go because this is a small town you can walk and enjoy the scenery. There isn't much in the way of museums or tours. The people in the tourist office are multilingual and very helpful. The guides speaking rather poor English. The walk from the train station to the town is about 20-25min and slightly uphill.
There is so much history and so much to see, however the joy...
28 April 2024
There is so much history and so much to see, however the joy of bordeaux is you can do most of it on foot or a bike. You can literally walk everywhere in the old part of town or along the river in both directions. It has the usual places to visit Museums, Churches, Gardens, Bridges, however i would suggest the following Cite du Vin - Its epic and tells you everything you'll need to know about wine. The Museum of Wine & Trade - An insight to early Bordeaux with a free wine tasting ;-) Walk the River Promenade - Great at any time of day The River Market on a Sunday - Has everything, Fresh oysters, Artisan foodies Not much to dislike - except don't go to the Marche du Capucin after 12... we did and its an interesting area after its closed!! I'd give the Intercontinental Rooftop Bar a miss too, terrible service, terrible staff attitude - not one I'll be racing back to. So many eateries to try and for those that love shopping you will be in Heaven.
It's a great city with an excellent (and cheap)...
26 April 2024
It's a great city with an excellent (and cheap) transport system. The CityPass is extremely good value for money and encourages maximum enjoyment of the many attractions. Must-see attractions include La Cite du Vin, the Base Sous-Marine (fabulous son et lumiere), boat trip and Pey-Berland tower. There are many good eating places - local brasseries/cafes with a good choice of menus. A lot of the food is meat/shellfish based but vegetarian alternatives can be found!
City was very quiet usually.
24 April 2024
City was very quiet usually. The tram system and excellent buses meant very few cars around. I would describe Bordeaux as a very nice, clean, well organized, sustainable well run city with lots of designer shops and all the usual multinational chains. Wine dominates in Bordeaux like Golf does in St Andrews. The wine tour of St Emilion village and local vineyard showed how Bordeaux has become so wealthy over the centuries. Really enjoyed the trip but probably not one best suited to a younger audience. Probably won't go back, saw what we wanted to see in 5 days.
Arrived on a Friday - Bordeaux was buzzing.
23 April 2024
Arrived on a Friday - Bordeaux was buzzing. Plenty of cafe culture happening all around, the weather was very kind so we were able to stroll down by the river, take in some of the beautiful squares and monuments and enjoy a great steak supper.
Popular places to stay in Bordeaux
Stay in some of the best accommodation Bordeaux has to offer
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Hôtel Majestic Bordeaux City-Centre, Bordeaux
From £133 per night
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Bel appartement T2 près du lac avc un parking privé Bordeaux-Lac, Bordeaux
From £146 per night
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Villa Erizio, Bordeaux Centre Bordeaux, France
From £113 per night
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Villa Reale Bordeaux City-Centre, Bordeaux
From £245 per night
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Other accommodation in Bordeaux
Choose from a wide variety of places to stay in Bordeaux
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Apartments
From £37 per night
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Villas
From £219 per night
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Cottages
From £77 per night
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Serviced Apartments
From £33 per night
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Holiday Homes
From £96 per night
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Guest Houses
From £43 per night
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Hostels
From £22 per night
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B&Bs
From £60 per night
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Homestays
From £60 per night
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Boats
From per night
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Self Catering Accommodation
From £37 per night
