Bordeaux Travel Guide

Other Things to See and Do in Bordeaux

1. Stroll Rue Sainte-Catherine

For the walkers and the shoppers, this pedestrian shopping street stretches 1.6 kilometers (1 mile), making it the longest shopping street in Europe. The northern part of the street is filled with French chains, while the southern part has more local shops and restaurants. A lot of students hang out here as well, especially on Saturdays.

2. Explore Old Town Bordeaux

One of the largest 18th-century architectural urban areas in all of Europe, Bordeaux’s Old Town is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its amazing preservation. Two famous attractions are the Grand Théâtre, an opera house built in 1780, and the Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux, built between the 12th and the 14th century.

3. Visit the other wine museum

In addition to La Cité du Vin, Bordeaux has another wine museum that dives deep into local history. Le Musée du Vin et du Négoce (The Bordeaux Wine and Trade Museum) exhibits the history of the city’s wine merchants. Admission is 10 EUR and includes two tastings. You can also take a wine workshop here to learn about choosing wine, grape varieties, and different Bordeaux wines. Workshops are 40 EUR.

4. See the Musee D’Art Contemporain (CAPC)

If you love modern art, visit this museum. Located in a 19th-century warehouse, the museum has permanent works from renowned artists and photographers like Richard Long, Keith Haring, and Georges Rousse. On Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm, you can take a guided tour for 1 EUR in addition to the price of admission. It costs 7 EUR for the permanent collection and temporary exhibits (5 EUR if there are no temporary exhibits). The museum is closed on Mondays.

5. Walk around Les Quais

The Quays of Bordeaux follow the shores of the Garonne. The platforms here used to be a harbor but have been renovated for visitors to walk, rollerblade, or bike along. This 4.5-kilometer (2.8-mile) stretch is a scenic place to walk with some amazing views of the landscape and the unique Aquitaine bridges. This is also a popular nightlife and club area.

6. Visit the Water Mirror

Bordeaux’s Water Mirror (Miroir d’eau) is a giant reflecting pool in front of the Place de la Bourse. It’s made up of thin granite slabs covered in just two centimeters of water, covering over 37,000 square feet, making it the largest in the world! In the summer, mist is created from vents hidden in the granite.

7. See the Jardin Botanique

This big park north of the center is the city’s large public garden, spanning just over 1 acre. There are a ton of walking paths and places to bird-watch, or you can sit around on a nice day and have a picnic. There are guided tours for those looking to learn about all flowers in the garden. Admission is free.

8. Shop at the Marché des Capucins

This is Bordeaux’s central covered market, with stalls of bakers, produce sellers, cheesemongers, wine merchants, florists, and more. The market is open every day except Mondays, from 5:30am-2pm. It’s a great place to stock up on provisions for a picnic lunch. There are also cafes and restaurants inside.

9. Learn local history at Musée d’Aquitaine

With over 70,000 pieces in their collection, this museum focuses on the history of the region from prehistory to the present day. Newer additions to the permanent collection include an exhibit on Bordeaux’s maritime history and the city’s role in the slave trade. Admission is 5 EUR with free entry on the first Sunday of the month (except July and August).

10. Ascend the medieval tower

Built in 1494, Porte Cailhau is a beautiful defensive gate to the city. You can climb the tower to get views over the waterfront as well as learn more at the small exhibition inside the tower. Admission is 5 EUR. Even if you don’t pay to go inside, it’s worth walking by, especially at night when it’s all lit up.

 
For more information on other cities in France, check out these guides:

Bordeaux Travel Costs

Hostel prices – Hostel dorms with 4-6-beds cost 31-35 EUR while dorms with 8-10 beds run about 28-31 EUR a night. Private rooms start at 65 EUR. Free Wi-Fi is standard though no hostels offer free breakfast or self-catering facilities.

For those traveling with a tent, camping is available outside the city. A basic plot for two people without electricity costs around 24 EUR per night. Wild camping is illegal in France.

Budget hotel prices – Budget hotels cost around 70 EUR per night. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi, AC, TV, and sometimes free breakfast.

On Airbnb, private rooms start around 35 EUR, while the price for a full apartment starts at 75 EUR per night (though they average closer to 125 EUR).

Food – Food in France has a long history and is intricately intertwined with the culture at large. Fresh bread, tasty local cheeses, and plentiful wine may be stereotypical staples of the cuisine, but they really are some of the go-to foods in the country. Wine is especially popular in this region, often paired with common dishes like lamb and fresh fish from the Bay of Biscay. The region is also known for its popular (but somewhat controversial) foie gras, a fattened duck or goose liver. Pâté and slow-roasted meats (confits) are also traditional regional fare.

Personally, I think Bordeaux has some of the best food in France. While it’s a great region to splash out on food, you can also get by on a budget here. Cheap sandwiches cost about 6 EUR and most lunch specials cost 10-15 EUR. Fast food (think burger and fries) costs around 9 EUR for a combo meal.

If you want to indulge a little, a main dish at dinner costs around 15-30 EUR.

A glass of wine costs around 7 EUR and a cappuccino costs around 3.50 EUR. Beer is 5-6 EUR.

My two favorite restaurants are La Tupina and Le Petit Commerce. Be sure to eat at L’étoile for lunch and say hello to the chef, Clelia. She and I backpacked Thailand together years ago. Her food is delicious!

You can also pick up some ingredients and have a picnic in the park by stopping at one of the many breads, cheese, and meat shops/markets throughout the city. Groceries cost around 45 EUR per week for basic staples like pasta, rice, bread, seasonal produce, and some meat.

Backpacking Bordeaux Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Bordeaux, my suggested budget is 70 EUR per day. This covers staying in a hostel dorm, cooking all of your meals, taking public transit to get around, limiting your drinking, and sticking to mostly free and cheap activities like free walking tours and enjoying the city’s parks.

A mid-range budget of 135 EUR per day covers a private Airbnb room, eating out for most meals at cheap restaurants, enjoying a few glasses of wine, taking the occasional taxi, and doing paid tours and activities like museum visits and a wine tour.

On a “luxury” budget of 255 EUR or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, enjoy plenty of wine, rent a car and do some day trips, and tour more wineries and vineyards. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

Bordeaux Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Bordeaux is built for luxury travel so you’ll have a hard time not spending a lot here. It’s just the nature of the city — especially if you want to dine out. However, if you want to cut your costs, here are some ways to save money in Bordeaux:

1. Explore on foot – Walking around Bordeaux is a great way to experience the architecture and the city vibes. The city is easily walkable and there’s no reason to take public transportation.
2. Drink the cheap wine – Grab a cheap bottle of Bordeaux from one of their numerous wine shops on the street and have a glass while walking around to see monuments and historic buildings. You can find good bottles for as little as 5 EUR.
3. Take advantage of discount museum prices – Pick up a City Pass for free public transportation, free entry to 20 museums, and your choice of a guided city tour. A one-day pass is 29 EUR, a two-day pass costs 39 EUR and a three-day pass costs 43 EUR. You also get discounts on other attractions (including wine tours and dinner cruises).
4. Take a free walking tour – If you want to learn more about the city, a free walking tour is a great place to start. You’ll learn about the history and architecture while touring all the major sights. Free Walking Tours Bordeaux is the best one. Just don’t forget to tip your guide!
5. Stay with a local – If you want to save money and get some local insight into the city, use Couchsurfing. With accommodation prices so expensive in the city, I highly suggest trying to find a host that can give you a bed and show you around. This city is not cheap and having a local guide goes a long way!
6. Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Bordeaux

There are only a few hostels in Bordeaux so budget options are limited. Here are my suggested places to stay in Bordeaux:

• Hostel 20
• Central Hostel
• Bordeaux Youth Hostel
• Cœur De City Hôtel Bordeaux Clemenceau

How to Get Around Bordeaux

Public transportation – Bordeaux is very walkable and has a large pedestrian zone so you can walk around the city easily. The city also has an extensive public transportation system if you are going far or don’t want to walk.

The bus and tram network are both run by TBM, and the central station is at Espace des Quinconces. Buses and trams take you everywhere you need to go. A single ticket costs 1.70 EUR, a 10-journey pass costs 13.70 EUR, and an unlimited day pass is 4.70 EUR. Tickets are rechargeable.

If you need to transfer from a bus to a tram, you need to pick up a two-journey ticket for 3 EUR. All tickets are valid for one hour.

If you get a City Pass tourism card, you’ll be able to ride the public transit for free. A one-day pass is 29 EUR, a two-day pass costs 39 EUR and a three-day pass costs 43 EUR.

There is also a bus that runs from the airport to the city center that leaves every 10 minutes between 6am-11pm. Tickets cost 8 EUR.

Ferry – TBM also operates a river ferry service between Lormont and Bordeaux, with stops in Stalingrad (Parlier), Quinconces (Jean Jaurès), and Lormont Bas. Ticket prices are the same as the bus and tram ticket prices.

Bicycle – V3 is the public bike-sharing system that lets you use bicycles around the city once you register online. It costs 1.70 EUR to rent a bike for a day, plus 2 EUR per hour after the first 30 minutes.

Taxi – Taxis are expensive in Bordeaux, with a base rate of 2 EUR plus about 1.66 EUR per kilometer. Prices add up fast so skip the taxis if you can. Public transportation can get you anywhere you need to go.

Ridesharing – Uber is available in Bordeaux and is generally a bit cheaper than taxis.

Car Rental – Car rentals can be found for around 35 EUR per day for a multi-day rental. Unless you’re planning to head out of the city, I would skip the car rental. Parking is expensive and you don’t need a car to get around the city.

When to Go to Bordeaux

If you’re traveling to Bordeaux specifically for the wine, timing is everything. The months between June and August are the best time for exploring the vineyards. Temperatures are hottest in July and August, with average highs around 27°C (80°F). This is also the busiest time of year so book your accommodation in advance. Much of France goes on holiday in August as well, so some businesses may have limited hours during this time.

The harvest season starts in September, which means that some wineries are closed to visitors (but not all). If there’s a particular winery you want to visit, do your research beforehand. September and October are still warm, with an average high temperature of 24°C (75°F).

If you want lower rates and fewer crowds, spring and autumn are great times to visit. The Christmas season, although chilly, is also an excellent time to explore the markets and festivities. Expect daily temperatures to hover around 7°C (45°F) in the winter.

How to Stay Safe in Bordeaux

Bordeaux is very safe. People are generally friendly and helpful, and you’re unlikely to experience violent crime here. Like any destination, avoid walking through unfamiliar areas alone at night and beware of pick-pocketing and petty theft. Pickpocketing is most common around the train station and Marche des Capucins so always keep your valuables secure and out of reach.

Solo female travelers should feel comfortable here, though the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone if intoxicated, etc.)

Scams here are rare, but if you’re worried about getting ripped off you can read about common travel scams to avoid here.

If you experience an emergency, dial 112 for assistance.

Always trust your gut instinct. Avoid isolated areas at night and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.