bordeaux travel podcast

Travel to Bordeaux, France – Episode 536

Hear about travel to Bordeaux, France as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jennifer Dombrowski from luxadventuretraveler.com about her new hometown in one of France’s most famous wine regions.

“A lot of people didn’t come to Bordeaux. They knew about Bordeaux because it was such a famous French wine, but it wasn’t a place that people realized was even the name of a city in France. For so long the many wine châteaux around Bordeaux were really closed off to the public. All of the wine was really sold off in wine auctions long before it even goes into the bottles and there wasn’t much wine tourism that was going on here.”

“But now the city has really revitalized itself, especially in the last year, and there are a lot of unique wine tours that are happening here. The wine châteaux are opening up to the public. You can visit these beautiful almost castle-like fairytale-like vineyards and even many of them have shops now where you can purchase wine. It’s a great time to come to Bordeaux.”

Jennifer guides us around the old city with its old towers, cathedral and historic port. The port building used as a graphic for this episode is a UNESCO listed site.

You can’t have wine without enjoying some good food as well after all this is France, so Jennifer guides us to some of her favorite local restaurants in Bordeaux.

She also gets us outside of the city to Europe’s largest sand dune and of course to some of the wine châteaux. For something different she even recommends a tour to the various châteaux clinging to the back of a Harley Davidson.

After discovering Bordeaux on a Viking River Cruise , hear why a location independent travel blogger would choose Bordeaux when she could live anywhere.

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Lux Adventure Traveler Viking River Cruises – Châteaux, Rivers & Wine cruise Bordeaux Bordeaux Tourism Intercontinental Grand Hotel  ( reviews | check prices Booking.com |   Expedia ) Harley Davidson wine tour ( reviews ) Port Cailhau tower visit La Salle a Manger des Chartrons Restaurant ( reviews ) La Cite du Vin Dune de Pilat Hasnaa Chocolat Grand Crus Marche des Capucins The Port of the Moon Le Pressoir d’Argent, Bordeaux Dune of Pilat Bordeaux’s Food and Wine Scene

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Chris : Amateur Traveler, episode 536. Today, the Amateur Traveler talks about vineyards, a wine festival, a wine museum, and then some other stuff. But basically, we’re talking about wine, because we‘re going to Bordeaux in France.

Chris : Welcome to the Amateur Traveler. I’m your host Chris Christensen. Stay tuned after this episode for an update on the two tours that we’re doing next year with Amateur Traveler. But now, let’s talk about Bordeaux.

I’d like to welcome to the show Jennifer Dombrowski from luxeadventuretraveler.com, who’s come back to talk to us about another part of France. Jennifer, welcome back to the show.

Jennifer : Thanks, Chris. It’s nice to be back.

Chris : And you happen to be living in France now.

Jennifer : I am. I am living in Bordeaux.

Chris : It’s a dirty thankless job. But somebody’s got to do it.

Jennifer : That’s absolutely right.

Chris : And you pitched Bourdeaux, not that it was difficult, definitely a region I’d love to talk about. But we haven’t yet on the show. But why should someone come to Bordeaux?

Jennifer : I was here a year ago. And even just a year before I moved to Bordeaux, a lot has changed. And it’s funny, because a lot of people didn’t come to Bordeaux. They knew about Bordeaux, because it’s such a famous French wine.

Chris : We’ve drunk Bordeaux, yeah.

Jennifer : But it wasn’t a place that people realize is even actually the name of a city in France. And for so long, the many wine chateaux around Bordeaux were really closed off to the public. All of the wine was sold in wine auctions long before it even goes into the bottles. And there wasn’t much wine tourism that was going on here. But now the city has really revitalized itself, especially in the last year. And there’s a lot of really unique wine tours that are happening here. The wine chateaux are opening up to the public. You can visit these beautiful, almost castle like fairy tale like vineyards. And you can taste the wines. And even many of them have shops now where you can actually purchase some of the wines right there from the chateaux. So it’s a great time to come to Bordeaux.

Chris : It’s interesting how that didn’t take off in Europe as soon as it took off in California, for instance. And I think a lot of Americans, when they went over, expected that there would be wine tastings everywhere. There’d be tourists. There’d be shops and all of that, just kind of some of these very, very classic wine regions.

Jennifer : That’s really true. I’ve been to Napa Valley. And it’s a very…I hate to say commercialized wine tourism there is. Every chateau has some sort of tasting tour. And a lot of times, you don’t have to even book them in advance. You can kind of show up. And they actually hire people that are solely responsible for doing the tours. But it’s really different here. And especially I think it’s hard for Americans to understand. You think of these just massive wine producers especially here in Bordeaux. And it’s really hard to even fathom that these wine chateaux that are turning out millions of bottles of wine each year have a staff of maybe 10 or 15 people.

Chris : Interesting.

Jennifer : So they don’t have someone that is solely responsible for conducting wine tours. And when they do have wine tours, they really have to stop all of their other wine-related activities to have someone come and do a tour for you. So I think that’s the difference in visiting some place like Napa Valley where wine tourism is an industry and coming here to France where the winemakers themselves are often doing the tours for you. And they want you to come and visit them. But it’s really essential to book appointments in advance. They’re very proud to show off their wine chateau. But they need that advance notice to take the time out to visit with you and show you around and properly have you taste their wine.

Chris : Let’s put Bordeaux on a map for people who may not have a picture of France in their mind. Where are we here?

Jennifer : So we’re in the very southwest corner of France. So if you’re looking at a map of Europe, you’re gonna find Bordeaux just above the border of Spain and slightly in from the Atlantic Ocean.

Chris : In the old historic region of the Aquitaine?

Jennifer : Yes, exactly.

Chris : Excellent. Which was for many, many years English, but not in recent years, going back to the days of Richard the Lionheart at that point. Excellent. So what do you recommend for an itinerary for Bordeaux?

Jennifer : A lot of people come. And the way that most people are visiting Bordeaux right now is on a lot of the river cruises. But I think it’s worth spending time and coming here to the city. So you definitely wanna allot at least a few days to stay right in the city of Bordeaux. We have a new wine museum, which has been treated as the sort of Disneyland of wine museums. And it’s called La Cite du Vin. That’s right here in the heart of the city of Bordeaux. And it really takes a few hours to go through. And it’s a museum that’s not just about Bordeaux wine. It’s about all of the world’s greatest wine regions. And the visit ends with a wine-tasting on the very top floor with a gorgeous panoramic view of Bordeaux. Even if you’re not so into visiting museums, it’s worth it for that wine-tasting at the end alone.

Chris : Now, you mentioned that people are visiting Bordeaux on river cruises. And I had to look up…I honestly couldn’t have told you what river Bordeaux was even on.

Jennifer : It’s actually situated on the Garonne River. And it sort of goes off into a Y of the Dordogne. And then it flows out into the Atlantic Ocean. So people are coming to Bordeaux a lot of times on the river cruises. And it’s a little bit different than the typical river cruises, if you’ve been on one in Europe, because of the way the river is situated on this Y. So you kind of do a little bit of backtracking. I’ve been on the Viking river cruise through Bordeaux here. And you visit places like Cadillac. And also, you can go to Cognac and visit some of the Cognac houses, like Hennessy. And you can even blend your own Cognac from their barrels there. So that’s a really interesting experience. And you get a bottle of Cognac to take home with you.

Chris : And Cognac being a distilled wine, if I remember my les coeurs correctly?

Jennifer : Yes, it’s like a brandy. So, of course, it’s still made from grapes. But it’s much stronger. And you would have it as an after-dinner drink. And you can visit a lot of different…the chateaux, do pours, St. Emilion, which is on the left bank. And then you can visit the Medoc, which is where the really famous wine chateaux like Lafite-Rotschild are located, on the left bank. So you can do all of those things on a river cruise. But even though you see a lot, it still feels a bit rushed to me. Whereas, if you come and you spend the time in the city, you can do a lot of these things now all on your own. And they’re easily accessible from right here in Bordeaux.

Chris : So where would you home-base, first of all. You’d home-base in Bordeaux itself?

Jennifer : You can definitely home-base in Bordeaux. There are some really fantastic hotels that are here in the city. And there are vineyards that are quite close that you can reach within 15 minutes from the city even on public transportation, which is great because, of course, France has very, very strict drinking and driving laws. So it’s great when you can get out to the wineries on public transportation and not have to worry about driving out there and indulging a little too much.

Chris : Okay. So you started us at the wine museum. Where should we go next?

Jennifer : There’s a lot of great things to do in Bordeaux. And if you’re not into wine, there’s things to do for the non-drinkers and even for families as well. So in Bordeaux, we have more listed historical buildings than any other city in France outside of Paris, of course. So there’s just a lot of really beautiful architecture here. The city has the nickname “The Sleeping Beauty,” because this was a city that was a port city, had a lot of shipping. And so, of course, with all of the boats coming in and the industry that was here, you had a lot of pollution. And the buildings are made from a beautiful and very porous granite and limestone. And so they absorbed all this black soot from when this was an industrial port. And so for many, many years, the buildings were covered in the sort of black grime just from years and years of pollution.

And over the last couple of years the mayor has offered tax credits to residences and businesses to go ahead and do a cleaning up their buildings. And so now, the city, it’s so gorgeous. It’s this very soft creamy color. And the buildings have been cleaned. And it’s very sunny here. This is one of the sunniest places in France, actually. And when you have that golden hour when the sun’s getting ready to set and it illuminates the buildings on the soft light, it’s my favorite time of day to sort of just stroll around and take in the beautiful buildings of the city.

Chris : Well, and you mentioned the beautiful buildings and the port. And I see that part of the old port is actually a UNESCO world heritage site, the Port of the Moon.

Jennifer : Yes. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So, of course, if you’re interested in visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the world, this is a great place to come and stroll around for that reason as well. And there’s a lot of great rooftop views that you can get of the city. Bordeaux was a fortified city once upon a time. And so we have these old gates that are still left from when the wall surrounded the city. And there are several of them that you can climb up the staircases to the top and get gorgeous views over all of the old Roman parts as well as the newer neoclassical parts. And it’s just so gorgeous to see where those two different times come together and how it’s melded.

Chris : Is there a particular gate you would recommend we climb up?

Jennifer : I have several that I really like. There’s one that’s right along the river. And that’s my…I think my favorite viewpoint, because you cannot only look over the river, but you also have Le Miroir d’eau, which is a water mirror. It’s the largest water mirror reflecting pool in the world, actually. And it’s situated just across from Place de la Bourse, which is where the famous classifications of the Bordeaux wines took place. And it’s just this really, really gorgeous spot. And so you can climb up the gate there, have this view over the water mirror, over the Place de la Bourse. And then you can turn around and sort of look into the heart of the city, and you see the spires of the cathedrals sticking up. And you can see the cobbled streets of the old sort of medieval part of the town winding through and just see people enjoying themselves as they do here in Bordeaux. So that would be my favorite one to go up to. And, of course, that’s just a viewpoint.

But if you’re wanting to take in some wine with a viewpoint, you can go to the very heart of the city, to the Intercontinental Grand Hotel. And they have a rooftop bar there, and you can get a glass of wine and really sort of be in the middle of it all and looking around you and see everything that’s going on while enjoying your wine. So that would be my other favorite.

Chris : Okay. And you mentioned a medieval center, and I see buildings going back to 1096 and 12th century and those sort of things. But you also mentioned some Roman parts of the city.

Jennifer : We have a part of a coliseum that remains. It’s called the Palais Gallien. And there’s sort of different stories about how it came to be or the time that it’s from. But it does date back to Roman times. And there’s just a little bit of ruins left of it that are remaining. And you can sort of stand on a terrace and look out over the ruins that are remaining of the Palais Gallien. And you can picture what it was like to sit in the stands and take in the different events that they would have had there. And that’s actually a free thing to do here in the city. So it’s about 10 minutes strolling in from the river. It’s very easy to access. And it’s a beautiful viewpoint that a lot of tourists don’t actually know about.

Chris : Okay. What else should we do?

Jennifer : Aside from the La Cité du Vin, which is the wine museum, there’s a lot of other great museums that are here in Bordeaux. So you can go to the modern art museum. There’s a history museum. So you can take in the different parts of history that happened here throughout Bordeaux and France.

Aside from museums, there’s a lot of food-related things to do here in Bordeaux. This is a really great foodie city. One of my favorite places to go is the Marches des Capucins. And this is an indoor market that is open daily in the morning time, very early from 5:30 in the morning until about 1:00 in the afternoon. And everyone that lives here in Bordeaux goes there to buy their fresh produce and things. But there’s a lot of people that are selling things like fresh oysters from the bay of Arcachon. And so you can get six oysters and a glass of wine for five euro and enjoy that or a steamed pot of mussels that are cooked in wine and creme fresh. So there’s different food things that you can do at the market even if you’re just visiting. So it’s well worth going to.

Chris : And you mentioned foodie. Do you have other favorite restaurants in town that you would recommend either for fancy occasions or simple dining?

Jennifer : I have favorites for both. The great thing about Bordeaux is that it is being revitalized. And so we have some of the world’s most famous chefs setting up shop here. Gordon Ramsay has two different restaurants here. One is a bistro, which is more affordable. And really anyone can dine there. And then, of course, he has a Michelin starred restaurant. So if you really want to indulge, you can go there. There’s a lot of young chefs that are also coming to Bordeaux who are very innovative. And they’re mixing the Southwestern French cuisine that this region is known for with more modern techniques. And so there’s a lot of great places to come and eat in the city. I think that we could probably spend two or three hours alone discussing just that. But one of my favorites is a little place that is only open for lunch, three days a week. And it has a set menu.

Chris : And when we say a set menu, we don’t always talk about this on Amateur Traveler, so I wanna make sure that if somebody’s listening for the first time, so a fixed menu where there’s an entrée and an appetizer and a little wine with it and a dessert, all for one fixed price.

Jennifer : Right. So you don’t have choices between what you’re going to choose for your appetizer, you’re entree. The menu is set for the day. And it’s typically posted on a chalkboard. So you can definitely take a look at that before you sit down and decide maybe the cuisine of the day isn’t for you.

Chris : And well, and set by the chef with whatever is fresh today too, since we’re in France.

Jennifer : Right. That’s the thing about these set menus is that they change so often, because the chef does prepare everything from fresh ingredients. They go to places like the Marche des Capucins, and they pick out the vegetables that are in season, the fish that has been freshly caught, the meats that are fresh from the farmers in the region. And so they create their menus based on what they can obtain fresh for that day. So it changes. And they don’t often post their menus online for you to look at it in advance, just because it’s really hard to say…

Chris : What they’re gonna find that morning, yeah.

Jennifer : …what’s gonna be fresh. We were talking about one of my favorite little places that’s sort of more affordable than, say, Gordon Ramsay Michelin-starred restaurant here in Bordeaux. And this place is great too, because it’s also a little wine shop. And so they have fantastic wine pairings. You can pick up bottles of wine there to purchase as well. It’s called La Salle a Manger des Chartrons. And like I said, it’s open only for lunch, and it’s only a few days of the week, Wednesday through Friday for lunch, and has the set menu. But it’s quite affordable. And you can have the wine pairings. So it’s a really good favorite choice of mine here in Bordeaux for an affordable meal.

Chris : Okay. And for those people who can’t make out when we’re talking about things French, we’ll have links to all these things in the show notes. Excellent. Where to next?

Jennifer : One of the ways that you can tour around Bordeaux…and this is more of a summer activity. It’s down now for the season. But there’s a company that will take you on a Harley Davidson tour of the vineyards. I think that’s a really cool way to…that’s interesting to go out and have a different experience taking in the vineyards as you sort of ride through the rolling hills of nearby St. Emilion.

Chris : Now, am I riding a bike, or am I in a sidecar or hanging on the back for dear life?

Jennifer : Hanging on the back for dear life. They don’t allow you to rent and drive the Harley yourself because of the strict laws here with motorcycles in France. And so the guide has a helmet that has a radio where you can talk to each other. And you can hear what they’re saying as they point out different sites, since you have all that wind that’s whipping over you as you ride on the Harley. So you do ride with the guide. And they have multiple Harleys. So if you’re coming with a friend or a group, you can all go and do this together. So that’s one of the interesting ways that you can tour around.

Chris : And you haven’t lived there quite all year round yet. But what would you recommend is the best time to come to Bourdeaux?

Jennifer : So far, my experience has been that the weather is always fantastic. Right now, we’re into fall. But it’s still very lovely weather. Of course, all of the wine has been harvested now. And so you’ve got the fall colors that are on the vines. I think that when you decide that you want to come really depends on what you want to see. If you want to see the grapes on the vines, I would really recommend coming in July to August. Even though the French take their holidays and a lot of things like smaller businesses like the cheese shops and things close down, they really only affect the local people. And what’s great about coming in August is the city is really, really empty. But this is not the time that the wine chateaux take their vacations.

Chris : Oh, interesting.

Jennifer : This is the time that they’re really, really busy, because they’re starting to gear up for the harvest, which will start to happen in late September and early October. So they’re doing a lot of things like trimming the vines. And they’re really open to welcoming people to the chateaux during that time. So it’s a great time to come if you want to go visit wine chateaux and see the beautiful green vines with the grapes that are starting to ripen.

Coming up soon, the Christmas market is starting to set up. So there’s a big Christmas market here in December. It actually starts the 24th of this month, November, and will run until the day before Christmas time. So you can come in winter time and experience something a little bit different with the very festive holiday season, the little wooden chalets set up for Christmas markets. And you can buy a lot of locally made handicrafts from artists and buy a lot of different food items, of course, have vin chaud, which is mulled hot wine and roasted chestnuts. So that’s another favorite time of mine to visit Europe and France, in particular, during the holiday season.

And, of course, spring is beautiful, because you have all of the flowers in bloom. The vines are just starting to get their leaves again. So it’s a really nice time of the year to come. It’s not too hot yet. And, again, not everyone is here in a crowded summer season.

Chris : Okay, excellent. Where to next?

Jennifer : So you can also do a lot of great day trips from Bordeaux. The great thing about Bordeaux is that it’s not all just about wine and food. You have to do things to work off the wine and food. So Europe’s largest sand dune is actually located just outside of Bordeaux. And you can climb up the sand dune. It’s called the Dune du Pilat. And you can climb up the front side of the sand dune. And if you’re really adventurous, you can do things like paragliding off of the top of the sand dune and landing in the Atlantic Ocean. Or you can climb down the backside of it, which goes right down to the Atlantic Ocean. On the front side, there’s a staircase to make it easy to get to the top and have this gorgeous view over the Bay of Arcachon. But if you decide to climb down the backside of it to go to the beach where you’ll find virtually no one, you do have to trek back up a very large and high sand dune. And I’ve done it. And it will definitely work off everything that you’ve eaten in France in a week in your hour-trek back up that dune.

Chris : Well, it looks like they’re putting the height here as I look it up at about 110 meters. So three hundred feet, so that’s quite a few stories, 20 stories or something like that.

Jennifer : Yes. It’s pretty high. It’s really spectacular to see. Looking out from the top, you see what’s called the Bay of Arcachon. You have all of these sort of sandbars where France’s majority of their oysters come from. So you can visit not only the dune, but you can go and visit some of the oyster farmers and eat the freshest oysters that you will ever have in your entire life. I didn’t used to be an oyster fan until I came here last year. And I had my arm twisted into trying them. And now, I’m a fan. They’re the best oysters in the world.

Chris : Okay. Are there other side trips we should do from Bordeaux?

Jennifer : Spain is actually quite close. And we have Pyrenees as well. So within an hour of Bordeaux in the wintertime, you can go skiing. In the summer, spring, and fall, you can go hiking in the Pyrenees. So there’s a lot of outdoor things to do. We talked about the rivers earlier on. And I mentioned the Dordogne River. And there’s a lot of kayaking that you can do on the Dordogne River. And there are some really, really beautiful villages that sit up on cliffs. And you can kayak from village to village in the Dordogne. And so that’s another great outdoor thing to do here in Bordeaux.

Chris : Well. And for listeners of this show, we did an episode on the Dordogne recently. And so this is actually some place that is fairly close to there. So it’s someplace that’s easy to combine the two potentially in a longer trip.

Jennifer : I think that’s one of my favorite things about Bordeaux is that it combines all of the things that I love together, having that outdoors so readily available, yet having a bustling, really lively, exciting city to be part of outside of my doorstep.

Chris : Excellent. Now, you have been living in Italy for years. I’m getting the impression you’re still learning French?

Jennifer : I am definitely still learning French.

Chris : How hard is it to get by without being a native French speaker in Bordeaux?

Jennifer : I think as far as coming here as a tourist, you’re fine. English is not very widely spoken in Bordeaux like it is when you go to Paris. And so it’s definitely been more challenging living here, because all of the things that come to daily life, like finding an apartment and setting up my utilities, have been dealing with people that don’t speak any English. And I did not speak French before I came here. And so I’m learning. But as someone that’s visiting the city, I don’t think it’s any reason to be concerned about not being able to communicate. The people that work in restaurants and shops and all of the museums and activities that I’ve mentioned, they have those available in English. Most wineries speak English. And when you visit their website, when you’re deciding which wine chateaux that you do want to visit, they will list the languages that are available. So if you’re not a French speaker and they don’t offer a tour in English, that’s probably not the best wine chateau for you to visit. But it’s relatively easy for someone that’s visiting the city to get about without speaking French.

Chris : Before we get to my last questions, were there other things you wanna cover?

Jennifer : I am every day just delving into the city and the surroundings more and more. And so it’s something that I’ve been writing about on my website, Luxe Adventure Traveler. So definitely, come and follow me there, because…

Chris : You’re still discovering.

Jennifer : I’m still discovering. And every day, it’s something new that I discover or a new chocolate shop. Like this new one that’s Chocolats Hasnaa has just recently opened. And now this is the best chocolate shop in Bordeaux. And they’ve just received the award for the best chocolate shop in France. There’s all of these new things that are always happening here to discover. So it’s really hard to say, “Oh yes, you have to do this or that.” So I’m working on writing a guide, because there isn’t a whole lot of information out there on Bordeaux.

Chris : What’s the best day you’ve spent in Bordeaux so far?

Jennifer : Sundays are oddly my favorite day in Bordeaux. And I say oddly, because it’s a place that’s still very traditional. And Sunday is a day of rest, and not a whole lot is open. But one of my favorite farmers markets happens every Sunday on the quay, which is along the riverside. It’s the Marche des Chartrons. And there you can go and eat all of these wonderful things. And I do my weekly shopping. My dog lives here with me in France. So we go together every Sunday. And we kind of relax and have some wine along the river, some fresh oysters, do our fruit and veggie shopping for the week. And then I usually stop on the way home and have a glass of wine outside a terrace, outside one of the many, many wine bars that are here in Bordeaux. So those days that I can just really enjoy my surroundings and sort of soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful city are my favorite times.

Chris : Okay. Best day of the year to come, festival or event or…

Jennifer : In June every year, there is a festival called the Fete du Vin. And this is a wine festival that sets up along the quayside. And it’s over two kilometers long. You have wineries from every appellation of wine that there is here in the Bordeaux region. And there are 57 different wine appellations within the wine region. So you can get a tasting pass. And you actually taste a wine over the course of the four-day long festival. You can taste one from all 57 appellations. You might need to have a little detox after your trip to Fete du Vin. But you can really enjoy and taste all of the different types of wines that are offered here in the region. And they are quite, quite different. You have everything from sweet wines that are very golden in color to, of course, the traditional Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux wines.

Chris : Excellent, excellent. That’s the Fete du Vin.

Jennifer : Yes, and that happens every year in July.

Chris : Excellent. You mentioned the wine museum. Are there other particular museums or places where you have been able to get in touch with the culture?

Jennifer : I really like the different art museums that are around the city. Just today, before we got on our Skype call here, I was at a little exhibition of arts and gourmands, so art paired with great food. And there’s a lot of great local artists that are here in Bordeaux. And being able to see and talk with them about their artwork is really unique. So there’s a lot of those types of exhibitions that go on. Or there might be a special exhibition at the La Cite du Vin, the wine museum. And sometimes there are longer exhibitions that happen at the modern art museum that’s located here.

Chris : Well, and I appreciate the festival for gourmands, because I am more of a gourmand than a gourmet, someone who loves eating, isn’t necessarily all that picky about it, though. The prettiest spot in Bordeaux, the prettiest spot where you’re standing, what are you looking at?

Jennifer : I don’t even have to hesitate. It’s the Miroir d’eau.

Chris : I wondered if it wouldn’t be, okay.

Jennifer : This is my favorite spot. I go here daily. It goes through this cycle where you have three minutes that the water sort of drains, and it gives the mirror of facts where just across the Place de la Bourse, which sort of curves around in a hugging style, like the arms of the Vatican, it reflects on to the mirror. So it goes through three minutes of that. And then it has three minutes of steam. And then it has 15 minutes where the water fills up.

Chris : Of steam, sorry?

Jennifer : Steam, yes. It creates this cloud of mist that rises up out of it. So at this time of the year where the weather is cooling down and the water from the mirror is so warm, it creates a sort of rolling fog that goes across the big square. And so it’s really interesting to look at. And since I do go there every day, it’s interesting to see how the light changes. The sun sets behind it. So it’s a beautiful place to watch the sunset and just to see how the light has changed over the course of the last few months as the days have gotten shorter and how the position of the sun in the sky changes and creates different light effects on it. It’s really interesting. So it’s definitely my favorite place in Bordeaux.

Chris : One thing that makes you laugh and say, “Only in Bordeaux”?

Jennifer : The French with their dogs. It’s a whole nother part of the French culture. And the Italians weren’t so crazy about dogs.

Chris : Oh, interesting, okay.

Jennifer : For me, now living in France with a dog when I lived previously in Italy with a dog, it really makes me laugh, because they always have to stop and sort of coo over her. And I don’t have a little dog. I have an Aussie shepherd mix. So she’s a larger dog. But she’s an unusual white shepherd to see here in France. It’s not a typical dog. But everyone has to stop and talk about her. And a lot of times, I still don’t understand what they’re saying, because I’m just working on my French. But it does make me laugh. But it’s a definitely “only in Bordeaux” thing.

Chris : Finish this thought, you really know you’re in Bordeaux when what?

Jennifer : When you’re having fantastic wine. I can say that having lived in Italy where there is as really good wine, but the wine when you come to Bordeaux and you have the wine here is life-changing. You will not look at wine again ever in the same way. It’s a whole different level of wine. It’s really good.

Chris : And if you had to summarize Bordeaux in just three words, what three words would you use?

Jennifer : Luxury, wine, and adventure really encompass it all.

Chris : Now, I wasn’t asking you to summarize your blog. Will that be the same three words if we were to summarize what you are writing about?

Jennifer : It would. It really…

Chris : There’s a reason why you ended up in Bordeaux then.

Jennifer : I think it was a really good match. But, no, seriously, luxury, wine, and adventure. The luxury part of it being that it doesn’t necessarily have to be something that’s really expensive like a Michelin-starred meal. But just having the luxury of drinking some of the world’s best wine and having it available all the time here is something that’s definitely a luxury. And then, like I said, there’s a lot of things that you can go and do that are adventure-related that are so close to the city. And, of course, it’s Bordeaux. So it’s synonymous with wine.

Chris : So we’re talking again to Jennifer Dombrowski from luxeadventuretraveler.com. Jennifer, if we had one particular post about Bordeaux that you’ve written recently that you wanna recommend to our audience, what would that be?

Jennifer : I would say to go to my website and check out a very recent post that’s about Bourdeaux’s food and wine scene. And so I share a lot of the specialties of the region and some of my favorite places to eat and some of my favorite desserts to try as well as great wines.

Chris : Excellent. Well, thank you so much for coming on Amateur Traveler and sharing with us your love for your new found home of Bordeaux.

Jennifer : Thank you for having me.

Chris : An update on the Amateur Traveler trips for next year, as you know, there are two trips going on next year, one in June to Japan and one in November to India, links to both of those under the Book Travel tab on amateurtraveler.com. And when I say next year, we’re talking about 2017. I understand you may live in the future, but I live in the past. One piece of news on the Japan trip is that Context Travel has offered us a day trip in one of the cities. So we’re still deciding that. If you sign up for the tour, you can help me make that decision. But, basically, they do some wonderful day trips. And so we’re gonna do one of their day trips either in Tokyo or Kyoto. More information about that in the Amateur Traveler trips group, amateurtraveler.com/trips.

And news of the community, I heard today from Mike who said, “I’ve been listening to the podcast since 2007 and have enjoyed it very much. Just wanted to let you know that we just completed the cruise between Valparaiso and Buenos Aires that you described in a podcast. We loved the cruise and never would have known about it but for your podcast. Thanks for all your insights and tips throughout the years. And please feel free to let Holland America know that your podcast had an impact on their business. Also, we intend to highly recommend the cruise to other travelers we know and meet on the road. Thanks again for all you do with the podcast.”

And, Mike, double thanks, one, thanks for getting back to me and, two, also thanks for giving me that feedback about Holland America . And you bet that the next email I sent was to the person who sent me on that cruise. But it was a fun cruise. I agree with you. And I still think that it’s a great thing that after you’ve done that cruise that you wanna do to Alaska, it’s a similar cruise with glaciers. But then you’re also in South America. So you get interesting things like Buenos Aires and Valparaiso, which are both interesting cities.

With that, we’re gonna end this episode of the Amateur Traveler. If you have any questions, send an email to host at amateurtraveler.com or, better yet, leave a comment on this episode at amateurtraveler.com. You can follow me on Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram as chris2x. And as always, thanks so much for listening.

Transcription sponsored by  JayWay Travel , specialists in Central & Eastern Europe custom tours.

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by Chris Christensen

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This French Wine Country Region Has Idyllic Vineyards, Stunning Speakeasies, and Luxury Hotels

Here's where to stay, eat, and explore in Bordeaux, France's wine capital.

Over the past decade, Bordeaux has been steadily drawing more Parisians, who are infusing the formerly soot-stained shipping center on the Garonne River with a new jolt of art, culture, and culinary excellence. The new life being breathed into the city is intoxicating — and we promise, it’s not just the wine talking (although you’ll drink plenty of it, whether at luxury hotels set into historic vineyards, a new crop of natural wine bars downtown, or at the famous Cité du Vin museum). 

Rabi Merizak/Getty Images

Made more easily accessible in 2017 by the extension of Paris’s high-speed train network, the TGV, it lies just a two-hour ride from the City of Light — technically quick enough for a day trip , although we’d suggest allowing a weekend at the very least, as there’s plenty to sustain your interest (and appetite) in France’s wine capital.

From vineyard tours to seductive speakeasies and psychedelic art exhibitions set in former submarines, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your trip to Bordeaux.  

Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure

Best Time to Visit Bordeaux

Bordeaux is at its best from May through October, when the weather warms and the days are long and sunny. In August and December, many businesses close for their annual vacations, so there will be markedly less to see in the city itself — which, on the bright side, means fewer tourists. If you do find yourself here on a winter visit , be sure to pack waterproof layers, as the weather tends to be rainy and gray. 

Oenophiles and budding wine lovers alike are in for the trip of a lifetime if they come around harvest season, which generally runs from late August or early September through October. You can get a peek at the winemaking process and stroll through the vineyards before tasting the fruits of the labor you’ve just witnessed. 

How to Get Around Bordeaux

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In terms of getting to Bordeaux, the simplest way is to hop on the TGV from Paris’s Montparnasse station and take it directly to Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean, which takes around two hours. While you can technically fly into Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, it’s more cost- and time-efficient to take the train (not to mention, more sustainable). You can also drive here, but be warned that it can be slightly tricky to find parking downtown — you’ll want to check with your hotel to see if they have on-site spot. 

Once you’ve arrived, it’s easy to rely on the public transit system (the TBM, or Transports Bordeaux Métropole), which includes bicycles and motorized scooters, an extensive bus network, river shuttles, and a tram system, all of which are navigable with the Bordeaux CityPass . The contactless card, which also includes access to 15 museums (including the pricier Cité du Vin) and a guided city tour of your choice, is a great option if you’re staying for a few days or more; it allows unlimited travel on the trams, buses, and river shuttles over 24, 48, or 72 hours (for 34 euros, 44 euros, or 50 euros, respectively). You can order it online or pick one up from the tourist office upon arrival. 

While public transit is convenient, the tourist center of Bordeaux is pedestrian-friendly and you’ll spend plenty of time on foot appreciating the beauty of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region's capital.

In terms of private transportation, taxis, Uber, and other ride-share options (like Bolt, which you can download for Apple and Android) are all readily accessible.

Best Places to Stay in Bordeaux

Les sources de caudalie.

If you’re familiar with the cult-favorite French skin care brand Caudalie, you may have heard of their idyllic vineyard retreat , a hotel just 30 minutes away by car from downtown Bordeaux. This is a self-care destination not to be missed: Nestled in the Château Smith Haut Lafitte vineyard, the 40 rooms and 21 suites are bright and airy, appointed with natural materials, antique fixtures, and jacuzzi-sized bathtubs. After a day spent wine tasting, indulge at the on-site two-Michelin star restaurant, La Grand’Vigne, or pamper yourself at the Vinotherapie Spa, home to a hammam and natural hot spring. 

Le Palais Gallien Hôtel & Spa

Courtesy of Le Palais Gallien Hotel & Spa

Once ensconced in this luxury hotel , it’s easy to imagine you’ve been whisked into the French countryside — and yet, it’s located right in the heart of downtown Bordeaux. This is one of those rare city hotels that strikes the perfect balance of old-school charm and modern convenience, with an oasis-like backyard pool, an inventive rooftop cocktail bar, and jewel-sized rooms that boast period furniture plus private terraces with jacuzzis. 

Le Boutique Hôtel & Spa

Set in an 18th-century mansion, this sophisticated 25-room boutique hotel offers an ideal location in the city center, just a stone’s throw from the Triangle d’Or. With vintage parquet floors and design-focused pieces from Philippe Starck, no two rooms are the same — but most offer spectacular city views. There’s a cozy outdoor terrace centered around a large tree trunk, which is a perfect place to sip your morning coffee or kick back over an early-evening apéro . During your stay, be sure to take advantage of the Nuxe spa. 

With just 12 rooms, the intimate Yndo Hôtel in the city center takes a streamlined, modern approach to its decor. Set in a timeless 19th-century mansion, the interplay of old and new world is enough to make your jaw drop. Sleek furniture pops against antique fixtures like molded fireplaces and parquet floors. Frankly, the property is worth a visit just to check out owner Agnès Guiot’s eclectic selection of chairs, which includes whale-shaped seats, sequined floral couches, and more.

Best Places to Eat and Drink in Bordeaux

Black list café.

For an artisanal caffeine fix or a memorable slice of creamy Basque cheesecake, pop into Black List Café . Tasty brunches are on the menu at this trendy indoor-outdoor spot, where you can tuck into goat cheese risotto or savory French toast with sweet potatoes while looking out over the Hôtel de Ville (town hall). 

Madame Pang

Dim sum may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you’re planning a trip to French wine country, but Madame Pang is a worthwhile stop on nights when you’re looking for something different. This elevated Cantonese spot serves inventive dishes like octopus croquettes with yuzu mayo and curry pork dumplings alongside vibrant cocktails. The best part? The kitchen is open until 1 a.m. 

Le Chien de Pavlov

A standout among the wave of neo-bistros sweeping the French city, Le Chien de Pavlov offers superb dishes in a cozy atmosphere (think: fish carpaccio with wasabi and green apple, or lamb cooked two ways and set atop a green pea and mint purée with delicate roasted artichoke and a bright burst of confit lemon). A five-course dinner tasting menu will only set you back 49 euros, an absolute steal once you’ve admired the artful plating. Run by a young French couple, the space itself is warm and welcoming, serving high-quality cuisine without any of the traditional fine-dining stuffiness. 

Recommended by the Michelin Guide, Symbiose is more than what meets the eye as you step into the riverside cafe (which has its own garden from which it plucks much of its produce). Beyond the handful of tables lining the wall of the blonde-wood room, there’s an antique clock that reveals a not-so-secret speakeasy. There, you’ll find a candlelit, cave-like bar where locals and in-the-know travelers sip local wine or edgy cocktails and flirt with the handsome French bartenders. 

With a focus on natural and low-intervention wines, this ultra-cozy wine bar and bistro calls to you from the street, where tables are set up in warmer weather and you can glimpse an intriguing collection of bottles perched invitingly in the window. Inside, a bar and a few tables are typically bustling with a young, local crowd enjoying well-priced by-the-glass wines and slabs of paté topped with caramelized onions. 

Best Things to Do in Bordeaux

Vineyard tours and wine tastings .

If you’re visiting Bordeaux, chances are you’re looking to drink some wine. Known as the wine capital of France, there are 57 appellations (known as AOCs) and some 6,000-plus vineyards producing primarily red wines made from merlot and cabernet sauvignon, although the region also produces whites. That can make choosing a wine-tasting destination a little daunting, but luckily the Bordeaux Tourism & Conventions website simplifies it. Choose between half- or full-day tours of vineyards and chateaux in Saint-Émilion or Margaux, a bit east or north of the city center. 

Place de la Bourse

One of the city’s most famous landmarks, Place de la Bourse is a jaw-dropping 18th-century square built during the reign of King Louis XV. Located near the charming Chartrons neighborhood, it’s a must-visit in order to glimpse the impressive Miroir d’Eau, a 37,000-square-foot reflecting pool (which happens to be the largest in the world).

Cathédrale Saint-André

You haven’t really been to a French city if you haven’t gaped in awe at its most famous cathedral, and in this case, it’s Cathédrale Saint-André , known locally as Bordeaux Cathedral. Worth a visit for its magnificent architecture alone, this Gothic-style Roman Catholic church features two impressive spires and is also home to the Marcadé Collection, which comprises a treasure trove of famous medieval paintings.

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux

Following an extensive renovation, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux reopened in 2019, boasting a large collection of paintings, sculptures, and more from famed European artists (including the likes of Picasso and Renoir) and local painters, with works spanning the 15th to the 20th century. In addition to their permanent collections, there’s typically a few temporary exhibitions of local art on display. 

Marché des Capucins 

A food tour through the fragrant delight of the Marché des Capucins is a must during your trip to Bordeaux. Wandering through the hectic mix of locals buying their weekly groceries and vendors selling fresh fruit, local cheese, and cream-filled pastries is a feast for the senses. Make a point of seeking out Chez Jean-Mi , an oyster bar with a mouthwatering selection of freshly shucked oysters from nearby Arcachon, one of France’s primary oyster farming centers. 

Sunset River Cruise

Take in the UNESCO banks of the city from the water as you float down the Garonne River at sunset. While river cruises often have a touristy tang to them, this one from Les Bateaux Bordelais makes up for it by whisking you beneath the illuminated bridges of the city — including the Pierre, Jacques Chaban-Delmas, and Aquitaine bridges — while exploring their history and treating you to a gourmet dinner of locally inspired fare, prepared freshly on board. 

La Cité du Vin

One of the addresses that’s redefined the city’s physical and cultural landscape in recent years is the interactive La Cité du Vin , a sort of mecca for oenophiles. But you don’t have to be a wine aficionado to appreciate the strikingly modern architecture of the decanter-shaped building, or the palate-expanding wine tastings held on the property. Exhibitions include flyovers of vineyards from all around the world, plus an introduction to terroirs, grape varietals, the winemaking process, and more. 

Bassins des Lumières 

Discover the works of Dalí and Gaudí like you’ve never seen before at this former submarine base, reconstructed into a cultural center that puts on trippy, immersive projections throughout the year. The Bassins des Lumières building underwent an extreme overhaul, having been bombed during the war and submerged in water. Now, it’s one of the city’s most exciting art destinations. Lose yourself in Dalí’s melting clocks and imagine you’re entering into some of Gaudí’s most famous architectural works, lit up in technicolor on the walls around, above and below you. 

The Essential Guide to Bordeaux

This legendary region, steeped in history and wine, is crowned by the world’s largest urban unesco world heritage site. the countryside is home to rolling vineyards, meandering rivers, and vestiges of gallo-roman culture, while the city is full of gothic architecture, notable art museums, and distinctive restaurants. if you want to experience french wine and culture in equal measure, you can’t do much better than bordeaux..

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23 Top Things to Do in Bordeaux, France (+ Itinerary & Day Trips)

Visitors are drawn to Bordeaux, France for the wine since it is the second-largest wine-producing region in the world, but there are also plenty of things to do in Bordeaux that don’t involve wine. Only two hours from Paris by train, Bordeaux has the highest number of preserved historical architectural sites outside of the capital and its historic city center is a UNESCO Heritage Site. Combined with a diverse and youthful population, great food, fewer international tourists, lower prices, and a vibrant city life, there are many reasons to visit the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in Southwest France .

Bordeaux is often considered a “little Paris” because of its similar 18th-century architecture, but also because of its cosmopolitan appeal. While it has an interesting history as part of the English territory for centuries, today Bordeaux feels 100 percent French. I fell in love with Bordeaux after spending five days in the city and then another week exploring the region on my Bordeaux river cruise with AmaWaterways.

If you are planning a trip to Bordeaux, in this article I will walk you through how to get to Bordeaux , how long to stay , the best things to do in Bordeaux , where to stay in the city, some recommended restaurants , and day trip ideas .

Best Things to Do in Bordeaux

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. All opinions are my own.

I’ve highlighted the most important points of interest on the map below to help you plan your visit. In addition, I have grouped these attractions below into a sample itinerary for three days in Bordeaux:

Map courtesy of Google My Maps

Day 1 in Bordeaux

On your first day in Bordeaux, it is great to get a feel of the city through a self-guided walking tour of the following sights and attractions. This list is designed to take you on a somewhat large loop through most of the city center, passing by the main Bordeaux highlights. Alternatively, you could take a bike tour or guided tour by side car if you don’t want to do a lot of walking.

Walk through Grosse Cloche

The Grosse Cloche (which means Big Bell), is one of the most recognizable symbols of Bordeaux. This city gate dates back to medieval times when it welcomed a steady stream of St. James’ Way pilgrims passing through Bordeaux en route to Santiago de Compostela. Today the bell tower houses The Grosse Cloche, which was cast in 1775. The massive bell was once used to signal curfews, warn of fires, and announce important events to the citizens of Bordeaux. Today, the Grosse Cloche continues to chime on special occasions.

On the south side of the gate, you will find a clock and a dial that was originally built between 1756 and 1759 to the designs of the mathematician and astronomer Paul Larroque. On the north side of the gate, you will find a sister clock face that displays the different phases of the moon during the lunar month and two reproductions of the city’s coat of arms. Just inside the gate, be sure to stop for a traditional cannelle, a pastry created in Bordeaux, at Cassonade.

Pass by Porte d’Aquitaine

In 1154, Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henry Plantagenet, who later became King Henry II of England, bringing the Duchy of Aquitaine, including Bordeaux, under English control. Eleanor of Aquitaine played a significant role during this time as she was a powerful and influential figure in both English and French courts.

Tensions between the English crown and the French monarchy eventually led to the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453), during which Bordeaux switched allegiances multiple times, which culminated with the French reclaiming Bordeaux from English rule in 1453. Throughout the city, you will see many references to Eleanor of Aquitaine and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, as the region is now called.

The Porte d’Aquitaine, also known as the “Gate of Aquitaine,” is one of the many beautiful city gates and archways that once served as a primary entry point to the city. Constructed in the 18th century, its Neoclassical design and elegant façade are a testament to the architectural trends of the time with intricate detailing and sculptures.

Browse the Marché des Capucins

The Marché des Capuc ins is the main market for the city of Bordeaux, open all year from Tuesday through Sunday. You will find stands offering fruit, vegetables, meat, cheese, coffee, seafood, and other delicacies. If you are staying in an Airbnb, this is a great spot to stock up if you are cooking your own meals. However, there are also prepared foods as well as restaurant stalls so that you can enjoy a meal on-site.

Visit Basilique Saint Michel

Basilique Saint Michel is a Gothic-style church built between the end of the 14th and 16th centuries and part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The spire of the Basilica dominates the skyline and you don’t even realize how large the Basilica is until you see the skyline from a distance. In addition to visiting the church, visitors can typically climb the narrow steps of the bell tower (although it was under refurbishment when I visited.)

Take photos by the Bordeaux Sign

From Saint-Michel, if you walk along the Garonne River, you will soon come to the Bordeaux sign, which makes a good photo memory from your visit. This area is also used by skateboarders and given the smell of weed in the area, I would be careful who you ask to take your photo (maybe stick to a selfie?) That’s probably too judgemental but I’m always a little cautious when it comes to handing my phone to a stranger.

Walk across the Pont de Pierre Bridge

The Pont de Pierre, or “Stone Bridge”, is the oldest bridge in Bordeaux, connecting the left bank of the Garonne River to the right bank Quartier de la Bastide. It is the bridge that you see on many postcards and photos from Bordeaux. It is especially pretty when it is lit up at night.

Take photos of the Porte Cailhau

Porte Cailhau is one of my favorite spots in the city as the area around the gate is so lively and bustling with positive energy. The monument dates back to 1494 and it was built to commemorate Charles VIII’s victory at Fornovo, Italy and his likeness decorates a niche on the riverside and a notice asks visitors to pay attention to the lintel and reminds them that Charles VIII died from walking quickly into just such a lintel.

Visitors can climb the thirty-five meter tall monument and admission is free on the first Sunday of each month.

Window shop along Rue Saint Catherine

Rue Sainte-Catherine is one of the most famous streets in Bordeaux and one of the longest pedestrian shopping avenues in Europe, spanning over 1.2 kilometers in length. It can be a bit touristy, offering a diverse array of shops, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. If you are looking for more upscale designer shops and boutiques, hold off on your shopping until you hit the Golden Triangle area later.

Visit the Cathedral Saint Andre

Cathédrale Saint-André was built over several centuries, starting in the 12th century, and has a blend of architectural styles that encompasses Romanesque and Flamboyant Gothic elements. The cathedral has witnessed numerous historical events, including the first wedding of Eleanor of Aquitaine to King Louis VII of France. Visitors can walk through the Cathedral to take in its impressive features, such as intricate stained glass windows that bathe the nave in a kaleidoscope of colors, and the “Gates of Paradise,” an ornate entrance adorned with intricate biblical scenes.

The cathedral’s bell tower stands adjacent to the main structure so as not to impact the structural integrity of the Cathedral (much of this area was swampland before the Dutch arrived). For a panoramic view of Bordeaux’s cityscape, you can climb the tower’s spiraling staircase of 231 stairs.

Nearby you will also find the Hotel de Ville city hall of Bordeaux and across the street is a small park where you can also often find a book market.

Walk Past Porte Dijeaux

From the Cathedral, walk up Rue des Remparts, past galleries and boutiques to Porte Dijeaux. The streets that run parallel are also lined with cute shops. Porte Dijeaux is another elegant archway that once marked the entrance to the medieval town and dates back to the 1700s with a Neoclassical design and intricate carvings. The area surrounding the gate has a vibrant blend of contemporary shops, charming cafes, and boutiques and is filled with locals in the evenings.

Shop in the “Golden Triangle”

The “Golden Triangle” in Bordeaux refers to an area that is known for its luxury shopping, upscale boutiques, and elegant surroundings. This district forms a triangle shape, hence the name, and is bounded by three main streets: Cours de l’Intendance, Cours Georges Clémenceau, and Allées de Tourny.

See the Grand Theater

Walk down the wide Cours de l’Intendance to the National Opera of Bordeaux at the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux. This architectural masterpiece stands as the cultural heart of the city. Designed by architect Victor Louis and completed in 1780, this neoclassical building has a stunning façade, adorned with Corinthian columns and ornate sculptures.

Inside, the theater showcases an array of operas, ballets, plays, and musical performances, but even if you don’t get tickets to a performance, you can still take a guided tour. The Place de Comedie in front of the theater is a beautiful square and nearby, you can take a ride on the Carousel Palace 1900 or hop on board the Petit Tourist Train.

Visit Place des Quinconces

As you walk from the Opera House to the Place des Quinconces, you will pass by the Bordeaux Tourist office, which is a good spot to stop in to ask questions, pick up a map, or purchase a Bordeaux City Pass . Hop on and hop off busses also leave from here.

Soon you will arrive at Place des Quinconces, a sprawling square in Bordeaux, that is home to outdoor concerts, festivals, and cultural happenings. At its heart lies the Monument aux Girondins, a towering fountain adorned with sculptural representations of characters from the French Revolution. Closer to the river, you will find a towering Ferris wheel that offers panoramic views of Bordeaux.

Walk Along the Garonne River

Once you arrive at the Garonne River, turn right to loop back towards the Pont de Pierre. Be careful when crossing bike lanes because bikers have the right of way and always be sure to look for oncoming trams when crossing the tracks.

See the Miroir d’Eau in Place de la Bourse

Soon you will arrive at the Miroir d’Eau, the most famous tourist attraction in Bordeaux and portrayed in many pictures of Bordeaux. The Miroir d’Eau, or “Water Mirror,” is a large reflecting pool. Just be aware that the pool gently fills and then recedes and kids love to walk through the cool mist and play in the water, so it is hard to capture a photo of it truly reflecting the Place de la Bourse across the street unless you get there very early in the morning. Otherwise, there are always ripples in the water from people, even if the fountain is not running at the moment. It is still a fun spot for locals and tourists to gather and relax.

By this time of the day, you will have done a lot of walking and probably be eager to get off your feet and relax for a while. But don’t worry, there are many more things to do in Bordeaux over the next couple of days.

Day 2 in Bordeaux

On your second day in Bordeaux, I would suggest diving deeper into the city’s food scene and exploring more of the area north of the city center.

Take a Food Tour

My favorite way to explore a new city is through a food tour. After thoroughly enjoying our food tour with Devour Tours in Paris, I knew that I had to sign up for the Devour Tours Ultimate Food Tour in Bordeaux as well. Over the course of three hours, we tasted cannelles, chocolatines, croissants, Croque Monsieur, local cheeses, hand-crafted chocolates, and cream-filled choux pastries, and finished up with a fantastic wine tasting. My tour guide did an excellent job of mixing in local history and main sights into our food tour as we walked through the city.

Because I am such a foodie, I also took a tour of the best boulangeries and patisseries in Bordeaux , which was surprisingly filling and offered a great perspective on many different neighborhoods throughout the city.

See the Palais Gallien

If you want to see evidence of Ancient Roman influence on the area, take a walk around Palais Gallien. Built during the Roman era in the late 2nd century AD, this was once a majestic amphitheater used for gladiatorial contests and other forms of entertainment. As one of the city’s oldest surviving structures, today much of the amphitheater has been dismantled for its stones and materials, leaving only remnants. While the original structure is long gone, you can still stroll through its ruins and appreciate the historical significance of the place.

Walk through the Jardin Public

For a lovely spot of green in the middle of Bordeaux, take a stroll through the Public Garden. There are 11 hectares of grass, trees, flowers, and plants to explore, along with a children’s playground if you are visiting with kids. The park is surrounded by beautiful townhomes and is also home to the famous “Guignol Guérin” puppet show.

Explore the Chartrons Neighborhood

The Chartrons neighborhood is where what they call the “bo bo” (bohemian bourgeois) live, which to Americans is something like the “yuppies” or young urban professionals. Known as the historic wine merchant district, Chartrons exudes a unique old-world charm, with its cobblestone streets and well-preserved 18th-century architecture. One of the most famous sights here is the Église Saint-Louis-des-Chartrons, an elegant Neo-Gothic church.

Another highlight not to be missed is the Marché des Chartrons, a bustling market that offers a delightful array of fresh produce, gourmet food, antiques, and crafts. At night, sidewalk cafes surround the market and it is a hub of activity. The main thoroughfare, Rue Notre-Dame, is lined with quaint boutiques, vintage shops, and art galleries. For dining, the area around Rue de la Course boasts a diverse selection of restaurants, bistros, and cafes.

Take a Sunset River Cruise

If you aren’t jumping on a weeklong Bordeaux river cruise like I did, you should at least take a short cruise on the Garonne River and sunset is an ideal time when you can see the city illuminated as the sun goes down. You will also pass by the architectural wonder of the Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas bridge, which rises in the middle to allow large ocean liners access to Bordeaux. You can opt for an evening cruise with an aperitif or go for a full dinner cruise .

Day 3 in Bordeaux

If you are taking a river cruise from Bordeaux, these attractions will likely be part of your official excursion options. On our AmaWaterways river cruise , we had the option of a bike tour or a walking tour of Bordeaux in the morning, both of which ended with a tour and tasting of the Les Halles de Bacalan market. And in the afternoon, we could choose from either the Cité du Vin or the Bassins des Lumiéres.

Since I really wanted to see both, I visited the Bassins des Lumiéres on my own and the Cité du Vin as part of the cruise excursion. To be honest, I liked the Bassins des Lumiéres better but that was very subjective as not everyone I talked to felt the same.

Visit Bassins des Lumiéres

If you enjoy interactive art exhibits (think about Team Lab Planet in Tokyo or the Van Gogh interactive exhibits), you will love the Bassins des Lumiéres ! This remarkable cultural venue breathes new life into a former World War II submarine base. Once a strategic naval facility, it has been transformed into an immersive art and light exhibition space and it serves as a canvas for mesmerizing multimedia shows that fuse art, music, and technology. The interactive art and light exhibits at the Basins des Lumières are nothing short of spectacular.

When I visited, they were putting on a show involving the art of Salvador Dali and Gaudi. There are gigantic digital projections that cover vast surfaces with ever-changing works of art. This was all set to music, which was especially impressive given the acoustics of the venue. Dali was set to the music of Pink Floyd and it was a perfect match for his somewhat bizarre and abstract art. It’s a captivating fusion of history and modernity, where the power of digital art meets the echoes of the past.

The only downside is that it is a bit of a pain to get to using public transportation. There is a bus that stops about 10 minutes away from the venue, or you can take a tram and walk for about 15-20 minutes. I would recommend getting tickets online in advance . The Bordeaux tourism office also sells a combination ticket that includes a shuttle service from the Place des Quinconces. Also, if you get disoriented in the dark, or have issues with flashing lights, this could be a problem for you. It takes a bit to get used to the darkness and follow the pathways around the large water basins that used to be submarine bays. If you walk through to the back though, there are bleachers where you can sit and watch the show for its entire 75-minute loop.

Eat Lunch at Les Halles de Bacalan

Located in the Bacalan district along the banks of the Garonne River, the Les Halles de Bacalan is a local market and food hall that embodies the city’s gastronomic spirit. Inside, you will find an array of stalls offering fresh seafood, artisanal cheeses, organic vegetables, and a wide range of delectable treats. It’s a place where food lovers can savor the very essence of Bordeaux’s culinary scene, with options to enjoy a meal on-site or purchase ingredients to take home. I definitely recommend trying the local oysters! It is also the perfect spot to have lunch before heading across the street to the Cité du Vin.

Visit Cité du Vin

Shaped like a giant, modern wine decanter, the Cité du Vin opened in 2016 with a singular purpose—to celebrate the world of wine in all its facets. This avant-garde structure serves as a wine museum and cultural center, focusing on wines of the world, and not just those of Bordeaux. Inside, there are interactive exhibitions that take you on a global journey through the history, culture, and science of winemaking. The museum showcases a somewhat overwhelming blend of multimedia presentations, sensory experiences, and informative displays that invite you to explore wine’s many dimensions.

Beyond the museum, you can also dine at the onsite restaurants, offering a diverse selection of cuisine, or visit the rooftop tasting bar that provides panoramic views of the city and the Garonne River while enjoying a selection of wines. I would suggest that you purchase a timed entry ticket in advance and try to go on a day when there is not a large cruise ship in town (or go early to avoid crowds!) Because the exhibits don’t follow any particular storyline or timeline, I found it all a bit overwhelming with the crowds, and the interactivity, while cool, could be a little distracting.

If you would rather learn more about the wines of the Bordeaux region, you can also visit the Musée du Vin et du Négoce , which is dedicated to the city’s illustrious wine history and its historic role in the wine trade. Housed in an elegant 18th-century townhouse, this museum invites visitors to step back in time and explore Bordeaux’s vinous past. Inside, an extensive collection of wine-related artifacts, including vintage wine labels, cooperage tools, and antique bottles, offers insights into the wine trade’s evolution over the centuries.

Day Trips from Bordeaux

There are many other museums and such to see in Bordeaux, but this is about what you can fit into a three-day visit. If you have longer to stay in Bordeaux, I’d highly recommend taking a few day trips to go wine tasting and explore the region. Here are a few of the most popular day trips from Bordeaux. Of course, another great way to see more of the region without having to worry about transportation logistics or arranging guides is on a Bordeaux river cruise with AmaWaterways.

Saint-Émilion: Located just 40 kilometers east of Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion is a picturesque medieval village nestled in the heart of the Bordeaux wine region. Once in Saint-Émilion, explore its charming cobblestone streets, visit renowned wineries for tastings, and don’t miss the stunning underground catacombs and the awe-inspiring Monolithic Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Book a full-day Bordeaux to Saint Emilion tour with wine tasting and lunch!

Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat: Arcachon, about 55 kilometers southwest of Bordeaux, is a beautiful coastal town known for its sandy beaches and fresh oysters. Here you can visit the nearby Dune du Pilat, Europe’s tallest sand dune, offering panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, and explore the picturesque towns surrounding the Arcachon Bay. Another option is to take a boat trip to Cap Ferret, a charming fishing village, or visit the oyster farms on Île aux Oiseaux. Book a half-day tour to Arcachon with an oyster tasting!

Medoc: Explore the wine-growing region of Medoc and get to know the “left bank” red wines, which are more Cabernet Sauvignon-forward. Follow Medoc’s famous Chateau Road, home to over 1,500 vineyards, and taste some of the best red wines in the area. Book a full-day wine tour of Medoc!

Périgord (Dordogne Valley): Approximately 150 kilometers east of Bordeaux, the Dordogne Valley boasts picturesque villages, prehistoric cave art, and lush landscapes. Explore the medieval town of Sarlat-la-Canéda, visit the Lascaux Caves for ancient cave paintings, and savor the local cuisine in one of the region’s charming restaurants.

Getting to Bordeaux

Getting to Bordeaux is fairly easy, thanks to France’s train system. However, now that France is moving to eliminate flights shorter than two hours, trains are even more crowded and you should book your ticket in advance. Trains from Paris leave from the Gare Montparnasse train station and it is about two hours to Bordeaux Saint Jean on the TGV INOUI service.

I’d recommend downloading the SNCF app to purchase tickets and easily save your ticket to your mobile wallet. The app also sends alerts if your train is delayed, what platform it is departing from, and when it is ready to board. Plus, since the announcements on the train are in French, it is helpful to track the progress of your route so that you know when your stop is approaching. Just keep in mind that if you book a seat on the top floor of the train, you need to carry your luggage up a narrow staircase.

Luckily, both Gare Montparnasse and Bordeaux Saint Jean have lifts to the platform, but in Bordeaux, you may still need to carry your bag up or down some stairs depending on where you come in. Once you arrive at the Bordeaux Saint Jean train station, you can take a bus, tram, or taxi into the city center. Google Maps is quite helpful in determining the best options.

You can also fly into Bordeaux from outside of the country. Most flights will connect through Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport. I’d recommend leaving at least 1.5 hours as a layover to have time to clear immigration and passport control (longer during busy travel times.) Flights arrive at the Bordeaux-Merignac airport (BOD), which is about 25 minutes outside of the city center.

One thing to keep in mind is that traffic around Bordeaux has gotten quite bad in recent years as many people have moved to Bordeaux from Paris for cheaper housing. You can take a shuttle or taxi from the airport to the city center. I usually use Welcome Pickups to arrange a transfer in advance so I don’t need to worry about waiting for a taxi.

How Long to Stay in Bordeaux

While not everyone can stay a week or longer in the Bordeaux region, I recommend a minimum of two full days to explore the city. If you are taking a river cruise, plan to arrive two days before embarkation as a pre-trip extension. If you can spend five days to a week in Bordeaux, you will have time to take day trips around the region and experience more of the region’s fabulous wine.

Where to Stay in Bordeaux

When choosing where to stay in Bordeaux, I recommend staying within the city center in either the Old Town or Saint-Pierre neighborhood or the Chartrons neighborhood. Saint-Pierre and Saint Paul district is the city’s heart and where you will find some of the most beautiful landmarks, shopping areas, and restaurants. It can get a little touristy, especially along the pedestrian Rue Saint Catherine, but you will also see plenty of locals gathering in squares and outdoor cafes.

The Chartrons district is what locals refer to as “bo bo” or bohemian bourgeois, with an affluent, young demographic. This leafy neighborhood offers tons of restaurants frequented by locals, antique shops, boutiques, and bars. Plus it provides easy access to the port or the historic city center. The Saint Michel quarter is another option if you are looking for something less touristy but still close to the city center. It is a popular neighborhood for recent immigrants from North Africa so you will find some interesting markets, bakeries, and a more diverse community.

I stayed in a fabulous two-bedroom Airbnb , just off Rue Saint Catherine in the city center, and thought it was perfect. However, if you are looking for a hotel, I would recommend the Intercontinental Bordeaux , for a luxury stay in the heart of the city right across from the Opera House. Also, right around the corner is the Best Western Premier Hotel Bayonne Etche Ona , which was recommended by one of my tour guides. I wouldn’t recommend staying near the train station, as it isn’t in a great neighborhood for exploring.

Find other accommodations in Bordeaux:

Getting Around Bordeaux

As I mentioned before, I was warned by many locals that traffic in and around Bordeaux can be a bit horrendous so it is best if you can avoid Uber or taxis if you can. I found the Bordeaux tram system incredibly easy to use. One ride is only 1.80€ (including any transfers), or you could buy a day pass for only 5€ if you plan on moving around a lot. You purchase the tickets at a kiosk at the tram stops and there is an easy-to-follow English screen option. Once you board the tram, you need to validate your ticket by tapping it against one of the sensors near the doors. The stops are well-marked and it is easy to use, even if you don’t speak French.

Where to Eat in Bordeaux

Since I visited Bordeaux in the middle of my month in France (in between my barge cruise through Burgundy and river cruise with AmaWaterways ), I made a point of seeking out more than just French food and since Bordeaux is such a cosmopolitan city, it wasn’t hard to find a variety of cuisines. Here are a few restaurants that I would recommend in Bordeaux, as well as suggestions I collected from locals:

• Avant Comptoir du Palais — we had previously eaten at Avant Comptoir in Paris so we knew we were in for delicious food. Avant Comptoir is known for light bites and great wine. With a location in the square in front of Porte Cailhau, it is also a great spot for people-watching and hanging out with locals
• Echo – also near Porte Cailhau, this was recommended by my Best Boulangerie tour guide for more modern French cuisine.
• El Nacional – in Chartrons this Argentinian steak house is where to go if you are in the mood for an excellent, wood-grilled cut of meat. Plus it has a great location just off the central square in the Chartrons neighborhood. We had such a good meal here on our last night in Bordeaux.
• Frida – located near Gros Cloche in the city center, Frida has a charming courtyard and a great selection of cocktails and tapas. Alternatively, you can order the prix fixe menu.
• Chez Dupont – one of our tour guides on our river cruise lives in the Chartrons neighborhood and he suggested Chez Dupont for a more traditional French meal.
• Le Bocal de Tatie Josée – makes an excellent croque monsieur with truffle and is perfect for lunch!
• Fromagerie Chez Delphine – is an amazing cheese shop that also offers a full menu for a good lunch spot or cheese tasting.
• Boulangerie Louis Lamour – this bakery has the best chocolatine (what they call pain au chocolat in the south) I had during my entire month in France.
• Cassonade and Le Boulanger de L’Hotel de Ville – make the best homemade cannelles that I had while in Bordeaux. Avoid those places with red awnings that are much more commercial and not as freshly made.
• A few other places that I made note of that didn’t get to try include: Le Berthus , Gustave Creative Street Food , Umami Ramen Bordeaux, and The Breakfast Club (this was right next to my Airbnb).
• Some others I tried included Les Moules du Cabanon for Belgian-style mussels with great people watching near the river, Delizia da Bartola for Italian, and Bao Burger for a fun twist on a hamburger.

Traveling to France?

• Paris trip planning checklist
• 50 Paris travel tips
• 5 Day Paris itinerary

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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Publisher of We3Travel. A former marketing executive and travel advisor, Tamara is an award-winning travel writer and recognized expert in family travel. Tamara is a member of SATW and the Adventure Travel Trade Association, and serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Vacation Mavens travel podcast.

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Publish Date: September 2, 2023

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5 Days in Bordeaux Itinerary, 2024: What to See & Do

Last updated on April 13th, 2024 at 09:15 am

Table of Contents

Have you been looking for the best 5 days in Bordeaux itinerary? I’ve got you covered!

If you’re spending 5 days in Bordeaux you’ll find it’s the perfect alternative to Paris. Known for its wine, it’s also home to excellent museums, fabulous restaurants,  daily markets  and street art. 

Knowing what to do in the time you have can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be.

How do I know?  I’ve lived in South West France, not far from Bordeaux, since 2016, so I know where to go, what to see and the best times to visit.

The key to getting the most out of any city you visit is to have a strategy. 

And have a plan that lays out everything you want to do without leaving you feeling like you need a holiday to recover.

My Top 3 Picks: Things to do in 5 Days in Bordeaux

PRIVATE Bordeaux Full-Day Wine Tour

✅ Hotel pickup & round-trip transport

✅ Your choice of Bordeaux’s wine regions

✅ 3 château visits and expert-led wine tastings

EVENING 3-Hour Night Tour with Food & Wine Tasting

✅ Discover Bordeaux city at night

✅ Enjoy a tasting of delicious charcuterie and cheese

HISTORY Private Guided Walking Tour with Local Guide

✅ Private tour around the city of Bordeaux

✅ Discover notable landmarks & lesser-known gems

Your 5 Days in Bordeaux Itinerary

One of the first things I do, when I visit a new city or town, is to find the local tourist office. They always have so much information and are really helpful. 

The  Bordeaux Tourist Office  is excellent and will have everything you need, including maps, tour information and plenty of help with restaurants etc.

As the tourist office is located in Place des Quinconces, I suggest this is where you start exploring. It’s one of the largest city squares in Europe and the transport hub of Bordeaux. 

From there, you can walk to Place de la Bourse, home to the famous Miroir d’Eau (mirror of water), one of the most photographed sights in France, along with the Eiffel Tower .

The square played a role in history and originally had a statue of Louis XV in the centre until it was destroyed in the French Revolution.

TOP TIP: Don’t forget to buy a Bordeaux City Pass for free public transport throughout the city >>>

Day 1 – Discover Bordeaux City Centre with a River Cruise & Night Tour

Take a river cruise on the garonne.

One of the best ways to view the city is on the river. And situated right near the Miroir d’Eau is Yacht de Bordeaux. 

Spend 90 minutes aboard Le Luna listening to your English-speaking guide tell you about the history of Bordeaux as you drift down the river taking in the scenery.

Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and canelé (regional cake). I did this tour and loved it, such a great way to spend 90 minutes.

FIVE STAR REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Great trip. Lovely commentary and guide. Recommend. Whole booking process easy. Nice glass of wine and canel.” – David

▶︎ BOOK The Bordeaux River Cruise Le Luna

Enjoy Bordeaux at Night

After enjoying a nice relaxing time on the river cruise, you’ll be ready for something different in the evening.

Bordeaux by night is magical, and the city comes alive with music, entertainment and fun.

I have two options for you to choose from. The first is a food and wine-tasting night tour, and the second is a private tour of Bordeaux in a sidecar, and I’m not joking.

No 1 – A 3-Hour Night Tour with Food & Wine Tasting in Bordeaux

If you’re a  foodie you’ll love this tour as it’s great food  and wine mixed in with some history and sightseeing. 

Let your guide take you back in time to when Bordeaux was a fortified city. Marvel at Porte Cailhau, still standing after 300 years, and see the Grosse Cloche de Bordeaux with its famous clocks.

FIVE STAR REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Said was a fabulous guide. Told us all the interesting bits about the city. Shared some dinner recommendations.” – Theresa

▶︎ BOOK The Bordeaux 3-Hour Night Tour

No 2 – Private tour of Bordeaux at night in a sidecar

Spend 90 minutes discovering Bordeaux the fun way. Take a spin in a sidecar through the magical streets of the city and take in the sights.

They’ll pick you up and drop you off at your chosen location within Bordeaux and include a glass of wine as well. It really is the perfect way to see the landmarks of the city standing against the night sky.

FIVE STAR REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Our driver Alex was on time, well-presented and very friendly. His enthusiasm for Bordeaux was infectious, and it was like having a friend show you their town.” – Katherine

▶︎ BOOK Bordeaux Night Tour by Side Car

Day 2 – Take in the Culture of the City of Bordeaux

Bordeaux is home to some great museums, in particular, City du Vin and Les Bassins de Lumières. So allowing a day in your schedule to enjoy a couple of them is a must.

And remember, by getting a  Bordeaux City Pass , you’ll get access to 15 museums. However, the included access to City du Vin is only till noon.

Bordeaux La Cité du Vin Wine Culture Museum

This building is easily recognisable and architecturally designed to represent wine pouring into a glass.

Spread out over 8 floors the top floor gives you a 360-degree panoramic view of Bordeaux. Even if you’re not into wine, you’ll want to visit as it’s so much more than just another museum.

It’s an immersive experience with different themed areas and a digital audio guide available in 8 languages. You could easily spend all day here as there is just so much to watch, listen to and read.

You’ll discover the varied wine culture the city is famed for and understand more about how it has developed over the years.

FIVE STAR REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “My husband and I enjoyed the many interactive activities. It was interesting and entertaining. We purchased wine in the store downstairs afterwards and ate lunch in their restaurant. We spent an entire day there! We would most definitely recommend.” – Cristina

▶︎ BOOK La Cité du Vin and skip the queue

Les Bassins de Lumières

Possibly one of the coolest museums in Bordeaux, it’s located in a former submarine base and is the largest digital art centre in the world. It’s an immersive experience dedicated to the history of art and great artists.

It combines the architecture of the submarine base with digital art, and the images are reflected in 4 huge pools of water 12m high, 110m long and 22m wide. It is simply stunning and has to be seen to be believed, as words don’t do it justice.

You can read more about  Les Bassins de Lumières here .

FIVE STAR REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “S imply breathtaking. I couldn’t pull myself away and just stood watching and listening to the beautiful music which accompanied the art. This is a MUST see when visiting Bordeaux. I loved it. ” – Julie

▶︎ Get FREE Entry to Les Bassins de Lumières with a City Pass

Day 3 – Tour the Wine Region of Bordeaux

You can’t visit Bordeaux and not see some of the  great Wine Chateaux  of the region. Time to  hone your wine tasting skills  and find out more about the different wine regions of Bordeaux.

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a wine tour, so I’ll stick with two I’ve been on and enjoyed. 

My advice, if you have time, is to dedicate a whole day to this so you really get to relax and enjoy the experience.

And I have a couple of great options for you.

1. Bordeaux Private Full-Day Wine Tour

If you’re in a group or enjoy a private tour like I do this full-day tour is perfect. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven in air-conditioned comfort around the wine region.

You have the option of pre-selecting the wine regions you’d like to visit so you can fully customise your tour.

Visit three different chateaux within the Medoc, Saint Emilion, Graves, or Sauternes and enjoy private wine tastings with your English-speaking guide.

FIVE STAR REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Jerome was our guide. Exceeded expectations. While we were driving to the wineries, he gave us a great history about the city and wineries. We stopped by some elite top 1 wineries and he shared the history of those too. He was on time, polite, funny and definitely made it a great experience. Highly recommended experience. This is all you need to check Bordeaux off your bucket list. “ – Shirley

▶︎ BOOK the full-day Private Wine Tour from Bordeaux

2. Full-Day tour to Saint-Emilion and Medoc, from Bordeaux

Nobody needs to be the designated driver with this small group guided tour. Spend the morning exploring Saint-Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by a grand cru tasting at Château la Croizille.

After a picnic lunch and obligatory glass of wine, the next stop will be tastings at Château Siran and the grand cru classé Château Marquis de Terme.

This tour includes two classic Bordeaux appellations: Margaux and Saint-Emilion.

FIVE STAR REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Great experience, would definitely recommend. A lot of knowledge on wine and history, all rounded trip. ???” – Kristy

▶︎ BOOK your full-day Saint-Emilion and Medoc Wine Tour

Day 4 – Shopping, Markets and Bordeaux Street Art

After a busy day tasting wine and visiting the chateaux around Bordeaux, it’s time to enjoy a little bit of retail therapy.

Bordeaux has some fantastic markets  to enjoy from Marche des Quais along the River Garonne in the fashionable Chartrons district to the daily market of Marché des Capucins. 

And my favourite, Marché des Bouquinistes, the book market held on a Wednesday with just twenty or so stalls. You might even discover a rare vintage book to add to your collections.

Then, of course, there is Rue Sainte Catherine, Europe’s longest shopping street, which was pedestrianised back in 1977. It stretches for just over a kilometre between Place de la Comédie and Place de la Victoire.

It doesn’t matter if you’re just browsing or buying you’ll still enjoy a meander along this street. It’s shopaholic heaven!

As I mentioned earlier, Bordeaux is a foodie city, and it can be hard to know where to find the best places to eat or the best markets to visit.

So I highly recommend taking one of the food & history tours as you’ll discover everything you could possibly want to know about food in Bordeaux.

I have two great food tours I can recommend having done both of them myself.

1. Bordeaux Food Tour in the Wine District

If you want to learn about Bordeaux’s culinary history you’ll love this tour. Starting in the afternoon, you’ll be part of a small group visiting different gourmet artisan establishments tasting everything from pastries to charcuterie, and of course, a glass of wine to go with it. 

Soak up the ambience of Bordeaux on foot and hear all about how the city became a world-renowned food and wine capital.

FIVE STAR REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “We thoroughly enjoyed the food and wine tour, good food and some local knowledge of the History of Bordeaux also provided which was an added extra. Food included pastries, cheese, coffee, bread and a small glass of wine to end with.” – Howard

▶︎ BOOK the Bordeaux Food Tour in the Wine District

2. Private Guided Walking Tour with Local Sophia

If you want to learn about Bordeaux’s culinary history you’ll love this tour.

Starting in the afternoon, you’ll be part of a small group visiting different gourmet artisan establishments tasting everything from pastries to charcuterie, and of course, a glass of wine to go with it. 

FIVE STAR REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “One of the top guides ever, stories about  Eleanor of Aquitaine , the pastry shop, squares, alleys and enthusiasm for Bordeaux and France. It was a great introduction to Bordeaux’s architecture, history, food and the life of the city today. DO NOT MISS HER.” – Mark

▶︎ BOOK your Private Guided Walking Tour with a local

Day 5 – Sand Dunes and Oysters at the Bay of Arcachon

No trip to Bordeaux would be complete without a day trip to visit the Bay of Arcachon, just over an hour’s drive from the city.

With stunning beaches, superb seafood and beautiful architecture, Arachon is divided into four regions and known for its oyster harvesting.

It’s home to the famous Dune du Pilat sand dune, Europe’s tallest at 110 metres. It’s really quite something to see, and once you get to the top, it offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Arcachon Half Day Trip with Pyla Sand Dune Climb & Oyster Tasting

Enjoy an escape to the seaside to try some fresh oysters and shrimp on this guided tour. You’ll leave Bordeaux in the comfort of an air-conditioned van and hike to the top of Pyla Dune.

Walk along the beach and take in the breathtaking views and sample some of the best oysters in Arcachon Bay.

FIVE STAR REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Thrilling walk up and across dunes with magnificent views. Host was both informative and charming. Topped off with wonderful oysters and prawns.” – James

▶︎ BOOK your Arcachon Half Day Trip with Sand Dunes & Oyster Tasting

Best time to visit Bordeaux

Let me just say that any time is a good time to visit Bordeaux, as there is so much to see and do, no matter what the weather is like.

Having said that, planning a trip between May – November is the  best time to visit Bordeaux  if you’re a wine lover.

The grapes are usually harvested from August to October, so for me, that is the perfect time to go. 

And there are some great wine tours you can take to find out more about  Bordeaux as a wine region .

And although I’m not a fan of winter, the  Christmas Markets are beautiful , not to mention lots of fun, especially if you visit some of the nearby villages as well. 

A glass of vin chaud (hot wine) is obligatory. 

Even if it does rain, you’re covered as  Bordeaux has some fantastic museums .

What is Bordeaux famous for other than wine?

Where do I start? I should probably start with this – Bordeaux is the biggest UNESCO World Heritage site anywhere in the world.

Impressive, isn’t it? It’s an incredibly historic city dating back to 500 BC.

Food is another big part of this city’s culture and something it’s famed for.

It’s a foodie’s idea of heaven, from the  amazing chocolate shops   to the famous Arcachon Bay oysters.

Oh, and did I mention, they also have the  world’s largest reflecting pool , Miroir d’Eau?

I won’t go on because you’re about to discover the best things this city has to offer and see why it’s so popular even the Parisians are leaving Paris to come here.

And if you don’t believe me, it was even voted as  Europe’s Best Destination  in 2017.

A little bit of Bordeaux history

Now don’t worry I’m not going to overload you with history, but it’s important to understand a bit of the back story.

So  Bordeaux was originally a port city  and a bustling hub for trade and commerce. Its strategic location on the Garonne River allowed merchants to transport goods from the Atlantic Ocean to the heart of the city. 

And in the Middle Ages, it earned the nickname of Port of the Moon (Port de Lune) because of the crescent shape it makes as it comes across the city.

You’ll also see this in the city’s coat of arms.

The port is still a hive of activity, especially with tourists, and is often referred to now as the harbour.

But Bordeaux is also a city of culture. It was  Eleanor of Aquitaine , one of the most influential figures of the Middle Ages, who left an indelible mark on the city. 

Eleanor, known for her intellect and refined tastes, played a pivotal role in fostering a flourishing courtly culture in the city. She brought troubadours, poets, and artists to her court, greatly influencing troubadour poetry and courtly love in the region.

Eleanor’s marriage to Louis VII saw Bordeaux fall under French rule. But when her marriage to him was annulled in 1152, she then married Henry Plantagenet, who became King Henry II shortly after their marriage. 

This alliance saw Bordeaux fall under English rule playing an important role in strengthening Bordeaux’s wine trade and international reputation. 

The English, particularly the nobility, developed a strong taste for Bordeaux wines. As a result, the wine industry in the region flourished, and Bordeaux wines gained prominence in European markets. 

The English presence in Bordeaux helped promote the city as a major centre for wine production and trade, a legacy that continues to this day. 

Free things to do in Bordeaux

One of the best things to do when you come to Bordeaux is to ditch the car and use public transport instead. 

And I highly recommend getting the  Bordeaux City Pass . It gives you unlimited FREE access to all buses and trams throughout the city. You’ll even get to use the river shuttle as part of it as well.

But you’ll also get free entry to 15 of Bordeaux’s museums and monuments and access to one guided tour.

You can get a pass for 24, 48 or 72 hours. We got a 3-day pass on a recent trip, and it was invaluable.

It’s also worth mentioning that the museums in Bordeaux are free to visit on the first Sunday of every month, apart from July and August.

Things to do in Bordeaux at night

Bordeaux is a safe city , even at night. Walk through the streets, stroll down to the harbour and don’t forget to go to the Place de la Bourse to see the reflection of the  Palais de la Bourse  in the Miroir d’Eau.

Bordeaux comes alive at night with its many bars and restaurants. From the  Frog & Rosbif , housed in a 16th-century former women’s prison, to the  Wave Surf Café , where you can surf on an artificial wave.

If you love dancing like I do, make sure you go dancing on the Bordeaux quays. During the summer the whole place turns into a giant dancefloor and becomes a free open-air nightclub. You’ll find everything from salsa to country on offer.

Finally, there are some great night tours you can enjoy including whipping around  Bordeaux in a sidecar  and taking part in a  food and wine tasting tour .

Things to do in Bordeaux with the family

Bordeaux is a very family-friendly city with plenty to keep the kids occupied.  The Zoo de Bordeaux Pessac  is worth visiting, and they have an amazing  night experience  staying at one of their two lodges right next to the tiger enclosure. 

Les Bassins de Lumières is another one to put on the list, as it’s guaranteed to keep the kids entertained. It’s located within an old submarine base and is the biggest digital art centre in the world. It brings artwork to life in a world of light.

Remember, you can get in for free with your Bordeaux City Pass.

If you want to add a museum to the list, then  Cap Sciences  is one I’d recommend as very kid-friendly. It’s located in an old hangar in the Baclan district and brings science to life with its digital displays. It’s a great immersive experience with a focus on accessibility for the younger generation.

There are also plenty of  lovely parks in Bordeaux , perfect for indulging in the  French pastime of picnicking .

Wine tours from Bordeaux

Let’s be honest, the first thing you think of when someone says they’re visiting Bordeaux is wine.

And for good reason….Bordeaux wine is fantastic.

There are many great wine tours to choose from, and it all depends on time, preferences and budget.

Personally, if you have the time, which if you’re in Bordeaux for seven days you will have, I’d suggest doing a  full-day tour  to get as much out of the experience as possible.

The other thing to consider is whether you want to do a private tour or a group tour. 

Private tours are great if you prefer a more intimate experience. I’ve done a couple of private tours now and always love them as you can personalise them. Who doesn’t love the luxury of your own  private chauffeur-driven tour ?

If your budget stretches to it then there is even a  private wine tour in a Tesla  where you’ll visit three wine regions, Saint-Émilion, Médoc and Sauternes.

Day trips from Bordeaux

Bordeaux has a great train network, so taking a day out, away from Bordeaux during your stay isn’t difficult.

One of the most popular places to visit is Arachon. It’s a seaside town with beautiful beaches and is home to the famous Arachon Bay Oysters. It’s only an hour away and can be combined with a visit to Dune du Pilat, the tallest sand dune in Europe.

To enjoy Arachon in style, take a look at this  fun day trip combining Arachon, oysters and Dune du Pilat .

The  city of Angouleme  is only 35 minutes by train and is the  comic capital of Europe . Like so many cities in this part of France, it’s full of history and was once the home of Isabella of Angouleme, Queen of England through marriage to King John. 

You can book your train tickets here >>>

Although it’s just over two hours by train, another  beautiful seaside town is La Rochelle . Its prime position on the Atlantic coast with its historic harbour, cobbled streets and  beautiful beaches  make it worth a day trip.

Where to stay in Bordeaux

Bordeaux is a popular destination so don’t leave it to the last minute to book your accommodation otherwise you’ll be disappointed. There is so much choice, from apartments and B&Bs to luxury hotels with spas and rooftop terraces.

TOP PICK – Location, Location, Location

Hôtel cardinal – bordeaux city centre.

This gorgeous boutique hotel is a hidden gem tucked away out of sight in the centre of the city within an old 18th-century mansion.

​​Enjoy pastry delights for breakfast and afternoon tea courtesy of patisserie chocolate shop Pierre MATHIEU and indulge in the well-stocked private wine cellar that forms part of the hotel.

A little bit of luxury during your stay in Bordeaux .

“We loved our suite, the location was amazing- so central, but above all we LOVED the service and the staff. Can’t speak highly enough of the team. We would only stay here when next in Bordeaux. Thank you so much to everyone.” -Jill ( read more reviews )

Check Rates & Book: Hôtel Cardinal >>>

Fabulous Mid-Range Hotel

Hôtel madame – central location.

This pet-friendly hotel is well-priced and situated in the golden triangle of Bordeaux making it ideal for exploring the city. You’re just 400 meters from Saint-André Cathedral.

Enjoy a continental breakfast each morning and take advantage of hiring a bike directly from the hotel – definitely one of the best ways to see the city.

“Welcoming super friendly family-run hotel. The hotel is small and has an excellent vibe. It is in a perfect location to explore the best and oldest part of the city, with the Cathedral being extremely close.“ -Colin ( read more reviews )

Check Rates & Book: Hôtel Madame >>>

A Self-Catering Gem

Family house city centre.

If you prefer to have more space and are looking for a home from home where you can enjoy some time out rather than a hotel stay, this family home is perfect.  

With a fully equipped kitchen, WiFi and patio it’s unusual to find a property like this. With four double bedrooms, it’s perfect for a family and is within walking distance of all the major attractions.

“Perfect! A really spacious house for a beautiful stay in the center of Bordeaux. This is a beautiful house in a quiet street and area, a walking distance to the city center and right next to public transport. The house is spacious and offers all equipment that a family would need.” -Frank ( read more reviews )

Check Rates & Book: The Family House >>>

How to get to Bordeaux

Bordeaux has an international airport with regular flights. Although the airport isn’t too far outside the city, it’s best to  pre-book your airport pick-up .

A  shuttle bus  also runs from the airport, dropping you at Gare de Bordeaux St. Jean, which runs every 30 minutes. A one-way ticket will cost €8.

You can get from Paris to Bordeaux in under 3 hours with trains running at regular intervals. Gare de Bordeaux St. Jean is a busy station with plenty of trains from a lot of the major cities in South West France. 

I always catch the train to Bordeaux from Angouleme when we visit.

You can book your train tickets here from  Trainline >>>

BORDEAUX TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE

Where should I buy flights to Bordeaux?

When I’m  booking flights I use WayAway  as they  ALWAYS  have the best flight deals and you get cashback on your flights. You can download the App to get deals straight to your phone.

Website  |  IOS App  |  Android App

Do I need travel Insurance when I come to Bordeaux?

YES.  It’s not advisable now to travel without insurance, just in case something happens. I recommend  Safety Wing   for the US & Canada   and  Globelink  for UK and Europe .

Do I need to hire a car for my trip to Bordeaux?

Renting a car is definitely a great option if you’re planning on doing daytrips, plus it gives you flexibility.  I use Discover Cars  as it always pulls up the best rates for me nationally and locally.

And what about public transport in Bordeaux?

Bordeaux has a great public transport system with an excellent tram service. I highly recommend that you  buy a city pass  giving you unlimited access to all public transport PLUS entry to 15 museums in the city.

Get your CityPass here >>>

Do I need to pre-book a shuttle to pick me up from the airport?

If you’re not renting a car then I’d say yes, as it cuts the journey into Bordeaux centre in half and just makes life easier.

Book your private airport shuttle here >>>

FAQs About visiting Bordeaux

How many days are enough for bordeaux.

There is so much to see and do in Bordeaux that I’d recommend 7 days so you get to enjoy the experience. But if you only have one day in Bordeaux , you’ll still have enough time for the highlights.

What is the famous street in Bordeaux?

The famous shopping street in Bordeaux is rue Sainte-Catherine and it’s 1.2 km long.

Is Bordeaux a walkable city?

YES, Bordeaux is a walkable city. Most things are within walking distance and hopping on a tram when you need to is very easy.

Is Bordeaux very expensive?

As Bordeaux is a city it is more expensive than going to a smaller town or village. However, it isn’t as expensive as places like Paris or Nice.

What is the famous wine village near Bordeaux?

Saint-Émilion is a beautiful wine village and was listed as a UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1999.

Do I need a car in Bordeaux?

If you’re just in Bordeaux for a couple of days you can easily use public transport. However, if you’re planning to do a couple of days out away from the city I would recommend hiring a car from  Discover Cars .

How far are the wineries from Bordeaux?

There are plenty of wineries close to Bordeaux within 30-60 minutes. However, if you’re planning on tasting the wine, which is part of the fun, then I highly recommend doing one of the many  wine tours  available so you don’t need to drive.

Final Thoughts: The Best Things to Do in Bordeaux in 5 Days

Wondering,  if you can do Bordeaux in 5 Days?

Absolutely you can. As always with trips like this it’s a question of being organised, booking your tours in advance so you aren’t disappointed, and not trying to pack too much into one day.

Our 5-Day Itinerary covers the best that Bordeaux has to offer without leaving you exhausted.

TRAVELLING TO FRANCE?

Here are my favourite resources I use each time I travel!

🧳 I always protected my trips with  this travel insurance company when I lived in the US  AND  this one now I live in Europe ​

🚘 I found a car rental for $500 less than traditional sites with  this car rental agency ​

🚌 🍷  My favourite platform  to find Day Trips and Wine Tours in France at the best price and with great reviews 

🚂 The cheapest train tickets are  always on this App ​

🏨 I got a 20% discount on a chateau hotel with  this hotel booking tool ​

I personally use these sites myself and if you use them, they will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps reduce the ever-increasing cost of maintaining my blog and writing about France. Thank you!

Kylie Lang is the founder of Life in Rural France. She moved to France in 2016 and lives in the beautiful Charente region in the Nouvelle Aquitaine. Through the blog, she showcases the best places to visit in France, especially in the South West. From chateaux and winery tours to hotels and restaurants, she has first-hand experience of life in France.

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Vintage Bordeaux and beyond

As France’s famous wine region prepares to reveal the latest vintage of its top wines, here are some lesser known and more affordable bottles to look out for

Château Beynat Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, France 2021 (£19, Forest Wines ; Whisky Exchange ) It’s Bordeaux time, with the great unveiling of the latest (2023) vintage set to draw thousands of members of the world’s wine trade and press to France at the end of this month. Visitors will spend their days tasting samples of unfinished wines that are still maturing, looking for wines to buy upfront, or ‘en primeur’, three years before they are bottled. The focus will be on the region’s elite: the few dozen famous châteaux whose wines can command three-figure prices per bottle, and which have a track record of gaining in value. But there is so much more to this vast wine region than that, with plenty of excitement in less celebrated, outlying appellations, such as Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, home of the delightfully fragrant, crunchy 2021 red from Château Beynat.

Château des Antonins Bordeaux Blanc, Bordeaux, France 2022 (£11.90, Noble Green Wines ) The other purpose of the ‘en primeur’ tastings is to get a sense of the overall quality of the vintage. Last year, when the 2022s were on display, the verdict was unanimously positive: a bumper crop of very high-quality wines. The elite 2022 red wines are yet to be released, but there are plenty of less pretentious, youthfully vibrant red Bordeaux 2022 bottlings around, such as the refreshing plum succulence of Chosen by Majestic Claret 2022 (£10.99, or £8.99 as part of a mixed case of six, majestic.co.uk ). In general, the 2022 whites are slightly less impressive than those produced in the cooler, wetter 2021. But there are always exceptions, with Château des Antonins offering a satisfying mix of tangy grapefruit, herbiness and creamy weightiness.

Tesco Finest Sauternes, Bordeaux, France 2018 (£13.50, 37.5cl, Tesco ) Red wines will always come first in Bordeaux: they account for 85% of the region’s output. But Bordeaux’s stylistic offering is wider than it’s given credit for. As well as the excellent dry whites, it’s home to some sparkling wines that offer really good value, bottle-fermented alternatives to champagne. The apple pie and creamy mousse of Marks & Spencer’s Étoile de Timberlay Crémant de Brut NV is a lively example at a very reasonable £10. The region is also following the France-wide fashion for rosé, as in the bright-berried dry style that Château Bauduc makes for Rick Stein’s restaurants. And last, but by no means least, the vineyards of Sauternes and Barsac are responsible for some of the very best golden sweet wines, such as the crystallised citrus of Tesco’s fine Finest bottling.

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36 Hours in Bordeaux

In the heart of grape-growing country, this riverside city in France is especially appealing to those in the wine-sipping, food-loving crowd.

By Susanne Fowler

Having long shed its reputation as a backwater, Bordeaux is still often overlooked by travelers intent on the Paris-Provence circuit. Nestled in verdant wine country and on the edge of leading oyster-producing areas, this elegant city on the Garonne River melds a history as a wealthy shipping center with a more recent resurgence in arts and infrastructure to make for a captivating — and mouthwatering — destination that’s easy to navigate on a system of modern trams. And with the high-speed rail service introduced in 2017, it’s just two hours southwest of the French capital.

1) 7 p.m. Rollin’ on the river

Shake off the travel dust and learn the lay of the land during an aperitif boat ride along the Garonne as it flows through Bordeaux before emptying into the Atlantic. The 90-minute cruise on the 74-passenger, steel-hull Sardane provides expansive views of the grand 18th-century architecture around the Place de la Bourse and its bronze and marble fountain of the Three Graces; the renovated former warehouses of the Quai de Bacalan; the soaring Cité du Vin (City of Wine) museum; and the engineering marvel that is the Jacques Chaban-Delmas vertical-lift bridge, all while you taste two or three local wines and nibble on cheese and charcuterie. Adults 28 euros, or about $31.

2) 8:30 p.m. Rockin’ across the river

Catch an A tram at the Pont de Pierre and cross to the right bank where you’ll find the Rocher de Palmer , a suburban arts and concert venue with eclectic offerings like jazz, rap, classical and world music. Prices generally range from about 17 to 27 euros. Then head back to Rue Notre Dame and a (pre-booked) table at Chez Dupont , on a narrow back street in the trendy Chartrons district, for a late dinner of classic French mains like steak frites, duck confit or lemon-butter sole. Dinner for two with wine is about 100 euros.

3) 9 a.m. Power to the pedal

Dive into the city with the ease of an electric bike on a private guided tour (two hours, 50 euros). Start early to avoid the height of vehicle and foot traffic, don the provided helmet, ride past the monumental Cathedral of St. Andrew and turn north through the Place des Quinconces. Let the engine help you up the slope of the Chaban-Delmas bridge and across to the less-developed right bank. Pause at Darwin, an urban renovation project, billed as a green-economy hub in former military barracks that now house a skate park, pop-up shops, beer gardens and an urban farm. Cross back over on the Pont de Pierre to the Water Mirror installation, an inch-deep pool that reflects the scene and the sky before erasing them in a cloud of mist.

4) 11 a.m. Cake break

Replenish your energy by sampling canelé, the tiny, often rum-flavored, caramelized cakes that are a specialty of the Bordeaux region. Available in many patisseries, these chewy treats break out of the traditional mold at Auguste K. , a canelé “boutique” that reaches beyond vanilla to flavors like lemon, orange, black cherry, chocolate and even gluten-free options. Grab a couple (typical price for the smallest: about 1 euro each) and enjoy with some French roast at a cafe in the nearby Place du Parlement.

5) Noon. Window shopping

Feed the eyes, if not the wallet, with a shopping stroll along the Rue Notre Dame where the fashionistas head to Lily Blake or Zazie Rousseau for women’s ready-to-wear; Shoes Art for designer footwear and sumptuous scarves; and Coutume for an updated take on a hardware store.

6) 1 p.m. Hone your skills

Learn French slicing and dicing techniques with a quick course (17 euros) at the Atelier des Chefs . Classes are held in a kitchen workspace at the rear of a culinary supplies shop and the results are devoured in an adjacent dining area with optional glasses of wine. Instruction schedule varies, so check in advance. A lunchtime “pause” class recently taught French and American participants how to make a chestnut risotto in a saffron-infused broth. Copies of the recipes are sent by email afterward.

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7) 2 p.m. La vie en vineyards

For an up-close look at Bordeaux’s vaunted wines, splurge on a Wine Cab pickup near the opera house for an afternoon trip to the countryside in a London black taxi with a bilingual chauffeur/guide. Stop at centuries-old grand cru vineyards large or small (like the sleekly modernized Château La Gaffelière or the more rustic, but charming, Château Coutet ), visit the musty caves or chat with vintners among the vines. Tastings are plentiful and you don’t have to worry about being a designated driver. A roughly four-hour trip for two, including a stop in the medieval village of St.-Émilion, is 450 euros.

8) 7 p.m. Starry, starry menu

Invest in a white-tablecloth-and-chandelier experience at La Grande Maison ’s two Michelin star restaurant inside a neoclassical mansion. A recent seasonal meal in the stately library began with glazed wild sea bass with razor clams and a cauliflower mayonnaise, and progressed to a scallop in a fine mousse with red endive and fresh walnuts, followed with a casserole of tender Iberico pork roasted with fragrant herbs. The meal ended with five samplings of designer desserts from the chefs Pierre Gagnaire and Jean-Denis Le Bras. The artistry of the food and the attentive service come at a price: A four-course tasting menu for one person is 145 euros. Want wines to match? Add another 95 euros.

9) 10 p.m. Vending machine for wine?

Stop for a nightcap at Le Vertige in the bustling St. Pierre neighborhood. This is a modern and bright wine bar with a welcoming atmosphere and a clever order-by-card system that lets you choose small, medium or large tasting portions from a row of wines in an upscale vending machine and pay accordingly. It’s a fun way to sample a pricey grand cru or two without buying an entire bottle.

10) 10 a.m. Flea bags

The city’s neighborhood markets and “brocantes” are great for finding upcycled souvenirs. Head to Place St. Michel where vendors set up tables or spread out carpets topped with what they hope you’ll see as second-hand treasures, which recently included vintage vinyl, ceramics galore and a silver-plated Servan comb and hairbrush set in its original satin-lined leather box next to an enamel-on-metal painting of someone’s favorite German shepherd. For 5 euros, climb 230 steps inside the bell tower of St. Michael’s Basilica for a drone’s-eye view of the action.

11) 12 p.m. City of, yes, wine

With so much to take in at La Cité du Vin , this impressive museum , which opened in 2016, offers an array of self-guided, hourlong highlights tours to intrigue adults and children alike, helped by handy graphics and English translations. “The Essentials” tour, for example, includes a look at the history of winemaking and how Bordeaux — where winemaking dates to the ancient Romans — fits into that, and videos in which male and female winemakers from different countries talk about their terroir. The “Juniors” route for ages 7 to 12 includes a cartoon video of Romans shipping wine across the sea and a “buffet of the five senses” where sniff tests identify aromas and flavors found in wine. A 20-euro ticket also allows elevator access to the eighth-floor Belvedere observatory, including a taste of wine.

12) 2 p.m. To the market

Across the tram tracks from the wine museum is the Halles de Bacalan , an indoor-outdoor food court where two dozen vendors offer the region’s gourmet goods. Grab a platter of freshly shucked oysters and a glass of minerally white wine, or tastings of truffle and foie gras with a bold red. End with a cheese plate or a cup of intense chocolate mousse. (Expect to pay about 20 euros for a dozen oysters with wine.)

Bordeaux has an abundance of rentals through companies like Airbnb and Homeaway. (Airbnb recently listed a one-bedroom apartment near the opera house for about $150 a night.) One independent option is a guesthouse called Chartrons Ecolodge (23 rue Raze; doubles from 125 euros). The building features lots of stone steps, ceiling fans, pine floors and antiques. Solar panels and energy-saving lighting add to the eco-credentials. An abundant breakfast featuring organic items is served in the covered courtyard.

With a prime view of Place du Parlement, Villa Reale (9 Parliament Square; doubles from 300 euros) blends the comforts of a design-driven home with the convenience of being in the center of pedestrian-friendly action on a pretty square close to main tram lines. The 18th-century structure offers well-stocked kitchens in three air-conditioned suites. (Check the price list before popping those Champagne corks).

La Course townhouse (69 rue de La Course; doubles start at 185 euros) is on a quiet street just steps from the green Jardin Public and the C tram that goes south to the Gare St. Jean. It’s a fine base for exploring boutiques and bars. There are bicycles, a small gym and steam room, and a wine cellar where tastings can be arranged. Some rooms have double sinks, large tubs or walk-in showers: one offers a skylight and a private rooftop pool.

Follow NY Times Travel on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook . Get weekly updates from our Travel Dispatch newsletter, with tips on traveling smarter, destination coverage and photos from all over the world.

Susanne Fowler was an editor in the London and Paris offices of The New York Times. More about Susanne Fowler

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Your 2024 summer travel survival guide

Christopher elliott tells us what to expect and how to work around all of it, too.

By Christopher Elliott

6:00 PM on Apr 17, 2024 CDT

Summer travel in 2024 will be “expensive in every way,” says Katharine Nohr. And she should know.

She’s planning a two-week adventure to Europe in June, which starts with a marathon flight from Honolulu to Zurich, where she’ll speak at a conference. Then she’s hopscotching across Europe to Vienna and then on to Summer Olympics venues: She’s made plans to be in Nantes, France, to watch a soccer game, Lille for basketball and Paris for gymnastics, boxing and swimming.

All told, it’ll set her back five figures despite her best efforts, which include flying economy class and staying in the lowest-priced hotels.

“The trip is pricey, even with my efforts to economize,” says Nohr, an attorney from Honolulu. “But it’s a once-in-my-life adventure.”

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Nohr is part of a wave of travelers that are making big plans for this summer. The itineraries are exciting — and expensive.

Pretty much every barometer of travel intent is up for the summer travel season. Inflation and unemployment are low and consumer sentiment and curiosity are high, fueling an unprecedented interest in travel during the summer of 2024.

“Bookings are rising,” says Susan Sherren, who runs Couture Trips, a travel agency. “Unfortunately, hotel, tour and air prices are not falling. So, if you plan on hitting the road this summer, make sure you are willing to splash some cash.”

Travel companies say they’re overwhelmed with summer reservations.

“The travel economy is booming,” says Joe Ialacci, owner of Yacht Hampton Boating Club, a company that rents yachts in Sag Harbor, N.Y. He’s seeing a 40 percent increase in rentals this summer compared to last year as Americans shift some of their vacation dollars to domestic destinations.

Prices aren’t the only thing trending higher. People’s expectations for their summer vacation are also higher than at any time since the pandemic, says Sangeeta Sadarangani, CEO of Crossing, a multinational travel agency headquartered in London.

“They’re embracing the unknown,” she says.

And one of the great unknowns is travel prices. How much higher will they be?

It depends on where you’re going. There’s good news if you’re traveling within the U.S.: flights and hotels are a little less expensive than last summer. But they’re rising elsewhere. Here’s the breakdown:

Airfares are mixed. Domestic round-trip airfares for summer are averaging $325 per ticket, which is down 5 percent from last year, according to the travel platform Hopper. Flights to Europe are cheaper, too. They’ve fallen 12 percent from last year to $1,012. But flights to South America are up 4 percent and flights to Canada have risen 5 percent. You’ll pay an average of $759 to fly south of the border and $430 to head north.

U.S. hotel rates are down . Domestically, they’re down 7 percent to an average of $304 per night. Internationally, they’re up 2 percent to $314 per night, according to Kayak.

Car rental prices are rising. Average domestic car rental rates are up 10 percent this summer to $113 per day, according to Kayak. Last summer, rates dropped 14 percent after the car rental shortage ended. Internationally, rates are up 3 percent to an average of $88 per day.

But you can avoid the high prices with a little strategic planning, experts say.

American travelers are becoming more predictable in their summer vacation choices, says John Lovell, president of Travel Leaders Group . Immediately after the pandemic, they embarked on “revenge” vacations to far-flung locations. Now they’re returning to more conventional vacations.

“We continue to see U.S. travelers heading back to the more traditional locations across Europe this year, like London, Rome, Athens and Munich,” he says.

There are places that will be exceptionally busy — and exceptionally pricey — this summer.

Paris during the Olympics. The Olympic Games are taking place in Paris this summer. Rooms are more than double the normal rates, which is typical of the Olympics. Paris is already crowded with tourists during the summer, so you can probably imagine what it will be like with the Olympics. Zut, alors!

Taylor Swift is touring Europe this summer. Prices will be higher and the crowds will be denser. “If you aren’t planning to attend one of her concerts, I recommend planning around those European cities when she’s there,” says Betsy Ball, co-founder of Euro Travel Coach . (Want to know if your schedules overlap? Here’s Taylor Swift’s concert schedule .)

Other big summer events. Even if you steer clear of Taylor and the Olympics, you’re still not out of the woods. There’s the UEFA Euro 2024 football tournament in Germany in June. There’s the Tour de France in July, which begins in Florence, Italy, and finishes in Nice. France is also hosting the Paralympic Games in August and September, which will take place in Paris, Nice, Marseille and Bordeaux.

When is the best time to book a 2024 summer vacation?

Since this is going to be a busy one, the sooner you book, the better. Hopper recommends buying your airfare two to three months before your departure for domestic flights, and for international — well, it’s probably too late to get that rock-bottom fare. If you’re reading this in April, you can still find something for late August or early September.

As always, you can save money by booking a flight for midweek instead of on the weekend and, of course, by keeping far, far away from the big travel holidays like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day.

Also, if you’re going overseas, remember their holiday calendar is different. For example, half of Europe shuts down during August for summer vacation. It’s worth a look-up, otherwise, you could face some real disappointments.

Strategies for traveling better during the summer

One tactic that consistently works is splitting your getaway into two sections. Take that required summer vacation with your family somewhere less expensive during the high season. Then, wait until “shoulder” season for the big trip.

That’s what Ross Copas, a retired electrician from Tweed, Canada, is doing this summer. It’s a road trip across the northern U.S. by motorcycle: New York to Washington state, and then back east through Canada.

Then he’s heading to Amsterdam in September for a 23-day European river cruise. He says the late summer getaway will be costly, but he doubts fares will fall anytime soon. “So, price be damned,” he adds.

Actually, that’s pretty smart. I took the same cruise he’s planning on Viking River Cruises many years ago, and it was worth every penny.

With hotel rates rising in some places this summer, this is the right time to consider alternatives. Monica Fish, a writer from Glen Rock, N.J., is headed to Ireland to catch one of Taylor Swift’s performances. She says hotel rooms in Dublin are overpriced if they’re even available. But Fish found an affordable vacation rental.

“We just had to book it further in advance than we normally would,” she says.

I think it’s fine to follow the crowds this summer. I’ll be doing it. I’m planning to rent an apartment for a month in Switzerland with Blueground, a long-term apartment rental company. Then I’m crashing on a friend’s sofa in Spain, then heading to Sweden to see other friends and visiting my brother in Finland. Yes, travel writers know people everywhere.

But don’t follow the crowds off a cliff. There are places even I won’t go. I might take the four-hour train trip from Zurich to Paris in June to check out my favorite patisseries, but I wouldn’t go anywhere near the City of Light during the summer games in July unless I made a reservation a long time ago.

And Taylor Swift? I’m actually more of a jazz guy.

Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at [email protected] .

Christopher Elliott , Special Contributor . Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service.

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'Conan O'Brien Must Go' is side-splitting evidence of life beyond late night TV

Eric Deggans

Conan O'Brien dresses as a Viking in Norway. Conaco/Max hide caption

Conan O'Brien dresses as a Viking in Norway.

To be honest, when I first heard Conan O'Brien was ending his TV talk show in 2021, I assumed news that he might turn to variety shows and online programs to continue his career was some combination of face-saving and wishful thinking.

But after watching the four episodes of his new Max series Conan O'Brien Must Go , it's now obvious — even to a thickheaded critic like me — that leaving late night TV really was liberating for O'Brien. He's leveraged his unique sensibility into several different podcasts, a deal with Sirius XM , specials featuring other stand-up comics and now this travel series for Max — which resembles jokey specials he did for cable channel TBS back in the day.

And as the late night TV genre crumbles under sagging viewership and the decline of traditional media, O'Brien's renaissance also provides an example for the future — where fertile comedy minds and talented performers can spread their work over a much larger canvas.

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Is conan o'brien the best 'hot ones' guest ever discuss., learning a lesson from 'hot ones'.

O'Brien already made a splash recently with his brilliantly maniacal appearance on the interview-while-eating-hot-wings show Hot Ones , slobbering over hot sauces while claiming, as he was checked over by a fake doctor, that "I'm fine! I'm perfectly f*****g fine!"

This is the place where O'Brien shines — he's called it "this strange phantom intersection between smart and stupid" — and it's on full, freakish, super silly display in every episode of Conan O'Brien Must Go .

The conceit of the show is pretty simple. O'Brien heads overseas to visit average folks in Norway, Argentina, Thailand and Ireland who had once Zoomed in to speak with him on the podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Fan . Sometimes the visits seem like a surprise — he catches one aspiring Norwegian rapper in shorts and Crocs after popping up on his doorstep — and others seem a bit more planned, including his visit to a radio show with about four listeners in Buenos Aires.

Each episode begins with a solemn monologue which sounds like it is delivered by the film world's most eccentric voice, German filmmaker and actor Werner Herzog (he's not credited in the show and when asked, a publicist at Max shared a quote from O'Brien: "I can neither confirm nor deny the voice in question.")

The torturous accent by "Herzog" makes every line sound absurdly hilarious, describing O'Brien as "the defiler ... with dull, tiny eyes ... the eyes of a crudely painted doll ... he scavenges in distant lands, uninvited, fueled by a bottomless hunger for recognition and the occasional selfie."

Now that's smart. And oh so stupid.

A funhouse mirror version of a travel show

O'Brien performs onstage with a fan in Norway Conaco/Max hide caption

O'Brien performs onstage with a fan in Norway

Fans of O'Brien's Conan Without Borders specials on TBS already know what his style is when he tackles a travel show — throwing himself into outrageous reactions and situations while working his quirky brand of improvised conversations with hapless bystanders.

In the Max series Conan O'Brien Must Go , that includes O'Brien offering screechy vocals onstage during a performance of a Norwegian emo/rap band. Or asking provocative questions of a couple therapist/sex expert. Or getting beat up in a "fight" with a 10-year-old boy in a bar.

It's all an excuse for O'Brien to unleash his energetic wit, taste for silly absurdity and skill at drawing laughs from sympathetic — if often befuddled — strangers. Whether you enjoy this special will depend on how you feel about O'Brien's style, which can feel a bit like the world's best class clown doing everything possible to make you crack a smile.

(Rent a family in Norway so they can say goodbye when he gets on a SeaCraft? Check. Get local artists to paint a mural of O'Brien, a soccer star and The Pope on the side of a building in Argentina? Double check.)

'Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend' Is A Joke Name For A Podcast — Sort Of

But what amazes in a larger sense is how O'Brien has turned his sensibility into a comedy brand to fuel work on many different platforms. And, at age 60, with more than 30 years as a comedy star, he's been released from the shackles of any genre to shine wherever he chooses — whether it's an episode of Hot Ones or a streaming service which sometimes looks like a collision between True Detective and 90 Day Fiancé .

Leaving late night TV as late night left him

I'm old enough that I started covering TV not long after O'Brien made his first move from the shadows of life as a comedy writer – he worked on Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons — to succeed David Letterman in 1993 as host of NBC's show Late Night (now hosted by Seth Meyers). Back then, NBC gave O'Brien years to figure out the show, honing his smartly serious comedy in a way that would inspire then-teenage fans like Seth Rogen and Bill Hader .

O'Brien left NBC after a disastrous deal where the network tried to make him host of its venerated late night program The Tonight Show and also keep its former host Jay Leno at the network. He moved to a late night show on TBS in 2010, but even then, there was a sense that his creativity was a bit hemmed in by the format.

After 28 Quirky Years, Conan O'Brien Is Leaving Late Night

By the time he left his TBS show Conan for good, it seemed O'Brien was already caught in a trend which would hobble other late night shows — as young viewers consumed his content online and ratings on cable dropped.

Now, with a podcast and digital media company worth many millions and growing status as a TV comedy legend still willing to do almost anything for a laugh, O'Brien is proving there is a successful life beyond late night.

Particularly, if you have the talent to play the fool while leaving little doubt you're also the smartest person in the room.

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How to make your own bespoke wine with the best vintners in the world.

With an initiation fee starting at $20k, private wine and travel club The Vines takes members around the globe to sip rare vintages, learn the art of blending and even create a personal barrel complete with 25 cases and bespoke labels.

By Elycia Rubin

Elycia Rubin

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Pulling a prized bottle of, say, a 2018 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon out of the cellar to relish with friends can be thrilling. But think about the bragging rights of pouring your own blend, which you personally crafted at a famed winery in the heart of Tuscany or in the hills of Argentina.

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Over three or four days you’ll stroll vineyards, gain inside knowledge about the craft, inhale the enchanting aromas inside renowned barrel rooms and sip treasured wines. Members also have the option of creating their own personal barrel (25 cases, priced from $6,000-$40,000), which will be bottled, adorned with a bespoke label and shipped to your home after maturation. Intimate and masterfully executed, these “Blending Escapes” are the pinnacle of wine-tasting bliss for any oenophile.

“Through The Vines, we share winemaking experiences with others who are passionate about wine and the cultural and travel experiences that accompany it,” founder and CEO Michael Evans tells THR . “Drinking wines from a region, with the people who make them, and enjoying the unique foods of each locale is an unparalleled experience.”

Studded with culturally rich activities designed to deeply connect members with each region thanks to the meaningful relationships Evans and his team have cultivated, excursions are carefully curated. In addition to the deep dive with winemakers, expect dinners at off-the-beaten path cafés and trattorias, bountiful lunches set on sprawling vineyards, cooking classes with revered chefs, and gatherings with resident authors and artists.

Current destinations where members can globetrot and vine hop include: Priorat, Spain; Mosel, Germany; the Champagne and Burgundy regions of France; Mendoza, Argentina; Oregon’s Willamette Valley; Duoro Valley, Portugal; Napa Valley; Sicily; and Piemonte, Italy.

South Africa, Bordeaux and Georgia in Eastern Europe are currently being plotted for 2025. Plenty of scintillating activities are forthcoming as well, to include truffle hunting in Tuscany, clamming on the Oregon coast, and making one’s own perfume in Spain.

Those who are yearning to delve further into the terroir and grow their own grapes, literally, have the option to purchase an acre of mature vineyards in Argentina at The Vines of Mendoza for $120,000, plus additional farming fees. “Winemaking is a la carte and starts at $4 per bottle,” says Evans, who also owns The Vines Resort & Spa , the private vineyard’s sleek retreat delivering majestic views of the Andes Mountains and surrounding vines.

A version of this story first appeared in the April 10 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe .

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Airbnb CEO’s 10-Year, $1 Billion Pay Package

Rashaad Jorden , Skift

April 18th, 2024 at 3:03 AM EDT

Today's podcast looks at Airbnb CEO's compensation package, TUI's sustainability bonds, and Google's greener travel.

Rashaad Jorden

Skift Daily Briefing Podcast

Listen to the day’s top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, April 18. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

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Episode Notes

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky’s 10-year pay package , announced in 2021, could hit $1 billion or more if the company’s share price hits certain price targets, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal.  

Airbnb said recently the potential value of Cheksy’s eight remaining tranches of unearned shares at the end of 2023 was $1.3 billion. However, Schaal notes it’s far from certain that Chesky will receive the shares. Airbnb awarded Chesky a pay package with 12 million restricted stock units that the company valued at $430 million in November 2020 before Airbnb’s IPO.

The potential payout would be based on whether Airbnb’s share price hits the designated thresholds as well as the actual share price on the date an earned award settles.  

Next, Europe’s largest tour operator TUI announced in February it would be offering sustainability-linked bonds . Travel Experiences Reporter Jesse Chase-Lubitz delves into whether those bonds are a step toward more sustainable tourism or a form of greenwashing.  

TUI’s sustainability-linked bonds are tied to an overall environmental target – if it misses the target, it pays a higher interest rate. The Germany-based tour operator has linked its bonds to its airline division, which is responsible for 70% of the company’s total greenhouse gas emissions. 

However, Chase-Lubitz notes some climate finance experts aren’t sold on the new instruments: They don’t have a long track record and there’s no standard for measuring progress.  An executive at a global investment bank described sustainability-linked bonds as the Wild West. 

Finally, Google is releasing new features that aim to promote greener ways of travel , writes Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes.

Dawes reports the new features will appear in its Maps, Search, Flights and Hotels products, adding some of those features are powered by generative artificial intelligence. Google Maps will also include features to help electric vehicle drivers locate charging stations. Dawes also notes Google’s Travel Impact Model is free to other tech companies that want to embed carbon emissions info into their websites or apps. 

Presenter/Producer: Jose Marmolejos

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Tags: airbnb , brian chesky , climate change , google , pay , skift podcast , sustainability , tui

Photo credit: Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky appeared on-stage at Skift Global Forum in New York City in September 2022.

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Travis, Jason Kelce return to UC for live 'New Heights' podcast Thursday! What to know

Bearcat fans: The event you have all been waiting for has finally arrived.

Brothers and former  University of Cincinnati  football stars Travis and Jason Kelce will host a live episode of their  "New Heights" podcast at Fifth Third Arena on Thursday. The live show was initially slated to be held at Nippert Stadium but has been moved indoors due to inclement weather .

The event begins at 7 p.m., and special guests include Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr .

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If you're going to UC's campus tonight to watch the bros take the mic, here's what you should know.

'New Heights' live podcast at UC schedule

Here's the "New Heights" live show schedule, per the UC website .

• 3 p.m.: Parking lots open.
• 5 p.m. : Gates open.
• 7 p.m.: Lombaby Games begin.
• 9 p.m.: Podcast begins.

What are the Lombaby Games?

The "New Heights" live show will also feature the first-ever Lombaby Games, an Olympic-style competition between two student body teams, one comprised of various campus athletes and one of collegiate academics.

The Kelce brothers will commentate and referee each event. The team with the most points will win the first-ever Lombaby Games.

Can you still buy tickets for the 'New Heights' live show?

Because of capacity at Fifth Third Arena compared to Nippert Stadium, the event is now sold out except for very limited VIP seating inventory.

How to access your tickets for the 'New Heights' live show

Due to the venue change, new ticket information and validation will be emailed to the primary purchaser by 11 a.m. Thursday. All purchased tickets will be honored, and all efforts will be made to maintain the equivalent seating structure.

Parking information for the 'New Heights' live podcast

Campus Green and Woodside Garges are available the day of the event for $15 or $13 in advance online .

Where will I be seated during the 'New Heights' live show?

All floor VIP and reserved club and loge seats assigned before Wednesday, April 10, will not be valid. Seats will be re-assigned and re-distributed to ticket holders via email.

Floor VIP ticketholders will be seated on the court floor of Fifth Third Arena. These tickets include an open bar and the best view in the arena. VIPs can enter any door and make their way to the bottom of section 107 by showing their digital ticket. Upon entry to the floor, the VIP ticketholder will receive a wristband to access the Courtside Club, which includes all-inclusive food and beverages.

Reserved club and loge tickets

Reserved club and loge ticket holders will be seated in a climate-controlled hospitality area in the Champions Club. They will be given a reserved cushioned chairback seat, complimentary food and two drink tickets. A cash bar will be available for additional drinks.

Club and loge seat purchasers can enter any gate. Seats will be assigned in sections 101-107.

General admission

General admission ticketholders will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals with general admission tickets will enter through Gate A by the Oscar Robertson Statue. The first 1,500 fans to enter will receive a wristband with access to sections 113-119. Once at capacity, General Admission seating will be directed to the second level.

What is the 'New Heights' podcast?

The "New Heights" podcast , launched in 2022, is a football-focused podcast hosted by the Kelce brothers, two Super Bowl champions. During the weekly show, they discuss their performance on the field, funny life stories and their takes on trending NFL and general sports news.

"New Heights" is one of the top podcasts on Spotify . It has also garnered a significant following on social media, boasting 4.2 million followers on  TikTok , 2.5 million on  Instagram , 2.37 million subscribers on  YouTube  and about 423,500 followers on  X .

"New Heights" also won the  Podcast of the Year Award  at the iHeart Radio Podcast Awards on March 11.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Travis, Jason Kelce return to UC for live 'New Heights' podcast Thursday! What to know

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In this episode, you'll hear a brief introduction to the Disney Travel Insider podcast. Disney Travel Insider is a family-friendly show that is perfect for your next coffee break, commute, or dog walk. Subscribe to today so you’ll never miss an episode. If you’d like help planning your next great adventure, please send an email to ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠. Music: Ragtime - Pegasus (1908) - R. B. Stirling - Arranged for Strings by GregorQuendel -- https://freesound.org/s/730747/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠Fairytale Vacation Planners⁠⁠⁠. © Copyright 2024 Fairytale Vacation Planners. All rights reserved. Written, produced, and hosted by Kathy Seifert. Privacy Policy: ⁠https://ftvacationplanners.com/privacy/⁠⁠

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Mexico decrees expropriation of Air Liquide hydrogen plant

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EU backs competitiveness push, but divisions persist

European Union leaders agreed to reforms on nine fronts on Thursday to revitalise the bloc's economy and help it catch the United States and China in the global tech race, but still exposed differences on freeing up the money required to do so.