Bordeaux

Cultured Bordeaux is a year-round destination, although winters can be wet and grey, dulling the joys of its wine tourism. The main tourist season begins around Easter, when it’s warm and sunny enough to sit outside and the vines sprout their first leaves.

By June, it’s warm enough to swim at Arcachon – summers can be hot, but rarely uncomfortably so. Mid-June to mid-July is the prime time for local festivals; while September and October offer mild temperatures, the excitement of the grape harvest and the dazzling autumn colours of the vines.

Bordeaux–Merignac Airport (BOD) is a 30-minute drive from the city centre. Jet’Bus services link the airport with the centre and main train station, departing every 45 minutes. Alternatively, the Liane 1 bus runs from the airport to Place des Quinconces, linking up with Bordeaux’s three tram lines. Taxis are also a decent-value option.

Most sights in Bordeaux’s centre are within walking distance, with sleek trams and a city bus on hand for longer distances. A riverboat shuttles between Quai Richelieu and Place Aristide Briand. The city has a municipal bike hire scheme (VCub) and taxis are plentiful, with stands in key locations. There are numerous parking garages for road-trippers – but driving in the city centre isn’t much fun, with one-way streets and traffic galore.

The city centre (around Place de la Comedie, Place Gambetta and Place des Quinconces) and the medieval Quartier Saint-Pierre are ideal areas for first-time visitors who want to see the sights and enjoy the city’s cafés, restaurants and nightlife. Wine tours nearly always depart from the city centre.

Wine buffs or anyone after a rural retreat will enjoy staying at a hotel or château in the vineyards; those on the slopes around Saint-Emilion are exceptionally pretty, and only about an hour’s drive out of the city.