Bordeaux 3-day Itinerary
France
Where to go and what to see in Bordeaux to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.
Best things to do & places to stay:
Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Synonymous with the world’s finest wines, Bordeaux itself has flamboyantly popped the cork after a grand 15-year facelift. Its elegant 18th-century architecture once earned it the nickname of ‘Little Paris’, and it has since been bestowed with World Heritage status.
The recent additions of a beautiful riverfront park and gourmet restaurants add to the joie de vivre that radiates from the busy outdoor cafés, while old riverside warehouses now house art galleries and cocktail bars.
Join the jolly crowds at either the colourful Marche des Capucins or the Marche des Quais: the latter is perfect for a Sunday brunch of white wine and fresh oysters. It’s perfect for a romantic weekend – or make it your base for visiting the great wine chateaux of the wider area, or the sandy beaches and dunes at Arcachon.
Located where the Garonne flows into the Gironde estuary, Bordeaux is surrounded by gravelly landscapes and low hills covered with vines. Medieval Bordeaux survives in the Quartier Saint-Pierre, but much of the city was rebuilt during the 18th century – including the construction of one of Europe’s most elegant waterfronts, around a bend in the river known as Port de la Lune. The riverfront Place des Quinconces separates this from Chartrons, the picturesque wine merchants’ quarter.
Our writer’s recommended itineraries for this destination
France
Where to go and what to see in Bordeaux to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.
France
Where to go and what to see in Bordeaux to get the most from your trip – a 5-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.
The bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination
Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
France’s premier wine-growing region is home to over 8,500 wineries (or chateaux) producing some 800 million bottles a year, 89 percent of which are red wines, including the legendary Grands Crus or ‘First Growths’ of the Medoc.
Best for ages: 18+ | £40
Montignac, Nouvelle-Aquitaine , France
A day-trip away from Bordeaux or Toulouse, in the beautiful Dordogne, you can visit an immaculate replica of France’s prehistorically painted cave – the ‘Sistine Chapel’ of Palaeolithic art.
Best for ages: 8+ | £15
Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bordeaux is an architectural masterpiece, with more listed buildings than any French city outside Paris.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
A museum dedicated to the history of wine and its relationship with Bordeaux, housed in a spectacular modern architectural jewel.
Best for ages: 18+ | £18
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest
Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
This compelling history museum is home to over 1.3 million artefacts that document the history of Bordeaux and the entire Aquitaine region, from prehistory (including Paleolithic Art and the Lascaux Cave) to the modern day.
Best for ages: 18+ | £4
Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Bordeaux’s enormous Gothic Cathedrale Saint-Andre is the city’s most majestic medieval landmark; the church dates back to 814 AD, but it was predominantly constructed in the 14th and 15th centuries. Don’t miss the sculptures of the Porte Royale and a climb up the Tour Pey-Berland belltower for a bird’s-eye view over the city centre.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Inside the elegant Palais Rohan, the museum displays works by some of Europe’s finest painters, including Titian, Perugino, Rubens and Van Dyck, as well as famous local artists from various periods. The south wing is devoted to art from the 16th to 18th centuries, and the north wing focuses on the 19th and 20th centuries.
Best for ages: 18+ | £4
Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
These lively, four-day summer festivals – with an alternating theme or either ‘wine’ or ‘river’ – celebrate the heart and soul of Bordeaux.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free | 4 days
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers
Bordeaux
€55 | Rating 4.63 / 5 [19 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Bordeaux
€85 | Rating 4.98 / 5 [68 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Bordeaux
€69 | Rating 4.88 / 5 [44 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Bordeaux
€30 | Rating 4.85 / 5 [106 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay in this destination
Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Once a cardinal’s luxurious townhouse in the heart of Bordeaux, now a charming little hotel with characterful guestrooms and apartments. An excellent base for first-time visitors.
Official star rating:
Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine , France
This stylish but friendly and unfussy boutique hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Bordeaux. Perfect as a base for sightseeing, and great value for the location too.
Official star rating:
Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
This comfy, chic boutique hotel is within walking distance of the city’s historic centre, with excellent food and drink.
Official star rating:
Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
An historic, elegant 18th-century hotel ideally located in Bordeaux’s swish Golden Triangle, with a locally-rated spa and restaurant.
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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.