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Last updated: 02 March, 2023
Expert travel writer: Dana Facaros

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.

Editor note – Dana has not included specific recommendations of where to stay each day unless it’s necessary. Instead, see the ‘Where to stay’ section in our Bordeaux destination guide.

Begin in Bordeaux’s medieval and 18th-century core, with a look at the cathedral, Grand Theatre, Porte Cailhau and Porte de la Lune – famous for its massive mirror of water.

Then catch the Bat3 catamaran up the Garonne to the Halles de Bacalan for lunch before visiting Cite du Vin (Wine City) – which will inspire your wine tasting at Max Bordeaux.

Have dinner at the charming, old-fashioned Brasserie Le Noailles.

The exterior of the cathedral and its two spires
Experience

Bordeaux Cathedral

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

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The grand theatre in Bordeaux, a building with many pillars.
Experience

Grand Theatre of Bordeaux

Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

Designed by the great Parisian architect Victor Louis (1731-1800), this neo-classical beauty features 12 columns with twelves statues, representing the nine muses and three goddesses. It’s equally grand inside, with heart-stopping frescoes and a grand staircase. First inaugurated in 1780, today’s it’s home to the National Opera of Bordeaux.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Exterior of Palace de la Bourse, doubled in the reflection of a puddle
Experience

La Porte de la Lune

Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

Set on a crescent-shaped bend in the Garonne, Bordeaux’s riverfront port is a work of art. The kilometre-long, UNESCO-listed façade of 18th-century buildings by Jacques Gabriel is breathtakingly illuminated after nightfall. The stunning Place de la Bourse is reflected in an enormous mirror of water from 900 misting jets.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Porte Cailhau, a castle-like monument that used to be the gate to the city
Experience

Porte Cailhau

Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

This beautiful monument was built in 1494 as a triumphal arch to commemorate Charles VIII’s victory at Fornovo. It was later integrated into the city walls and today forms one of the gates to the old city from the port. You can go inside for an exhibition on how it was built, and for views from the tower.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Spring for a full-day tour of the Medoc, the most prestigious of Bordeaux’s wine areas – or hire a car to do it on your own, although note you often need to book visits in advance. The Cafe Lavinal in Pauillac has a good set lunch menu.

Top the day off with dinner at Bordeaux’s fabulous rococo Chapon Fin, founded in 1825.

Interior of a large restaurant with classic decor
Experience

Le Chapon Fin

Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

Since 1825, the ornate rococo dining room and glassed-in garden have welcomed the beau monde of Bordeaux and the world, with a formidable wine list to choose from, famous for classic cuisine and over 200 wines by the glass.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Bordeaux Wine Region

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

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Head to the ocean, with a half-day tour to the Dune de Pilat, Europe’s biggest sand dune and oyster tasting around Arcachon.

In the afternoon, visit one or two of Bordeaux’s museums – Aquitaine history, Fine Arts, Decorative Arts or Contemporary Art, before aperos at the Bar du Vin and dinner nearby at Le Quatrieme Mur, next to the Grand Theatre (reservations essential).

Dune of Pilat

La Teste-de-Buch, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

Climb to the summit of Europe’s largest and most spectacular sand dune, 60 km southwest of Bordeaux.

Best for ages: 6+ | Free

A statue of a figure reclining
Experience

Aquitaine Museum

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

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The exterior of the museum on a sunny day
Experience

Bordeaux Museum of Fine Arts

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

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Exterior of a beautiful building
Experience

National Customs Museum

Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

This museum is the only one of its kind in France: exhibits cover the history of customs and taxes, including smugglers and counterfeiters. The bizarre mix of fascinating curiosities – including maps, musical instruments and opium pipes – date back to the 18th century.

Best for ages: 13+ | £3

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