The Ultimate Guide to Bordeaux (Things to do & Wine Guide)

Last Updated on 1st July 2026 by Sophie Nadeau

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Wine, all the good food, and great weather throughout the year: if you add one French city outside of Paris to your bucket list, make it Bordeaux! Home to incredible architecture, cultural sites, and lots of fascinating history, here are the very best things to do in Bordeaux!

Bordeaux is a beautiful city characterised by its stunning architecture, ease of day trips into the nearby French countryside, and of course, its world-famous wine. And whether you’re a foodie, wish to experience a taste of life outside of Paris, or simply want to soak up some sun, there’s something for everyone when it comes to visiting Bordeaux.

Where is Bordeaux?

Bordeaux is located in South West France, not far from the Atlantic coastline. The capital city and region both share the same name, as does the wine which originates from there.

Why visit Bordeaux?

If you’re looking for a French city escape and don’t want to see Paris, then Bordeaux makes for the perfect alternative. Full of foodie experiences and fairly easy to wander around via foot, you could easily see the best of Bordeaux over the course of a long weekend in the South.

With its own international airport (Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport) and extensive rail links, Bordeaux couldn’t be better connected to the rest of France and even Europe.

Flights from London are affordable and take just ninety minutes, while the high-speed train from Paris takes no more than two hours.

Due to its midway position between Paris and Madrid, Bordeaux also makes for the perfect stopover en route to Spain from France. If you’ve only got a short time in the southwest city, then here’s our suggested itinerary for one day in Bordeaux.

What is Bordeaux known for?

Located in South West France, Bordeaux is the capital city of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of l’Hexagon. Widely regarded as the city Parisians would most like to live in if they didn’t live in Paris, once in the busy and bustling port settlement, you’ll soon discover delights like the Gothic Cathedrale Saint André and the longest pedestrian street in Europe, Rue Saint-Catherine.

First inhabited by the Romans, who called the city ‘Burdigala,’ other highlights of the wine capital of France, of which Bordeaux is the hub and beating heart, include plenty of 18th-century mansions and countless fountains.

Bordeaux is probably most famous for its association with wine, especially red wine. The city is also home to a surprising abundance of Haussmannian architecture, making it a sunny alternative to Paris. The nearby region surrounding Bordeaux is punctuated with endless vineyards and medieval towns, making it a great spot to explore during the summer months.

Best things to do in Bordeaux

Musée du Vin et de Négoce

A little off the beaten path and less well-known than the Cité du Vin (despite being much older), the wine museum of trade and commerce can be found in the historic Chartrons district. One of the best hidden gems of Bordeaux, this museum is housed within the former cellars of Louis XV’s wine vendor.

Set against the backdrop of centuries-old bricked cellars, the museum is part exhibition space, part museum, demonstrating the history of winemaking through film, text, and artefacts. Truth be told, the best part of the visit is that, included in the visit, is a wine tasting at the end.

This intimate affair is typically just a few people, involves drinking plenty of samples and learning all about wine from the Bordeaux region from a knowledgeable local expert! For more information, including opening times and prices, check out the Musee du Vin’s website.

Cité du Vin

Opened in 2016 by the President of France, the Cité du Vin (City of Wine) lies alongside the banks of the River Garonne and is a metropolis of glistening buildings, all dedicated to the history and culture of wine in Bordeaux.

Featuring exhibitions, shows, and wine tastings, no visit to Bordeaux would be complete without checking out this museum. Even if you only have one day in Bordeaux, you should be sure to visit this cultural institution. To visit the Cité du Vin, purchase your tickets in advance here.

Wander around the Chartrons district

One of the more charming and intimate areas of Bordeaux is the Chartrons district, an area characterised by its cobbled lanes and historic homes. Highlights of the area include the Chartrons Temple, Notre Dame Street, and the little eateries of Les Halles des Chartrons.

Visit Bordeaux Cathedral

Easily one of the most beautiful cathedrals in France, that of Bordeaux is well worth visiting during any trip to the Southern French city. The 11th-century Bordeaux Cathedral is officially known as the Primatial Cathedral of St Andrew of Bordeaux and is free to wander around.

The Miroir d’Eau is the largest reflective pool in the world

Located on Place de la Bourse, located along the River Garonne, the Miroir d’Eau is the largest reflective pool in the world. Perfectly reflecting the Place, the water feature spans 3450 metres squared and was put in place in 2006.

Created from granite slabs, the best time to see the Miroir d’Eau is at sunset when candy colours dance across the sky, or at night when the lights of the city are perfectly reflected. For those wishing to capture the ‘water mirror’ at its best, here’s my complete guide to creating puddlegrams.

Uncover the history of Bordeaux

From the Gothic architecture of Bordeaux’s Cathedral to the castle-looking turreted Porte Cailhau, there’s no shortage of middle ages history when it comes to Bordeaux. Some of the best historical sites in the city include the Porte Cailhau and the Musée des Beaux-Arts.

Marvel at beautiful architecture

While we’re on the subject of history, did you know that Bordeaux has plenty of architecture to rival that of Paris? From Haussmannian-style buildings throughout the city to magnificent fountains, you’ll need to pack your camera!

And once in Bordeaux itself, you’ll find it hard to stop snapping photos! Also, when wandering around the city, be sure to keep an eye out because there are lots of secret spots in Bordeaux…

Enjoy local food

Wine aside, there are a million and one other gastronomic reasons to visit Bordeaux. From savoury dishes to melt in your mouth sweets, there are some really great cafés, bistros, and restaurants dotted around the historic city.

Some of the best places to eat in Bordeaux include Contrast Café (for brunch) and Belle Campagne (if you’re looking for a traditional French dinner). For even more inspiration, be sure to check out our guide to the best brunch in Bordeaux.

Go shopping

Between the tiny little boutiques sprinkled around the city and the longest pedestrian shopping street in the world (Rue Sainte-Catherine), there’s no shortage of great shopping opportunities when it comes to Bordeaux, especially during the sales (early spring and mid-summer).

For those who are looking for more luxurious shopping, head to the ‘Triangle d’Or’ ‘Golden Triangle’ between Cours Clemenceau, Cours de l’Intendance, and Allées de Tourny. Of course, if you want to get to know the city on a local level, then there’s nothing like taking a walking tour of the city with an experienced and knowledgeable guide. Check here for the best Bordeaux walking tour. 

Stay in a luxurious hotel

Just as in Paris, there’s no denying that Bordeaux has its fair share of beautiful hotels and luxury accommodations in the city. And if you want to get the best deal, then I highly booking your stay as soon as possible. Check the best Bordeaux accommodation rates here.

Some of the best hotels in Bordeaux include Villa Reale (18th-century build building housing self-catering apartments), Hotel de Séze (this hotel can be found right in the heart of the historic city and this luxurious accommodation is four-stars), and Hôtel Burdigala (during Roman times, the name for Bordeaux was Burdigala. Today, this luxury hotel is decorated in urban chic).

See Porte Cailhau

One of the most impressive spots in all of Bordeaux is Porte Cailhau, a grand gateway that once upon a time would have been the main entryway to the city of Bordeaux (when it was surrounded by fortified walls).

Today, the 14th-century gateway is free to admire and is best seen in the morning when the sunlight shines through the gateway and illuminates everything in its path.

Take a day trip

Whether you want to dip your toes in the sea, or simply want to sip on some wine, there are a myriad of day trips to be taken from Bordeaux.

From forest to sea, some of the best day trips from Bordeaux include a visit to the largest sand dune in Europe (Dune du Pilat), the Bay of Arcachon, and the medieval city of Saint-Émilion. For more inspiration, check out our guide to the best day trips from Bordeaux.

Take a food tour

This food tour will showcase the foodie side of the city with a local guide who will show you some of Bordeaux’s top attractions including the Cathedral, Tour Pey-Berland, and La Grosse Cloche. You’ll also get to sample 9+ different tastes at 6 stops and try 3 local wines. Find the full details here.

Types and varieties of wine in Bordeaux

When one imagines Bordeaux wine, they likely picture a deep fruit red, full-bodied, and full of flavour. But what many people don’t know is that there are a plethora of wines to be found in the region, all entirely different, and many worth tasting if you’re a wine drinker.

When it comes to Bordeaux vineyards, red, rosé, dry white, and sweet white wines are all represented thanks to the biodiversity of the soil. The region’s proximity with the salty sea, sand dunes to the East and the countryside to the West also mean that there are plenty of microclimates, resulting in an incredibly diverse selection of wines.

Today, there are close to 7000 wine growers in Bordeaux, providing over 55,000 jobs to the region. In total 65 separate appellations are noted (an appellation is a protected legal term for the geographical location where specific grapes for a wine were grown) and well over 100,000 hectares of the region are covered in vines.

While some appellations are specific to certain spots of the region (i.e. Médoc and Saint-Émilion), the following appellations are used across all of Bordeaux; Bordeaux, Bordeaux Rosé, Bordeaux Clairet, Bordeaux Supérieur, and Crémant de Bordeaux.

As you can see, there’s a lot more to Bordeaux wine than you might have originally imagined, and booking a Bordeaux wine trip is the perfect way to get even more knowledgable about the subject!

Red wine grape varieties in Bordeaux

Merlot

If you’ve ever tasted Bordeaux wine, then no doubt it was likely made using the rich Merlot grape. Typically early-ripening, this grape produces low-acid, smooth, deep-red wines. Largely grown in Saint-Émilion and Pomerol areas of Bordeaux, the wines contain flavour notes of figs and red fruits.

Cabernet Franc

This local variety is typical of Bordeaux and is usually early-ripening. Delicate in its structure, Cabernet Franc provides hints of violet and variety. This grape is typically used as a secondary blend and never really makes up most of the final wine blend.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Late ripening, Cabernet Sauvignon provides a flavour palate of liquorice, black fruits. The later-ripening of the grape means that it produces plenty of tannins and is largely grown in the Médoc and Graves area of Bordeaux.

White wine grape varieties in Bordeaux

Sémillon

King of the sweet whites, this grape is also used in dry white wines as well. Known for growing noble rot (a grey fungus forms on the grapes, and in dry conditions, partially dries the grape, leading to a sweeter blend), the flavour palate of Sémillon is apricot and honey aromas.

Muscadelle

A unique feature of Bordeaux wines is that they’re blended, meaning that a combination of grape varieties are combined to create unique flavour palates. Muscadelle is typically used as a secondary grape variety (due to its fragility) when it comes to creating certain dry white wines from Bordeaux.

Sauvignon Blanc

My drink of choice (due to its abundance in bars and restaurants across Europe), Sauvignon Blanc produces dry white wines that are typically crisp and fresh. Notes of citrus, fig leaves, and wood can all be found within this variety.

Rosé from Bordeaux

While there’s no denying that Bordeaux is best known for its rich and full bodied reds, there are also several easy drinking and more sophisticated rosés from Bordeaux that you’ll want to try on your next French adventure.

Despite what you might think, there are actually several ways to create rosé. While the obvious choice would be to blend white and red varieties, this technique is not as common as one would expect. Instead, many rosés, including rosé from Bordeaux, is created by lightly pressing red grapes for just 4-8 hours.

Lillet

A sweet dessert-style wine, this is a slow sip wine that clocks in with an alcohol percentage volume of 17%. Known under French law as an ‘aromatised wine’, Lillet is produced in Podensac in the region of Graves. The aperitif is created using an 85% of Bordeaux wines and 15% of macerated liqueurs, typically of the citrus variety.

Frequents Asked Questions about Bordeaux (Bordeaux FAQs)

What is the best time to visit Bordeaux?

Though Bordeaux is beautiful to visit during any time of the year (indeed, it’s the city that Parisians say they’d most like to live in, if they weren’t based in Paris), there are indeed better times of the year to visit than others.

For example, the winter is the quiet season, while summer sees the most tourists. If you want to enjoy the best of the weather with lower prices, then be sure to visit in late spring or early autumn. Visit between May and November and you’ll also be able to enjoy the vines in the surrounding region in their full glory.

How many days should I spend in Bordeaux?

The exact number of days you should stay in Bordeaux is entirely dependant on your travel schedule and what you wish to see when in the city. However, a good balance is a long weekend as this allows you to experience the ambiance of the city, as well as many of the major attractions and some hidden gems along the way.

Where to stay in Bordeaux

Thinking of planning a weekend in Bordeaux (or even three days in Bordeaux) for yourself? Be sure to book plenty in advance. This is especially true of accommodation as, during the peak season (i.e. in the summer months), accommodation tends to sell out pretty quickly. Here are some of the best places to stay in Bordeaux (based on web reviews and location):

Yndo Hotel, 108 Rue Abbé de l’Épée, 33000 Bordeaux: Located on the outskirts of the historic city centre, this well-reviewed hotel is a luxurious five-star retreat complete with turrets and all the amenities you would expect from a luxury place to stay. Check prices and availability here.

Villa Reale, 9 Place du Parlement, 33000 Bordeaux: Constructed in the 18th-century, this villa offers several self-catering apartments in the centre of the city. Set amidst a backdrop of five-star style luxury, think of this as your home away from home. Check prices and availability here.

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