Tours and Travel Packages to Bordeaux France

Discover Bordeaux's Wonders

Prepare to be immersed in sophistication as you travel to Bordeaux, France. It is not only the wine capital of the world, but also has a vibrant history and majestic scenery. Your guided tour or vacation package will reveal the unique culture and architecture including the Fossés de l'Intendance courtyard and much more.

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Description

Bordeaux has deep roots in trade, wine, and architecture—once a busy port city, now known for its classical façades and sharp mix of old and new. The grand 18th-century buildings, built to impress, now frame a city that's grown more confident and lively in recent years. Trams glide past old stone squares, riverbanks have been cleaned up for walking and cycling, and cafés spill onto the streets. It’s a place where history still shapes daily life, but the pace feels modern. And yes, the wine is still very much the real deal.

Useful information

Population:

Metro area: 1,018,000 (2025)

Currency:

Euro (€, EUR)

Emergency Info:

Police: 17
Fire Brigade: 18
Ambulance: 15

Opening Hours:

Do & See

Arcachon Bay & Dune du Pilat

About an hour from Bordeaux, Arcachon Bay is known for its calm waters and wide sandy beaches, shaped by oyster farming that still thrives here. You can cycle along quiet paths, spot birds on the nearby Île aux Oiseaux, and stop for fresh oysters at one of the local seafood shacks. Just next door is the Dune du Pilat, Europe’s tallest sand dune, rising over 100 metres. Climbing it rewards you with wide views across the bay and the Atlantic beyond. Together, the peaceful bay and the towering dune make a great day out, whether you’re after nature, fresh air, or just some impressive scenery.

Basilique Saint-Michel

Basilique Saint-Michel is a Gothic church dating back to the 14th century, and it stands out for its separate, 114-metre bell tower — the tallest in southern France. You can climb the tower for great views over Bordeaux. Inside, there are plenty of chapels with old artwork, and the whole place is part of the UNESCO-listed Routes of Santiago pilgrimage.

Bordeaux by Bike

Embark on a bike tour to explore the expansive city of Bordeaux in a unique way — this experience follows a meticulously planned route that takes you to all the must-see spots. Guided by a local, you'll traverse a 14 km path discovering street art, lush green spaces, and historical sites, all while unravelling Bordeaux’s rich history and hidden gems. This bike tour not only allows you to cover more ground than walking, but it also helps you uncover sights and picturesque spots that could easily be missed when exploring alone.

Bordeaux Museum of Fine Arts

The Bordeaux Museum of Fine Arts sits in a grand 19th-century building just off the main shopping street. Inside, you’ll find a collection of European paintings and sculptures, from the Renaissance through to the 20th century, including works by Rubens, Delacroix, and Picasso.

Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux

Saint-André is Bordeaux’s main cathedral — parts of it date back to the 11th century, though most of what you see now is from the 13th to 15th centuries. It’s a classic Gothic structure and has seen a fair bit of history, including the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Just next to it is the Tour Pey Berland, a separate bell tower you can climb for panoramic views over the city and the cathedral roof.

Cinéma Utopia

Hosted within the former St Simeon's church, Utopia is a unique fusion of a film theatre, café, lunch spot and cultural hub. Specialising in alternative films shown in their original language with French subtitles, Utopia offers a memorable movie experience in a comfortable and nostalgic setting. Even if you're not in the mood for a film, the building itself is a noteworthy French cultural landmark worth exploring. Aside from its cinematic offerings, Utopia features a charming bar and restaurant with indoor seating and a street terrace. Enjoy a variety of delicious lunch options and drinks in this cool, atmospheric space.

Grosse Cloche

One of Bordeaux’s oldest landmarks, the Grosse Cloche is a medieval belfry that once served as a gate and even a prison for young offenders. The two towers on either side are about 40 metres tall and frame the central bell tower. The current bell, cast in the 18th century, weighs nearly 8 tonnes and still rings on special days.

La Cité du Vin

La Cité du Vin is a modern and interactive wine museum featuring immersive exhibits, audio guides in multiple languages, and lots of screens, sounds, and smells. The building itself is striking and hard to miss, shaped like a swirl of wine or a decanter, depending on who you ask. Inside, there are 19 themed areas exploring wine’s history and culture around the world, plus tastings, workshops, a rooftop wine bar, and a panoramic restaurant.

Dining

Baud et Millet

Part cheese shop, part wine cellar, Baud et Millet offers a serious selection of around 100 cheeses alongside a wine wall packed with options. It’s a family-run spot where the owners know their stuff and are happy to guide you through the pairings.

C'yusha

Housed in a charming old building close to Porte Cailhau, C’yusha is a Michelin-starred spot serving modern European dishes. It features an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs at work and a surprise menu that changes regularly, with each dish carefully put together to catch your eye and your taste buds.

La Tupina

Honouring the traditions and gastronomic products of the South-West of France, La Tupina is an institution in Bordeaux, and perhaps the city's most famous restaurant. Opened in 1968 by Jean-Pierre Xiradakis, it has not stopped receiving praises for the quality and finesse of its food, its wines, as well as the perfection of its service. The decor is what a textbook French restaurant should look like, with its open fire and farmhouse feel.

Le Bar du Boucher

Paradise for meat eaters, Le Bar du Boucher — literally the butcher's bar — features a wide range of meat that you can choose directly and see being cut at the butcher's stand inside the restaurant. Communal tables, a friendly staff, and a rustic and warm atmosphere complete your dining experience.

Le Café du Port

Le Café du Port is a sophisticated restaurant on the banks of the Garonne River serving refined yet reasonably priced French cuisine in a lovely setting with a terrace offering the best sunset in Bordeaux.

Les Drôles

Set in a stone-walled cellar, Les Drôles serves classic French fare with regional touches. The space has playful, mismatched decor, and everything’s made in-house using fresh, local ingredients.

Melodie

Run by the same family since 1989, Melodie keeps things simple with dishes that remind you of traditional French home cooking. They focus on fresh, carefully chosen ingredients cooked with care. The setting is rustic and elegant, with a couple of outdoor tables perfect for a relaxed meal paired with local wines.

Restaurant Influences

One of the city’s more refined spots, Influences offers a surprise menu built around seasonal produce and reimagined local dishes. The dining room is small, quiet, and polished without feeling stiff. Service is easygoing, and the wine pairings are chosen to match the mood of each course. Booking ahead is a must.

Cafés

Black List Café

Blacklist is a small and bohemian café with an open kitchen where they whip up fresh pancakes, eggs (even smoked trout Benedict), and wholesome brunch plates, alongside fresh juices and rotating filter coffees from French and local roasters. It’s right next to Cathédrale Saint-André and the Pey Berland Tower—easy to stop by after a visit.

Books & Coffee

Right by the Grosse Cloche, this café draws a steady crowd with its brunches, homemade cakes, and all-day menu of sandwiches and salads. You’ll spot people queuing on weekends, but the slower pace is part of the vibe. The interior strikes the perfect balance between industrial edge and vintage charm. Outside, a few terrace tables offer one of the best street views in Bordeaux. Later in the day, the mood shifts from coffee to wine and tapas.

Le Comptoir Des Chats

Bordeaux’s first cat café is a quiet little haven with eight resident felines and a gentle, homey vibe. The space is thoughtfully arranged for both cats and humans—low lighting, climbing paths overhead, and a hidden terrace out back. Children are welcome from age 10, but the mood is calm and cosy, better suited to slow afternoons than loud catch-ups. The menu focuses on homemade pastries to be enjoyed with a variety of teas, chocolate (both hot and cold), and coffee.

Peter Coffee Shop

Peter Coffee Shop is a cosy and colourful café serving Piha coffee from a Bordeaux roaster and a menu that changes with the seasons. Brunch runs daily, with veggie-friendly dishes like falafel pitas, halloumi burgers, and weekly street food specials, plus playful cakes and oversized cookies.

SIP Coffee Bar

If you're a specialty coffee lover or you're just looking for a place to get your caffeine fix, head over to the SIP Coffee Bar. Located in the heart of Bordeaux, near Saint-André Cathedral, SIP is one of those new generation coffee shops that only recruit passionate and talented baristas, so you can see that there's real care and attention placed into making each coffee. The food menu features cookies, cakes, banana bread, as well as some savoury options.

Bars & Nightlife

Aux Quatre Coins du Vin

Near Place Saint-Pierre, Aux Quatre Coins du Vin offers you the perfect introduction to wine in Bordeaux. However, this is not your typical wine bar. Instead of being waited on, you tap your own wine from the bottle through a self-serve card system. It's a fun way to select and taste from their extensive library of both local and international wines. Feeling overwhelmed by the number of choices available? Just ask the friendly and very knowledgeable staff to help you with your selection.

IBOAT

IBOAT is a former ferry turned multi-level cultural hub covering around 687 m² across three decks. The main level houses a bar-restaurant serving casual dishes and cocktails, while a heated terrace offers riverside views. Below decks is a concert hall/club and a lounge space featuring regular gigs, DJ sets, exhibitions, workshops and even kids’ events. In the summer, the adjacent Blonde Venus tent and large dock terrace transform into a vibrant open-air space with tapas, markets, DJ afternoons, outdoor cinema, and more.

La Calle Ocho

Always bustling with people, La Calle Ocho is a lively Cuban-themed bar, a few minutes from Place de la Bourse, offering the best mojito in town along with two floors where you can enjoy some salsa, merengue, as well as some reggaeton.

Le Bar à Vin

Just a few steps from Place des Quinconces, this classic wine bar pours a rotating selection of local wines—usually around 30 by the glass—alongside cheese and charcuterie boards. The setting is calm, elegant, and filled with art.

Le Lucifer

Despite its name, at Le Lucifer, you won't need to sell your soul to the devil to enjoy their large selection of beers, some of which you might not have heard of but should really try.

Levrette Café Bordeaux

With its underground bar with a big dance floor and even a separate space dedicated to smokers, the Levrette Café hosts theme parties, sports events, live music, DJs, pole dance shows, and many more. The menu at the Levrette offers some tapas to share as well as a great selection of beers, wines, spirits, and many original cocktails.

Seeko'o Bar

Tucked inside the sleek Seeko’o Hotel, this bar keeps things modern and polished without feeling overdone. The space is stylish and understated, with a cocktail menu that leans creative, crafted by a skilled in-house bartender. A good spot for a quiet drink with a bit of flair.

The Connemara

The Connemara is everything you'd expect from a classic Irish pub—cold pints, hearty pub grub, and a steady buzz of occasional live music or sports on the screens. It’s popular with both locals and expats, and the atmosphere is reliably lively, especially on game nights or weekends.

Shopping

Aushopping Bordeaux Lac

If you want a modern shopping experience away from Bordeaux’s historic centre, Aushopping Bordeaux Lac is worth a visit. Located about 20 minutes by car from downtown, this open-air mall houses over 130 stores, from fashion to electronics, alongside a variety of cafés and casual dining spots in its food court.

Badie

For wine lovers who don't want to venture out to the distant wineries and chateaux, Bordeaux's streets and squares are generously peppered with wine merchants. One of the oldest and most renowned among them is Badie. Offering a selection of rare champagnes, high-end wines and premium liquors, Badie is housed in an elegant 18th-century building, providing an exquisite shopping experience right in the heart of the city.

Galeries Lafayette

If you feel like giving your credit card a little workout, Galeries Lafayette Bordeaux is the place to go. Housed in an elegant historic building, this department store offers a carefully curated selection of high-end fashion, beauty, and accessories. It’s a stylish and comfortable spot to browse premium brands with attentive service to match.

L'Intendant Grands Vins de Bordeaux

L'Intendant Grands Vins de Bordeaux is a must-visit wine cellar, set in an impressive space featuring a stunning circular staircase. Along its walls, you’ll find fine vintages dating back to 1945, offering a deep dive into Bordeaux’s rich wine heritage.

Les Noisettines du Médoc

Les Noisettines du Médoc is a small, family-run shop that specialises in hazelnut-based treats from the Médoc region. If you’re into artisanal sweets, this place is a little gem — crunchy pralines, creamy spreads, and chocolates that highlight the rich, nutty flavour of local hazelnuts. It’s perfect for picking up authentic, handmade goodies that make for great souvenirs for those back home.

Librairie Mollat

Librairie Mollat has been part of Bordeaux since 1896, and it shows. Tucked into the city’s historic centre, this independent bookshop is more than just shelves and spines—it’s a local institution. The selection is vast, covering everything from literature and philosophy to cookbooks and comics, with plenty of art and science in between.

Marché des Capucins

Marché des Capucins is Bordeaux’s bustling food market and a true local institution. Right in the heart of the city, it’s the place to find fresh produce, cheeses, and wines, plus ready-to-eat treats and coffee.

Neuf & Royal Markets of Saint Michel

Experience a classic slice of local life at the Saint‑Michel markets along Quai de Salinières. On Saturdays, the Marché Royal is the livelier option, with everything from fresh produce and cheese to ceramics and vintage finds. Mondays are for Marché Neuf, a bit more low-key but great for second‑hand clothes, books, and curiosities. It’s a favourite weekend ritual for many locals—part treasure hunt, part people-watching, and always worth a stroll.

Tourist Information

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Bordeaux is in spring (April to June) or early autumn (September to October), when the weather is comfortable, the city isn’t packed with tourists, and there’s plenty to do. In June, you’ve got Fête de la Musique filling the streets with live music, and every other year, Bordeaux Fête le Vin sets up along the river with wine tastings and food stalls.

Passport/Visa

Citizens of the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries do not need a visa to enter France, only a valid ID. Many other countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and New Zealand, benefit from visa-free entry for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Visitors from visa-exempt countries must hold a valid passport and, starting in late 2025, will need to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) authorisation online before travelling. For those requiring a visa, such as travellers from some Middle Eastern, African or Asian nations, a Schengen visa must be obtained prior to arrival. All travellers should ensure their passport is valid for at least three months beyond their intended stay.

Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD)

Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD) is located about 12 km west of the city centre, with the journey taking between 30 to 45 minutes depending on the mode of transport. Travellers can take tram line A directly from the airport to central Bordeaux in around 35 minutes. The 30’Direct shuttle runs between the airport and Gare Saint-Jean train station in about 30 minutes. The Liane 1+ bus is a cheaper option, reaching the city in roughly 45 minutes. Taxis and ride-shares are also available outside the airport.

Public Transport

Getting around Bordeaux is pretty straightforward thanks to the TBM network, which runs the city’s trams, buses, and even a river shuttle called the Bat³. The tram system is easy to use, with four lines that cover most major areas, while buses fill in the rest. The Bat³ offers a scenic ride along the Garonne, and if you're up for cycling, the city’s V3 self-service bikes are everywhere. Tickets work across all modes and come in single rides, day passes, or weekly options. For visitors, the Bordeaux CityPass is worth considering—it includes unlimited public transport plus free entry to museums and other perks. You can buy tickets at machines, in shops, or on the TBM app—just don’t forget to validate them before boarding. For information on routes, timetables and fares, visit TBM's official website.

Taxi

Taxis in Bordeaux are easy to find, especially at taxi ranks or by hailing them on the street; they’re usually black or dark blue with a roof light indicating availability. You can also book ahead using the local app Taxi Couleurs Bordeaux. Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Bolt also operate in the city.

Electricity

In France, the electrical system operates on a voltage of 230 volts with a frequency of 50 hertz. The country uses two main types of plugs: type C, which has two round pins, and type E, which also has two round pins along with an additional hole for the grounding pin.

Pharmacy

Pharmacies in Bordeaux are easily identified by the green cross, often illuminated, on their exteriors. Most staff speak at least some English, especially in central locations, and they can often help with minor ailments, travel-related issues, or replacement prescriptions. Many pharmacies also carry toiletries, basic first-aid items, and travel essentials. Opening hours typically follow shop times (roughly 9 am to 7 pm), but a rota of pharmacies de garde ensures there’s always one open after hours or on Sundays—check online or ask at any pharmacy for the nearest one.

Post

In Bordeaux, most post offices are open Monday to Friday from around 9 am to noon, then again from 2 pm to 5 or 6 pm. Many also open on Saturday mornings. They handle everything from regular mail and international parcels to registered letters and basic banking through La Banque Postale. For simple things like stamps, it’s often easier to pop into a nearby 'bureau de tabac'. As for posting, just drop your letter into one of the yellow and blue mailboxes around town.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time of year to visit Bordeaux?

The best time to visit Bordeaux is between May and October when the weather is warm and the vineyards are lush. May and June offer pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds, while September and October are ideal for wine enthusiasts as it's harvest season, allowing visitors to experience the grape harvest and various wine festivals.

How many days should I spend in Bordeaux?

A stay of 3 to 4 days in Bordeaux is ideal to explore the city and its surrounding wine regions. This allows time to visit the historic city center, tour a few vineyards in the nearby Médoc or Saint-Émilion, and enjoy the local cuisine. If you're a wine aficionado, consider extending your stay to explore more of the region's renowned vineyards.

What are the must-see attractions in Bordeaux?

Bordeaux is known for its stunning architecture and wine culture. Must-see attractions include the Place de la Bourse with its Water Mirror, the Cité du Vin wine museum, and the historic Saint-André Cathedral. Don't miss a stroll along the Garonne River and a visit to the charming neighborhood of Chartrons, known for its antique shops and cafés.

How can I explore the wine regions around Bordeaux?

Exploring Bordeaux's wine regions is best done by guided tour or rental car. Many tours offer day trips to famous regions like Médoc, Saint-Émilion, and Pessac-Léognan, providing insights into winemaking and tastings at local châteaux. Renting a car gives you the flexibility to explore at your own pace, but be sure to arrange tastings in advance.

What traditional foods should I try in Bordeaux?

Bordeaux offers a rich culinary scene with specialties like entrecôte à la bordelaise, a steak dish with a red wine sauce, and canelés, small pastries flavored with rum and vanilla. Seafood lovers should try Arcachon oysters, while cheese enthusiasts can sample local varieties like Ossau-Iraty. Pair these with Bordeaux wines for a true gastronomic experience.

What transportation options are available within Bordeaux?

Bordeaux has an efficient public transportation system, including trams, buses, and bicycles. The tram network is extensive and covers most tourist attractions. Renting a bike is a great way to explore the city at a leisurely pace, especially with the city's many bike lanes. Walking is also enjoyable, particularly in the pedestrian-friendly historic center.

Are there any local festivals or events in Bordeaux worth attending?

Bordeaux hosts several notable events throughout the year. The Bordeaux Wine Festival, held every two years in June, is a major attraction, featuring tastings and cultural events. In December, the Bordeaux Christmas Market offers festive cheer with local crafts and foods. Additionally, the Bordeaux International Art Festival showcases contemporary art and performances across the city.

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