5 Things You MUST DO in Bordeaux!
Looking for the best things to do in Bordeaux? Look no further! We have compiled 5 MUST DO things to do in the beautiful city.
Sitting on the Garonne River in Southwest France, Bordeaux is home to the world’s finest wines. If you are looking to truly capture the essence of French wine culture, a few days in this magnificent city will certainly give you what you seek. Keep reading to discover our Top 5 recommendations in Bordeaux!
1. Explore the vineyards
Bordeaux has a prestigious wine heritage. So of course, a vineyard tour has to be the first and most important recommendation on our list!
GUIDED TOURS | There are several ways you can explore the Bordeaux wineries. To have a more structured experience, we recommend booking onto one of the many guided tours advertised online and in tourist centres. Tours offer a knowledgeable tour guide who teaches you all about the region you are visiting. These types of tours will often visit two or more vineyards and let you sample the opulent wine products for sale at each location. See which tour we went on!
SELF-GUIDED TOUR | For the more adventurous and experienced wine connoisseurs, you may opt to hire a car and explore the wine regions yourself! This gives you the opportunity to choose which châteaux to visit. We recommend visiting a range of Grand Chateaux and smaller, family run businesses to get the full experience of what it is like to farm wine in France.
No matter how you choose to experience the wineries, as you venture into the countryside of wine you will undoubtedly view exquisite scenery, endless rows of grape vines and beautifully built chateaux!
2. Visit La Cité du Vin
If you are keen to educate yourself on the heritage of wine, what better place to visit than La Cité du Vin (The City of Wine). This wine museum takes you on an interactive journey, where you experience the art and science of winemaking, learn about different wine cultures and see the history of wine through different civilisations. When you visit, make sure you purchase a ticket which includes a drink at the Belvédère on the 8th floor. Here you can taste a glass of local wine whilst appreciating Bordeaux from above.
NEARBY FOOD RECOMMANDATION | Close to La Cité du Vin, you will find Les Halles Bacalan. This is a small, urban food hall filled with fantastic international artisan producers. Enjoy a bite to eat in their rustic outdoor seating area amongst the locals either before or after your museum tour to round off a perfect day!
3. Explore Bordeaux city
Bordeaux has a fantastic urban culture. One of our favourite memories of Bordeaux was simply the day we spent wandering around the city centre, sight-seeing, shopping and sitting outside cafes whilst enjoying food in the sun!
EXPLORE THE CENTRE | There is so much to see in the centre. Simply take a stroll and admire the beautiful architecture from the likes of the Primatial Cathedral of St Andrew of Bordeaux, Grosse Cloche de Bordeaux and Monument aux Girondins. To cool down in the warm weather, have a splash in the stunning and entertaining Water Mirror whilst admiring the historic buildings in Place de la Bourse.
Hôtel Life Bordeaux Gare - BG
Located in Bordeaux and with Saint-Michel Basilica reachable within less than 1 km, Hôtel Life Bordeaux Gare – BG provides a great option for those wanting to stay in the city centre at an affordable price!
HAVE A PICNIC | As the day draws to a close, you can grab a bottle of wine (perhaps one you have purchased from your wine tour!) and buy some French cheese and a breadstick. Here you can head to the Jardin Public and have a peaceful picnic as the sun slowly goes down over Bordeaux.
4. Relax on the beach
For a more chilled out day in Bordeaux, you can relax at Plage du Lac, a small lake which has a sandy ‘beach’ and a designated swimming area. It is surrounded by pine forests which are perfect for picnics.
However, if you would rather experience beautiful seaside landscapes, spend a day (or a weekend!) visiting Bassin D’Arcachon. You can easily book onto a day trip from Bordeaux which will take you to one of the seaside villages along the Arcachon bay, or you can choose to drive there yourself – it will only take around an hour!
5. A day trip to Saint-Émilion
Saint-Émilion is a well known wine region, yet this UNECSCO World Heritage Site offers so much more than just delicious wine. This picturesque village has incredible medieval architecture and monuments which will make you feel like you are walking back in history.
WHAT TO SEE | Be sure to visit the Monolithic Church, then walk up the steep stairs nearby to overlook the charming and busy square. Sight-see the King’s Tower and pay 2 euros to climb to the top and view Saint-Émilion from above. Finally, you can visit Clos des Menuts, a large wine cave where you can walk through rows and rows of old wine bottles and barrels – well worth seeing as a free activity!
WHAT TO EAT AND DRINK | Try a canelé, a delicious sweet pastry traditional to Bordeaux. Or if you feel like splurging, buy a Grand Cru wine (the top-tier classification of French wine) to take home with you! There are also many restaurants around the village, just be prepared to pay higher prices.
If you are wondering how to get to this stunning town, you can visit by car or book onto a guided tour day trip!
