What To Do In The Charming City of Bordeaux
Learn all about what to do in Bordeaux, where to eat, and where to stay if you have limited time to visit France’s Wine Capitol.
Bordeaux is one of France’s classic wine regions. It is easily accessible by train from Paris in just over two hours. Alternatively, you can drive or fly into Bordeaux’s St. Jean airport.
No matter how you arrive, you’ll find yourself in a wonderful, charming, and fun city.
Getting Around Bordeaux
Moving around the city is easy. Bordeaux’s new and modern tramway system allows you to reach all major places of interest.
You can easily reach your destination with the four lines covering the city. If you arrive by train to Gare St. Jean, you can take the D line directly to the center of Bordeaux.
What To Do In The Heart Of Wine Country
La Cite Du Vin
The Bordeaux region is one of the best-known wine areas in France and the World. La Cite du Vin is a museum created to celebrate everything wine. A visit to La Cite Du Vin is one of the best things to do in this city, even if you don’t drink wine
This wine-decanter-shaped building is an architectural gem in its own right. Inside, you will find many interactive exhibits that will engage all your senses; smell, sight, listening, and if so inclined taste & touch.
If like us, you love history, there are many exhibits related to wine history in the Bordeaux region.
But the Cite Du Vin is much more than history and exhibits. You will also find tasting rooms, tasting workshops, two restaurants, and shops.
On the top floor at the Cite du Vin is The Belvedere, where you can enjoy a glass of wine free with your ticket. Even if you don’t drink wine you should make your way to The Belvedere, if only to take in the city views.
Stunning views of Bordeaux, a glass of wine, and good company. What a great way to start a vacation!
Old Bordeaux
As in all European old towns, the best thing to do in Old Bordeaux is to get lost in the small streets and discover hidden gems.
Nevertheless, Bordeaux is a large city with lots of things to see and do. You could spend days exploring the shops, buildings, parks, and museums just in the old town and vicinity.
Since our time was limited we focused on making sure we visited a few specific things, starting at Place de La Burse. This is almost like a grand entrance to the old city.
With its neoclassical French architecture dating back to the 1700’s this area reminds us of the grandeur of French architecture and a royal era.
Taking any of the small streets in the plaza will take you straight into the heart of the old city. Enjoy the shops, cafes, old buildings, and smaller plazas while walking in a general direction to your right until you find Place du Parlement.
The plaza and the surrounding buildings date from the 18th century. It once housed the Parliament of Bordeaux but today it is bustling with cafes and tourists.
Another beautiful building in this general area is the Bordeaux National Opera with its grand columns and classical facade. This venue is still in use and hosts operas, dance, and music performances.
In a different area but easily accessible with the tram is the Bordeaux Cathedral. When you get off the tram, the imposing St. Andrew of Bordeaux will greet you with its Gothic and Romanesque architecture.
To one side of the Cathedral Plaza, you’ll find the Town Hall and its neighbor the Fine Arts Museum. Both occupy what was once the Palais Rohan, another architectural gem of the 18th century.
Another interesting area worth a visit is along the Avenue of Victor Hugo. Here you will find one of the last arches erected in Bourdeaux during the reign of the kings, the Porte de Bourgogne.
The arch is purely for decorative purposes and was not really a gate to the city. But it is very beautiful and today it stands at one of the entrances to the old city from the river.
Also off Victor Hugo is the Gross Cloche, or Big Bell. It is the belfry of the Old Town Hall and one of the famous monuments of Bordeaux.
The archway of the Gross Cloche was one of the doors into the town during the Middle Ages when the town was fortified in all directions. The bell, the clocks, and the archway are truly beautiful, and it’s worth visiting them during your walk.
Along the Garonne River
One of our favorite things to do in Bordeaux was to stroll along the river. For centuries the city was a hub for commerce and transportation.
Today parks, streets, the tram, and the water feature named “The Mirror” are located along its banks.
The Mirror is a breathtaking water feature that reflects the surrounding buildings beautifully, especially at the right time of day or night and when it is filled with water.
Sadly there is not always water in the mirror and if the day is very cloudy the buildings are not reflected in the water.
But if you’re there at the right time and the light is pretty good you can see the reflection of Place de la Burse on the water! So don’t miss it!
During our walk along the river bank, we saw many people having picnics, riding bikes, and playing.
The walking area is wide and comfortable with many eateries and several shopping arcades.
Another fun thing to do is to cross the Pont de Pierre and explore the other side of the river.
This area has newer buildings and one of the highlights is the Bordeaux Lion, which you will see just as you cross the bridge.
Bassin de Lumieres
It rained one of the days we were in Bordeaux, so we asked the hotel concierge for a suggestion for the afternoon. He suggested we visit Bassin de Lumieres. This was a wonderful surprise and one of the highlights of our visit.
The place used to be a German submarine bunker, which has been turned into a series of immersive art installations with music and projections.
We were excited, WWII history, art, and music all in one place! So many of our favorite things, all under one roof! What’s not to love?
Bassin de Lumieres is divided into six areas; the Cube, the “Citerne”, Large Mooring Buoys, a Museum space, an educational area, and a Mezzanine floor, stage, and seating area.
During our visit the main installation was called Venice: La Serenisima. Just beautiful!
The secondary installation was a projection of Soroya paintings. Most of these paintings are found in Madrid and we saw them a few years before, so it was thrilling to see them in this new format.
Reading about the use of the bunker during WWII and then walking through the berths where the submarines would have been repaired or stocked for their next mission was so exciting.
The cube had an immersive installation that provoked the feeling of being in the center of the body or in an alternate projection of being in space. Talk about immersive!
The art installations are temporary so head to the website to see what is showing during your visit. You can also buy advance tickets which is always a good idea if you don’t want to wait in a long queue.
Where to Eat
Bordeaux has no shortage of places to eat. From small cafes and restaurants in Old Town to more well-known fast-food chains in the malls by the river.
While exploring in Old Town we stopped for a breather and sampled some Spanish tapas at Pata Negra, Bellota & Co. We relaxed and people-watched on a small table outside the shop with a delicious glass of wine and a charcuterie board. The shop is located at La Gallerie des Grande Hommes.
Right behind our hotel and across the street from the Cite du Vin you can find Les Halles de Bacalan. A food hall with a variety of foods. We visited several of the establishments at different times of the day and the food was fresh, tasty, and moderately priced.
This is both a market and a food hall. You can purchase food to dine in or take out. There is a seating area outside of the hall and limited seating inside. When the weather is nice the ambience is fun and happening. This is a great place to have fun and eat delicious food.
For a fine dining experience, you can try Le Quatrieme Mur. For starters, the location of this restaurant is next door to the National Opera of Bordeaux Theatre in the center of town. They share the building, so imagine the ambiance.
The cuisine is modern French created by chef Philippe Etchebest. They have two seating options, one at lunch and two at dinner.
When we arrived for our early seating we were greeted by the very capable and well-organized staff. Although you are surrounded by history in this neoclassical-designed building the decor is modern and bright.
Since the menu changes weekly you are in for a surprise. But the food and the wine were excellent and the dessert divine. Reservations are a must.
Where to Stay
During our visit, we stayed at the Renaissance Bordeaux Hotel next to the Cite Du Vin.
The hotel repurposed silos leftover from an old factory when the area used to be a working dock of Bordeaux. The silos are the entrance to the hotel and are such a cool feature. It has a swing that you can sit on and take fun pictures for Instagram.
The rooms are comfortable, clean and modern. Our room had views of the Cite du Vin and the docks from where we enjoyed a beautiful sunset.
Breakfast can be taken at the rooftop garden on a sunny day as well as dinner with reservation. Nearby there is a tram stop that will provide mobility to anywhere in the city. If you want to stay closer to the hotel there are many places to eat, drink and enjoy nearby.
If you’re on a budget, the Moxy Bordeaux is right around the corner. This is one of the newer, funkier, and less expensive hotels from Marriott and it is just as convenient as the Renaissance in terms of location.
We hope these ideas inspire your trip to Bordeaux. Have a great visit!
