Things to Do in Bordeaux: The Official Guide
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Bordeaux is one of those cities where a weekend is never quite enough. The 18th-century stone facades along the Garonne, the wine country a short drive away, the pedestrian streets that stretch for kilometres, the museums and the medieval towers you can climb for a view: there is a lot to fit in. This is the official guide from the Bordeaux Tourist Office, with the landmarks, experiences and practical bookings you need to make the most of your visit.
The Smart Way to See Bordeaux: The CityPass
Short on time, or planning to visit more than two or three sites? The Bordeaux CityPass covers unlimited public transport, La Cité du Vin, Les Bassins des Lumières, 15 museums and monuments, and one guided tour of the city, all in a single pass from €37.
Bordeaux's Must-See Landmarks
1. Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d'eau
If Bordeaux has an icon, this is it. The 18th-century Place de la Bourse, designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, opens onto the Garonne with a symmetry that made it one of France's most photographed squares. Directly across from it lies the Miroir d'eau, a shallow reflecting pool that alternates between a perfect mirror image of the square and a fine mist effect, running from April to October. It's free, always open, and probably the first thing you should tick off.
2. The Grand Théâtre
Bordeaux's opera house is one of the most beautiful neoclassical theatres in Europe. Built in wood in 1780 by architect Victor Louis, it still functions as the home of the Opéra National de Bordeaux. The exterior is spectacular, but the real reason to come is the interior: a monumental staircase that inspired Charles Garnier's Paris Opera, and an all-blue-and-gold auditorium you view from a glass box during the tour.
Book a 50-minute guided tour of the Grand Théâtre, from €10, available in English on selected days.
3. Porte Cailhau
Built between 1493 and 1496 to celebrate Charles VIII's victory at the Battle of Fornovo, this medieval gate was Bordeaux's main entrance from the river for nearly two centuries. The climb to the top rewards you with a 23-metre panoramic view of the Garonne. Inside, interactive stations explain medieval Bordeaux floor by floor.
Book your Porte Cailhau ticket, €7, or visit free with the CityPass.
4. Cathédrale Saint-André and the Tour Pey-Berland
The 11th-century cathedral where Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future King Louis VII of France in 1137. Entry is free. Right next to it stands the Tour Pey-Berland, the cathedral's freestanding bell tower. Climb the 231 steps for one of the finest views over the city. Access is by timed ticket via pey-berland.fr, and the CityPass covers entry.
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5. The Flèche Saint-Michel
For our money, the best climb in Bordeaux. La Flèche is the freestanding bell tower of the Basilica of Saint-Michel, and at 114 metres it's the fourth-tallest bell tower in France. The panoramic terrace sits at 47 metres, with 230 steps to reach it and a genuinely different view: the whole historic centre, the Port de la Lune, the Pont de Pierre and the Bassin à flot beyond.
Book your Flèche Saint-Michel ticket, €7, or visit free with the CityPass.
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Museums and Cultural Highlights
1. La Cité du Vin
Not a wine museum in the usual sense. La Cité du Vin is an interactive cultural centre dedicated to wine as a global phenomenon, housed in a striking building shaped like a decanter on the Bacalan waterfront. The permanent exhibition takes about two hours and includes a tasting on the top-floor belvedere, with a 360-degree view of the city. Included in the CityPass.
2. Les Bassins des Lumières
An immersive digital art centre inside a former German submarine base from World War II. The concrete pens are filled with monumental projections covering the walls, ceilings and the surface of the water. Overwhelming in the best sense, and one of the most photographed experiences in the city. One exhibition included with the CityPass.
3. The Classical Museums
Bordeaux has a strong museum scene for a city of its size, and the CityPass covers most of the essentials:
• Musée d'Aquitaine: regional history from prehistory to the present.
• Musée des Beaux-Arts: European painting from the 16th to the 20th century.
• CAPC Musée d'Art Contemporain: contemporary art in a spectacular 19th-century warehouse.
• Musée Mer Marine: the story of maritime Bordeaux.
Wine: The Essential Bordeaux Experience
You cannot come to Bordeaux and skip the wine. The region produces roughly 700 million bottles a year across 65 appellations, and the châteaux are only a short drive from the city.
1. A Day Trip to the Vineyards
The best way to visit if you don't have a car. Small-group excursions leave Bordeaux for Saint-Émilion, the Médoc, Graves or Sauternes, with transport, château visits and tastings included. Half-day tours start at €55, full-day tours around €99.
Browse wine tours departing from Bordeaux.
2. Direct Château Visits
If you have a car, book directly with the châteaux for longer visits and more personal contact with the winemakers. Options range from Grand Cru Classé estates in the Médoc to family-run properties in Entre-deux-Mers.
How to Explore the City
1. Walking Tour of the Historic Centre
Bordeaux is flat, compact and UNESCO-listed across the entire Port de la Lune historic centre. Our two-hour guided walking tour covers the essentials and runs year-round with an English-speaking guide. One walking tour is included in the CityPass.
Book the Bordeaux walking tour, from €13.
2. The Hop-on Hop-off Visiotour Bus
A 24-hour open-top double-decker bus with 10 stops, an audio guide in eight languages, and a children's commentary. Practical for covering the Bacalan district (Cité du Vin, Bassins des Lumières) on your own schedule.
Book the Visiotour Hop-on Hop-off, from €22, discounted with the CityPass.
3. The Electric Touristic Train
The gentlest way to see Bordeaux, and the best option for families with young children. A 40-minute loop with commentary in French and English, departing from the Quinconces esplanade.
Book the electric touristic train, from €10, included in the CityPass (seasonal).
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4. River Cruises on the Garonne
Bordeaux earned its nickname Port de la Lune from the crescent-shaped curve of the Garonne through the city. A commented cruise (1h30) takes you along the quays, under the Pont de Pierre and past the Cité du Vin.
Browse river cruises and boat tours.
Neighbourhoods Worth Wandering
Saint-Pierre, the medieval heart of Bordeaux, is the most atmospheric district for a walk with no plan: narrow pedestrian streets, small squares, cafés on every corner.
Chartrons, historically the wine merchants' quarter, is today the city's antiques and design district, with a Sunday morning market along the quays.
Saint-Michel, the most authentic and multicultural district in central Bordeaux, is home to the Marché des Capucins, the city's main food market.
La Bastide and Darwin, across the Pont de Pierre on the right bank, offer the best view of the historic centre and Bordeaux's alternative hub: skate park, street art, and a large organic market on Sundays.
Beyond the City
If you have more than 48 hours, don't spend all of them in Bordeaux itself.
Saint-Émilion (45 minutes by train, or a full day on an organised tour) is a UNESCO-listed medieval village surrounded by vineyards, with a spectacular monolithic underground church.
The Bassin d'Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat (one hour by train), Europe's tallest sand dune at 106 metres, offers an extraordinary view of the pine forest, the ocean and the bassin.
The Médoc wine route runs north along the Gironde estuary, past the great classified estates of Margaux, Pauillac and Saint-Julien.
Explore day trips into the vineyards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bordeaux worth visiting?
Yes. Bordeaux's entire historic centre, the Port de la Lune, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, the second-largest urban UNESCO zone in the world after Venice. Two or three days is the sweet spot for a first visit.
How many days do you need in Bordeaux?
Two days is the minimum for the city itself. Three days lets you add a day trip to the vineyards or the Bassin d'Arcachon. Five days gives you the full picture.
Is Bordeaux a walkable city?
Extremely. The historic centre is flat, compact and largely pedestrianised. You can walk from the Grand Théâtre to the Basilica of Saint-Michel in under 25 minutes.
What is the best time to visit Bordeaux?
May, June, September and early October offer the best combination of weather, open attractions and manageable crowds. July and August are hot and lively. November to March is quiet, with some seasonal experiences closed.
Is the Bordeaux CityPass worth it?
If you plan to visit two or more monuments or museums and use public transport, yes. The 48h version at €48 is the most popular. Full details and savings calculator here.
Can you visit vineyards from Bordeaux without a car?
Yes, easily. Small-group wine tours depart daily from Bordeaux, and trains run directly to Saint-Émilion in around 40 minutes. Browse wine tours here.
