You finally treated yourself with a dream weekend trip to visit Bordeaux France but you know nothing about the city, what to visit or even how to move around? This blog post covers everything from all the Bordeaux must visit to the best time to visit Bordeaux region.
After your week in the french capital exploring the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, best parks in Paris to the secret non touristy things to do in Paris, you’d like to visit another iconic french city?
Before jumping into the two days in Bordeaux itinerary, here’s a map with the main points of interest as well as a little Q&A with all the information you’ll need for a perfect and stress-free Bordeaux weekend with your partner, friends or family.
Is Bordeaux worth visiting?
If you landed on this blog, I guess it means you’re already aware of the beauty of this city. But in case you still need to be convinced : yes, there are many reasons to visit Bordeaux. It’s among the 10 biggest cities in France and is lucky enough to be located on the West Coast of France near the Atlantic Ocean.
The city itself has nice Haussmann looking buildings, historical places, alternative art, and obviously, excellent wine due to the multitude of famous Bordeaux wineries. Of course, during covid-free times, Bordeaux has loads of restaurants, bars and a vibrant nightlife.
What is Bordeaux France known for?
On your stay, you will soon see that there are tons of vineyards to visit near Bordeaux. Indeed, the thing Bordeaux is the most famous for is its incredible wine. However, the city also holds a massive historical and architectural heritage.
When to visit Bordeaux?
Ok, so now you decided you want to visit Bordeaux city and you’re all hyped! Let’s organise your weekend together. First, you want to know what is the absolute best time to visit Bordeaux right? You can take a city trip to Bordeaux anytime of the year. You can enjoy outdoor activities in the warm weather of the spring and summer, or do a nice romantic and gourmet trip during the chiller months. If you want to visit Bordeaux vineyards, May to October is the best time to visit Bordeaux France. September is the busiest month because of the grape harvest.
How many days to visit Bordeaux?
To have a full tour of the city and enjoy its restaurants and nightlife, you should visit Bordeaux in 2 days. If you’d like to go to nearby castles or beaches, you can add one or two days to the itinerary. But if you focus solely on the city center and don’t have much time, it’s also doable to visit Bordeaux in one day.
How to visit Bordeaux?
You can arrive to Bordeaux by car, by train at the railway Bordeaux Saint Jean or by plane at Bordeaux Merignac Airport. The city of Bordeaux itself is quite small and compact compared to other major french cities so you can do everything by foot. All points of interest are within walking distance. If you need to get around the region to do a Bordeaux wine visit for instance, there are many bus lines. You can also hitchhike very easily.
Places to visit Bordeaux : Dream 2 days itinerary
Yeah, we’re finally getting into the topic you came here for : what is the perfect itinerary for a weekend in Bordeaux ? Here’s a covid friendly itinerary that we did in March, right before the third french lockdown. It’s a mix between nature and the city, and you can obviously add restaurants and evening outings if there is no more curfew when you visit Bordeaux.
Visit Bordeaux region : First day in nature
Dune du Pilat
One of the best places to visit from Bordeaux is the Dune du Pilat. Located on the West Coast of France, under Bordeaux and below Biarritz, it is the tallest sand dune in Europe. The wind has formed this 135 hectare mountain of sand and is constantly pushing it back into the impressive forest.
Bordeaux to Dune du Pilat
You can get to Dune du Pilat by car from Bordeaux within 45 minutes. You can go to the railway Bordeaux Saint Jean and take the train 32 to Arcachon. From the Arcachon railway, the Baïa bus (line 1 towards Plage de la Salie) will drive you to the parking of the dune. Check the return bus times as there are not many of them. We personally hitchhiked to go back to Bordeaux to not waste time!
Dune du Pilat : what to know
To visit the dune du Pilat, you need to be prepared a bit. The Dune du Pilat is free but the parking is around 4€. I highly recommend checking the weather conditions and dress accordingly. The wind can get REALLY strong at the top of the dune and your clothes will be covered by sand. Well, it adds to the fun as long as you’re aware of it!
Parc de Majolan
This 20 hectare parc is located in Blanquefort, only a twenty minute ride from downtown Bordeaux. It’s the perfect place for a late afternoon date with your partner, friends or family. It’s home to a 4 hectare lake, artificial caves, a rock bridge, small paths…
Visit Bordeaux : Second day in the city
Jardin Public Bordeaux
Starting your Bordeaux walking tour at the Jardin Public is quite great because it is an ideally located. It is a bit outside the main points of interest but near the monument aux Girondins. You can enjoy a morning walk in the alleys of this peaceful garden. Locals like to come here to run, exercise or just chill.
Monument aux Girondins
This majestic and historic sculpture and fountain is located on the Place des Quinconces. It is a tribute to the french patriots who died during the french revolution. You can walk all around to see it from different angles and have a picnic in the garden area.
Miroir d’Eau
The Miroir d’eau is the largest reflecting pool of the world. It’s 3,450 square meters covered with water and you see the buildings reflecting on it.
It was created 20 years ago and quickly become the city’s main attraction. It’s also ideally located : it’s a ten minute walk from the last spot, Monument aux Girondins. However, be aware they choose not to spread water during the pandemic.
Porte Cailhau
Right after the Miroir d’eau, the Porte Cailhau is the gate that relies the Garonne river docks to the historical city center. It is one of the rare vestiges of the medieval times and it’s the best entrance to the Old town charming streets.
Pont de Pierre
After visiting the Old town and the left bank docks of Bordeaux, you can take the Pont de Pierre to the right bank of the Garonne river.
This bridge has a quite unique story ; its construction began in 1808, when french soldiers couldn’t find a bridge to cross the river. Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the construction of the Pont de Pierre and the rumors say it has 17 arches to match the number of letters in the Emperor’s name.
Darwin ecosystem
Bike all along the right bank of the river on the beautiful landscaped gardens on the docks, until the Darwin ecosystem in the Bastide district. Darwin is like an alternative village of the future, in the middle of the right bank of Bordeaux. It is a place where everyone can express freely.
This was a former military barracks composed of hangars and big spaces. It is now an ecological rehabilitated small “village” that welcomes everyone : graffiti artists, skaters, organic food lovers and overall, alternative vibe fans. Darwin is for everyone and everything. It is the workplace of some people, and the favorite outing spot of others. People come there to have fun, buy second hand clothes at Emmaüs, brunch on Sundays, buy organic food or drink a locally brewed beer.
Honestly, this place was so cool we could’ve stayed there for hours! So if you’re not in a hurry and it’s sunny, you can take your time and enjoy this little corner of paradise with a beer and organic burger.
All the surroundings are quite nice to stroll in too. You can see families and friends walking around, people having a footing or all kinds of outdoors activities.
If you like this kind of places, I recommend the alternative art of Freetown Christiania, a neighborhood in Copenhagen.
Cité du Vin
After your stroll in Darwin and all the right bank of the Garonne river, you can take the Jacques Chaban Delmas Bridge to join back the left bank.
This bridge is an attraction on its own because it’s a vertical lift bridge, the tallest one in Europe actually. It’s also the best place to admire the futuristic building of the Cité du Vin.
Chartrons Bordeaux
After crossing the Jacques Chaban Delmas Bridge and visiting the Cité du Vin, you can finish your day peacefully with a nice stroll along the Garonne river on the Chartrons docks.
There are tons of small shops and restaurants. It’s basically an on going terrace following the river, where people can relax, have lunch or have a drink. There are also several animated skateparks.
Places to visit from Bordeaux
If you wonder what to visit around Bordeaux other than the not so famous Dune du Pilat, be reassured !
There are plenty of cute towns to visit near Bordeaux : Saint Macaire for its south village vibes, Arcachon and its famous Dune du Pilat or Cadillac for this old Château des Ducs d’Épernon…
If you’re a wine lover, you can also easily visit st Emilion from Bordeaux by train in just 35 minutes. There really are loads of places to visit near Bordeaux France.
Bordeaux hotel : Where to stay in Bordeaux?
Here comes one of the most exciting part of travelling : the choice of the accommodation. Are you more of a hostel type of backpacker or an all inclusive massage resort? You can find both in Bordeaux. A
s it was my boyfriend’s birthday weekend, we opted for the nice three stars Au Comté d’Ornon Hotel & Spa. It’s located in Gradignan and it’s the perfect place for a romantic getaway.
There is a spa and relaxation area with a sauna, jacuzzi and even a massage room. The location is a bit far from Bordeaux but ideal if you want to stay in a calm area and near the airport.
The rooms are well designed and fully furnished. The hotel has its own restaurant and chef so the menu is filled with delicious dishes for dinner and a very complete all-you-can-eat buffet for breakfast.
We were offered coffees, teas, fruit juices, milk, cereals, pancakes, bacon, eggs, fruit salads, cream cheese, sausages, delicatessen, dried fruits, pastries… A real complete brunch to start the day off!
🇫🇷 To read next: do they speak English in France?
Visit Bordeaux: final thoughts
I hope you enjoyed this weekend in Bordeaux guide! If you wish to keep this trip going in all the south of France or even in Europe but you’re not sure if your budget is big enough, I recommend checking out those 34 Ways to Travel with No Money that ALL Work.
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