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Prefecture and commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Photo: Olivier Aumage, CC BY-SA 2.0 fr via Wikimedia Commons
Bordeaux is a city in the Gironde region of southwest France, standing on the River Garonne. It's the country's fifth largest city, with a population of 259,809 in 2020, and another million living in its associated towns. Bordeaux is famous for its wines and deserves to be equally famous for its magnificent neo-classical waterfront and old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Grand church built from 1170 in Gothic style. It was trashed during the Revolution but restored from 1803. You can climb the detached bell-tower "Pey-Berland".
An enlightening walk through the history of western art. Start in the south wing which runs from the Renaissance via the Flemish masters to end of 18th century. The north wing continues through the major 19th and early 20th-century art movements. Exhibitions are in the annexe, Galerie des Beaux-Arts, on Place du Colonel Raynal 200 m north.
National Customs Museum
Surprisingly informative museum of border control and customs, and their smuggler opponents, down the centuries. Signage only in French, non-francophones should get the audioguide.
Flamboyant Gothic church built from the 14th to 16th century, with detached bell-tower.
This was built in the 11th / 12th century as a Benedictine abbey church, and was renovated in the 19th.
Brilliant museum with exhibits from the Old Stone Age through Roman times to the early modern period.
CAPC
Remarkable building, the Entrepôt Lainé is a huge 19th warehouse for food imports. Most of the space is given over to changing exhibitions and installations (and prices are reduced whenever there isn't one). Display of the permanent collection also rotates.
History, old equipment and new technology from 2000 years of wine production in the region. The entry fee includes a taste of two wines. (grape juice for children)
Extensive museum of shipping and the sea.
Wartime submarine pens, now used for art installations.
Started as a garden of medicinal herbs in 1629, the present garden dates from 1858 and covers 0.5 ha. This is the original now specified as "du Jardin Publique". In 2003 an offshoot garden de la Bastide was opened across the river.
Extensive natural history museum on three floors.
Bar specialising in board games ancient and modern: you pay for either one long or three short games. Staff assist if you want to try a game you're not familiar with. They also stage tournaments.
Pleasant place for light bites and views of the basilica.
Good mezze and other Levantine fare.
As the name suggests, they serve rustic home-style cuisine.
Charming bistro a few steps from the cathedral.
Quirky sandwich cafe, generous portions, gets crowded.
Relaxed restaurant, then it morphs into a dad-dancing arena.
Great views of Pont de Pierre and the left riverbank. Good dining to match, they often host events.
A city institution, no reservations and you'll probably have a long wait in line. What you get is a walnut salad, two pieces of entrecôte steak and unlimited fries, plus dessert and wine. Most customers reckon it's worth the wait.
Mostly positive reviews for this bistro by the cathedral.
Delicious lunchtime couscous and tajine.
Food made with local products. Always vegetarian options.
Outstanding French / Oriental cuisine. The chef is Victor Ostronzec.
Great regional cuisine and friendly service in a bistro ambiance, try the corn-fed Landes fowl.
Great food and views in a building jutting over the water on stilts, reservations recommended.
English style pub with good drink and music, relaxed friendly vibe.
Latin bar serving inexpensive mojitos, and towards midnight it becomes a salsa dance floor.
English pub with micro-brewery in a 16th century women's prison, a popular gathering spot for live TV sports.
Atmospheric old bar with a huge selection of whiskies and Belgian beers.
Backyard
Originally from Lille this popular Taproom-restaurant is now in Bordeaux.
Craft beer bar
Auberge de la Jeunesse/Youth Hostel
Bordeaux's only hostel was refurbished in 2024. They have ten rooms with two beds, 17 with four and three with six. No access to rooms 11:00-16:00.
Basic chain offering, rooms are small but clean and comfy.
Great location within the station building.
The most disappointing of the set, rooms were too often grubby.
Quiet convenient chain offering.
Comfy but some street noise.
HBEO
Charming 18th-century hotel, with fine furnishings throughout the hotel, with mahogany furnishings and beech furniture. Close to the Grand Theatre and the Triangle d'Or.
Great comfort and service, and views of the Place des Quinconces.
Smart new hotel near the river, a 30-minute walk to the historic city center. There's also a food court nearby.
C'est une maison bleue
Lovely friendly 19th century guesthouse with garden, near universities and Victoire.
Le Grand Hotel
Five-star hotel by the opera house, run by IHG group. They're going for the old look, which in places feels a bit worn.
Comfy place with pool besides Bordeaux lake, near the Convention centre.
formerly Mercure
Smart business hotel on Quais near the congress centre.
By train
TGV trains speed hourly from Paris Montparnasse, taking just over two hours non-stop.
By bus
Flixbus runs from Paris Bercy Seine (7–8 hours, 4 per day), Toulouse (3 hours, 6 per day), Bayonne (2–3 hours, 3 per day), Lyon (7–8 hours, 2 per day), Nice (one per day, 12 hours) and Nantes (4-5…
By road
From the north (Paris, Tours, Poitier) follow the A10. From Toulouse to the SW take A62, from Bayonne take A63.
On foot
Although Bordeaux is a big city, the sights of interest are fairly close together in the old centre, and much of it is pedestrianised. A car here would be a handicap.
By bus
All public transport information is posted on the TBM website. Maps and times can also be easily accessed with Google Maps, just select route "By public transport" when getting directions.
By tram
There are several tram routes (, , , , E & F) crossing the city. Tickets and fares are the same as for the bus, with unlimited transfers within one hour. The three central crossing stops:
By ferry
) Ferries run every 45 min, 7 days a week, with the complete run taking 40 min. They're part of the TBM city transport system so tickets and tariffs are the same as for bus and tram.
By bicycle
V3 run the bike-share scheme in Bordeaux. You need to register online and pay a deposit, €140 for a standard bike and €200 for an e-bike. The minimum registration is one year, €33 as of Nov 2023.
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Bordeaux · International · BOD
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