//
Commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Photo: Schrodingers Mongoose, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Saint-Émilion is a small wine town located 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Bordeaux, between Libourne and Castillon-la-Bataille in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of Southwestern France. It is a medieval town in the Gironde department and stands magnificently on top of the hill overlooking the Dordogne valley. The town is an incredible open-air museum with a medieval atmosphere and has many bars, restaurants and wine shops to explore. The most surprising remains are probably its underground monuments: a unique monilithic church, and more than 70 hectares of underground excavations.
By train
Paris to Bordeaux takes three hours on the TGV high-speed train.
By bus
The bus service transgironde.gironde.fr from Bordeaux takes about twice as long as the train, and runs 3-4 daily trips.
By car
Saint-Émilion is a 35-40 minute drive from Bordeaux, which is in turn well connected to the French major highway network.
You can walk from one side of the town to the other in under 10 minutes. Large cars, vans and trucks are not allowed into the city and are encouraged to park about 10-15 minutes walk outside the town center.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Bordeaux · International · BOD
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Saint-Émilion and France.
Travel tipsUnderstand travel insurance for a Schengen visa in 2026. Learn mandatory €30,000 medical coverage, zero deductible rules, and embassy-approved policies.
7 min read
Travel tipsEstimate your Europe trip cost for 2 weeks in 2026. Compare realistic budgets for lodging, Eurail trains, dining, and sightseeing across three styles.
8 min read
Travel tipsSpot and avoid common tourist scams in Paris, including Montmartre string bracelets, petition clipboards, fake airport taxis, and metro fare traps.
9 min read
ItinerariesPlan the best day trips from Paris by train. Discover travel times, stations, fares, and tips for Versailles, Giverny, Reims, and Mont-Saint-Michel.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.