Beautiful Bordeaux: the best sights and tips for the wine capital of Europe🍷

Idyllically situated on the Garonne, Bordeaux offers its visitors plenty of variety in a small area. Bordeaux only has around 260,000 inhabitants, but that makes it perfect for a city trip. This is because you can often explore most of the sights one after the other on foot.

The old town district of Saint-Pierre in particular, but also Saint-Jean, Saint-Michel and Sainte-Croix form the historic heart of Bordeaux, where you can explore most of the sights on foot. The facades of the houses here were redesigned in the 18th century as part of extensive urban renewal and have given Bordeaux a very noble, classicist appearance ever since. Bordeaux is often referred to as “little Paris”.

Bacalan in the north was once a port and industrial center, but is now an urban, gentrified district with living space, culture and leisure. Not only will you find lots of cool hotels here, but also hip clubs and some of the coolest sights in the city with the Cité du Vin, the Bassin des Lumières and the submarine complex.

La Bastide on the right bank of the Garonne offers many green spaces, a botanical garden and many residential and cultural projects that are well worth exploring. It’s also a great place to cycle along.

You can either explore all the sights in these districts on foot or book a hop-on hop-off ticket on the red double-decker bus:

• The trip to the city’s most important sights
• The ticket is valid for 1 or 2 days (you can specify the duration of the pass when purchasing it)
• And during this time you can get on and off wherever you want.

But enough of the introductory words. Below you will find the best sights in Bordeaux. The list is organized by distance, so that you could visit them all one after the other on a city tour.

Accommodation in Bordeaux

It’s best to look for a hotel near the city center so that you can explore all the sights as easily as possible. Here are 3 different hotels that I have stayed in myself and which are all very suitable for a city trip to Bordeaux:

In the north in Bacalan: Moxy Bordeaux – Perfectly located next to the Centre du vin and the Bassin des Lumières. The Darwin Eco System is also only 10 minutes away by bike. The Moxy is also very modern and there is even a climbing facility in the inner courtyard with garden.

Right in the center: Mama Shelter Bordeaux Centre – This design hotel is located in the heart of the old town and also has a rooftop bar on the 6th floor. Rooms are available in various sizes and 2 interconnecting rooms can be booked for families.

South of the center: Appart’hôtel Victoria Garden Bordeaux Centre ***: Good location just south of the center in the Nansouty district and perfect if you are traveling by car. There is a secure parking lot here. You can walk to the city center in about 15 minutes.

How long to stay in Bordeaux?

Bordeaux is quite compact, but has a lot to offer. So that you can see everything at your leisure and still have time for one or two trips to the surrounding wine country, I recommend 3 to 4 nights (one of which could be outside Bordeaux). If you only want to visit the old town and the top sights within Bordeaux, then 2 nights are enough.

1. Cité du vin

A visit to the permanent exhibition at the Cité du vin is an absolute must-do in Bordeaux, especially but not only for wine lovers. It was also one of the highlights of my Bordeaux city trip.

You will learn all about the different types of wine and wine-growing regions worldwide, but also specifically about the wines of the Bordeaux region and why the city became rich with them. You will learn everything from cultivation to transportation and consumption.

I have never learned so much about wine as quickly as I did in this exhibition. And it was fun too.

Matthias

I really liked the many interactive videos and in general there are many very well-made interactive elements that will appeal to all your senses.

The price of €22 is justified in my opinion and you need about 2-3 hours to see everything once. But you should actually plan for 4-5 hours if you are really interested and want to learn as much as possible. At the end of the exhibition, there is also a wine tasting on the top floor.

2. Bassin des Lumières in the historic submarine base

Just a few minutes’ walk from the Cite du vin, the Bassins des Lumières is located in a former submarine facility from the Second World War. It is a digital museum with immersive exhibitions. Works of art are projected onto large screens and the water. The whole thing is very spectacular and is also enhanced with music and visual effects.

It is also exciting to walk on footbridges through the impressive architecture of the submarine base. The facility is so large that the Bassin des Lumières is the world’s largest center for digital art.

3. Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas

The Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas is a rather impressive lift bridge over the Garonne, which was completed in 2013 and has been part of the Bordeaux skyline ever since. It is 575 meters long and connects the districts of Bacalan and La Bastide.

The central lift segment is 117 meters long and can be raised to a height of 53 meters in just 11 seconds. If you’re lucky, you can see it in action, but the lift events only take place at scheduled times, which you can view online here.

4. Darwin Eco-système

The Darwin Eco-système is an innovative, urban cultural location on the site of a former military barracks.

A number of start-ups and coworking spaces have settled here. But there are also organic restaurants, social projects, artists’ studios and urban sports and cultural facilities.

You can here e.g:

• skate in a large indoor skate park,
• take part in yoga classes in the Bivouac wellness area,
• take a look at the ideas of the Experimental Urban Agriculture Zone on new forms of agriculture in densely populated urban areas,
• Attend a cooking school at La Source Darwin,
• or simply wander around the grounds and explore the ingenious street art. That was also the highlight of my visit.

5. Pont de Pierre

The Pont de Pierre is the oldest and probably best-known bridge in Bordeaux. It was planned during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The bridge is not only a great photo opportunity (especially in the evening when the lanterns light up), but also one of the most popular sunset spots in Bordeaux.

6. Porte Cailhau

The Porte Cailhau was the city’s most important gate for a long time in the Middle Ages. It was built around 1495 along the city wall, which no longer exists. Today, it is a listed monument that you can also visit from the inside for €7 admission.

Due to its central location between the river, port and old town, the gate was already of particular importance to pilgrims in the Middle Ages. Part of the Way of St. James, or more precisely the Via Turonensis, runs through Bordeaux. You can still recognize the path today by the bronze floor plates and the scallop shell symbols and you can also follow it.

7. Basilica of Saint-Michel

The Basilica of Saint-Michel is a historical monument and was built in the 14th and 15th centuries in the late Gothic style. It is considered an important stop on the Way of St. James (Via Turonensis).

Both the basilica and the tower can be visited daily in high season.

8. Church of Ste-Croix

The Sainte-Croix church was originally part of a Benedictine monastery which, according to tradition, was founded in the Merovingian period (7th century). Unlike the other churches in the city, this one is an example of Romanesque architecture.

9. Grosse Gloche

The Grosse Gloche (or Great Bell) is one of the oldest bell towers in France and one of the most famous sights in Bordeaux. The tower was once part of the old town hall and also served as a prison. The bell itself weighs around 7,750 kg and is only rung 6 times a year on special occasions.

You can visit the tower for an entrance fee of €6.

In addition to the historic passageway, I also found the area around Grosse Gloche cool. There are lots of lively streets and colorful squares with cafés and cool hipster stores, such as Place Fernand Lafargue.

In addition to lots of graffiti, you can also discover a few special art objects in the area, such as a crosswalk in rainbow colors or a car sticking halfway out of a parking deck.

10. Librairie La nuit des rois

Countless books as well as comics, mangas, records, old postcards and posters can be found in the second-hand book store Librairie La nuit des rois. This store almost has the historical charm of an antique store.

Some of the books reach up to the ceiling and can only be reached with a ladder. It’s great fun just browsing through the shelves here, even if most of the books are only available in French.

11. Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux

In my opinion, the Saint-André Cathedral in Bordeaux is the most impressive church building in the city and is often regarded as the most important historical monument in Bordeaux. You can already discover many details on the exterior façade. The north portal and royal portal entrances are particularly worth seeing.

The cathedral is open daily, but not between 12:00 and 14:00.

12. Tour Pey-Berland

The Pey-Berland Tower stands right next to the Cathedral of Saint-Andre de Bordeaux. It is a 66-metre high, freestanding bell tower in an extravagant Gothic style. It actually belongs to the church, but was built separately to protect the cathedral from vibrations from the bells.

You can climb it for €9 and have a great view of the city and Saint-André Cathedral from the top.

There are 2 viewing platforms:

• In the first, there are a few display boards with information about the surrounding area and the history of Bordeaux
• From the 2nd terrace you have an even better view over the rooftops of the city.

13. Musée des beaux-arts de Bordeaux

The Musée des beaux-arts de Bordeaux (MusBA) is just a stone’s throw from the cathedral. In this thoroughly modernized museum, you can admire paintings from the 17th to the 20th century, including originals by Picasso, Rubens and Matisse, for an entrance fee of just €8.

14. Rooftop Bar: MAMA ROOFTOP BORDEAUX

If you need a bit of relaxation from all the sightseeing in Bordeaux, then this rooftop bar in the middle of the old town is a good idea. Not only do you get delicious cocktails and tapas here, but you also have a great view over the city from the 6th floor of the building. A DJ often plays music to accompany your rooftop visit.

15. Place de la Bourse and Miroir d’eau

The Place de la Bourse dates back to Bordeaux’s 18th century heyday. During this time, the city became rich through the wine trade with Great Britain. And you can see that here too. The uniformly designed facades, magnificent columns and decorative triangular gables testify to elegance and class.

There is always a lot going on here at the Miroir d’eau, a water mirror that was only built in 2006. Especially on hot days, there are countless children frolicking in the water, which makes it difficult to take a picture of the reflection of the square. But the many tourists try anyway.

16. Place de la Comédie and Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux

The Place de la Comédie in Bordeaux is an important square in the heart of the city. It was built on a former Roman forum and is also home to the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, which stands out for its impressive façade with its twelve Corinthian columns and twelve statues. It is home to the National Opera of Bordeaux.

17. Monument aux Girondins

The Girondists were a group of deputies who were executed during the French Revolution in 1793. This impressive monument commemorates them with its 54-metre-high column and a monumental fountain, which is particularly impressive in the evening when illuminated. A total of 34 figures adorn this complex.

The square around the monument, the Place des Quinconces, which extends to the riverbank, is the largest square in Europe. Events such as fairs and sporting events take place here all year round.

18. CAPC Museum of Contemporary Art of Bordeaux

The CAPC exhibits over 700 works of art created since the 1970s, such as photographs, paintings, drawings, sculptures and installations, on three floors.

If you are not a fan of modern art, at least the old building, a warehouse from the early 19th century, is an eye-catcher. The entrance fee is €8.

19. The Garonne

The Garonne flows through the middle of Bordeaux and was once an important inland river for trade. A lot of life still takes place along this river. It is therefore worth booking a boat tour.

You will learn more about the history of the city and discover many of the sights from the river.

20. Wine adventure in Saint Emilion

If the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the center of Bordeaux is not enough for you, then visit another one. The village of Saint-Emilion in the east of Bordeaux and its 7 neighboring villages are another World Heritage Site. This is mainly due to the vineyard landscape, which has been cultivated here for centuries in harmony with the natural environment. A total of 5,000 hectares of vineyards with countless châteaux can be discovered here, which is why the region is often referred to as the land of 1000 châteaux.

You can easily reach Saint-Emilion by rental car, but the easiest way is to take a guided tour from Bordeaux. These usually also include wine tastings:

• From Bordeaux: Wine tasting in Saint-Emilion in the afternoon
• Day trip to St-Emilion with tastings and lunch
• Half-day Saint-Emilion Wine Tour

But there are also a few shorter tours on site:

• Grand Cru Classé winery visit and tasting (1 hour)

But it’s also great if you simply stroll through the winding alleyways of Saint-Emilion, climb the church tower to enjoy the view over the countryside (you can get the key to the tower from the tourist office next door), or enjoy the wine in one of the countless wine bars.

21. Visit a wine region around Bordeaux

There are 3 major wine regions around Bordeaux, which in turn consist of different areas:

• Medoc
• Graves et Sauternes
• Entre-Deux-Mers

This wine-growing region is larger than all the wine regions in the whole of Greece. So you have a huge choice:

Graves et Sauternes – South of Bordeaux on the left bank of the Garonne. Graves produces high-quality red and white wines. Sauternes is famous for its noble sweet white wines. Every morning a mist is created here, which ensures that a special fungus can thrive on the vines, which draws the liquid out of the grapes and thus provides the sweetness.

Entre-Deux-Mers is the “land between the waters” because it lies between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. The region is particularly known for its fresh, dry white wines, but red wines are also produced,

The Medoc , on the peninsula in the west of Bordeaux, has only existed since the 18th century. Today, the region is known for its “Grand Cru Classé” red wines. 5 châteaux in this region have Premiers Crus (first class):

• Château Lafite Rothschild
• Château Latour
• Château Margaux
• Château Mouton Rothschild (since 1973)
• Château Haut-Brion

Various providers will take you to the most famous regions and there are wine tastings everywhere. You should take a whole day for this:

• All-day wine experience in Saint-Emilion and Medoc
• Full-day tour through the Medoc

22. Overnight stay in a château in one of the wine regions

In most châteaux, you can book a guided tour and wine tasting with a reservation. However, there are also a few wineries that offer overnight stays. This in itself is a highlight of a vacation in this region and is often not as expensive as you might think. Such an overnight stay is particularly great for couples.

I myself have stayed in 2 different châteaux in the Medoc and the Sauternes. Both overnight stays were outstanding and I can absolutely recommend them.

Château Meyre

Château Meyre is a rather small winery that specializes in organic viticulture. It offers all its wines in organic quality. The rooms with their colorful wallpaper are reminiscent of the old stately times of the castle. There is a delicious breakfast that you can also enjoy in the garden. A swimming pool is also part of the complex.

On request, you can take a guided tour of the castle grounds and taste the estate’s wines at a wine tasting.

Château Sigalas-Rabaud

Château Sigalas-Rabaud is a famous wine estate in the Sauternes wine region, known for its fine, sweet wines. It is the smallest of the Premier Grand Cru Classé wine estates and one of the few in this region that is still family-owned. The lady of the house will probably still welcome you here personally. This was also the case during my visit.

You will sleep in spacious rooms in the middle of the vineyards and there is also a beautiful garden with a pool. Your stay also includes a guided tour of the grounds followed by a wine tasting. A great buffet with local products is offered for breakfast.

23. Visit the Dune de Pilat

Once you’re in Bordeaux, you’re not far from one of the most impressive natural sights in France. The Dune de Pilat is the highest shifting sand dune in Europe. It is around 3 km long, 600 meters wide and up to 115 meters high.

If you walk a little further than most tourists, who often linger right at the entrance to the dune by the stairs, then it feels a bit like walking through the desert and seeing a Fatamorgana in the distance with the spectacular bay of Arcachon.

There are tours from Bordeaux that will take you to the Dune de Pilat and you can easily book them online:

• Tour to the Dune de Pilat and the neighboring village of Arcachon (6 hours)
• Sunset on the Dune de Pilat

As you can see, Bordeaux is a perfect city for a weekend city trip, but there is also much more to do in the surrounding region. What were your highlights in Bordeaux? I look forward to your comment.