4 Days In Bordeaux: The Best Itinerary For First-Timers
Bordeaux is quickly becoming one of the most popular places to visit in France. The city offers an authentic French experience, with stunning architecture, a laid-back atmosphere, and delicious cuisine.
With 4 days in Bordeaux, you’ll have enough time to see all the main tourist attractions and go on day trips in the region.
I live in Bordeaux, so I’ve crafted a perfect 4 day Bordeaux itinerary that takes you around the city and this unique oceanside region dotted with vineyards.
Here’s the only itinerary you’ll need for this trip!
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Day 1: Bordeaux Highlights
On the first day in Bordeaux, you’ll discover a UNESCO-listed historic center.
Bordeaux Guided Tour
The easiest way to hit all the must-see spots is to join a guided tour.
You can join a free walking tour (I love these as the price is not fixed and you pay as much as you can) or a bike tour!
Bordeaux bike tours are a fun way to cover more ground and explore the city like a local. Cycling is the most popular way to get around the city and there are bike lanes everywhere!
Place de la Bourse and Miroir d’Eau
If you’re exploring the city on your own, start with the most iconic spot in the city – Place de la Bourse.
Miroir d’Eau is a shallow reflective pool across the street from Place de la Bourse, and you can see the historic buildings reflecting in it.
However, if you visit Bordeaux in summer, you won’t see much reflection as Miroir d’Eau is very popular with small kids splashing around in the water.
Admire the view from Porte Cailhau
There are 6 historic gates of Bordeaux and Porte Calihau is the most beautiful. The gate looks like a small castle with its many towers!
You can simply admire the gate from the outside, or explore the interior and enjoy a fantastic view from the second floor.
A visit to the viewing platform of Porte Cailhau is included in the Bordeaux City Pass!
Wander the historic center
The entire city center of Bordeaux is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, making it the largest urban area in the world to be recognized as such!
Some of my favorite walking streets in Bordeaux are Rue du Parlement, Place du Parlement, Rue de la Porte Dijeaux, and Course de l’Intendance.
Rue Sainte Cathrine is the longest pedestrian street in Europe, but it is also the main shopping street in Bordeaux and can get very busy.
Visit Le Grand-Théâtre
Grand-Théâtre is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, especially its interior.
You can visit its majestic foyer for free, but you’ll have to get a guided tour to see the rooms and learn about the history of the building.
Place de Quinconces and Chartrons
Cross the largest square in Bordeaux, Place de Quinconces into the charming neighborhood of Chartrons.
It is a picturesque area with small local shops and restaurants, popular with locals. You’ll also notice it’s significantly calmer than the Saint Pierre area.
Have a picnic in Jardin Public
My main issue with Bordeaux is the lack of green spaces, but Jardin Public makes up for it! This beautiful park is a great place to take a break from sightseeing and have a picnic.
If picnics are not your thing, you can have lunch in one of the places in the area. The city center of Bordeaux has an abundance of trendy lunch spots!
See Palais Gallien
Many people don’t know that Bordeaux used to be a Roman settlement!
Unfortunately, not many monuments from that period survive to this day, but you can still visit Palais Gallien, the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater.
The ruins are visible from outside for free, but you’ll have to get a ticket if you want to get inside and learn more about it.
See the Immersive Exhibition in Les Bassins des Lumières
Do you know that scene in Emily in Paris where they admire the painting projected on the entire room?
You can have the same experience at the immersive exhibition in Les Bassins des Lumières!
It is also a fantastic thing to do in Bordeaux when it rains.
Learn about wine in Cite du Vin
Bordeaux is also known as the city of wine, and the best way to learn about all the different wine varieties in the region is in the Cite du Vin museum.
Recognizable for its unique modern architecture, this wine museum is a must-visit for every wine lover.
The best part is that the entry includes a glass of regional wine of your choice!
Day 2: Bordeaux Hidden Gems
On your second day in Bordeaux, you’ll continue exploring the historic center of Bordeaux.
You could move your days around and take a day trip today, it doesn’t really make much difference. However, if you took 24 or 48h Bordeaux City Pass, you’ll want to stay in the city today.
Browse Marché des Capucins
Start the day with a visit to the largest local farmer’s market in Bordeaux.
This lively market is a great place to observe the locals going on about their day, getting fresh produce, and meeting up for a quick bite in one of the many food stalls.
Visit Saint Michel Basilica
Next up, head to Saint Michel Basilica. This gothic basilica has been under renovation for quite some time, but you can still visit and admire its interior.
If you visit Bordeaux on a weekend, the square in front of the basilica turns into an open-air market and makes for quite an interesting place to browse.
On Saturdays, there’s a farmer’s market; on Sundays, it’s a flea market.
See Grosse Cloche
You visited the most beautiful gate of Bordeaux yesterday, but I’d say Grosse Cloche is a very close second.
This gate recognizable for the massive clock and bell dates back to the 18th century. It was built as a defensive gate but it also served as a prison at one point in history.
It is also possible to visit the monument, but they have very limited opening hours and require you to reserve the tour in advance.
This is also a perfect opportunity to grab a coffee and breakfast in one of the cafes in Rue Saint James.
It is one of the most picturesque streets in the city, and the best spots for a quick snack are Books & Coffee and Cassonade.
Visit Musée d’Aquitaine
If you visit one museum in Bordeaux, I would recommend Musée d’Aquitaine.
This regional museum provides a glimpse into the history of the region from the pre-historic to modern times.
I had an idea of Bordeaux’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, but I couldn’t have imagined how much it impacted the city!
Climb Pey Berland Tower
The viewing platform of the Pey Berland Tower offers the best panoramic views of Bordeaux.
This 15th-century bell tower is built in Gothic style and detached from Bordeaux Cathedral. While the Cathedral is free to visit, you’ll have to get a ticket to climb the tower.
Visit Darwin Eco Center and Botanical Garden
It’s time to cross the river and explore the less visited right bank of Garrone.
To be fair, the right side of the river is mostly residential, and there aren’t many tourist attractions.
The promenade along the river is greener and calmer than the left side of the river, and very popular with runners.
You can visit the Botanical Garden. It is not the largest, but most of the outside exhibition is free for visitors.
Another popular local spot is Darwin. It is an interesting place to visit and see how this former military building was transformed into an eco-friendly and sustainable venue.
Watch the sunset from Pont de Pierre
Depending on the time of year you visit Bordeaux, you can grab dinner first or watch the sunset. The sun sets pretty late in Bordeaux, around 9:30 PM in the summer.
Regardless of when you visit, the best spot to watch the sunset in Bordeaux is across the Pont de Pierre Bridge.
With many spots to watch the sunset, wine bars, and secluded restaurants, Bordeaux is easily one of the most romantic places in France!
Day 3: Day Trip to Saint-Emilion
When you think of Bordeaux, you probably think of wine.
It’s no surprise that wine tourism is booming in Bordeaux, and the best way to enjoy it is to visit vineyards in one of the surrounding wine regions.
If you can only visit one, I suggest going to Saint-Emilion.
This picturesque medieval village surrounded by vineyards makes for one of the best Bordeaux day trips even if you don’t drink wine!
There are three ways to get to Saint Emilion from Bordeaux: driving, public transport, or wine tasting tour.
Wine-Tasting Tour
If you’re going to the vineyards for wine tasting, which I highly recommend, you don’t want to drive back to Bordeaux.
The best way to enjoy wine tasting in the region is by joining a wine-tasting tour from Bordeaux!
As winemaking is one of the main industries in the region, there’s no shortage of tours to choose from and this tour also includes a picnic and a visit to a castle!
Saint Emilion by public transport
The village of Saint Emilion is also easy to reach by public transport from Bordeaux.
You can take a train or a regional bus – I recommend the train if you’re not on a strict budget as it is much quicker.
Once you get to Saint Emilion train station you’ll have to walk for about 20 minutes to the village. The walk is very pleasant and you’ll see your first vineyards very quickly!
There are many things to do in Saint Emilion including visiting the Monolithic Church of Saint-Emilion and King’s Tower.
Also, the village is beautiful and I loved wandering the cobblestone streets looking for the most picturesque spots.
Day 4: Day Trip to the Ocean
Did you know that Bordeaux is situated just an hour away from the ocean?
While Bordeaux is hardly a coastal town unless you consider the riverside to be the coast too, you can hop on a train or a bus and dip your toes in the ocean in no time!
You don’t need to rent a car unless you really want to visit Archachon and Lacanau in one day. They might look close on the map, but the connections are not the best.
Arcachon
The first stop of the day is Bordeaux’s beach town – Arcachon.
Take 1-hour train from Bordeaux Gare and you’ll get straight to the city center of Arcachon.
Arcachon is a popular summer destination with some of the best beaches in France, with locals flocking to the city daily to swim in the ocean.
While swimming is the main attraction in Arcachon, there are other things to do in the city too.
The town is divided into 4 quarters, and Ville d’Été is the area where the beach and the main shopping streets are.
I love the unique architecture of coastal houses and summer residences in Arcachon, and you should head to Ville d’Hiver to see them!
Another popular thing to do in Archachon is to take a boat tour to explore Arcachon Bay. You can buy a boat ticket at the departure point close to Jetée Thiers.
You can take a boat over to the other side of the bay and visit Cap Ferret, see the beautiful l’Île aux Oiseaux, and even go all the way to Dune du Pilat.
Dune du Pilat
Finally, you need to visit the highest sand dune in Europe – Dune du Pilat.
The dune is massive, and the first time I saw it I was amazed as I didn’t expect it to be THAT big.
Dune du Pilat is free to visit, and you can take a bus from the city center of Arcachon right to the entrance.
Alternatively, you can rent bikes in Arcachon and cycle to the dune! The drive takes about an hour following a dedicated bike lane running along the coast.
Once you climb to the top of the dune you’ll have a stunning view of the sea and the surrounding area, as it is the highest point around.
The dune is also a popular picnic spot where locals gather to watch the sunset. Bring a blanket and snacks to enjoy!
Where to stay in Bordeaux?
The best area to stay in Bordeaux is in the city center, as you’re close to all the tourist attractions and the train station for day trips.
Accommodation prices in Bordeaux can be steep in high season but don’t worry if staying in the hyper-center is not in your budget. There are great places around the city center too!
Bordeaux has a great public transport network, so you can quickly get everywhere as long as you’re close to the tram stop.
TOP Pick: Hotel La Zoologie & Spa Bordeaux
This beautiful hotel is situated in a historic building in Saint Michel, right in the middle of all the action, but still calm at night. It is also a great choice to reach the train station for day trips by train.
Luxury Option: Villas Foch Boutique Hotel
You’re spending 3 nights in Bordeaux, and this boutique hotel is the place you’ll want to return to at the end of the day.
It’s situated in the charming Chartrons neighborhood, right next to Jardin Public, and provides upscale accommodation complete with a luxurious spa.
Budget Option: Hôtel Life Bordeaux Gare
This hotel is a fantastic budget-friendly option, located just outside the main city center.
Its proximity to both the train station and a nearby tram stop makes it a great place to stay to explore Bordeaux while enjoying affordable accommodation.
How to get around Bordeaux?
The city center of Bordeaux is compact and walkable, and public transport is reliable and convenient to reach the airport, train station, or hotel.
While you can easily explore tourist attractions in the center on foot, depending on where you stay, you might have to use public transport multiple times a day.
A 1-hour public transport ticket is 1.90€, but you can also get a multi-day pass.
Public transport tickets are valid on trams, buses, and riverboats!
You can check all ticket options here.
Also, public transport is included in your Bordeaux city card, so you don’t have to worry about tickets if you get the card.
If you need a taxi, I suggest downloading Uber or Bolt. Both applications work great, and I prefer them over hailing a taxi on the street.
Finally, to get around Bordeaux like a local, consider renting a bike!
Bordeaux is a bike-friendly city with plenty of cycle paths, making it an enjoyable and efficient way to explore the city.
How to get to Bordeaux?
Bordeaux is well connected to most places in Europe, and you can easily reach it by plane, train, or bus.
If you’re already in France, the best way to get to Bordeaux is by train from Paris or flying from other major cities, like Lille, Lyon, or Strasbourg.
Traveling by bus in France is an affordable (and comfortable) option if the trip is under 4 hours long, so you can get a bus to Bordeaux from places like Toulouse, Nantes, or La Rochelle.
Bordeaux Airport offers many connections to cities all over Europe, and you can be in Bordeaux in less than 3 hours from over 80 destinations!
Bordeaux travel budget
So, how much does a 4-day trip to Bordeaux cost?
It depends! Bordeaux is not expensive, but costs can quickly add up.
Most travelers should expect to spend around 120€ per day in Bordeaux.
Your budget can be lower, especially if you’re traveling as a couple where you share accommodation prices, or higher if you want to treat yourself to finer hotels, organized day trips, and nice meals out.
Summary: Bordeaux 4-Day Itinerary
Bordeaux is a fantastic city to explore year-round, ideally situated close to the ocean and in the heart of the wine region.
With 4 days in Bordeaux, you’ll have enough time to explore the city’s main attractions and enjoy some of the most popular day trips in the surrounding region.
Most tourist attractions in Bordeaux are not weather-specific, so you’ll have plenty of things to do even if you visit Bordeaux in winter.
Whether you’re strolling the cobblestone streets, admiring the historic buildings along the river, or savoring a delicious meal paired with local wine, I’m sure you’ll love Bordeaux as much as I do!
