How to Spend One Day in Wine-Soaked Bordeaux

We love wine around here, so I’m honestly pretty shocked that it took us nearly two years of living in France to make it out to Bordeaux. 

This city is known for its easy access to the stuff, as it’s surrounded by opportunities to visit regions known for the best wine in the world.

Whether you’re just passing through before your wine tour — I’d highly recommend one! — or find yourself here on a road trip around France, Bordeaux is worth your time.

This is a city with impressive architecture, an excellent foodie scene, and yes, plentiful wine bars. We had a blast on a recent trip, and this itinerary for one day in Bordeaux shares the best of what we found.

Is one day in Bordeaux enough?

One day in Bordeaux is enough to see the city’s highlights. In a day, you can visit Cité du Vin, stroll the historic center, and drink some good wine.

If you want to explore the surrounding vineyards or do proper wine tours in Saint-Émilion or Médoc, plan at least two or three days in and around Bordeaux.

How to Spend a Day in Bordeaux

You can spend a day in Bordeaux like this:

• Do some learning at La Cité du Vin.
• Taste local goodies at Les Halles de Bacalan.
• Snap some pics at Miroir d’Eau.
• Walk across Pont de Pierre.
• See the Grosse Cloche and Rue Saint-James.
• Window-shop on Rue Saint-Catherine.
• Marvel at the Cathédrale Saint-André.
• Enjoy happy hour at Le Bar à Vin.
• Finish up with a delicious dinner.

One Day in Bordeaux

Don’t sleep in too hard to kick off this Bordeaux itinerary. Grab a quick treat and coffee over a full breakfast. I promise you’ll be fed well throughout the day.

We really liked Maison Lamour Judaïque for their baked goods. They have sandwiches and wraps available for picnic lunches if you’re planning something like that during your time here. Otherwise, you’ll want to start at your first stop when it opens, at 10am. 

Stop 1: La Cité du Vin

This is Bordeaux’s wine museum, and it’s a fun, interactive way to kick off your day in a region known for its wine. We didn’t need tickets in advance on a visit in September, but if you’re here in the summer months, it may be wise to nab them to avoid a potential line.

READ MORE: Planning summer travel in France? Steal my guide to avoid any blunders!

If you’re staying in the city center, you can take a tram (Line B) to the La Cité du Vin stop. Trams run every 5-10 minutes during the day. Tickets for Bordeaux’s trams, buses, and river shuttle boats can be purchased via the TBM app. 

Note: I’d suggest downloading the app before your trip to Bordeaux so you can get yourself registered. It’s valid for one hour with transfers. Don’t forget to validate your ticket by tapping your phone on the circular machines on any tram or bus as soon as you get on. You’ll need to tap again at any transfers within that hour, too.

You can easily spend three hours in this museum, and that’s before you even get to your tasting. Yep. Every ticket includes at least one tasting at The Bélvèdere, the panoramic bar on the eighth floor. You should do that last once you’ve seen all of the exhibits.

Take a look at some of what you’ll do while you’re at La Cité du Vin in the clip below:

If you want to try more than a glass, you can purchase a ticket for two tastings, too. Since we started our day here, one seemed like enough, but you do you.

I enjoyed learning about how subjective wine tasting really is at the interactive stations. They showcased the unique aromas and flavors different visitors experience in any single varietal.

Exhibits focused not only on Bordeaux, but wines and winemakers from around the world. There was one area where you could listen to growers from Australia, Slovenia, and Chile talking about their processes and grapes. 

As I mentioned already, you’ll finish up on the eighth floor for your tasting. If it’s a nice day, the bar up here offers some of the best views in the city. 

We actually lost our drink vouchers somewhere in the museum — we weren’t even drinking yet! — but the bartender was kind enough to pour us some wine anyway. Be better, though. Hold onto those tickets.

Stop 2: Les Halles de Bacalan

It’ll be well into lunchtime by the time you’re done with the Bordeaux wine museum. Luckily, the perfect food option is just across the street.

Les Halles de Bacalan, a modern indoor food market, has 20+ stalls for you to choose from, so it’s an excellent option for even the pickiest eater. 

Fun fact: This kind of place is my favorite, but it’s Brian’s nightmare, as he hates having so many choices. That’s love, people.

Brian and I shared a duck sandwich, croquettes, and a tuna poke bowl, so that should tell you something about how diverse the cuisine is here. We were traveling with my in-laws, and they got fish and chips and shrimp. I promise you’ll find something here you’ll like!

Several bars serving up beer, cocktails, and wine round out the experience in case you’d like to keep the party going. 

Stop 3: Miroir d’Eau

We were thinking about a water taxi from here, but the station was only going north at this time of day. (We had to go south.)

Boat service from here stops at the end of September, too, so your best bet is getting back on the tram (Line B) to return to the city center. 

Ride to the Grand Théâtre stop to visit the Place de la Bourse and Miroir d’Eau, one of Bordeaux’s most iconic spots and the world’s largest reflecting pool.

Snap your photos at the water mirror reflecting the 18th-century façade, then wait here for a few minutes to watch how it changes. The water goes down and then the mist comes on, which gives everything an eerie effect. 

You can see a clip of what it looks like below:

This place is also where you’ll find the Musée National des Douanes. While the exhibits are dry — it’s dedicated to artifacts related to French customs and trade — the building is impressive. 

Stop 4: Pont de Pierre (Napoleon Bridge)

You’re using your feet from here. If at any point it starts feeling like too much, though, get on your transit app and plug in where you’d like to go. This city is very well-connected, and rides are cheap. 

Walk to the Napoleon Bridge along the Garonne River. The bridge’s name is no lie. It was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte and completed in 1822 to link the left and right banks. 

Fun fact: Its 17 arches were designed to symbolize each letter in his name, because he wasn’t vain at all. Built on wooden piles driven into the riverbed, it was a major engineering feat of its time. 

One side of the bridge was closed for construction during our visit, but it didn’t ruin our fun. If you’d like to cross, there’s a nice church on the right bank, the Église Sainte-Marie-de-la-Bastide.  

It’s much more peaceful over here, and there’s a stained glass depiction of Saint Agnes inside. I didn’t know that before we walked over, so you can imagine my delight when I saw her.

Stop 5: Grosse Cloche and Rue Saint-James

Cross back over the bridge to continue your walking tour of Old Bordeaux. You’ll pass through Porte de Bourgogne, one of the city’s imposing medieval gates, on the way.

Continue another 10-15 minutes or so to the Gross Cloche, a bell tower that served as the city’s gateway and prison. Its massive bell, weighing over seven tons, still rings on special occasions. The clock didn’t seem to be keeping the right date and time, though.

Once you pass through Grosse Cloche, you’re on Rue Saint-James, one of the prettiest streets in Bordeaux’s historic center. Give one more look behind you at the Gross Cloche before you continue, as it’s quite impressive from either side.

One of the first shops you’ll pass here is Cassonade Cannelés & Spécialités.

There are many spots for canelé, a local specialty flavoured with rum and vanilla in town, but this is definitely a legit spot. Honestly, I can take or leave them, but you should taste them once to see how you feel.

Stop 6: Rue Saint-Catherine

Access Rue Sainte-Catherine from here, a major shopping street. As none of us needed to do any shopping, we didn’t spend a ton of time here, but it’s worth popping by to stroll down one of the longest pedestrian thoroughfares in Europe.

We had Snickelfritz in mind for a stockpile of donuts for the following morning, so we moved on quite quickly to get to the shop before it closed. 

If you like a good donut, these are delicious. Just note that you won’t have all of the options available to you this late in the day. If you want their pumpkin-flavored in the fall, for example, start here in the morning!

Stop 7: Cathédrale Saint-André 

Cathédrale Saint-André on Place Pey-Berland is a striking example of Gothic architecture, begun in the 12th century and completed over several centuries. They like to take their time here in France, with their meals and their construction.

This was the site of the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Louis VII in 1137, and you can definitely feel some of those royal vibes if you visit inside. It’s free, so there’s really no reason not to go inside. Take some time to marvel at its stained glass.

The adjacent Tour Pey-Berland was built later as a separate tower to protect the structure from vibrations.

The original 12th-century tower of Saint-André Cathedral couldn’t support the heavy tenor bell, you see, so this one was built to bear the cathedral’s weight. 

We didn’t climb the tower, but you can if you’d like. Reserve your spot ahead of your visit, though. Tickets sell out.

Before you leave this place, take a quick look at the Hôtel de Ville, the city’s historic town hall. Built in the 18th century, it’s known for its façade and the surrounding square. You won’t miss much by just admiring it from the outside.

Stop 8: Le Bar à Vin

It’s about that time for happy hour. If you’re here for wine, this is a great spot run by the Bordeaux Wine Council to taste some of the region’s offerings at budget-friendly prices. 

Brian had a wine for three euros that was very tasty, so I’m not overstating that point. Gotta love France!

This spot doesn’t take reservations. We arrived with a wait of just a few minutes around 5:45pm, but the line was getting a little long when we left around 7:15pm.

Service here is efficient if not super personalized, but this is the city’s busiest, most popular wine bar. You can nosh on some snacks here, as well, if you’re hungry.

For those who love options, Aux Quatre Coins du Vin and La Vinothèque de Bordeaux were two more on our list.

Stop 9: Dinner

We ate very well in Bordeaux. Our favorite dinner was at Racines by Daniel Gallacher.

It’s run by a Scottish chef who fell in love with Bordeaux years ago and now serves up some of the loveliest food in the city. You can choose between four, five, or six courses, with options for share plates to start.

We all got four with some starters to share, so essentially it was like eating a full six courses. You’re able to choose between sweet and savory, no matter how many courses you choose, which is nice for those who don’t need much dessert and those who do.

Everything was super tasty, but the carrot dish and chicken were the stars. Even more impressive was seeing that the chef had no one helping him in the kitchen all night. There were no prep cooks, no sous chefs, just Chef Gallacher. We’d never seen that before!

Make reservations for this one, as it does book up.

If you’re not in the mood for something fancy, L’Entrecote is a popular alternative.

There are a few of these around France and one in Barcelona, Spain. They don’t do reservations, so get in line about 20 minutes before they open for the first round of seating. This place is VERY popular.

They only do steak frites with a walnut salad to start, so this isn’t for vegetarians. Dinner itself was a crowd-pleaser for our group, especially when those unlimited fries hit. The tender meat is cooked to your liking, the special sauce is great, and prices are reasonable.

If you miss out on the first round of seating, this place is huge and they’re fast, too. The line was pretty long when we left, about an hour after getting seated, but it seemed to move pretty fast. I’m telling you this isn’t your typical French slow-paced meal.

One last dinner in Bordeaux was at L’Avant Comptoir du Palais.

They serve tapas, pictures of which hang from the ceiling inside, from 6pm on. Everything we had here was super tasty, including the tuna sashimi, ham and cheese croquettes, and cheap wine. 

The ambiance at this spot is great, too. It’s very lively, and if you sit outside, you’ll have a view of Porte Cailhau, another medieval gate, behind you.

Two more options that were on our list were Madame Pang for dim sum and Petit Mignon for burgers. This is a great city for foodies!

If you need a little something sweet, we enjoyed Pepite Cookie. The small cookie shop makes batches in small, medium, and large sizes, which probably caused me to overspend. I’m easily tricked by cookies. 

With More Time in Bordeaux

You can only do so much in a day! Here are a few more things to do in Bordeaux if you have a full weekend:

• Stroll through the Jardin Public, a lovely spot to decompress and admire whimsical bridges, waterfowl, and nature. 
• Visit the Muséum de Bordeaux, the city’s natural history museum, established right after the French Revolution. 
• Explore Bordeaux’s history from prehistoric times to the modern day at the Musée d’Aquitaine.
• Check out Darwin, the city’s “urban ecosystem” and home to eco-friendly shops, street-art enthusiasts, and skateboards, I think.
• Plan a boat ride or a wine-tasting cruise down the Garonne.
• Shop for local cheeses, wine, and other delicacies from the region at Marché des Capucins.
• See another impressive bell tower at Basilique Saint-Michel, a Gothic church built between the 14th and 16th centuries.
• Take a food tour to taste the best of Bordeaux with locals who know their stuff.

If you’d like to leave Bordeaux to explore the surrounding wine region, I’d recommend renting a car or booking a guided tour. 

We did both. The tour was great as it meant no one had to be the designated driver. A self-drive was fun, too, as we could plan our day how we wanted. Brian had to take one for the team and behave himself, though.

If you’re interested in tours, check out a few highly-rated options below:

How to Get to Bordeaux

Arriving in Bordeaux is easy, whether you’re flying, taking the train, or driving. Most international travelers land at Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport west of the city. From there, a tram ride on Line A or direct shuttle bus bring you into the heart of the city. 

If you’re coming by train as we did, Gare Saint-Jean connects Bordeaux with Paris in just two hours on the TGV, as well as other French cities like Lyon and Nantes. 

READ MORE: Nantes is one of France’s most underrated cities. Check out why we liked it in my guide to Nantes!

For those exploring the region by car, Bordeaux is well-served by the A10, A62, and A63 highways, though parking in the historic center can be tight. 

Note: We rented a car on our last day in Bordeaux, but it’s only because we wanted to explore outside of the city. You won’t need one in Bordeaux proper.

Once you’re in Bordeaux, getting around is easy. The city’s trams and buses cover almost the entire city. If you love to walk, it’s made for that, too.

For those out late who don’t feel like using the public transit — it’s perfectly safe if you do, though — rideshare and cabs are plentiful.

Where to Stay in Bordeaux

Bordeaux is well-connected enough that you can stay outside of the city center and not worry too much about getting yourself around. With just a day, though, an overnight in Bordeaux’s historic heart likely makes the most sense. 

That’s not what we did. We had a few days here and needed something for a group of four. Use the map below to browse more centrally-located options:

We also spent one night across the street from Bordeaux-Saint-Jean, the city’s main train station, to catch a train back to Paris on our final morning. I wouldn’t recommend this if you’re here for tourism in town. It’s not the most aesthetically pleasing area.

If you’re planning some train travel after and like the idea of convenience, though, the Citotel Le Regina Bordeaux Gare Saint-Jean was clean, cheap, and comfortable.

Bordeaux is always worth visiting.

Bordeaux is an excellent base for day trips in the region, especially if you’re here to taste some of France’s best wines, but you shouldn’t sleep on Bordeaux city.

This city is a fun mix of history, wine culture, and a foodie scene that pleasantly surprised all of its. There’s an elegance to Bordeaux in its medieval gates and neoclassical façades, but there’s also a grit there that was unexpected.

Bordeaux makes for an interesting experience. I’m sure we’ll find ourselves back there at least once more!

Planning more travel in France? Check these out:

• Visit the Most Beautiful Places in Brittany
• See Cancale, France’s Oyster Capital
• Top Things to Do in Artsy Pont-Aven
• Plan an Exciting Day in Marseille
• A Golf Guide to Le Golf National

I’m not done yet! Here are a few more guides to France:

• Experience the Holidays in Colmar
• See the Best Castles in the Loire Valley
• Should You See Mont-Saint-Michel?
• An Itinerary for Two Weeks in Brittany
• Should You Visit Brittany’s Dinard?

Want to see more?