Must SeeFree
Place de la Bourse and Miroir d’Eau
Port de la Lune
A grand 18th-century square beside the world’s largest reflecting pool.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
- Suits: Families · Couples
Open-air; mirror runs most days in season
Bordeaux
A graceful wine capital with a mirror-pool waterfront and vineyards on the doorstep.
Plan your Bordeaux trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
Overview
Why go to Bordeaux
Bordeaux has grand 18th-century architecture, a lively riverfront and one of the world’s greatest wine regions minutes away. The city is compact and walkable, and works well combined with the Atlantic coast.
- Where
- Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
- Recommended stay
- 2–4 nights
- Best time to go
- May–June and September–October, including harvest season.
- Approx. daily budget
- £75–150 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
What does Bordeaux cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£70–100a day
- Mid-range traveller£135–195a day
- Luxury traveller£270+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 13 Top picks in Bordeaux
Culture~£21
La Cité du Vin
Bassins à Flot
A striking modern museum of wine culture, ending with a rooftop tasting and views.
- Suggested time: 2h 30m
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Culture lovers · Photographers
Daily, roughly 10:00–18:30
Must SeeFree
Cathédrale Saint-André
Centre
A Gothic cathedral with a separate bell tower you can climb for city views.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; tower open in season
Day Trips~£25
Saint-Émilion Day Trip
Saint-Émilion (40 km)
A medieval hillside village surrounded by vineyards, with cellars, underground church and tastings.
- Suggested time: Full day
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Couples · Food lovers
Village open daily; trains and tours run frequently
Hidden Gems
See all 3 Beyond the checklist
Hidden GemsFree
Saint-Pierre Old Quarter
Saint-Pierre
Cobbled squares, cafés and wine bars in the oldest part of the city.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples
Open-air; bars open evenings
Day Trips~£12
Dune du Pilat Day Trip
Arcachon Bay (65 km)
Europe’s tallest sand dune, with sea views and oyster-shack lunches at Arcachon nearby.
- Suggested time: Full day
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Beach lovers · Photographers
Open daily; car or train plus bus
Hidden GemsFree
Darwin Ecosystem
Darwin
A former barracks turned creative hub of street art, cafés and skate ramps.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Nightlife fans
Open daily; venues keep their own hours
Hotels
All 3 hotels Best-value hotels in Bordeaux
Well reviewed and fairly priced for what you get: not simply the cheapest.
Best Mid-Range HotelBest for Families
Example listingCité du Vin Stay
Bassins à Flot, Bordeaux
Excellent valueValue score 90 out of 100
Rated 8.4/10, about 25% below typical 4★ prices in Bordeaux, with a pool.
From £105 per night · check current availability
Best ValueBest Location
Example listingHôtel Miroir d’Eau
Port de la Lune, Bordeaux
Excellent valueValue score 82 out of 100
Rated 9.0/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Bordeaux, in a central location.
From £140 per night · check current availability
Best Budget Choice
Example listingSaint-Pierre Maison
Saint-Pierre, Bordeaux
Very good valueValue score 74 out of 100
Rated 8.7/10, priced in line with similar 3★ hotels in Bordeaux, in a central location.
From £90 per night · check current availability
Food & Restaurants
See all 4 Where to eat
Baillardran
A bakery chain specialising in canelés, the caramelised, custard-centred pastries flavoured with rum and vanilla.
Known for: Canelés de Bordeaux
Under about £20 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
La Tupina
A warm, rustic restaurant known for southwest cooking over an open fire, including duck and potatoes cooked in fat.
Known for: Duck confit, cassoulet
About £40–70 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Groups
Le Bar à Huîtres
A cheerful oyster bar serving fresh oysters from Arcachon Bay with white wine.
Known for: Arcachon oysters
About £20–40 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Le Chapon Fin
A historic restaurant since 1825, with a famous rock-garden interior, offering refined regional cooking.
Known for: Tasting menus
£70+ per person
Special occasion Good for Couples · Groups
A suggested Bordeaux itinerary
3 nights Couple
Bordeaux · Highlights
Bordeaux in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Bordeaux picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Cathédrale Saint-André, Quais and Garonne Waterfront, Saint-Pierre Old Quarter
- Day 2 · Saint-Émilion Day Trip, Place de la Bourse and Miroir d’Eau
- Day 3 · Marché des Capucins, La Cité du Vin, Darwin Ecosystem
Plan Bordeaux your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.