Spend 2 days in Bordeaux and visit La Cité du Vin

The city of Bordeaux provides a great base for exploring some of the best vineyards in France and the world famous Bordeaux châteaux, but make time to discover this stunning city and its Cité du Vin wine museum 

The beautiful Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux - Source: Winekeller

What is so special about Bordeaux?

At the heart of France's famous Bordeaux wine region is the city of Bordeaux - the wine capital of France - and the world - and an important port on the River Garonne. Bordeaux is a city steeped in history with a rich heritage and many modern and historic sites and monuments to explore. It’s also a vibrant university city, known for its ‘joie de vivre’ and relaxed ambience and lifestyle.

If you visit Bordeaux, you’re going to want to visit its famous Bordeaux chateaux and vineyards, but the city of Bordeaux is really worth visiting too - there is lots for everyone to explore and discover, but especially if you’re a wine lover and wine enthusiast!

What we love about Bordeaux is the attractive combination of a bustling, charming riverside with its restaurants, its walking and cycle paths, its market and entertainment for all the family, a regenerated port/maritime district, called ‘Bacalan’ and the cobbled streets and elegant buildings of the historic city centre.

Whether you wish to wander through Bordeaux’s World Heritage area and explore its beautiful quarters, discover the city’s top sites and monuments, or visit its museums, there really is something for everyone in this amazing city!

Beautiful Bordeaux stretched out along the Garonne river - Source: Winekeller

The ‘Port de la Lune’ World Heritage Site

The world-famous, historic harbour of Bordeaux has been known as ‘Port de la Lune’ - or translated, ‘Port of the Moon’ since the Middle Ages - this is in reference to the crescent moon shape of the Garonne river here. In 2007 the Port de la Lune along with approximately 1800 hectares of the surrounding urban area was listed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in recognition of its wine heritage, its role as a global trading hub for 800 years and the magnificent architecture of the city buildings. 

Bordeaux regeneration 

20 years ago Bordeaux was known as the ‘sleeping beauty’, with drab, dirty building façades, terrible traffic and abandoned warehouses. Then in 1995 an ambitious 30 year regeneration plan was launched, achieving spectacular results, including the opening up the riverfront, pedestrianising the city centre, cleaning up the architecture and installing a hi-tech tram system. 

Following the UNESCO award in 2007 -  the largest urban area ever awarded by UNESCO, representing almost half of the entire city - in 2013 a survey ranked Bordeaux France's second-favourite city, after Paris.

The River Garonne and Jacques Chabon-Delmas bridge - Source: Winekeller

Is Bordeaux a walkable city?

Absolutely yes - it’s easy to discover the city by foot - as well as by bike, especially along the riverside, where there is ample room for both cyclists and pedestrians!

How many days in Bordeaux is enough?

Hopefully this article is enticing you to want to visit Bordeaux - but the question is for how long?

That’s a tough one, as there is so much to experience, but we would advise at least 4 days! Maybe 2 days in the city and 2 days exploring the Bordeaux wine regions? However we would also suggest and recommend adding on a few days to explore the wider Gironde département in Aquitaine on the west coast of France, for example the beautiful Arcachon Bay on the coast, famous for its oysters and fabulous beaches!

This article focuses on a suggested itinerary for spending 2 days in Bordeaux, exploring the city and visiting the world famous ‘Cité du Vin’ wine museum.

The beautiful ‘Pont de Pierre’ bridge - Source: Winekeller

Spending 2 days in Bordeaux city - Top things to do in Bordeaux

We suggest you spend 1 of your 2 days exploring the city’s top sights and districts and the other day exploring the riverside, the Bacalan area and the Cité du Vin wine museum. 

Here are our recommendations to help you make the most of your 2 days in the city:

Where to stay in Bordeaux

There is a large choice in terms of Bordeaux accommodation options.

We suggest you base yourself in the heart of the city. We stayed in the Saint Michel district - see later - which worked well for us. We were able to access all areas of the city either by foot or bike and in the evening it was lovely to be able to walk into the old town, which we highly recommend! Bordeaux comes alive at night!

Where to eat in Bordeaux

Great food and gastronomy is a huge part of Bordeaux life and there is no shortage of places to experience this in the city. We recommend you head for the Saint Pierre district, Saint Michel or Chartrons (see later) and wander round the little streets, where you’re sure to have a great experience if you look for a brasserie or bistro that serves local dishes rather than a ‘tourist’ menu. If it's busy you may have to wait a while for a table, but it will be worth it! 

Bordeaux tourist office

The first and most important thing to do before you visit Bordeaux is is head to the official Bordeaux tourism website, as it’s jam-packed with lots of useful information and inspiration!

Then when you arrive, visit the excellent Bordeaux tourist office, which is open every day and is located in the heart of the city. It offers excellent advice and information to visitors and you can book tours and river trips here too.

Bordeaux city pass

If you wish to make the most of your short time in Bordeaux, we highly recommend purchasing the Bordeaux city pass, for either 24 or 48 hours. You can purchase this from the tourist office and not only does it give you access to all of the major monuments and museums - including the impressive Cité du Vin (see later) - it includes transport around the city and a free city tour! We found it excellent value for money!

Day 1 - Take a Bordeaux city tour 

We highly recommend starting your first day with a city tour to familiarise yourself with the city and different districts and to see the top sights and monuments.

  • Either make the most of your Bordeaux city pass free city tour (see above) - book a guided tour - or use the ‘hop-on/off bus’ which covers all of the main sites.

  • Another great option is to walk the perimeter of the Bordeaux-Port de la Lune UNESCO World Heritage Site and discover the whole area, connecting multiple districts and the main city sights. The walk is ‘accessible’ and the route length is 3.6 kms.

A tour - whether it be by foot, by tourist train or by bus, should include the top city sights, which you can then revisit later in the day to explore more. 

Day 1 - Experience the key Bordeaux districts and top sights

Bordeaux is made up of several distinct districts, each one offering a unique atmosphere and different experience. 

At the core of the historic old town of Bordeaux’ is the Saint Pierre district, with the spectacular Place de la Bourse and the beautiful 15th century Porte Cailhau which offers amazing views over the city and the oldest bridge in Bordeaux, the Pont de Pierre. On the riverside you can enjoy what is probably Bordeaux’s most popular attraction, the famous ‘Water Mirror’ or ‘Miroir d’Eau’, a modern-day attraction lying right opposite the beautiful 18th century façades around the spectacular Place de la Bourse.  

Behind the Place de la Bourse you can see the historic Saint-Pierre church and the Saint-André cathedral, next to the Bordeaux town hall.

Also here you can see the beautiful ‘Grosse Cloche’, one of the oldest belfries in France.

This is a great place for exploring in the evening with its elegant squares, cobbled streets and excellent bars and restaurants!

The lively Saint Michel district lies south of Saint Pierre and this is a dynamic, bustling area, home to the main train station, the Saint Michel Basilica and the stunning ‘La Flèche’ bell tower which stands 114 metres tall. Again there are lots of good restaurants and bars in this area.

The Basilique Saint Michel and Flèche Saint Michel over the Pont de Pierre bridge - Source: Winekeller

Moving north of Vieux Bordeaux and Saint Pierre, you enter the ‘Grands Hommes’ district, with its large boulevards, elegant squares and neo-classic architecture. This area is often referred to as the ‘Golden Triangle’ and is where you can see the beautiful Bordeaux Grand Théâtre - or opera house, which along with the operas of Versailles and Turin, has one of the most beautiful 18th century concert halls in the world. Here you can also enjoy the beautiful 12 hectares square on the river - Esplanade des Quinconces and the Monument aux Girondins, bearing witness to the Girondin political faction during the French Revolution.

Following the river north you leave the elegance of the Grand Hommes district and enter the more bohemian Chartrons district, which is lovely to stroll through, enjoying the relaxed neighbourhood, the mix of trendy boutiques and antique shops, the vibrant riverside and the tranquil gardens. The heart of this district is the Rue Notre Dame which we enjoyed strolling along and where you can’t miss the impressive gothic church, the Eglise Saint-Louis.

Then further north you reach the Bacalan district and the Bassins à Flots - the heart of Bordeaux’s maritime heritage, with the river the focus and a lively, diverse and trendy area. We suggest you explore this district on day 2 of your stay. There are 2 very striking sights here which you can’t miss! Firstly the incredible structure that is the Cité du Vin wine museum (see later) and secondly the Pont Jacques Chabon-Delmas bridge, the tallest lift bridge in France, and even in Europe and a feat of modern engineering - a complete contrast to the historic Pont de Pierre back in the old town of Bordeaux.

If you cross the river, over either of these 2 incredible bridges, you arrive at the district of La Bastide, also undergoing significant development and home to stunning botanical gardens which provide a beautiful place to stroll and admire the view of Bordeaux with its elegant building, stretching out along the opposite river bank. 

Day 2 Visit Cité du Vin Bordeaux

The remarkable Cité du Vin is located in the north of the city on the bank of the River Garonne. You can reach it by walking or cycling along the riverside (see later), or by tram/public transport.

The first thing that hits you is the unique architecture of the building - a majestic glass tower looking over the river - and the sheer size of it - over 3000 square metres of exhibition space - making you fully appreciate why La Cité du Vin is considered to be Bordeaux’s most prestigious museum and landmark.

Put simply, La Cité du Vin is a wonderland for all wine enthusiasts, who are keen to learn and experience more about the incredible world of wine! Opened in 2016, it’s a cultural centre dedicated to wine - not just Bordeaux wine, but wine the world over. 

Cité du Vin wine museum Bordeaux - Source: Winekeller

Visit and learn about the history of wine, the world’s different wine regions, winemaking, wine and food, wine and the senses and so much more. The design of the museum is modern, immersive, fun and highly interactive, whilst at the same time being very educational.

In addition to the exhibition space you can visit the wine boutique and wine bar and enjoy refreshments or a meal in the panoramic restaurant, with superb views over Bordeaux. Your entrance ticket also includes access to La Cité du Vin’s Belvedere, where you can enjoy a 360° view of Bordeaux whilst tasting a glass of wine of your choice.

Don’t forget that entrance in to La Cité du Vin is included in the price of the Bordeaux city pass!

How long does it take to visit Cité du Vin?

The different exhibition areas are laid out in such a way you can wander through at your own pace, spending as much or as little time in each area. The recommended visit time is 2-3 hours.

Day 2 Explore the Bacalan district 

We suggest combining your visit to Cité du Vin with exploring the Bacalan district and the Bassins à Flots. Perhaps grab a bite to eat in ‘Les Halles de Bacalan’ indoor market, a lively place, located just next to the Cité du Vin, where you can enjoy traditional foods from artisan producers - or perhaps, if you love and appreciate art, make time for Les Bassins des Lumières, the largest digital art centre in the world that hosts modern exhibitions featuring the masterpieces of the great names in art history. 

Day 2 Enjoy the river and riverside area

The River Garonne features prominently in any visit to Bordeaux and you can enjoy it during your stay in a variety of ways - perhaps take a boat trip or simply walk or cycle along the riverside, soaking up the vibrant atmosphere and the beautiful views - there is something for everyone, families, the elderly, children or couples looking for romance!

When we visited Cité du Vin we cycled there along the river, where we found many others doing the same thing, or enjoying a stroll or a run along the promenade and the in the parks, or others just sitting watching the world go by! 

The most popular part of the riverside though has to be the famous ‘Water Mirror’ or ‘Miroir d’Eau’ in the centre of the city, where in fine weather you will find children playing in the water and their parents cooling their feet!  

The famous ‘Water Mirror’ and historic Pont de Pierre on the regenerated riverside - source: Winekeller

Conclusion and personal highlights

We really love Bordeaux and can’t recommend it enough. Hopefully this article has given you inspiration to visit it yourself. There’s so much to enjoy and experience here but what is so attractive is how laid back and relaxed this city is. The term ‘joie de vivre’ seems most appropriate for describing the ambience in Bordeaux - and when you consider the status of Bordeaux as the world’s greatest wine capital, with an incomparable wine heritage, then if you love wine, you just have to visit!

If you enjoy and are interested in wine, La Cité du Vin is a world-leading wine tourism and wine education venue and we really recommend you visit when in Bordeaux!

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about our experience visiting Bordeaux city and La Cité du Vin!

If your’e inspired to visit yourself, contact us to help you plan your own wine travel there!

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