Best Things To Do in Bordeaux, France

Are you looking for what to do in Bordeaux?

PLACES TO SEE

Neighbourhoods:

  • Les Quais – a pretty walk along the Garrone.
  • Place de la Bourse – a square with palatial architecture.
  • Rue Ste Catherine – 1.2kmof shopping.
  • Place des Quinconces – massive square and Girondins monument.
  • Place Parlement – lovely eatings and rococo architecture.
  • La Victoire – student life. Roman Victory Arch.

Churches:

  • Basilique Saint-Seurin.
  • Cathedrale St-Andre – seat of Archbishop, organ concerts.
  • Tour Pey-Berland – a panorama of Bordeaux.
  • Church of Notre Dame – small but cute.

Museums:

  • Museum of Wines – quick and intimate.
  • Musee d'Aquitaine – a story of Bordeaux and Aquitaine.
  • Musee D'Art Contemporain – eclectic but nothing special.
  • Musee des beaux arts Bordeaux – some good items.
  • Natural History Museum – excellent. Closed till 2016.
  • Museum of Decorative Arts – nothing special.

Parks and Gardens:

  • Jardin Botanique – a thematic collection of plants.
  • Parc de Majolan – quiet contemplation with nature.
  • Jardin Public – English style.

Activities:

  • Utopia – a charming cinema unlike any other.
  • Cafe Theatre des Beaux-Arts.
  • Grand Theatre de Bordeaux – neo-classical architecture; great music.

Other:

  • Pont de Pierre – picturesque stone bridge; nothing to do here.
  • Le Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas – another bridge.
  • Grosse Cloche de Bordeaux – a big old bell in a charming street.

Below we have a list of things to do in Bordeaux and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Bordeaux getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Bordeaux with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Bordeaux

Here is the list of things to do in Bordeaux and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Rue Ste. Catherine

    Walking Area, Food And Drinks, Market, Shopping Center

    A 1200 metre long shopping bonanza, this pedestrian street is said to be the longest shopping street in Europe, and it never disappoints. It’s been around since roman times and it’s basic function hasn’t changed over the two thousand years. The clothes shopping here is cheaper than in Paris, and a lot more accessible. The street slopes just a teensy bit, with the luxury shops...Read more
  2. Place De La Bourse

    4.8 (1786 Votes)
    Place De La Bourse

    Architecture , Swimming Pool

    Bordeaux’s most beautiful square stands as it did in the 18th century, surrounded by a lovely collection of symmetrical palace-like facades. The name translates into the “place of the wallet” – fitting, seeing that most of the buildings are economic in nature, and include the Chambers of Commerce. Pretty enough in the day, it’s simply enchanting by night, the buil...Read more
  3. Grande Theatre De Bordeaux

    4.5 (1739 Votes)
    Grande Theatre De Bordeaux

    Entertainment, Performance, Theatre, Architecture

    A lot of tourists feel more than satisfied enough to admire this beautiful building from the outside. It’s grand, true; Victor Louis was building a neo-classical temple of Arts and Light with Corinthian columns and statues of the nine muses and of Juno, Minerva and Venus. It was beautiful enough that it was briefly used the National Assembly, and now, done up in blue and gold, it’s...Read more
  4. Cathedrale St-andre

    4.6 (1639 Votes)
    Cathedrale St-andre

    Religious Site, Architecture , Cathedral

    Seat of the Archbishop of Bordeaux-Bazas, this once Romanesque cathedral now displays extensive Gothic influence.13 year old Eleanor of Aquitaine was married here in 1137 only months before she became queen. Often compared to the Notre-Dame in Paris, the cathedral has it’s own deep solemnity. Beautiful statues, charming murals, and intricate carvings can take hours to appreciate. The chu...Read more
  5. Utopia

    4.5 (1423 Votes)
    Utopia

    Entertainment, Theatre

    It’s not often that a simple cinema is a famous landmark, so when it happens there has to be something special going on. In this case, it’s the old fashioned charm of the place. Breaking away from the typical cinema decoration that plays off glitz and glamour, Utopia looks more like a laid-back theatre. The atmosphere is friendly and inviting; the movie tickets are cheap; the popco...Read more
  6. Place De Parlement

    4.5 (1205 Votes)
    Place De Parlement

    Walking Area, Cafe, Restaurant, Square

    Usually a city square is all about the architecture or the people watching. Indeed, this one has a beautiful neo-rococo fountain right in the centre, and rococo facades, and sure the people are pretty. The fun parts though, are the restaurants and cafés around the square with their lovely little terraces that look over the fountain.This is supposed to be THE place to eat in Bordeaux, so...Read more
  7. Musee D'aquitaine

    4.4 (1571 Votes)
    Musee D'aquitaine

    Museum, History Museum

    This charming little museum doesn’t pretend to be anything more than it is, and what it is, is beautiful. It does nothing more or less than to preserve and display a record of Bordeaux and Aquitaine right from prehistory to modern times. The interior décor is cool and mysterious, so it really does feel like a story is being told. The exhibits are arranged chronologically: Prehist...Read more
  8. Church Of Notre Dame

    4.5 (1559 Votes)
    Church Of Notre Dame

    Church, Religious Site, Architecture

    The first thing you notice about this is the incredibly detailed façade. There’s so much to look at that it can be a bit confusing to know where to start. Still, it’s beautiful work in the Jesuit style. The church was once a Dominican convent in Baroque style. Inside, it’s all stone, and it’s all grand. If you’re lucky enough, you might be visiting during t...Read more
  9. Tour Pey Berland

    4.4 (1168 Votes)
    Tour Pey Berland

    Landmark, Historical Site

    As any good sacred destination lover will know, church towers aren’t supposed to stand separately from their churches (in this case the St. Andre’s Cathedral). This one does, because it’s also a belfry, and with such awesomely strong bells that it was thought that the church wouldn’t be able to withstand them ringing. 50 metre high and flamboyantly Gothic, it also hoist...Read more
  10. Place Des Quinconces

    Landmark, Walking Area, Monument, Square

    A 31 acre sized city square – one of the largest on the continent. Breaking down what you can expect to see here: Trees planted around in a quincunx pattern. Two rostral columns symbolising Commerce and Navigation. A beautiful, statuesque 50 metre tall monument to the Girondists that perished during the Reign of Terror. The magnificent fountains on the sides of the monument With two tra...Read more
  11. Museum Of Wine And Trade

    4.4 (1382 Votes)
    Museum Of Wine And Trade

    Museum

    Aquitaine wine is famous. It’s been around for god knows how long (we know, relax. Two thousand years)and has a fun story to it. If you want to hear that story told, this is the place to go! Housing aged wines, wine making paraphernalia, old documents, memorabilia and histories from great merchant families, the museum is a great hit with and for all winos! The boutique too has a great wi...Read more
  12. Basilique Saint-seurin

    4.4 (1204 Votes)
    Basilique Saint-seurin

    Church, Religious Site, Architecture , Unesco Site

    A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city’s oldest church, this austere and imposing building is most famous for it’s crypt. Saint Fort, Merovigians and innumerable Christians are buried here in tombs from as long ago as the 4th century. It was built during the Romanesque period, but picked up quite a number of Gothic elements like the massive pillars rising to the nave and the ric...Read more
  13. Bordeaux-Merignac Airport Image
    ©
    Bordeaux-Merignac Airport (IATA: BOD, ICAO: LFBD) is an international airport located in the commune of Mérignac, 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Bordeaux, both communes of the Gironde department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. It is the largest airport in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, the sixth largest in France and the main air transport hub of the Aquitaine region.The airport is the mai...Read more
  14. Botanical Garden

    4.1 (7 Votes)
    Botanical Garden

    Botanical Garden

    Botanical Garden is one such place which is full of greenery and peace that you feel like spending hours all together exploring the little wonders of nature. You can sit and relax in the pleasant environment which is pure and pollution free. There are different varieties of plants which you shall see, and this shall definitely add to your bag of information on plants. The layout of Botanical Ga...Read more
  15. Jardin Public

    4.5 (43 Votes)
    Jardin Public

    Garden

    Created in the 18th century, the Jardin Public is sprawled over fourteen hectares with open green space, arboretum, L’Otangerie Bar and restaurant, natural history museum and library. The garden was designed in a French style by Jacques Ange Gabriel. A fantastic escape from the din and bustle of the town, the Jardin Public caters the kids with various amusement features like playgrounds, ...Read more