Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Bordeaux?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Bordeaux?
Not sure how much time you'll need in Bordeaux, France? Most people spend two to five days in Bordeaux during their visit. After all, the charming city will let you taste delicious cuisine, admire the wonderful scenery, go shopping, and tour the famous sights and museums.
Bordeaux is a the heart of France's winegrowing district. It's also a port city that's filled with a lot of history and architecture. The surrounding countryside is filled with vineyards and the city has many great restaurants where you can sample traditional cuisine and local wine.
Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Bordeaux? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is 3 days enough time in Bordeaux?
Three days is usually not enough time to experience the charming city of Bordeaux, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to taste delicious cuisine, admire the wonderful scenery, go shopping, and tour the famous sights and museums. So, you'll likely want more than three days, as many tourists set aside around two to five days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.
How to spend 3 days in Bordeaux
Don't miss Cathédrale Saint-André during your trip to Bordeaux, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
The culinary scene in Bordeaux is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. Both food and wine are a major draw to this culinary city, which is known for its pastries and rich flavors. Popular local dishes include grilled duck, duck foie gras, and canelés.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Saint-Emilion Electric Bike Day Tour with Wine Tastings & Lunch ($216)
- Bordeaux Full Day Wine Tour - 3 Wineries & Gourmet Picnic Lunch ($210)
- Bordeaux Old Town Food and Wine Tour ($150)
Bordeaux is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The city has many pedestrian areas and large squares to explore.
Shopping in Bordeaux is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. The city has a mix of luxury fashion brands, jewelry shops, perfume suppliers, and leather goods. There are department stores, local boutiques, and pedestrian shopping areas that you can explore.
Make sure to set aside around 2 hours for Les Halles de Bacalan, which is free. It's great for families and couples and is known for its diverse array of fresh produce and gourmet delicacies.
Bordeaux is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The city is filled with beautiful architecture, parks, and gardens.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Best of Bordeaux: Wine, Cheese, Pastries & Food Walking Tour ($119)
- Bordeaux Free Walking Tour with a Glass of Wine ($4)
- Bordeaux Walking Tour with a Local Private Guide ($114)
The public transit in Bordeaux is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There are buses, trams and a ferry that runs along the river.
You'll find a few good museums and historic landmarks here, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. The city has many historical landmarks and museums to explore. Cathédrale Saint-André, Tour Le Grand-Théâtre, and Basilique Saint-Seurin are all notable monuments that are worth visiting.
It's worth around 4 hours for La Cité du Vin. Entry is €22 with discounts for children. It's known for its immersive exhibitions and cultural significance in wine appreciation.
It's worth around 3 hours for Base Sous-Marine. Entry is €15 with discounts for children, students, and seniors. It's known for its transformation from a WWII submarine base into a cultural venue.
It's worth around 3 hours for The Bordeaux Museum of Fine Arts. Entry is €8 with reduced rates of €4.50 for children and seniors. It's known for its extensive collection of artworks spanning centuries.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Bordeaux Wine and Trade Museum Admission Ticket with Wine Tasting ($14)
- Saint Emilion Castle and Village Wine Tour ($156)
- From Bordeaux Half day to Saint-Émilion Visit and Castle ($118)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. The city comes to life at night with dance clubs, wine bars, student pubs, and more.
Is 4 days enough time in Bordeaux?
Many visitors choose to spend around four days in Bordeaux. This would give you the chance to experience the city's most popular activities such as the cuisine, the beautiful scenery, and the many shops. Since many visitors prefer to spend around two to five days here, we have a few suggestions of things to do in the charming destination.
Sunrise over the vinyards, Bordeaux, France
How to spend 4 days in Bordeaux
Having 4 days in Bordeaux will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. The old town is between Cours de l'Intendance and rue Peyronnet. The area has many distinct neighborhoods, monuments, and historical buildings.
You'll want to have around 2 hours for The Miroir d’Eau. It's a nice activity for families and couples and is known for its stunning reflective surface and visual effects, especially at sunset. It's free.
You'll want to have around 1 hour for Place de la Bourse. It's a nice activity for couples and is known for its neoclassical architecture and Fountain of the Three Graces. It's free.
Make sure to set aside around 2 hours for Les Halles de Bacalan, which is free. It's great for families and couples and is known for its diverse array of fresh produce and gourmet delicacies.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Bordeaux Old Town Food and Wine Tour ($150)
- Best of Bordeaux: Wine, Cheese, Pastries & Food Walking Tour ($119)
- Bordeaux Free Walking Tour with a Glass of Wine ($4)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Bordeaux.
Is 5 days enough time in Bordeaux?
Five days is more than enough time to see pretty much everything in Bordeaux. You can move at your own pace and relax in your hotel. You could also use Bordeaux as a base for exploring the nearby destinations. You'll find some great day trips in the region.
Bordeaux
How to spend 5 days in Bordeaux
With 5 days in Bordeaux, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Bordeaux is large enough to spend at least a full day exploring the local neighborhoods, attractions, and activities found around town. It's a medium sized city that is known as a wine capital at the heart of a wine producing region.
Basilica of Saint Michael is worth visiting for around 1 hour, which is great for families and couples. Known for its Gothic architecture, towering spire with great views, and religious art collection, entry is €5.
Make sure to set aside around 8 hours for The Bordeaux Wine Route, which is €150. It's great for couples and is known for its scenic vineyards and historic châteaux.
The Bordeaux City Center is worth visiting for around 6 hours, which is great for families and couples. Known for its historic architecture and vibrant atmosphere, entry is free.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private City Tour of Bordeaux in a Citroën 2CV - 1h30 ($108)
- Prestige Commented Cruise glass of wine and Canelé in Bordeaux ($23)
- From Le Verdon: Bordeaux on Your Own Shore Trip for Cruise Ships ($143)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Bordeaux.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Bordeaux, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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