Are you a wine lover planning a tasty trip to France? Our detailed Bordeaux Travel Itinerary outlines the perfect 3 day weekend in France’s most famous wine destination.
We show you how easy it is to spend a weekend in Bordeaux to explore must-see historical monuments, world-class museums, pretty parks, bustling markets, award-winning restaurants and picturesque wineries.
Best 3 Day Weekend Bordeaux Travel Itinerary
Our easy to use Bordeaux Travel Itinerary is broken down into 3 distinct days, saving you time and energy by dedicating each 24 hours to a different region so you’re not wasting your time zig-zagging all over the place.
Whether you are visiting for a 2 or 3 day weekend in Bordeaux, we highly recommend purchasing the Bordeaux City Pass as it offers great value for money. It can be purchased as a 24 hour, 48 hour or 72 hour pass.
We quickly paid off the cost of the Bordeaux City Pass after visiting just 3 attractions! The pass also includes free access to the local transit system, which is easy to use and a great way to maximize your time so you can explore as much as possible on your short but sweet Bordeaux Weekend City Break!
Join us as we step back in time, wandering through Bordeaux’s historic Old Town, an impressive UNESCO World Heritage site.
Marvel at the grandeur of Place de la Bourse, then stroll along the banks of the Garonne River, and explore the labyrinthine of streets home to Michelin restaurants, bustling wine bars, fashion boutiques and bakeries serving up the signature local pastry, the petite canelé.
Bordeaux Travel Itinerary Day 1: Bacalan
We arrived into Bordeaux via the city’s Saint-Jean train station and headed straight to the Bordeaux Tourism Office at Quinconces to pick up our Bordeaux City Passes. Staff are really helpful, offering detailed maps and helping book tickets for river cruises and city tours.
After dropping our luggage off at our hotel, we explored attractions in the city’s north end, a neighbourhood called Bacalan.
Le Boutique Hôtel Bordeaux
Upon arrival in Bordeaux, check into your hotel to drop off your luggage so you can hit the ground running. Most hotels offer check in at 3pm but if you arrive early staff are happy to stow your luggage until your room becomes available later in the afternoon.
Le Boutique Hôtel Bordeaux is conveniently located in the heart of the city in a historic 18th-century mansion. It’s walking distance from all of the top attractions and restaurants in the city’s historic centre.
The 5 star luxury boutique hotel features friendly service, chic one-of-a-kind suites, petite spa, daily brunch buffet, and al fresco restaurant offering a well-curated Bordeaux wine list and menu.
Our spacious suite at Le Boutique Hôtel Bordeaux was perfect for honeymooners. The romantic room featured a plush king bed, open concept dual rain shower, antique tub and his and her sinks.
Guests are greeted with sweet canelé and enjoy a stocked mini fridge featuring water, Coca Cola, apple juice, truffle cashews and chocolate covered almonds.
Garonne River Cruise
We suggest starting your Bordeaux Travel Itinerary with a scenic Garonne River Cruise. Yacht de Bordeaux offers several daily sailing during the summer high season.
The 1.5 hour cruise features a friendly guide who explains the history of the city and points out fun facts about Bordeaux’s most famous landmarks as you putter up the river.
We suggest starting your Bordeaux Weekend on the river cruise as it helps you get a lay of the land, from the cathedral that sits perched in the old town to the awe-inspiring modernist architecture of Cité du Vin.
Guests can sit indoors on chairs in front of the bar or skip up the steps to grab a seat on the 2nd floor al fresco rooftop, which is a real treat on a sunny day! Be sure to pack your sunscreen!
The ticket includes a complimentary glass of local wine, and of course, a canelé!
Les Halles de Bacalan
Depending on your timing, you can hop on a streetcar to the Bacalan neighbourhood, or enjoy a stroll along the Quais de Bordeaux.
If you’re feeling peckish, first stop should be lunch at Les Halles de Bacalan, one of Bordeaux’s trendiest food markets.
In the heart of the Bassins à Flots district, the Halles de Bacalan quickly became a go-to for Bordeaux foodies when it opened in 2017.
The market showcases 22 local farmers, artisan-traders and chefs in a airy interior covering more than 1000 sqm. It’s conveniently located in front of the Cité du Vin wine museum.
Inside Les Halles de Bacalan you’ll find a butcher, bakery, cafe, wine merchant, cheese boutique, fish monger, organic grocer, and a handful of restaurants serving everything from Spanish tapas, to sausage topped fries and gourmet sandwiches.
If the weather is nice grab a seat on the sun-soaked patio, which wraps around the building and has a jovial beerhall vibe.
La Cité du Vin
The year La Cité du Vin opened its doors it immediately appeared on esteemed lists as one of the best museum’s in the world.
Whether you’re a serious oenophile or just getting your feet wet in the world of wine, a visit to La Cité du Vin is a must on any Bordeaux Travel Itinerary.
The building’s unique design was led by Anouk Legendre and Nicholas Desmazières of XTU Agency and is said to resemble the swirl of wine in a glass.
The museum boasts a cafe, restaurant, a massive wine cellar, permanent collection, floor dedicated to seminars and in depth gastronomic tasting experiences and a 360 degree rooftop wine bar.
La Cité du Vin has been lauded for its high tech presentation and immersive experience where guests can touch, smell, sweet and indeed taste the history, culture and science of wine.
Plan to spend at least 2 hours here so you have time to explore each gallery and enjoy a leisurely glass of wine on the roof.
Bassins des Lumières
Art lovers planning a Bordeaux Travel Itinerary should be certain to visit the awe-inspiring Bassins des Lumières, located a 30 minute stroll north of La Cité du Vin.
With four 110 metre-long pools of water, a projection surface area of 12,000 m² and 90 video projectors, Les Bassins des Lumières is recognized as the largest digital art centre in the world.
The impressive museum illuminates its spacious interiors with dazzling video projections of famous art by painters such as Van Gogh.
History buffs will also appreciate that Les Bassins des Lumières is located in an old German U-boat pen dating back to the World War II occupation period.
Inside you’ll find a historic gallery describing the significance of the building. Construction began on the submarine base in Bordeaux in 1941 and took 19 months to complete. Over 6,500 workers, a third of which were Spanish Republican prisoners, were involved in its construction.
You’ll need a minimum of 1 hour to walk through and enjoy the space but you can loiter as long as you like. The interior is cool so a great option if you need to cool off on a hot day or keep dry from the rain.
Wine Bar
After exploring Bordeaux’s northern enclave head back to Le Boutique Hôtel Bordeaux to check into your room and freshen up.
Spend the evening relaxing on a comfy couch at the hotel’s signature restaurant, the simply titled Wine Bar.
The hotel’s outdoor patio sits in the centre of the building, away from the hustle and bustle of the street. It overlooks the spa pool so has a lovely intimate vibe with bamboo, fresh florals and old growth trees offering a summer garden experience.
Grab a seat on a comfy couch and flip through Wine Bar’s impressive list of Bordeaux bottles. The staff are well educated on the wines so feel free to sample a few by the glass or simply order a bottle and celebrate day one of your Bordeaux weekend getaway!
Wag your finger down the dinner menu and you’ll find shareable dishes that are a perfect pairing for fine wine such as a cheese board, charcuterie board, Bordeaux Tapas (which includes a playful savoury truffle cannelé), Croque Monsieur and signature beef burger with crispy sweet potato fries.
Other Attraction Suggestions
- Village Notre-Dame: Created in 1982, this former industrial building is now home to Bordeaux’s first and most famous antique gallery.
- Musée Mer Marine: if you’ve got time to visit another museum in Bacalan the Musée Mer Marine is a short walk from the wine museum and showcases the history of the sea and its relationship with human beings.
- Darwin Eco-système: Located on the right bank of Bordeaux, in the Bastide district, this former barracks, now eco-rehabilitated, is one of the most visited places in the city featuring street art, trendy restaurants, skate park and live music venue.
Bordeaux Weekend Itinerary Day 2: Downtown
We suggest dedicating Day 2 of your Bordeaux Travel Itinerary to the many attractions that are located downtown as they’re easily accessible on foot.
We began our journey after finishing breakfast at our hotel. We’ve listed the attractions in the order you should visit them. It’s handy to have them all marked in your Google Maps so directions are a breeze.
Place De La Bourse
The Place de la Bourse (Stock Exchange Square) is a posh plaza in Bordeaux and is one of the city’s most photographed sites.
Built from 1730 to 1775 along the river Garonne, it was a multi-building development designed by the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel.
It is within the historic part of the city, which has been recognized on the UNESCO World Heritage List as “an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble” of the 18th century.
Most tourists come here to take a selfie with the square’s famous water fountain.
Porte Cailhau
Just down the street you’ll find the impressive and imposing 35 metre high Porte Cailhau.
Built in 1495, this monument with a castle-like exterior was once the main defensive gate to the city.
It celebrates the conquest of the Kingdom of Naples by King Charles VIII. On the quay side you’ll find a niche with his image commemorating the victory, won during the Battle of Fornoue.
Grosse Cloche
A short 5 minute walk away and you’ll find yourself standing under the postcard-perfect Gross Cloche, one of the oldest belfries in France.
The bell was cast in 1775 and weighs an absurd 7,750 kilos! The bell rings 6 times a year for major celebrations such as Bastille Day, VE Day, and Remembrance Day and also the first Sunday of each month at noon.
The gateway where the bell is hung also had a defensive function and served as a prison. Young people who misbehaved were confined there, shut in by a door 10cm thick with enormous bolts.
Families traveling with kids on a Bordeaux weekend should be sure to point this fun fact out to their children to ensure they’re on their best behaviour.
Bordeaux Cathedral
Bordeaux’s impressive St. Andrew Cathedral is an emblematic religious monument of the city, known for its Gothic architecture and historical heritage.
It welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, who come here to admire its pretty stained glass windows, crypt, sculptures, and organ, which is one of the largest in France.
In 1998, UNESCO designated the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France as a World Heritage Site, including the three main churches of Bordeaux: the basilica of St Severinus, the basilica of St Michael and the cathedral of St Andrew.
Access is free but take note of the opening hours during your intended visit as it typically closes during the lunch hour between noon and 2pm.
Pey Berland Tower
Pey-Berland Tower is the separate bell tower associated with the nearby Bordeaux Cathedral.
Its construction was from 1440 to 1500 at the initiative of the archbishop of the same name. Crowned a steeple, it has remained isolated from the rest of the Cathedral to protect the cathedral from the vibrations of the bells.
If you’re in a rush you can snap a picture of the impressive tower from below, or book a ticket in advance to have the opportunity to huff and puff your way up a spiral staircase to enjoy jaw-dropping panoramic views over the city. We think the workout is worth it!
We suggest giving yourself an hour to walk up, enjoy the views and then slowly make your way back down.
Museum of Fine Arts
Musée des Beaux-Arts is home to an impressive collection of European paintings and sculptures spanning from the Renaissance to the 19th century.
Established in 1801 by the painter Pierre Lacour, it is one of the largest art galleries in France outside Paris. The museum holds several paintings that were looted by the French during the French Revolution such as the Martyrdom of Saint Georges by Peter Paul Rubens.
The largest collection is composed of paintings, and its strong points are works by French, Flemish painters and Dutch painters.
CAPC Museum of Contemporary Art
CAPC Museum of Contemporary Art is housed in a former warehouse along the Garonne River.
It’s here modern art fans will find a diverse collection of contemporary works, ranging from paintings and sculptures to installations and multimedia pieces.
The modern art museum was first established in 1973 and is housed in a renovated warehouse that dates back to 1824.
Over the years the museum has housed exhibitions by modern art masters like Keith Haring. It has also arranged exhibitions that showcase contemporary works from Spain, Japan and California.
The exhibits are always changing so we suggest spending an hour walking around the various galleries. Be sure to visit the rooftop on a sunny day as it has a cute cafe perfect for a midday snack or sip.
Le Bordeaux
Celebrate the completion of Day 2 of your Bordeaux Travel Itinerary by enjoying a fancy feast at the city’s most luxurious hotel.
The InterContinental Bordeaux is located directly across from the Grand Theatre. It’s considered the most historic 5 star address in the city, known to locals simply as Le Grand Hotel.
The hotel boasts a Michelin restaurant by Gordon Ramsey, chic rooftop cocktail bar and a signature restaurant simply titled Le Bordeaux.
Located on the hotel’s main floor and boasting a large outdoor patio overlooking the theatre, Le Bordeaux is the perfect perch to sip fine wine and people watch.
Designed on two floors by Jacques Garcia in a Belle-Epoque style, Le Bordeaux Restaurant evokes the codes of the great breweries of the 19th century and offers an extraordinary view on the Grand Theatre.
Highlights from the menu include Candied Pork Belly, Lamb Terrine with Chickpeas, Truffle Cannelloni and Cured Salmon.
Other Attraction Suggestions
- Rue Sainte-Catherine: if you’re looking to fit in a shopping spree to your Bordeaux Travel Itinerary make sure to stroll up the 1,200 metre long, 10 metre wide thoroughfare. You’ll find 3km of shops including the luxurious Galeries Lafayette.
- Musée d’Aquitaine: we didn’t have time to visit every museum in Bordeaux so pick and chose what interests you. If you have a penchant for history you’ll love Musée d’Aquitaine, which showcases the ethnography of the region.
- Jardin Public: if the weather is sunny join locals at the city’s largest park to enjoy a picnic or simply stroll to visit the lake, Palais, and botanical garden.
- Marché des Capucins: No weekend in Bordeaux is complete without a visit to the city’s most famous food market. If your hotel doesn’t include a complimentary breakfast head here in the morning to sip espresso and devour a flaky fresh-out-of-the-oven buttery croissant.
Bordeaux Travel Itinerary Day 3: Saint Emilion Wine Tour
No Weekend in Bordeaux Travel Itinerary is complete until you’ve sipping your way through the scenic vineyards in France’s most famous wine region.
Spend the 3rd day of your Bordeaux long weekend exploring one of the wine regions located a short drive from the city such as Saint Emilion, Medoc or Pomerol.
Bordeaux Wine Trails
We enjoyed a full day E-Bike tour of the famous Saint Emilion viticulture region with local operator Bordeaux Wine Trails.
Since 2015, Bordeaux Wine Trails has been offering authentic and bespoke premium experiences for wine lovers visiting the region.
Your can explore vineyards with local guides on a comfortable minivan tour, join a tasting workshop, or hop on an electric bike for a more energizing experience if you like to keep fit on holiday.
The tour operator’s passionate guides ensure guests emerge as wine connoisseurs, blending expertise and international insight to showcase Bordeaux’s unique terroir.
Chateau Rol Valentin Grand Cru Classe
We met our guide at the Bordeaux Tourism Office at 9am and 45 minutes later we were zooming across vineyard lined rolling hills.
Once we arrived we hopped on E-Bikes and tested them out after a quick safety briefing so everyone felt comfortable peddling on the road.
After a scenic cycle across historic winery estates we arrived at Chateau Rol Valentin Grand Cru Classe.
We were greeted by one of the winery staff who spent the next hour taking us on a tour of the vineyards, fermentation room, and barrel cellar.
The tour finished in a sun-soaked tasting room where we hopped up on bar stools around a horseshoe-shaped table to sample several wines via a tutored tasting.
Fun Fact: At Château Rol Valentin’s vineyard plantings include 78% Merlot, 15 % Cabernet Franc and 7% of Malbec with a average age for the vines of 40 years.
Bordeaux Picnic
While we were enjoying the wine tasting inside our Bordeaux Wine Trails guide was busy setting up a delightful picnic lunch on the backyard terrace.
A local caterer prepares each picnic, which features fresh salads, sourdough bread, sandwiches, cheese and charcuterie board, vegetarian quiche, and luscious strawberry vanilla custard tarts.
We of course gobbled everything down with a few glasses of red wine before hopping back on our bikes and hitting the road.
Medieval Saint-Emilion
We peddled through historic wine villages before arriving into the Medieval town of Saint-Emilion.
We locked up our bikes by the cathedral and enjoyed a short tour before being given just under 2 hours of free time to explore.
Saint-Emilion is located at the crossroads of Bordeaux, Saintonge and Périgord. The town and surrounding vineyards were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, owing to its long, living history of wine-making, Romanesque churches and ruins stretching all along steep and narrow cobbled streets.
The best way to spend your time is by strolling through the church then tip toeing through the town’s many winding side streets where you’ll find hidden restaurant patios, bustling wine bars, fromage shops, art galleries and ice cream parlours.
Chateau Grangey Grand Cru
The last leg of our Bordeaux wine ride was a cycle that brought us to the doors of Chateau Grangey Grand Cru.
We were greeted by a friendly Golden Retriever who guided us inside to tour the petite production facility and cellar room. Chateau Grangey is very much a family-run boutique winery, producing exceptional wines and offering guests an intimate experience where you can really get to know the winemaker.
Our group enjoyed swirling, sniffing and sipping a parade of quality red wines, which were paired with creamy cows milk cheese. After waving goodbye to St Emilion we hopped back in our van and arrived back to Bordeaux before 6pm with plenty of time to freshen up and skip over to our final dinner in the city.
La Table de Montaigne
We recommend celebrating the end of your Bordeaux Wine Itinerary by toasting a wine-soaked weekend at the award winning gastronomic restaurant La Table de Montaigne.
Looking for thoughtfully plated haute cuisine recommended in the Michelin Guide? Step into the tiny, sophisticated dining room at the luxurious Le Palais Gallien Hotel for a tasty final farewell to your weekend in Bordeaux.
Under the leadership of London-based Chef Oli Williamson, the restaurant offers a solid Michelin dining experience that has garnered accolades like the 2023 Golden Hospitality Trophy from the Bordeaux Chambers of Commerce.
Chef Williamson boasts Michelin kitchen experience from starred establishments in Australia, Asia, and California, but most notably a recent collaboration with Heston Blumenthal, where he was the Head Chef at three-star Fat Duck, in Bray.
Dinner at La Table de Montaigne can be booked as a 5 or 7 course tasting menu. The dishes are in essence a travel diary of the chef’s most memorable experiences, with ingredients rooted in Bordeaux terroir.
During our meal in May on the cusp of summer we enjoyed dishes like cherry foie gras, kimchi granita melon salad, tender quail with pumpkin and an eye-popping dessert featuring freshly plucked strawberries, basil sorbet and vanilla cream.
Is A Weekend In Bordeaux Enough Time?
So you may just be wondering is a weekend in Bordeaux enough time to see all the top attractions?
You could definitely see Bordeaux in a short 2 day weekend but you’d just be skimming the service and likely wouldn’t have time to visit wineries outside of the city (the Wine Museum is a nice alternative for those who are time crunched).
We organized a 3 day weekend Bordeaux Travel Itinerary and never felt rushed and got a chance to see the majority of attractions and sites on our to do list as well as a full day dedicated to visiting vineyards and winery hopping.
Since this was my first visit to Bordeaux if I was to return I’d try and visit during a harvest festival in the Fall, when there’s a lot action at the wineries. If you’ve got all the time in the world, I’d suggest spending 3 nights in downtown Bordeaux to see all the sites at your leisure and then booking a boutique hotel or B&B in St Emilion or Médoc where you can enjoy the slower pace of rural life and dedicate more time to visiting wineries.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Bordeaux?
We visited Bordeaux in June, 2024 when the weather was sunny and warm but not overly hot or rainy. The summer is the high season when prices climb and temperatures can be rather sweaty so we always encourage travelers to book European vacations in the shoulder season with May and October being a great time to visit.
If you’re a wine lover we suggest visiting between the Spring and Fall as many wineries are closed to tourists during the winter months and visiting for a tasting isn’t as easy.
Since Bordeaux is a bustling city you can visit any time of year, with the winter offering festive Christmas markets and the Fall being an ideal time to visit wineries as estates begin to pluck grapes off the vine.
Getting To Bordeaux
Destination France aims to make France the number one destination in the world for sustainable tourism by 2030 (and the number one destination for bicycle tourism). France’s extensive and reliable train network is a great option for getting around the country and saves you having to pay for expensive gas and maneuver your car around slender Medieval streets in a car.
Bordeaux has a regional airport but most arrive into the city on the train as one of Europe’s most famous high speed services connects Paris to Bordeaux with several departures daily.
To give you an idea of how fast this train chugs through the French countryside, driving from Bordeaux to Paris typically takes over 7 hours, while the high speed train is completed in just over 2 hours! The train connection for Parisians makes a weekend in Bordeaux all the more alluring!
Book your train tickets in advance on Rail Europe. If you need to get work done we suggest booking the 1st class cabin with a second floor wrapped in windows to enjoy the best views. Tray tables feature electric ports so it’s easy to type on your laptop during the short journey as the free WIFI connection seems to be just as fast as the trains engine!
