How Many Days Do I Need for Bordeaux? A Perfect Guide for Your Trip

Hey! I think you are looking for me to know more about France. I am here today to explore one new beautiful city named Bordeaux. This city is so famous that most of my friends ask me the question: how many days do I need for Bordeaux? And another question was “ Is Bordeaux Worth visiting?  

I had Bordeaux on my mind. A place with so much history and the best vineyards is not an idea that one easily brushes aside. So, when the chance to visit finally came, I was willing to do whatever was necessary for me to make it there. But the big question loomed: what to do in Bordeaux, France?

I must admit however that this is a place where the adventures could go on splendidly, as my exploration would still go on and on for as long as that time. I must say confidently that it only takes three to four days for a first-time traveler out in well-planned Bordeux to appreciate this interior of France just about. 

From the international heritage sites ward interior of the background, the chic wine bars dotted around the city and the delicious food, a lot of things made me fall in love with Bordeaux. 

So whether you are just passing on through on your travels or you plan to spend an extensive vacation here, this is how to go about your time on Bordeaux.

Bordeaux: A Place of Unique  History and Culture

Once in Bordeaux, it was like a kid entering a candy store. This was the first impression I had on getting off the train at the beautiful Gare Saint-Jean, the storybook city of Bordeaux was ready to uncurl.

I was met with beautiful buildings set against the sound of bicycle bells ringing on the cobbled stone, and the aroma of over baked baguettes fresh from cloistered boulangeries. 

Undoubtedly, the lovely city of Bordeaux has a very rich history which is narrated by each street and square of the city. Bordeaux history and culture facts really surprised me a lot to know more.

Bordeaux city population is about 250,000 inhabitants. So, it is one of the highest living cities in France. So the local people had a lot of knowledge about their proud cultures and traditions. I really feel very special in this city.

One of my very first schedules was the Place de la Bourse, which to me is the center of Bordeaux. As the sun began to go down, there was a golden glow of activity in the square, and I remember how the water mirror captured the stunning 18th century architecture in its brilliance.

It was in this position I remember looking on as children romped and couples wandered around holding each other. This was a splendid first impression of the cool yet classy environment that the city has.

Exploring Bordeaux: A 4-Day Itinerary

To answer the big question:–how many days do I need for bordeaux? I would suggest allocating three to four days because too many of the highlights would simply not be captured in such a short time.

Here’s how I spent my time, and what you simply cannot afford to miss out on. There are some best places to visit in Bordeaux. 

On Day 1, I jumped into the story of Bordeaux. There was not a single corner of the city that did not show off its history. I breezed into the Golden Triangle and was awestruck by the incredible neoclassical architecture, wide boulevards, and Rue Sainte-Catherine, which is one of the longest shopping avenues in Europe.

I think this is one of the unique places to see in Bordeaux . Naturally, it’s a dream come true for a shopaholic, but those who are not into shopping will still enjoy the street itself.

The Bordeaux Cathedral (Saint-André) was one more wonder for me to appreciate, a splendid piece of Gothic architecture built in the 11th century.

By afternoon, I walked over to the Porte Cailhau, a historic gate and once, the principal entrance of the city of Bordeaux. This is the best affordable places to visit in Bordeaux. Standing at the ground, looking up to the exquisite designs, I stood there feeling a few hundred years of echoes.

Exploring Bordeaux – traditions & Gastronomic Impressions

On day two, I undertook to explore more about Bordeaux’s outsized reputation with food and wine. Well, if there is something you need to know about Bordeaux, it is that it is soaked in wine. 

There are so many best restaurants in Bordeaux France.  While the picturesque chateaux and appealling vineyards are located outside the city, you will not find it difficult to locate good wine within the setting of Bordeaux itself. 

I went to the Cité du Vin. This modern building combines a museum and a wine-tasting ‘heaven’ as some people call it, one of the best affordable restaurants in Bordeaux. 

It has such beautiful interactive displays that it would appeal to a novice as well as a connoisseur – or even better a budding wino – as there are opportunities to try out some wines and learn about the great Bordeaux history.

And let’s not overlook the matter of the cuisine, as well. The pains of the Bordeaux region in this case are inseparable from an epicurus journey – Atlantic Ocean as a part and French provinces. 

One night, I pampered myself at one of the most delightful dinners at Le Petit Commerce, reputed to be one of the best seafood restaurant  in  Bordeaux. Till today, I catch myself recalling the oysters, fresh and briny, cold and beautifully sociable, washed down with a glass of local white wine.

If you’re on a budget, do not panic, as Bordeaux has plenty of great cheap eateries too. I can recommend La Tupina, where you can relish the heavy southwestern French cuisine or Le cabanon marin where I loved a seafood platter that was surprising for its low price. 

These are the best cheap restaurants in Bordeaux.  The two places had a family type of atmosphere, with food that was rather like a warm hug on a plate.

What Else Can You Do in Bordeaux?

Another one for me was a challenge of trying to find things within Bordeaux that were more than mainstream tourist impressions. On day 3, I did not have a lot of activities planned, so I took my time in the morning and went to the Jardin Public which was a nice and calm place. 

This lovely park, with a lake in it and wooden pathways, is good when one wants to have a few minutes of silence. I bought a croissant and coffee from a cafe at one of the corners and simply watched the people.

For something a little different, I headed to Darwin Ecosystem, an ex-military barracks that has been converted into a sustainable urban industrial hub full of murals, co-working spaces and healthy cafes. 

It’s a little bit focused on the most popular places, but it’s worth seeing if one is interested to look at the other side of Bordeaux.

Best Places to Stay in Bordeaux

The choice of where to stay while traveling in Bordeaux depends on your travel style and your budget. I personally decided to stay in a lovely boutique hotel located right in the city center which made it very easy to tour around the city.

In case you’re wondering about the best spot to stay in Bordeaux, the modern and reasonably priced Hotel de Tourny, is rightfully the one to choose the best hotel in Bordeaux city centre. 

With ChildrenLodging humor, Charming Yndo Hotel features more spacious suites to add to this cozy wind blown breath of the best luxury hotels in Bordeaux.  At the extreme end of this spectrum is the Inter Continental Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel where every room is a five-star luxury and described as breathtaking terrace views over the Opera house and an impressive sunset terrace rooftop bar. Also, It was considered the best family hotel in Bordeaux.

Practical Tips for Visiting Bordeaux

While making any plans for your visit, you should bear in mind that Bordeaux is very walkable, and the transportation system is quite decent and reasonable. Out of the various transport modes available, trams are relatively well efficient since walking long distances can be tiresome.

If you’re asking ‘when is the best time to go in Bordeaux ’, I was privileged to go in late spring, when I went to Bordeaux and it was ideal. It was warm weather with some heat but not unbearable and the grapes were just beginning to blossom with the anticipation of a new harvest season.

The month of September is also another good month, more so if you would want to see the production of wine at its peak.

Is Bordeaux Worth  Visiting ? 

When I arrived in Bordeaux, I had every reason to believe that I would enjoy the wine and the wineshop and the architecture. What I did not expect is, how much I would love this city.

Bordeaux exudes an ageless class and a warm innovative force. Strolling in the old cobblestones, drinking wine leaning against the river, or even cooling off with a plate of odori is like a small piece of heaven on earth.

Well, how many days do I need for Bordeaux then? I would consider a first visit to Bordeaux to require three to four days, however do not be surprised when you start looking for the next opportunities to come back before even leaving.

 It is not overstating to say that there is always something about Bordeaux which causes nostalgia just as the taste of a fine decent wine which I would say is rich and complex tattooed in memory.