Bordeaux has always been famous for wine — it produces some of the world's most celebrated bottles, and its wine-growing region is the largest Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in France. But the city itself has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades, emerging as one of France's most dynamic, beautiful, and livable cities. From its UNESCO World Heritage old town to its cutting-edge wine museum and thriving food scene, here are the best things to do in Bordeaux.
1. Visit La Cité du Vin
La Cité du Vin is the world's most spectacular wine museum — a sinuous, golden building on the Garonne waterfront that opened in 2016. The immersive permanent exhibition takes visitors on a sensory journey through wine's history and geography across 19 themed spaces. The Belvedère at the top offers wine tasting with a panoramic view. Allow at least 3 hours.
2. Explore the UNESCO Old Town
Bordeaux's historic city center — inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 — is one of the largest areas of outstanding urban architecture in the world. The "Port of the Moon" reached its peak of grandeur in the 18th century, when wealth from wine and trade funded the sweeping stone facades that still line the city's boulevards and squares. The Place de la Bourse reflected in the Miroir d'Eau (Water Mirror) is one of France's most photographed scenes.
3. Taste Wine at Châteaux
Bordeaux is surrounded by the world's most famous wine estates, all offering tastings and cellar tours. To the east, the medieval village of Saint-Émilion is ringed by hillside vineyards producing Merlot-dominant blends; to the north, the Médoc peninsula hosts legendary châteaux including Mouton Rothschild, Pichon Baron, and Léoville-Barton. Book château visits in advance — the most prestigious estates require reservations months ahead.
4. Visit Saint-Émilion
Just 40 km east of Bordeaux, the hilltop village of Saint-Émilion is one of the most beautiful wine towns in the world — the entire village and its surrounding vineyards are UNESCO-listed. Highlights include the remarkable Église Monolithe — a church carved entirely out of the limestone cliff — the bell tower with panoramic views, and the underground catacombs. The village's wine shops and local macarons are worth an afternoon of exploration.
5. Stroll the Garonne Riverfront
The revitalized Garonne riverfront — the Quais — is Bordeaux's outdoor living room, especially on warm evenings. The Miroir d'Eau on the Quai des Chartrons is the world's largest reflecting pool (3,450 m²), alternately flooding to create a perfect mirror of the 18th-century customs house and spraying mist in dramatic bursts. The quays are lined with restaurants, beach volleyball courts, and food trucks from spring through autumn.
6. Explore the Chartrons Quarter
The Chartrons neighborhood, north of the old town, was traditionally the home of Bordeaux's wine merchants (négociants). Today it's a vibrant antique and design district, with the city's best Sunday flea market, excellent independent wine shops, and a cluster of organic restaurants and wine bars on Rue Borie.
7. Visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts
Bordeaux's fine arts museum holds an impressive collection spanning from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Highlights include works by Titian, Rubens, Delacroix (who was born near Bordeaux), Renoir, and Matisse. The museum is free on the first Sunday of each month.
8. Visit the Cathédrale Saint-André
Bordeaux's Gothic cathedral, where Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future King Louis VII of France in 1137, is one of the city's most important monuments. The separate Pey Berland tower offers sweeping views from its summit over the old town and surrounding vineyards.
9. Experience Bordeaux's Food Scene
Beyond wine, Bordeaux has developed one of France's most exciting restaurant scenes. The Marché des Capucins is the city's principal covered market, nicknamed "the belly of Bordeaux" — excellent for local cheeses, oysters from the Arcachon basin, and the iconic canelés (small caramelized rum-and-vanilla pastries).
10. Day Trip to Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat
An hour by train from Bordeaux, the Arcachon Basin is one of France's most beautiful coastal areas — a lagoon sheltered from the Atlantic, lined with oyster beds and elegant 19th-century villas. The Dune du Pilat, just south of Arcachon, is Europe's tallest sand dune (110m), climbing steeply from a pine forest to reveal extraordinary Atlantic views.
Getting Around Bordeaux
Bordeaux's compact old town is best explored on foot. The TBM network of trams (three lines) and buses provides excellent connections to neighborhoods outside the center. Renting a vélo from the VCub public bike share is a fantastic way to explore the quays and neighboring districts.