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. Things to Do in Bordeaux: 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 centre's boulevards and squares along the Garonne River, reinforcing Bordeaux's identity as the world capital and wine capital of French wine for wine lovers drawn to its living wine culture. 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, making it the wine capital for wine lovers with château visits, wine tastings, and cellar tours across bordeaux's vineyards. To the east, the medieval village of saint emilion lets you explore at your own pace and is ringed by hillside vineyards producing Merlot-dominant blends with cabernet franc; to the north, the Médoc peninsula reflects Bordeaux’s standing as the world capital of French wine and hosts legendary châteaux including Mouton Rothschild, Pichon Baron, and Léoville-Barton, where cabernet sauvignon is central to many top blends. 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, and Bordeaux’s surrounding vineyards make it an easy favorite for wine lovers — 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, the underground catacombs, and other historic monuments. The village's wine shops, local blends that commonly feature Cabernet Franc alongside Merlot, and local macarons are worth an afternoon of exploration. It also works especially well for day trips. Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is located in central Bordeaux for travelers who want a château experience without leaving the city.
5. Stroll the Garonne Riverfront
The revitalized riverfront — the Quais along the Garonne River — is Bordeaux's outdoor living room, especially on warm evenings, and much of it is within walking distance of central sights. 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. You can stroll between pont de pierre and Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas, or join boat tours for skyline views and a glass of wine on the water.
6. Explore the Chartrons Quarter
The Chartrons district, north of the old town along the riverfront of the Garonne River, was traditionally the home of Bordeaux's wine merchants (négociants). Today it's a vibrant area known for antique shops and design stores, with the city's best Sunday flea market, excellent independent wine shops, and a cluster of organic restaurants and wine bars on Rue Borie. Rue Notre-Dame is another local highlight, lined with galleries, cafés, and vintage addresses that give the neighborhood much of its character. You can also walk over to jardin public for a relaxed break between stops. The nearby musée des arts décoratifs is currently closed for refurbishment, so it's better to focus on the streets, shops, and food scene here.
7. Visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts
Bordeaux's fine arts museum in the Chartrons district holds an impressive collection spanning from the Renaissance to the 20th century, making it a rewarding stop for anyone interested in art history. Highlights include works by Titian, Rubens, Delacroix (who was born near Bordeaux), Renoir, and Matisse, and Rue Notre-Dame is the area's best-known street for antique shops, galleries, and independent stores. The museum is free on the first Sunday of each month, and Halles de Bacalan is also within easy reach if you want to continue on for a bite or a glass of natural wines.
8. Visit the Cathédrale Saint-André
Bordeaux's Gothic cathedral, also known as Bordeaux Cathedral and Saint André Cathedral, where Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future King Louis VII of France in 1137, is one of the city's most important monuments; construction began in the 12th century near today's Hôtel de Ville. 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. Bordeaux Cathedral, also known as Saint André Cathedral, began construction in the 12th century. Near the Hôtel de Ville area, the nearby Pey Berland tower adds another landmark stop before you head to the Marché des Capucins, the city's principal covered market, nicknamed "the belly of Bordeaux" — excellent for local markets culture, local cheeses, oysters from the Arcachon basin, and artisanal foods like goat cheese, along with 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 in Southwestern France, 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, and it makes one of the easiest day trips in southwest France. Another appealing excursion is La Rochelle, a quieter seaside town with narrow streets and easy access to Île de Ré.
Getting Around Bordeaux
Bordeaux's compact old town is best explored on foot, and the city centre makes it easy to visit Bordeaux with major sights within walking distance. The TBM network of trams (three lines) and buses provides excellent connections to neighborhoods outside the center, while Arcachon is one of the easiest day trips from Bordeaux in Southwestern France if you want a coastal break. Renting a vélo from the VCub public bike share is a fantastic way to explore the quays and neighboring districts at your own pace. La Rochelle is another coastal excursion option for travelers who want a different seaside town.