Chic Bordeaux, in France, is famous for its wine and a trip here should always be accompanied by a nice red. While the vineyards and wines of the Bordeaux region are world famous, the city itself is gorgeous, with wide boulevards, neoclassical architecture, beautiful parks and a thriving student population.
Here are the best things to do in Bordeaux
Explore the city
Take time to explore the city before heading out to the vineyards. Start in the north at Jardin Public, where you can check out the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle or Jardin Botanique. Only a short walk from the public garden is the Musée d’art Contemporain. Stop for a photo at the Monument aux Girondins before heading past the Grand Théâtre and down Rue Ste-Catherine (the city’s main shopping precinct).
Walk the riverfront
Take a stroll along Bordeaux’s 4km-long riverfront esplanade and admire the Pont du Pierre – a bridge built during Napoleon’s reign. It has 17 arches, one for each of his victories.
Visit the museums
Musée d’Aquitaine provides an interesting look at the city’s history and art buffs should not miss the Musée des Beaux-Arts. All the permanent exhibits at Bordeaux’s museums have free entry.
Eat out: Seafood, caviar and more
Bordeaux has a thriving restaurant scene with hip eateries and lively bistros. Seafood features prominently on the menu, and you’re also likely to see Aquitaine caviar, which is farmed locally. Check out the dining precincts around Place du Parlement and Place St-Pierre.
Discover the wine region
Wine region St Emilion is worth an overnight stay. The fortified medieval town is 35km east of Bordeaux and has a huge subterranean church, cut out from a single piece of rock, and eerie catacombs.
Take a Bordeaux wine tour
Even if you don’t like red wine you should still make time to visit the wine-growing region, as it is such an integral part of the area. The Bordeaux Tourism Office runs themed one-day tours to the nearby regions, including St Emilion and the Médoc. Alternatively hire a car and explore the region yourself.
Tasting courses, which last from two hours to three-days, are also popular.
Enjoy a car-free Sundays
Bordeaux’s city centre is transformed into a car-free zone on the first Sunday of the month, when the streets are abuzz with cyclists, rollerbladers and outdoor fitness classes. Make the most of it.
Essential information
WHEN TO GO: Spring and autumn are best as summers in Bordeaux are unbearably hot. Winter is wet but mild. Wine tours run from May to October.
GETTING THERE: Fly direct from London to Bordeaux.
VISAS: South Africans need a Schengen visa.
CURRENCY: Euro. 1 GBP = 1.21 EUR.
LANGUAGE: French.
GETTING AROUND: Bordeaux is easy to explore on foot, but it also has an efficient tram system, and buses run every 10 minutes between Place de la Victoire and Place des Quinconces.
GOING OUT: A beer is €5.
ACCOMMODATION: Hostel dorm beds from €20, double hotel rooms from €30.
GET MORE INFO AT: bordeaux.fr
