Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Bordeaux?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Bordeaux?
Not sure how much time you'll need in Bordeaux, France? Most people spend two to five days in Bordeaux during their visit. After all, the elegant city will let you taste delicious cuisine, admire the wonderful scenery, go shopping, and tour the famous sights and museums.
Bordeaux is a the heart of France's winegrowing district. It's also a port city that's filled with a lot of history and architecture. The surrounding countryside is filled with vineyards and the city has many great restaurants where you can sample traditional cuisine and local wine.
Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Bordeaux? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is 3 days enough time in Bordeaux?
Three days is usually not enough time to experience the elegant city of Bordeaux, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to taste delicious cuisine, admire the wonderful scenery, go shopping, and tour the famous sights and museums. So, you'll likely want more than three days, as many tourists set aside around two to five days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.
How to spend 3 days in Bordeaux
Don't miss Cathédrale Saint-André during your trip to Bordeaux, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
The culinary scene in Bordeaux is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. Both food and wine are a major draw to this culinary city, which is known for its pastries and rich flavors. Popular local dishes include grilled duck, duck foie gras, and canelés.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Bordeaux Ultimate Food & Wine Tasting Tour ($108)
- Saint-Emilion Electric Bike Day Tour with Wine Tastings & Lunch ($190)
- Bordeaux Full Day Wine Tour - 3 Wineries & Gourmet Picnic Lunch ($191)
Bordeaux is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The city has many pedestrian areas and large squares to explore.
Shopping in Bordeaux is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. The city has a mix of luxury fashion brands, jewelry shops, perfume suppliers, and leather goods. There are department stores, local boutiques, and pedestrian shopping areas that you can explore.
Bordeaux is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The city is filled with beautiful architecture, parks, and gardens.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Bordeaux City - Private Guided Walking Tour with Local Sophia ($93)
- Exclusive : Private Half-Day Best of Bordeaux Walking Tour ($79)
- Bordeaux Walking Tour - Private ($98)
The public transit in Bordeaux is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There are buses, trams and a ferry that runs along the river.
You'll find a few good museums and historic landmarks here, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. The city has many historical landmarks and museums to explore. Cathédrale Saint-André, Tour Le Grand-Théâtre, and Basilique Saint-Seurin are all notable monuments that are worth visiting.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Bordeaux Wine and Trade Museum Admission Ticket with Wine Tasting ($11)
- Bordeaux Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour ($7)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. The city comes to life at night with dance clubs, wine bars, student pubs, and more.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Bordeaux Pub Crawl ($25)
Is 4 days enough time in Bordeaux?
Many visitors choose to spend around four days in Bordeaux. This would give you the chance to experience the city's most popular activities such as the cuisine, the beautiful scenery, and the many shops. Since many visitors prefer to spend around two to five days here, we have a few suggestions of things to do in the elegant destination.
Bordeaux
How to spend 4 days in Bordeaux
Having 4 days in Bordeaux will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. The old town is between Cours de l'Intendance and rue Peyronnet. The area has many distinct neighborhoods, monuments, and historical buildings.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Bordeaux City - Private Guided Walking Tour with Local Sophia ($93)
- Exclusive : Private Half-Day Best of Bordeaux Walking Tour ($79)
- Bordeaux Walking Tour - Private ($98)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Bordeaux.
Is 5 days enough time in Bordeaux?
Five days is more than enough time to see pretty much everything in Bordeaux. You can move at your own pace and relax in your hotel. You could also use Bordeaux as a base for exploring the nearby destinations. You'll find some great day trips in the region.
Sunrise over the vinyards, Bordeaux, France
How to spend 5 days in Bordeaux
With 5 days in Bordeaux, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Bordeaux is large enough to spend at least a full day exploring the local neighborhoods, attractions, and activities found around town. It's a medium sized city that is known as a wine capital at the heart of a wine producing region.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Prestige Commented Cruise glass of wine and Canelé in Bordeaux ($21)
- Brunch and cruise on the Garonne in Bordeaux ($60)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Bordeaux.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Bordeaux, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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