Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Bordeaux?
Should you spend 1 or 2 weeks 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 romantic 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 one or two weeks 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 one week enough time in Bordeaux?
One week is more than sufficient for an in-depth trip to Bordeaux, giving you the freedom to set your own pace. Taste delicious cuisine, admire the wonderful scenery, go shopping, and tour the famous sights and museums on your own schedule. Then, unwind at your hotel or use Bordeaux as a hub for some nice day trips in the surrounding area.
How to spend a week 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)
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.
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.
After you've explored most of Bordeaux, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Saint Emilion Day Trip with Sightseeing Tour & Wine Tastings from Bordeaux ($169)
- Medoc Region Wine Day Trip with Vineyard Visits & Tastings from Bordeaux ($169)
- Saint Emilion Half-Day Trip with Wine Tasting & Winery Visit from Bordeaux ($115)
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.
Bordeaux is such a huge city that you can easily spend another day in one of the neighborhoods that you haven't visited. Look for those hidden gems and local spots where most tourists don't go. Or, pick another neighborhood with local charm that you haven't fully explored yet.
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 2 weeks enough time in Bordeaux?
Two weeks is more than enough time to see everything that Bordeaux has to offer. Many visitors prefer to spend two to five days here, so you'll be able to take in all of the cuisine, the beautiful scenery, the many shops, and the museums and landmarks at your own pace. We have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting, and then you can take a day trip if you're looking to explore further around the area.
Bordeaux
How to spend 2 weeks in Bordeaux
With 2 weeks in Bordeaux, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy everything the city has to offer at your own relaxed pace. You'll want to spend plenty of time experiencing the city's neighborhoods and dining at local restaurants. You can also relax at your hotel, or casually explore this city looking for hidden gems. Also, consider taking some day trips to nearby destinations where you can explore more of the region.
A few trip suggestions:
- Saint Emilion Day Trip with Sightseeing Tour & Wine Tastings from Bordeaux ($169)
- Medoc Region Wine Day Trip with Vineyard Visits & Tastings from Bordeaux ($169)
- Saint Emilion Half-Day Trip with Wine Tasting & Winery Visit from Bordeaux ($115)
- Bordeaux Vineyards Wine Tasting Half-Day Trip ($62)
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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