How Many Days Do I Need for Bordeaux?

Welcome to another beautiful city in France- Bordeaux. Today I will mainly discuss my experience in Bordeaux answering the question of “how many days do I need for Bordeaux to visit? In Addition to that, I will tell you what to do in Bordeaux France. Let’s explore all things with the mix of my experience.

Inside the airplane, my body was filled with excitement and anticipation. Maybe in the next few weeks, I would be in France, the wine capital of the World, Bordeaux, and for months now, the city had been calling me out.

It was as if a voice in my mind asked, “How many days do I need for Bordeaux?” I looked out at the clouds as a child and suspected myself, and NO it was not the amount of regret it was in fact the effort it would take to plan this trip and this is somber. 

After a few days lost in those charming streets, I understood that one should value their time according to the beauty of the city. Whether it’s for a weekend or for a long holiday, Bordeaux is a city that will visit you even after you leave it behind.

Reacting to Bordeaux for the First Time

As soon as I disembarked from the train, I must admit I was struck by the beauty of Bordeaux. The sunshine was rather soft for the hour of the day when I arrived and I could sense some kind of elegant relaxed atmosphere in the streets. 

At that time I got the answer to the question that my friends asked me: “Is Bordeaux worth visiting?”.One of the best cities that I have ever visited. 

People were talking out loud from the lounges and drinking wine. It was possible to smell fresh bread from the adjacent bakeries. Do you know what my first destination was? Of course the historic Place de la Bourse, an impressive square that illustrates perfectly the beauty and history of Bordeaux. 

Then I was also fascinated by the Miroir d’eau, reflecting the perfect lines of the square building with reflective achievement. One thing was apparent: I was going to enjoy and cherish this trip.

Bordeaux: A City Of History And Modernity

While Bordeaux is a beautiful basin, its historiography is profound. Bordeaux’s history and cultural facts are so interesting to me. The city dates to the Roman period; it was a prosperous trading city in the 1700, and that is when virtually all the beautiful buildings were constructed. 

In strolling leisurely over the Golden Triangle, admiring the grand 18th-century structures at every point, stories of the account history seemed to be whispering at the convex stones I was standing over. 

Did you know that the entire historic center of Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage Site? No wonder; each of those streets seems to bast a flake of history.

As One of the advantages of living city, Bordeaux city a population of around 250,000 inhabitants, which makes the city active but still not overcrowded. It’s just the perfect number to walk around with different areas offering different things.

How Many Days Do I Need for Bordeaux?

This leaves us with the core question of this post: How many days do I need for Bordeaux? If you are like me and prefer not to hurry when moving inside town, three to four days is the time frame.

It allows one to fully enjoy the ambiance of the town, see its major attractions, and still get to discover certain things that are not in the usual places most visitors go to.

What to Do in Bordeaux, France : My Favorite Spots

I quickly figured: There are many activities to do in Bordeaux for history lovers, for wine lovers, and people who simply like to walk. There are some best places to visit in Bordeaux.

1. Exploring the Cité du Vin:

Well, since I love anything and everything about wine, there is no way I would skip La Cité du Vin, the vineyard Paris of Bordeaux. It is not simply a museum – it is an exposition on wine, its history, and the art related to it.

As I was looking for some unique places to see in Bordeaux, this one really felt like a unique character to see. What do you think might be the most exciting part of the visit? The view from the lasting floor of the building with a glass of Bordeaux served.

2. Walking close to Garonne River:

One of the simplest pleasures was walking along the Garonne River. The gentle wind, soft sound of waves, and the sight of the magnificent Pont de Pierre certainly provided a quiet retreat from the chaos of the city center.

3. Exploring Local Cafés and Shops:

One day I happened to stray from the main roads into the Saint-Pierre district and discovered nice little shops with local craft and cute little pubs. 

There was a really small café on Rue du Pas-Saint-Georges that became my favorite place to order a perfect French espresso. The quieter parts of the city were amongst the things I loved in Bordeaux.

4. Going to Bordeaux’s Markets:

For locals, pay a morning visit to122 Marché des Capucins, a food market in Bordeaux, for those looking to experience real life in the city. Everything, from oysters to pastries to puts on and some of the cheeses, the taste of Bordeaux would outlive your stay.

What to See in Bordeaux

Perhaps one of the most famous aspects of Bordeaux is the wine that comes from the region, but its buildings are also hard to forget.

I was greatly impressed with the Gothic Cathédrale Saint-André, whilst gaining a bird’s eye view of the city after climbing up the Pey-Berland Tower was thrilling. Another remarkable is the Grand Théâtre, one of the earliest wooden framed theaters in Europe.

Affordable Accommodation in Bordeaux: Hotels in All Categories

Interestingly, choosing the kind of accommodation one would wish for was quite easy in Bordeaux since one could choose from among the luxury hotels, the moderate, and the cheap ones.

Best luxury hotels in Bordeaux:

One of the options is to spend money on InterContinental Bordeaux – Le Grand Hotel which is good if you love opulence. This is the best place to stay in Bordeaux and why not? 

The hotel is located in the very center of the city and has magnificent views over the Place de la Comédie with spa amenities to relax guests.

Best Family Hotel in Bordeaux:

If you have your family with you on holiday then this hotel – Hôtel de Sèze – is the best family hotel in Bordeaux and very well situated in the center of the city and has large rooms which are essential for families. Furthermore, it is only a short walking distance from a number of sights.

Cheap Accommodation options:

If you’re a tourist traveling on a budget, I suggest you check out Mama Shelter Bordeaux as it offers fashionable, restful rooms at a much lower rate. 

Their rooftop bar is such a perfect place for a quick drink while unwinding and enjoying the sight of the city. This is the best hotel in Bordeaux city centre who have budget issues.

Dining in Bordeaux: A Food Lover’s Dream

The story about Bordeaux’s gastronomy I guess is one of the most motivational. There are a lot of best restaurants in Bordeaux France. 

I totally enjoyed the local seafood, and most of all, the fresh oysters. If you are like me and appreciate high-quality seafood, do try to visit Le Petit Commerce, a great seafood restaurant in Bordeaux where I had the most delightful plate of moules-frites, the best I’ve ever had.

For those who are looking for the best affordable restaurants in Bordeaux, there is Le Flacon, offering nice and cheaper French food in a warm environment. It’s the kind of place where you can sip a glass of wine and you won’t even feel the pain in your wallet. 

Rewarding as Bordeaux can be as far as finances are concerned, if for some reason traveling on a tight budget is something that you anticipate, don’t worry! In addition, there are many other cheap options in Bordeaux, starting with places to eat.

For ourselves, La Tupina is a country-style tuck shop with filling English and French cuisine including French fries. Along similar lines, L’Entrecôte offers great steak frites at prices too hard to beat.

These and some other inexpensive eateries are some of the best cheap restaurants in Bordeaux, and both give you a real feel of the place. There are also some best seafood restaurants in Bordeaux. 

Practical Tips for Exploring Bordeaux

But do not worry about getting all exhausted by walking around Angers because the efforts lottening public transportation system are superb. Bordeaux has a very comfortable tram which is just as easy to operate and is very inexpensive while doing the same while covering most of the important sites in the city. 

If you plan to venture out to the nearby vineyards, the best method would be to hire a vehicle since the majority of the chateaus are not located in the city center.

When it comes to the timing of the trip, Bordeaux is an attractive destination for tourists at any time of the year; however, the spring and autumn months are the best.

I went to Bordeaux in the fall and the turn of the season and the cool weather made the city even more romantic. Furthermore, the number of visitors is much lower than that in peak – summer period.

Is Bordeaux worth visiting? 

With Regard to Bordeaux, rich culture, beautiful buildings, and sommelier’s treat, i.e. winery make this city a must-visit for every traveler. Be it a gourmet, a history enthusiast, or someone who finds pleasure just wandering the pretty streets of the city – Bordeaux will let you enjoy all of them. If you’re interested in another city in France, you should visit Chamonix.

I had a wonderful time in Bordeaux, full of discovery, happiness, and relaxation, and came back with lovely experiences that I will keep for a long time.

In case you are asking yourself “How many days do I need for Bordeaux?”—be sure that you will want more days. You should also know about Paris.

In Summation: Additional Useful Information if You are Planning a Trip to Bordeaux

Now before you book those tickets to Bordeaux there are a couple of things that you need to keep in mind to help you out. Ensure you allocate at least three days of your time so as to soak in everything that the people, culture, and history of the city have to offer.

You can travel either in spring or fall, which are the shoulder months, thus allowing you to experience fewer throngs of people and good weather.

Don’t forget to set aside some time to explore the areas that usually do not appear in the travel itineraries—the secret treasures of Bordeaux.

If you want to ponder about the excellent cuisine, friendly people, or the striking beauty of the city, let me tell you – Bordeaux will take you by storm. So pack your things, take your passport, and prepare for a journey of your own – you will not be disappointed!