Best Things To Do in Bordeaux

Bordeaux is often reduced to its wine labels and elegant 18th-century façades, yet the city reveals its full character through the systems that built it: a river port tied to Atlantic trade, a landscape defined by vineyards and agricultural production, and neighborhoods that reflect successive historical eras. Visiting with this perspective in mind allows you to read its quays, its port, its urban context, and the surrounding region as part of a long commercial and cultural continuum.

Fernwayer curates experiences that connect you directly with the people who interpret and sustain these aspects of the city today. Through guided walks that trace maritime commerce and urban change, visits inside working estates across the wine region, and time spent with a chef exploring the food landscape, you encounter Bordeaux through the practices that define its daily life and local expertise.

What distinguishes Fernwayer’s experiences is the level of access and context provided by specialists. Whether discussing classification systems with those involved in wine production or entering a photography studio that preserves historical techniques, each encounter is designed to offer a clear, grounded understanding of how Bordeaux’s past and present continue to intersect.

Fernwayer’s essentials address Bordeaux’s defining features directly: its role as a port shaped by global trade, the historic ties between the city and wine production, and the everyday spaces where local life still unfolds. Discover the so-called Port of the Moon and the quays to understand how commerce, including the Atlantic trade and slavery, defined the city’s growth. Engage with Bordeaux’s wine identity through the Médoc or Saint-Émilion, each approached as a cultural and working landscape rather than a postcard setting. Experience the city’s present-day rhythm through its daily market. Fernwayer approaches these themes as a connected system, guided by local knowledge and grounded in real contexts rather than isolated highlights.

Explore our essential Bordeaux tours below or see all Bordeaux experiences here.

Wine Tours in Bordeaux and its Wine Region

Wine is inseparable from Bordeaux’s identity, structuring its landscapes, trade routes, and social life across centuries. Exploring vineyards around the city brings the region’s classification system, soils, and production practices into clear focus. Graves, Saint Emilion, and the Medoc are among the most renowned areas. Their different terrains, from gravel terraces and river plains to limestone plateaus, contribute to a wide range of wines. Fernwayer experiences take you inside working estates and cellars, meeting the winemakers and learning how vineyard management, blending, and ageing define the style of each wine.

Walking & History Tours in Bordeaux

Bordeaux’s streets reflect centuries of change driven by trade, migration, and the rise of its harbor. Walking through the historic center reveals how successive eras left their mark on quays, warehouses, civic buildings, and residential districts, including chapters tied to Atlantic commerce and the slave trade. Fernwayer experiences are led by specialists who connect architecture, wine trade, urban development, and lesser known narratives into a coherent reading of the city. Moving through these areas allows you to discover how Bordeaux evolved from a Roman port city to the UNESCO architectural ensemble.

Food Tours in Bordeaux

Bordeaux’s food culture reflects the same trade networks that built its port, bringing together produce from the Gironde countryside and ingredients historically introduced through overseas trade. Exploring the Marché des Capucins and nearby shops offers a direct view of daily habits, seasonal ingredients, and the role of gastronomy in local life. Fernwayer experiences are hosted by culinary professionals who guide you through stalls, small shops, and tastings, connecting ingredients to the people who produce them. This approach gives you structured access to authentic food environments while helping you navigate the city’s culinary scene with context and confidence.

Photo Experiences in Bordeaux

Our photography experiences in Bordeaux connect directly with its long artistic tradition and with makers who still work using historical processes. You can enter a studio in Saint-Michel where you work alongside a photographer specializing in 19th-century wet plate collodion. Fernwayer offers access to a hands-on session that reveals each step, from preparing the plate to developing the image, and results in a one-of-a-kind portrait you take home. This encounter offers you a rare chance to engage with a photographic method seldom accessible to visitors.

Bordeaux Neighborhood Guide

Triangle d’Or

The Triangle d’Or brings together some of Bordeaux’s most representative monuments and public spaces. The area includes the Grand Théâtre, Place des Quinconces, and Place de la Bourse, which opens onto the river and the Miroir d’eau. This ensemble forms part of the UNESCO-listed site “Bordeaux, Port of the Moon,” recognized for the coherence of its 18th-century urban design, characterized by broad avenues, uniform stone façades, and large ceremonial squares. Recommended experience: The Atlantic Ledger.

Chartrons

Chartrons reflects Bordeaux’s long connection to wine trade and river commerce. Historically home to négociants and warehouses, the district developed along the river as a hub for storage, distribution, and export. Today the area is known for places such as the Cité du Vin and the CAPC contemporary art museum, both set within former industrial or port-related buildings. Chartrons also includes galleries, wine shops, cafés, and quiet residential streets. It’s a district to explore at a slower pace, where architecture and urban layout still reveal Bordeaux’s commercial past, away from the busiest central areas. Recommended experience: The Port of the Moon.

Saint-Pierre

Saint-Pierre is Bordeaux’s medieval core, where the city first developed around the river. The district is organized around small squares such as Place Saint-Pierre and a dense network of narrow streets lined with historic buildings. Nearby landmarks include Porte Cailhau, one of the city’s surviving gates, and the Grosse Cloche, long associated with Bordeaux’s civic history. Today, Saint-Pierre concentrates many of the city’s restaurants, wine bars, and cafés, making it one of the busiest areas in the evening. Its central location also makes it a practical base for moving on foot between monuments, the quays, and adjacent districts. Recommended experience: A Chronicle Along the Quays.

Saint-Michel

Saint-Michel is one of Bordeaux’s most historic and popular districts, long associated with trade, migration, and everyday urban life. The area takes its name from the Basilique Saint-Michel, a major Gothic landmark that anchors the neighborhood and its central square. Nearby is the Marché des Capucins, the city’s main daily market, which draws locals for food shopping, casual meals, and cafés. Beyond the market, Saint-Michel includes modest restaurants, small shops, and streets that retain a working-class character, offering a clear view of Bordeaux outside its more formal districts. Recommended experience: The Pulse of Les Capucins.

Arcachon Bay

Arcachon Bay provides a natural extension of Bordeaux toward the Atlantic. Known for its oyster beds, seaside towns, and the Dune du Pilat, the bay contrasts sharply with the city’s urban rhythm. Located about one hour from Bordeaux, it’s well suited for a day trip or overnight stay, especially for travelers interested in coastal landscapes, fresh seafood, and open air. The bay is also known for its traditional pinasse boats, long used by fishermen and oyster farmers to navigate the shallow waters of the basin.

Wine Region

Bordeaux’s wine region surrounds the city and is deeply connected to its identity. Areas such as Médoc, Graves, and Saint-Émilion each offer distinct landscapes, architectural styles, and production traditions. Exploring the wine region involves visiting châteaux, estate cellars, and historic villages, moving between working properties where wine is produced, stored, and traded. You will encounter fortified estates, vineyard-lined roads, elegant tasting rooms, and small towns shaped by centuries of wine production and commerce. Recommended experience: The Chateaux Road in the Médoc.

How do I get to Bordeaux? Bordeaux is easy to reach by air and rail. Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport has direct connections with Paris and several European cities, with short flight times from major hubs. From Paris, high-speed trains reach Bordeaux in about two hours, making rail a practical option if you are already in France or arriving via Paris. The main train station, Gare Saint-Jean, is located close to the city center, allowing for a straightforward arrival.

What is the smoothest private arrival? From Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport or Gare Saint-Jean, the smoothest arrival is a pre-arranged private car or driver. Distances within the city are short, but coordinating transport on arrival is more comfortable.

Where should I base myself — and why? Basing yourself near the historic center makes it easier to explore Bordeaux on foot while staying close to key districts and the riverfront. Areas along the quays offer quick access to restaurants, shops, and cultural venues, while neighborhoods such as Chartrons work well if you’re interested in wine history, galleries, and a more residential atmosphere.

How do I move around effortlessly? Bordeaux is compact and well suited to walking, especially within the central districts. The tram network is reliable and intuitive, covering most areas visitors need, including the train station and riverfront. Taxis and ride-hailing services are widely available when timing matters. For trips into the wine region, arranging a driver, renting a car, or joining a guided experience is the most practical option.

How far ahead do I need to book restaurants? For well-known restaurants, booking a couple of days in advance is usually enough, while highly sought-after tables may require more notice, especially on weekends. Neighborhood bistros and market-based dining options are easier to manage spontaneously. If your visit coincides with fairs, festivals, or major wine events, securing reservations earlier is strongly recommended.

When should I visit to avoid crowds? Bordeaux is never as crowded as other major French destinations, and even in peak periods the city remains easy to navigate. Late spring and early autumn offer the most comfortable balance of weather and atmosphere, while July and August are livelier but still manageable, especially compared to coastal or resort areas. Winter is quieter and works well for travelers focused on food, wine, and museums, with the advantage of a slower pace across the city.

Do I need to plan wine experiences in advance? Visits to estates and structured tastings are rarely available last minute. Planning ahead ensures access to producers that match your interests, whether focused on specific appellations or styles. Bordeaux’s wine culture is closely tied to scheduling and logistics, and advance planning improves both access and depth.

How many days should I plan for Bordeaux? Two to three days allow time to understand the city itself. With additional days, Bordeaux works well as a base for exploring the surrounding wine regions.