Day 1:
Start your day at the Marché des Capucins, the city's liveliest market, and enjoy a hot cup of coffee alongside French pastries. After breakfast, head to the Cité du Vin for an immersive tour of the wine culture. You can easily spend hours here exploring interactive exhibits and enjoying the tasting sessions. For lunch, grab a table at the Le Pressoir d'Argent for a Michelin-starred meal. In the afternoon, take a leisurely stroll down Rue Sainte-Catherine, one of Europe's longest pedestrian streets, for some retail therapy. End your day with a unique cheese and wine pairing session at La Boutique du Fromager.
Day 2:
Begin your day with a croissant and coffee at Boulangerie Jocteur. Afterwards, make your way to Bordeaux Wine School and delve deeper into regional wine-making techniques. For lunch, head to the La Tupina for a traditional Gascon meal, the best way to experience the region's culinary culture. In the evening, head for a sunset stroll at Place de la Bourse and indulge in some people watching. Finish your day at L'Univerre, a chic bar with an extensive wine list, and enjoy a bottle of local wine.
Time and Costs Estimates
Marché des Capucins (1 hour, €-€€)
Cité du Vin (3 hours, €20-€25)
Le Pressoir d'Argent (2 hours, €€€€)
La Boutique du Fromager (1 hour, €-€€)
Boulangerie Jocteur (1 hour, €-€€)
Bordeaux Wine School (2 hours, €35)
La Tupina (2 hours, €€€)
Place de la Bourse (1 hour, free)
L'Univerre (2 hours, €€-€€€)
Total Estimated Costs: €€€€€-€€€€€€
Transportation
Most of the attractions on this itinerary are situated close to each other and can easily be explored via walking or by using the city's robust public transportation system. A day pass for a tram, bus, or bicycle rental costs approximately €5 per day. Travelers can also opt for rideshare or car rental services for a more flexible tour. Taxis in Bordeaux start from €2.80 and have an additional fee of €1.30 per kilometer traveled.
Useful tips
Bordeaux is a city that is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace, so do not sweat yourself and take your time to explore the city's historic center. If you have additional time, consider a day trip to St. Emilion or Arcachon Bay, two must-visit destinations for foodies. If you are a wine enthusiast, you must check with the new opening of Groupe Bernard Magrez' state of the art winery.
Airports
Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD) is the main airport in the city, located about 10 kilometers west of the city center. Some of the airlines flying here include Air France, Ryanair, EasyJet, and KLM. From the airport, travelers can take a taxi (€25-€30) or a local bus (€1.80) to the city center.