Visit Bordeaux in 1h30, the essentials of the city without wasting time
A train that leaves in two hours, a meeting that ends earlier than planned, a stopover before you hit the road again. Bordeaux lends itself well to these flying visits. Its historic centre stretches along the Garonne and reads from the outside, one façade after another. The double-decker bus covers the whole loop in 1 hour 20 minutes, and you never have to find your way.
Here is how to make the most of those 90 minutes, whether you choose the bus, your own two feet or the little tourist train.
At a glance
Can you really discover Bordeaux in 1h30?
Bordeaux has a real advantage for short visits. The Port of the Moon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, forms an unbroken backdrop of honey-coloured stone that follows the curve of the river. You understand it simply by walking or riding along it, without opening a single door. What takes time are the museums, the Cité du Vin or a wine tasting. Keep those for your next stay.
The quickest option, the double-decker bus tour without stops
What you see during the 1h20 loop
The bus follows the Bordeaux Visiotour loop, which links the historic centre with the regenerated districts of the north and the right bank. Here is what you will find around each of the 10 stops on the route.
- Quinconces: the Monument aux Girondins, the Esplanade des Quinconces and the Grand-Théâtre, two minutes away.
- Place de la Bourse: the Miroir d’eau, the Porte Cailhau and the Saint-Pierre district.
- Sainte-Catherine: the Grosse Cloche, the Musée d’Aquitaine, the Porte de Bourgogne and the Pont de Pierre.
- République: the Palais Rohan, home to the city hall, Saint-André Cathedral and the Pey-Berland Tower.
- Gambetta: Place Gambetta, the Porte Dijeaux and the Cours de l’Intendance.
- Jardin Public: the Jardin Public, the Bordeaux natural history museum and, a little further on, the Palais Gallien.
- Paul Doumer, Chartrons: the Halles des Chartrons and the antique dealers’ district.
- Darwin: the converted Niel barracks on the right bank, Quai de Brazza.
- Cité du Vin: the Jacques-Chaban-Delmas bridge, the Cité du Vin and the Halles de Bacalan.
- Bassins à flot: the submarine base and the Musée Mer Marine.
Timetable, departure point and tickets
The bus leaves from stop no. 1 Quinconces, 10 cours du 30 Juillet, next to the Tourist Office. This winter there are four departures a day, at 10:15am, 11:55am, 2:30pm and 4:10pm. Times change with the seasons, so check the timetable before you come. Tickets can be bought online or on board, by card only.
Bus tour prices
| Ticket | Full price | Reduced price | Child aged 4 to 12 | Person with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tour without stops (1h20) | €16 | €14 | €6 | €12 |
| Hop-on Hop-off 24h pass, from 1 April | €25 | €22 | €8 | €17 |
| Hop-on Hop-off 48h pass, from 1 April | €29 | €26 | €8 | €20 |
The reduced price applies to 13 to 18-year-olds, students and jobseekers, with proof. Children under 4 travel free, as does the companion of a person with a disability, on presentation of the French disability card (CMI). For the tour without stops, a family ticket at €42 covers two adults and two children aged 4 to 12.
What is included on board
Free individual earphones, commentary in 8 languages and a special children’s commentary in French on channel 9, told by Manon and Arthur. Wi-Fi is free, the lower deck is air-conditioned, and an electric cover protects the top deck in rain or strong heat. Your dog is welcome on a lead. The bus has a reserved space for people with reduced mobility, and Bordeaux City Tours holds the Tourisme & Handicap label. When you get off, a Baillardran canelé is waiting for you.
Bus, walking or little train, which is best for 1h30?
| Option | Length | What you see | Effort | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus tour without stops | 1h20 | Historic centre, quays, Chartrons, Bassins à flot, right bank | None, seated on the top deck | The only option from November to March, no buses in January |
| Hop-on Hop-off 24h or 48h pass | 1h20 per loop, 24h or 48h to get on and off | The same districts, with 10 stops to get off | At your own pace | From 1 April |
| Walking loop | About 1h30 | Quinconces, Grand-Théâtre, Bourse, Saint-Pierre, Grosse Cloche | Flat walk, mostly pedestrian streets | All year round |
| Little tourist train | 45 minutes | The streets of old Bordeaux | None | Leaves from Allées de Tourny, another operator |
The little train is not run by Bordeaux City Tours. It leaves from the Allées de Tourny, near the Tourist Office, for a 45-minute guided loop.
A 1h30 walking loop through the historic centre
Quinconces and the Monument aux Girondins
Step 1
Start in front of the tall column and bronze fountains of the Monument aux Girondins. The bus leaves from here, and the Tourist Office is right next door if you need a map.
The Grand-Théâtre
Step 2
Two minutes away, the Grand-Théâtre by the architect Victor Louis, inaugurated in 1780, lines up its twelve columns topped with statues. Its portico is one of the best-known images of the city.
Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d’eau
Step 3
Head down to the Garonne. Place de la Bourse unfolds its 18th-century façades facing the river. From April to October, the Miroir d’eau spreads 2 centimetres of water over 3,450 m² at its feet, and the façades are reflected in it when the wind drops. In winter it is dry, but the view of the Bourse is still the finest on the quays.
The Saint-Pierre district and the Porte Cailhau
Step 4
Slip through the lanes of Saint-Pierre to Place du Parlement, then reach the Porte Cailhau, built at the end of the 15th century, with its pointed fairy-tale castle roofs.
The Grosse Cloche and Rue Sainte-Catherine
Step 5
The city’s former belfry, the Grosse Cloche straddles Rue Saint-James. Then walk back up the pedestrian Rue Sainte-Catherine to the Grand-Théâtre and Quinconces.
💡 Bordeaux City Tours tip
In November and December, choose the 4:10pm departure. You get back to Quinconces at nightfall, just as the façades along the quays begin to light up. And if you only have an hour, save Place de la Bourse for last, it is the one that leaves the strongest memory.
Visiting Bordeaux quickly, depending on your situation
Between two trains at Gare Saint-Jean
Tram line C runs directly from Gare Saint-Jean station to Quinconces, via Place de la Bourse. Allow for the journey there and back, then a margin before your train. With a 1h20 tour, the bus works if you have at least 2h30 ahead of you. Otherwise, the walking loop adapts to the time you have left.
During a stopover or a business trip
The 11:55am departure brings you back to Quinconces at around 1:15pm, which fits into a long lunch break. The 4:10pm tour slots in nicely after an afternoon meeting. Either way, you leave with an overview of the city and a clear idea of what you will want to come back for.
In winter, when only the tour without stops runs
What if you have half a day?
From 1 April, the Hop-on Hop-off 24h and 48h passes follow the same loop, but you get off wherever you like at the 10 stops, with a bus every 50 minutes. With the 24h pass, half a day is enough to add a break at the Miroir d’eau, a stroll through the Chartrons or a visit to the Cité du Vin. The 48h pass lets you come back the next day for the museums you did not have time to see. All the options are on our tours page. For a fuller programme, see our itineraries to visit Bordeaux in one day or in two days.
5 things to know before you go
- Bring a bank card: cash is not accepted on board.
- Dress for the weather: the top deck is open, and the electric cover is rolled out in the rain at the driver’s discretion.
- Bring your own earphones if you prefer: individual earphones are provided, but yours work too.
- Come with the children: the children’s commentary on channel 9, in French, is designed for ages 4 to 12.
- Buy online to save time: an e-ticket means you don’t have to pay as you board.
