Visit Bordeaux in Three Days
Three days in Bordeaux is the luxury of no longer rushing. Time to see the UNESCO-listed Port of the Moon, of course, but also to venture as far as the Bassins à flot, cross the Garonne to Darwin, lose yourself in the galleries of the Musée d’Aquitaine and shop at the Capucins market like a local. Here is the day-by-day itinerary our team recommends for a successful long weekend.
At a glance
Is three days in Bordeaux too much?
The itinerary follows a simple logic. Day one is spent on foot in the listed heart of the city, where everything is close together. On day two, the Hop-on Hop-off bus takes you to the districts further out, to the north and on the right bank. Day three is for museums, gardens and markets, at your own pace, with the same pass.
UNESCO-listed Bordeaux, from the Quinconces to Saint-Michel
This first day follows the thread of 18th-century Bordeaux from north to south, along the curve of the Garonne. About 5 km on foot, almost entirely on pedestrian streets.
Start with the 12 hectares of the Esplanade des Quinconces and the column of the Girondins Monument, then walk 2 minutes to Victor Louis’s Grand Théâtre, opened in 1780. Its twelve-column façade, crowned by the nine Muses and three goddesses, opens onto the Golden Triangle and its mansions.
Built between 1730 and 1775, Place de la Bourse was one of the first royal squares in France to open onto a river. Opposite, the 3,450 m² Water Mirror, created in 2006, reflects its façades on 2 centimetres of water. With three days ahead of you, save a second visit for sunset.
The Saint-Pierre district and the Porte Cailhau
1h30 with lunch
Just behind the Bourse, Saint-Pierre stands on the site of the port of Burdigala, Gallo-Roman Bordeaux. Have lunch on Place du Parlement, then walk under the Porte Cailhau, built at the end of the 15th century in honour of Charles VIII’s victory at Fornovo.
The Grosse Cloche
15 min
On Rue Saint-James, this belfry is one of the last remains of the medieval ramparts and the former bell tower of the town hall. It still appears on Bordeaux’s coat of arms today.
Finish in the south at the Basilica of Saint-Michel, a Gothic masterpiece whose free-standing spire rises to 114 metres, the tallest in southern France. Around it, the Saint-Michel district is one of the liveliest and most cosmopolitan in the city. Walking back along the quays gives you a view of the Pont de Pierre and its 17 arches.
From the Chartrons to the Bassins à flot on the Hop-on Hop-off bus
On day two, the city stretches north, where the port of Bordeaux has reinvented itself. Distances get longer: this is the time to activate your 48h Hop-on Hop-off Pass. The bus runs roughly every 35 minutes, with audio commentary in 8 languages and a special children’s commentary.
The Chartrons, the wine merchants’ district (stop no. 7)
1h30
Get off at the Paul Doumer stop, 130 cours de Verdun. Two minutes away are the Halles des Chartrons; three minutes away, Rue Notre-Dame with its antique dealers, and the Church of Saint-Louis des Chartrons. This is where the great wine merchants stored their barrels in the 18th century. Enthusiasts can continue to the Musée du Vin et du Négoce, an 8-minute walk.
At 118 quai de Bacalan, stop no. 9 drops you 1 minute from the Jacques Chaban-Delmas bridge, the largest lift bridge in Europe, opened in 2013, and 4 minutes from La Cité du Vin. Opened in 2016, its silhouette evokes wine swirling in a glass; inside, the permanent tour tells the story of the wine cultures of the whole world. Have lunch at the Halles de Bacalan, 5 minutes away. With children, Cap Sciences is 3 minutes away.
Built during the Second World War to shelter submarines, the Submarine Base in the Bassins à flot now houses the Bassins des Lumières, presented as the largest digital art centre in the world. Artworks are projected onto the concrete walls and reflected in the water of the pens. The Musée Mer Marine is 4 minutes from the stop.
The bus then crosses the Garonne to Quai de Brazza. From stop no. 8, the Fabrique Pola is 3 minutes away and Darwin 10 minutes. Set in the former Niel barracks in the La Bastide district, Darwin blends street art, a skatepark, shops and organic food. The right bank also offers the best overall view of the façades along the quays. The Botanical Garden is a 16-minute walk away.
Museums, gardens and markets: Bordeaux the way locals live it
Your 48h Pass still covers you all day. This third day is à la carte, depending on your mood and the weather.
The Capucins market in the morning
Nicknamed “the belly of Bordeaux”, the Capucins market is where locals meet. Come early for the atmosphere, the stalls of oysters and South-West produce, and breakfast at the counter. It is a 12-minute walk from stop no. 3 Sainte-Catherine, 117 bis cours Victor Hugo.
The Musée d’Aquitaine and Saint-André Cathedral
Three minutes from the same stop, at 20 cours Pasteur, the Musée d’Aquitaine traces the history of Bordeaux from prehistory to the present day, including the dark chapter of the triangular trade. It also houses the Bordeaux World Heritage Interpretation Centre, free of charge, ideal for understanding what you saw the day before. Then head up to Saint-André Cathedral, where Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future Louis VII in 1137, and climb the 233 steps of the Pey Berland Tower for one last panorama over the rooftops.
The Jardin Public and the Muséum
In the afternoon, take the bus again to stop no. 6, 32 cours de Verdun. Created in the 18th century at the initiative of the intendant Tourny, the Jardin Public offers its lawns, lake and tall trees 1 minute from the stop. Five minutes away, the Muséum de Bordeaux, sciences et nature, appeals to children and adults alike. History lovers can go on to the remains of the Palais Gallien, the Gallo-Roman amphitheatre of Burdigala, 10 minutes away.
If you prefer art: MusBA, MADD or CAPC
Three museums, three atmospheres. The Musée des Beaux-Arts (MusBA), 4 minutes from stop no. 4 République, stands next to the Palais Rohan, the town hall. The Museum of Decorative Arts and Design (MADD), housed in the Hôtel de Lalande, is 4 minutes from stop no. 5 Gambetta. The CAPC, the contemporary art museum, occupies the Entrepôt Lainé, a former warehouse for colonial goods, 7 minutes from stop no. 6 Jardin Public.
Which option should you choose for three days in Bordeaux?
| Option | What you see | Best for | Adult price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48h Pass Recommended | The 10 stops for 48 hours, hop on and off freely | 3-day stays, families, museums | €29 |
| 24h Pass | The 10 stops for 24 hours | Focusing day two on the bus | €25 |
| Non-stop tour | The full loop with commentary in 1h20, departing from Quinconces | Getting your bearings on arrival | From €14 |
| Guided walking tour Not sold by BCT | Old Bordeaux with a licensed guide | History lovers | From the Tourist Office |
| On foot | The listed historic centre, on day one | Keen walkers | Free |
💡 Bordeaux City Tours tip
Don’t start your 48h Pass on day one: the historic centre is easy to explore on foot. Activate it on the morning of day two instead. As it is valid for 48 hours from your first ride, it covers days two and three in full, including the Chartrons, the Bassins à flot, the right bank and the museums. Remember to buy your tickets online: cash is not accepted on board, and a canelé is offered with your pass.
8 places not to miss in three days
Three days, or just one or two?
Shorter stay? See our itinerary to visit Bordeaux in one day, or our programme to visit Bordeaux in two days, ideal for a weekend.
