Visit Bordeaux with Your Family
Little feet splashing in the Miroir d’eau, ducks gliding across the pond in the Jardin Public, animals from all over the world at the Muséum and, high up on the open top deck of a red bus, the whole city rolling by at balcony height. Bordeaux is a wonderful city to explore as a family: a largely pedestrian historic centre, riverside quays along the Garonne and museums designed for small hands. Here is how to plan your visit according to your children’s ages, without rushing or wearing everyone out.
At a glance
Is Bordeaux a good city to visit with children?
What makes the difference in Bordeaux is open space. The Garonne quays, redesigned as a long riverside promenade, offer lawns, play areas and wide paths for scooters. The esplanade des Quinconces, one of the largest squares in Europe at 12 hectares, lets children run while their parents admire the fountains of the Monument aux Girondins and their bronze sea horses. And everywhere, the golden 18th-century stone sets a fairytale scene, from grimacing carved faces above the windows to the pointed roofs of the Porte Cailhau.
Which visit suits your children’s age?
| Age | What they love | Recommended pace | Bus fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 3 | The mist of the Miroir d’eau, the ducks and playgrounds of the Jardin Public | Half-days, a seated tour during nap time | Free |
| 4 to 12 | The top deck of the bus, Cap Sciences, the Musée Mer Marine | A full day with a proper break in the park | €8 |
| 13 to 17 | Darwin and its skatepark, the Bassins des Lumières, the 230 steps of the Saint-Michel spire | Freedom to hop off wherever they like, for 24 or 48 hours | €22 (reduced fare) |
Travelling with children aged 4 to 12? Our guide to visiting Bordeaux with children lists their 10 favourite activities and two ready-made itineraries.
The Hop-on Hop-off bus, a tour designed for families
Climbing onto the top deck of a red bus is already an adventure for a child. The Visiotour loops around Bordeaux in 10 stops, from the esplanade des Quinconces to the Bassins à flot, and lets you hop on and off freely for as long as your pass is valid. Children watch the city glide by at balcony height, and parents no longer have to negotiate every kilometre on foot.
An audio guide in 8 languages, and a children’s commentary in French
Adults follow the story of Bordeaux in one of the 8 languages of the audio guide (French, English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Dutch, Italian and Chinese), with individual earphones provided free of charge. For French-speaking children aged 4 to 12, channel 9 offers a special children’s commentary, available in French only: two characters, Manon and Arthur, turn each monument into the setting of a story, with dialogues, questions and riddles. Every child also receives the magic bus card, an activity sheet to keep the fun going after the tour.
How much does a family visit to Bordeaux cost?
The 24-hour pass costs €25 per adult, €22 for 13 to 18-year-olds (reduced fare) and €8 for children aged 4 to 12, and it is free up to age 3. For a family of two adults and two children aged 4 to 12, a day of Hop-on Hop-off comes to €66, canelés included: a Baillardran canelé, the famous little Bordeaux pastry, comes free with every pass. If you are staying for a weekend, the 48-hour pass (€29 per adult) gives you time to split each day in two.
Accessibility, comfort and tickets: what to know before boarding
The bus holds the French Tourisme & Handicap label, is accessible to people with reduced mobility, and pushchairs are welcome on board. The lower deck is air-conditioned and an electric cover unfolds over the top deck in case of rain or strong heat. Wi-Fi is free on board, and the family dog is welcome on a lead. Buy your tickets online, at the Tourist Office or directly from the driver: on board, only bank cards are accepted. All the practical details are on our Where to find us page.
A family day in Bordeaux, hour by hour
This itinerary alternates bus rides, outdoor play and an indoor visit, to keep everyone’s energy up until the evening. It works with the 24-hour Hop-on Hop-off pass, which runs from 1 April to 31 October.
9.30am: the sea horses of the Quinconces
Stop no. 1
Meet at stop no. 1, at 10 cours du 30 Juillet. Before boarding, let the children walk around the fountains of the Monument aux Girondins and their bronze sea horses, which seem to leap out of the water. Then climb up to the top deck and enjoy a first full loop.
10.30am: playing in the Miroir d’eau
Stop no. 2
Hop off at the Place de la Bourse stop. Facing the golden façades, the Miroir d’eau spreads 2 centimetres of water over 3,450 m²: children walk across it barefoot, and roughly every fifteen minutes a mist rises from the ground, drawing the same squeals of delight every time. Bring a towel and a change of clothes in summer.
12pm: lunch in Saint-Pierre, by the Porte Cailhau
On foot
Just behind the place de la Bourse, the Saint-Pierre district lines its terraces along the car-free place du Parlement. Show the children the Porte Cailhau, a 35-metre gate that looks like the entrance to a knight’s castle. For dessert, an artisan ice cream at La Maison du Glacier or a cookie at Pépite Cookie will please everyone.
2pm: a break in the Jardin Public
Stop no. 6
Take the bus to the Jardin Public stop. Laid out in 1746 at the initiative of the intendant Tourny, this English-style park of about ten hectares is the favourite playground of Bordeaux families: play areas, a pond full of ducks, a botanical garden and, on show days, the Guignol Guérin puppet theatre. Time to catch your breath, or let the little ones have a nap.
3.30pm: the Muséum de Bordeaux, science and nature
Edge of the Jardin Public
On the edge of the park, at 5 place Bardineau, the Muséum de Bordeaux displays mounted animals, skeletons and natural history collections in a restored mansion. Entry is free for under-6s and costs €3.50 for 6 to 18-year-olds; the museum is closed on Mondays.
5pm: the boats of the Bassins à flot
Stop no. 10
End at the last stop on the route, the Bassins à flot. Children can watch the sailing boats moored in the docks, and young sailors at heart can carry on at the Musée Mer Marine. In the evening, take the bus back to the centre and enjoy the view from the top deck one last time.
💡 Bordeaux City Tours tip
With children, start with a full loop without getting off, right from stop no. 1 Quinconces. For 1 hour 20 minutes they spot what catches their eye: the Miroir d’eau, the boats, the big park. You then hop off wherever their eyes light up, and the day is built with them rather than against them. Keep the free canelés that come with your passes for snack time: they make the best reward after a day of discoveries.
Children’s 6 favourite places in Bordeaux
Each of these places can be reached from a Visiotour stop. Four of them are indoors: handy to keep up your sleeve if the weather turns.
And in winter, how can you visit Bordeaux as a family?
For a family, the non-stop tour has real advantages in winter: 1 hour 20 minutes seated and sheltered, with an air-conditioned lower deck and the audio guide in 8 languages. Combine it with the indoor places from our selection, such as the Muséum, Cap Sciences or the Bassins des Lumières, to fill a grey day.
How many days should you spend in Bordeaux with children?
Our detailed itineraries help you plan your stay: visiting Bordeaux in one day, in two days for a weekend, or in three days for the holidays. With the 48-hour pass, the bus is with you all weekend and you keep your afternoons free for naps or the park.
Your questions about visiting Bordeaux with your family
Q.Is the Bordeaux sightseeing bus free for babies?
Q.Is there a guided tour of Bordeaux for children in English?
Q.How much does a bus tour of Bordeaux cost for a family of four?
Q.What can you do in Bordeaux with children when it rains?
Q.Does the Hop-on Hop-off bus run all year round in Bordeaux?
