{"id":559,"date":"2023-04-04T10:30:54","date_gmt":"2023-04-04T08:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bordeaux-citytours.com\/?page_id=559"},"modified":"2026-10-12T23:21:54","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T21:21:54","slug":"visit-bordeaux-with-family","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bordeaux-citytours.com\/en\/visit-bordeaux\/visit-bordeaux-with-family\/","title":{"rendered":"Visit Bordeaux with Your Family"},"content":{"rendered":"

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 Mus\u00e9um 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.<\/p>\n

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At a glance<\/p>\n

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Who it’s for<\/strong>Families with babies, children aged 4 to 12 or teenagers<\/span><\/div>\n
Recommended time<\/strong>One day, ideally two with young children<\/span><\/div>\n
Audio guide<\/strong>8 languages for adults, children’s commentary in French<\/span><\/div>\n
Pushchairs<\/strong>Welcome on board the bus<\/span><\/div>\n
Child fare<\/strong>\u20ac8 from 4 to 12, free up to age 3<\/span><\/div>\n
Tickets<\/strong>Online, at the Tourist Office or on board (bank card only)<\/span><\/div>\n
Starting point<\/strong>Stop no. 1 Quinconces, 10 cours du 30 Juillet<\/span><\/div>\n
The little extra<\/strong>A free Baillardran canel\u00e9 with every pass<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Is Bordeaux a good city to visit with children?<\/h2>\n

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\n The short answer:<\/strong> yes, it is one of the easiest major French cities to explore with children. The UNESCO-listed historic centre is largely pedestrian, the main sights are close together and several places are designed for young visitors: the Miroir d’eau, the Jardin Public, the Mus\u00e9um de Bordeaux, Cap Sciences and the Mus\u00e9e Mer Marine. To get between neighbourhoods without tiring little legs, the Visiotour open-top bus serves 10 stops.\n<\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Which visit suits your children’s age?<\/h2>\n
\n The short answer:<\/strong> with a baby, plan half-days and seated visits. Between 4 and 12, science museums and outdoor play areas work wonders. With teenagers, bet on the freedom of the Hop-on Hop-off pass and on places that surprise them, from Darwin to the Bassins des Lumi\u00e8res.\n<\/div>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Age<\/th>\nWhat they love<\/th>\nRecommended pace<\/th>\nBus fare<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
0 to 3<\/td>\nThe mist of the Miroir d’eau, the ducks and playgrounds of the Jardin Public<\/td>\nHalf-days, a seated tour during nap time<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4 to 12<\/td>\nThe top deck of the bus, Cap Sciences, the Mus\u00e9e Mer Marine<\/td>\nA full day with a proper break in the park<\/td>\n\u20ac8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13 to 17<\/td>\nDarwin and its skatepark, the Bassins des Lumi\u00e8res, the 230 steps of the Saint-Michel spire<\/td>\nFreedom to hop off wherever they like, for 24 or 48 hours<\/td>\n\u20ac22 (reduced fare)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Travelling with children aged 4 to 12? Our guide to visiting Bordeaux with children<\/a> lists their 10 favourite activities and two ready-made itineraries.<\/p>\n

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The Hop-on Hop-off bus, a tour designed for families<\/h2>\n

Climbing onto the top deck of a red bus is already an adventure for a child. The Visiotour<\/a> loops around Bordeaux in 10 stops, from the esplanade des Quinconces to the Bassins \u00e0 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.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Manon<\/a><\/p>\n
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An audio guide in 8 languages, and a children’s commentary in French<\/h3>\n

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<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

How much does a family visit to Bordeaux cost?<\/h3>\n

The 24-hour pass costs \u20ac25 per adult, \u20ac22 for 13 to 18-year-olds (reduced fare) and \u20ac8 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 \u20ac66, canel\u00e9s included: a Baillardran canel\u00e9, the famous little Bordeaux pastry, comes free with every pass. If you are staying for a weekend, the 48-hour pass<\/a> (\u20ac29 per adult) gives you time to split each day in two.<\/p>\n

Accessibility, comfort and tickets: what to know before boarding<\/h3>\n

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<\/a> page.<\/p>\n

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\n A typical day<\/span><\/p>\n

A family day in Bordeaux, hour by hour<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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9.30am: the sea horses of the Quinconces<\/a><\/h3>\n

Stop no. 1<\/span>\n <\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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10.30am: playing in the Miroir d’eau<\/a><\/h3>\n

Stop no. 2<\/span>\n <\/div>\n

Hop off at the Place de la Bourse stop. Facing the golden fa\u00e7ades, the Miroir d’eau spreads 2 centimetres of water over 3,450 m\u00b2: 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.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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12pm: lunch in Saint-Pierre, by the Porte Cailhau<\/h3>\n

On foot<\/span>\n <\/div>\n

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<\/a> or a cookie at P\u00e9pite Cookie<\/a> will please everyone.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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2pm: a break in the Jardin Public<\/a><\/h3>\n

Stop no. 6<\/span>\n <\/div>\n

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 Gu\u00e9rin puppet theatre. Time to catch your breath, or let the little ones have a nap.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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3.30pm: the Mus\u00e9um de Bordeaux, science and nature<\/h3>\n

Edge of the Jardin Public<\/span>\n <\/div>\n

On the edge of the park, at 5 place Bardineau, the Mus\u00e9um de Bordeaux displays mounted animals, skeletons and natural history collections in a restored mansion. Entry is free for under-6s and costs \u20ac3.50 for 6 to 18-year-olds; the museum is closed on Mondays.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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5pm: the boats of the Bassins \u00e0 flot<\/a><\/h3>\n

Stop no. 10<\/span>\n <\/div>\n

End at the last stop on the route, the Bassins \u00e0 flot. Children can watch the sailing boats moored in the docks, and young sailors at heart can carry on at the Mus\u00e9e Mer Marine. In the evening, take the bus back to the centre and enjoy the view from the top deck one last time.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\ud83d\udca1 Bordeaux City Tours tip<\/p>\n

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 canel\u00e9s that come with your passes for snack time: they make the best reward after a day of discoveries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Children’s 6 favourite places in Bordeaux<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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01<\/div>\n
The Miroir d’eau<\/a><\/div>\n
One of the largest reflecting pools in the world, free, with a mist that makes children squeal with joy.<\/div>\n
\ud83d\ude8c Stop no. 2 Place de la Bourse \u00b7 Outdoors<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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02<\/div>\n
The Jardin Public<\/a><\/div>\n
Playgrounds, ducks, a botanical garden and the Guignol Gu\u00e9rin puppet shows.<\/div>\n
\ud83d\ude8c Stop no. 6 Jardin Public \u00b7 Outdoors<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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03<\/div>\n
The Mus\u00e9um de Bordeaux<\/div>\n
Mounted animals, skeletons and natural history collections.<\/div>\n
\ud83d\ude8c Stop no. 6 Jardin Public \u00b7 Indoors<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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04<\/div>\n
Cap Sciences<\/a><\/div>\n
The science centre on the quai de Bacalan, where you touch and experiment.<\/div>\n
\ud83d\ude8c Stop no. 9 Cit\u00e9 du Vin \u00b7 Indoors<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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05<\/div>\n
The Bassins des Lumi\u00e8res<\/a><\/div>\n
Artworks projected on a giant scale onto the walls of the former submarine base, reflected in the water of its basins.<\/div>\n
\ud83d\ude8c Stop no. 10 Bassins \u00e0 flot \u00b7 Indoors<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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06<\/div>\n
The Mus\u00e9e Mer Marine<\/a><\/div>\n
Models, ships and great explorations, facing the sailing boats of the Bassins \u00e0 flot.<\/div>\n
\ud83d\ude8c Stop no. 10 Bassins \u00e0 flot \u00b7 Indoors<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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And in winter, how can you visit Bordeaux as a family?<\/h2>\n
\n Good to know:<\/strong> from 1 November to 31 March, the bus only runs the non-stop tour<\/a>, a 1 hour 20 minute guided loop from stop no. 1 Quinconces, from \u20ac14. There is no service in January. The Hop-on Hop-off returns on 1 April.\n<\/div>\n

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 Mus\u00e9um, Cap Sciences or the Bassins des Lumi\u00e8res, to fill a grey day.<\/p>\n

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How many days should you spend in Bordeaux with children?<\/h2>\n
\n The short answer:<\/strong> one day is enough for the highlights, but two days let you slow down, which makes all the difference with young children. Three days leave room for museums and a morning of play with no plan at all.\n<\/div>\n

Our detailed itineraries help you plan your stay: visiting Bordeaux in one day<\/a>, in two days<\/a> for a weekend, or in three days<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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The Bordeaux City Tours 2026 magazine<\/div>\n
Browse it with your children before your visit: the must-sees, how the Hop-on Hop-off works, the 10 stops, on-board services and a whole page dedicated to young travellers.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Browse the magazine (PDF)<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

Your questions about visiting Bordeaux with your family<\/h2>\n

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Q.<\/strong>Is the Bordeaux sightseeing bus free for babies?<\/h3>\n
\n Yes. The Bordeaux City Tours Visiotour bus is free for children up to age 3. From 4 to 12, the pass costs \u20ac8, and 13 to 18-year-olds get the reduced fare, \u20ac22 for the 24-hour pass. Pushchairs are welcome on board.<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Q.<\/strong>Is there a guided tour of Bordeaux for children in English?<\/h3>\n
\n The Visiotour bus has an audio guide in 8 languages, including English, which older children can follow with their parents. The dedicated children’s commentary, on channel 9 for ages 4 to 12, is available in French only.<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Q.<\/strong>How much does a bus tour of Bordeaux cost for a family of four?<\/h3>\n
\n For two adults and two children aged 4 to 12, the 24-hour Hop-on Hop-off pass comes to \u20ac66 in total: \u20ac25 per adult and \u20ac8 per child. A Baillardran canel\u00e9 is included free with every pass.<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Q.<\/strong>What can you do in Bordeaux with children when it rains?<\/h3>\n
\n The Mus\u00e9um de Bordeaux, Cap Sciences, the Bassins des Lumi\u00e8res and the Mus\u00e9e Mer Marine are all indoors. The Visiotour bus is also a good option: the lower deck is air-conditioned and an electric cover protects the top deck when it rains.<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Q.<\/strong>Does the Hop-on Hop-off bus run all year round in Bordeaux?<\/h3>\n
\n The Hop-on Hop-off runs from 1 April to 31 October. From 1 November to 31 March, only the non-stop tour is available, a 1 hour 20 minute guided loop from stop no. 1 Quinconces. There is no service in January.<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n


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