Best things to do in Bordeaux with your loved ones in 2024!

Bordeaux is the lovely French town sitting gently on the Garonne River and known for its eponymous wine. Located in the heart of French wine-producing region, people should visit this beautiful city with a UNESCO listed old town & honey-coloured buildings overflowing with gothic architecture, fine restaurants and cafes as well as interesting museums. Other than paying the formal visit to wonderful wineries around the city, there are so many best things to do in Bordeaux, France.

Best things to do in Bordeaux

In Bordeaux, you will be able to find exotic wines to tasteful food and sightseeing. Also, visit all the best things to do in Bordeaux to make your France vacation even more perfect. Let us explore the best things to do in Bordeaux below.

1. Place de la Bourse
2. Quais de Bordeaux
3. La Cité du Vin
4. Saint-Émilion
5. La Grosse Cloche
6. Porte Cailhau
7. Esplanade des Quinconces
8. Bordeaux Cathedral
9. Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux
10. Jardin Public

1. Place de la Bourse

Bordeaux broke its old town walls when this grand square on the left bank of the Garonne was built from 1730 to 1775. Louis XV’s favourite architect, Jacques Gabriel, designed this historical landmark. The square also didn’t take long to become a symbol for the city. You will pay a visit closer to see the sculpted faces beneath the arches of the buildings. You will naturally want to cross the road to the Water Mirror, created by the landscape artist Michel Corajoud. It is a large pool with little more than a shallow film of water. This pool is sometimes veiled by mist, reflecting Place de la Bourse. You can take a perfect photo here, and in summer little ones go crazy for the water. This is one of the top 10 best things to do in Bordeaux.

Also read: 8 best things to do in Bordeaux you shouldn’t miss out on your trip

Also read: The Historical Monument – Arc De Triomphe In Paris

2. Quais de Bordeaux

The second among the best things to do in Bordeaux is to visit Quais de Bordeaux. It is one of the world’s most splendid waterfronts. It is also part of that 18th-century World Heritage ensemble. Here, you can witness the majestic facades of grand neo-classical buildings line a riverside promenade 80 metres wide. You can also have this place to walk or bike ride with some extra finesse.

Also read: Annecy: The Pearl of the French Alps

3. La Cité du Vin

Travellers must visit this ultra-modern cultural centre. For a casual visitor, this is a high-tech museum which teaches you about the history of wine, where and how it is made around the world. You will find ten hours worth of audiovisual material to get through, so if you are a person who loves wine, you could easily kill a day here indulging your curiosity.

4. Bordeaux Wine

Travellers can pick up helpful information on where to continue their wine adventure because the choice can be confusing. You are also in the world’s wine capital and the second-largest wine-growing region on the planet. A guided tour typically includes hopping into a vehicle and joining a group as you make your way around various winemaking spots. In this tour, you will be shown around the vat rooms and cellars. This is a place where you learn about how wine is made and stored, and then get the chance to try some for yourself.

Also read: 8 Regional French Foods and Where to Find Them

5. La Grosse Cloche

Built-in the 15th century, La Grosse Cloche, with its twin cone-shaped roofs, is the old tower for Bordeaux town hall. Travellers must visit this one of a kind fragments remaining from the city’s medieval period. You can see this built on the remains of the 13th-century Porte Saint-Éloy, a former gate in the old ramparts. This gate also had a small prison for juvenile offenders, and they were kept behind a door ten centimetres thick.

6. Porte Cailhau

The other fragment of the old walls, Porte Cailhau is just as majestic. This monument dates back to 1495 and was constructed to celebrate King Charles VIII’s win against the League of Venice at the Battle of Fornovo. Eventually, this place had the dual intent of being a famous arch as well as a city defence. You also get a chance to enter the building and go up for the photogenic view of the Garonne with an entrance fee.

7. Esplanade des Quinconces

Bordeaux being a city with large and open public spaces, the Esplanade des Quinconces takes the mass at a very spacious 12 hectares. Its large dimensions make this place the venue for a wide variety of events throughout the year. If there is a big concert or fair, it gets set up here. Also, not to forget, during Euro 2016 this place was a “fan zone”, with bars and a giant screen.

8. Bordeaux Cathedral

Bordeaux cathedral had a tough time in the Revolution when it was removed of its decoration. All of the decorations tourists see now are from other buildings. This takes nothing away from the beauty of the medieval gothic architecture, or the historical significance of the site, wherein 1137 Eleanor of Aquitaine and the future Louis VII wed, at just 13 and 17 years respectively.

Also read: The Breathtaking Notre Dame Cathedral In Paris

9. Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux

The Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux was built by the architect Victor Louis in 1780, and it is considered as his masterpiece till now. Even if you have no reason to go inside, you can visit Place de la Comédie after dark and wonder at the sight of the portico and the 12 statues of muses and gods in lights. The place is decorated extravagantly in blue and gold, the colours of the French monarchy, which were removed after the revolution.

10. Jardin Public

Currently, this park has been covered by the city. When it was inaugurated in 1746, it was on the edge of Bordeaux in land formerly taken up by unproductive plants. In line with the views of 18th-century philosophers, the aim was to promote the good health of the Bordelaise by granting them a green space.

Also read: The Royal Gardens In Paris

There are so many more best things to do in Bordeaux, including sampling its delicious gastronomic offerings like fresh oysters, beef specialities and delicious canele (rum and vanilla-infused cakes). Include them in your France tour package with Pickyourtrail and make your trip even more perfect. Also, leave a Whatsapp inquiry for more options!