Bordeaux travel blog — The fullest Bordeaux travel guide for first-timers

La Belle Endormie or “Sleeping Beauty”, is the nickname of the city of Bordeaux. But this city in the South of France is a place that never sleeps! Bordeaux is growing at breakneck speed into one of France’s most dynamic cities, and the high-speed train from Paris takes just two hours making discovering the must see and do in Bordeaux is so easy!

So, is Bordeaux worth visiting, how to visit Bordeaux, what to do in Bordeaux and how to plan a budget trip to Bordeaux for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our Bordeaux travel blog (Bordeaux blog) with the fullest Bordeaux travel guide (guide to Bordeaux, Bordeaux tourist guide, Bordeaux city guide, Bordeaux guide) from how to get to Bordeaux, best places to visit, best time to come, what to eat as well as top things to do in Bordeaux to help you maximize your trip as follows!

This city is located on the La Manche – English Channel, on the transport route connecting the west coast of Europe with the rest of the world. Therefore, Bordeaux is a busy and thriving city port, where many civilizations intersect, but the imprint left behind are unique architectural works.

A brief introduction to the city of Bordeaux (#bordeaux travel blog)

Bordeaux is located near the European Atlantic coast, in the southwest of France and in the north of the Aquitaine region. It is about 500 km (310 mi) southwest of Paris. The city is built on a meander of the river Garonne, and is divided into two parts: the right bank to the east and the left bank to the west. Historically, the left bank was more developed because when flowing out of the bend, the water created a depth needed to allow merchant ships to pass, which was used to reduce loads on this side of the river. But today, banks are growing, including new urban projects. In Bordeaux, the Garonne River is accessible to seagoing vessels. The right bank of the Garonne is a low plain, usually marsh.

For many years, Bordeaux has always been famous for its wine industry. If you are a wine lover, you will surely know the famous Bordeaux wine brand. The whole city of Bordeaux has a total of 120,000 hectares of vineyards, more than 9,000 wineries and 13,000 vineyards. The city of Bordeaux produces about 700 million bottles of wine each year.

As the center of a major wine and wine production region, Bordeaux remains a place well known and has a significant influence on the world wine industry even though there is no wine production within the city. It is home to the world’s main wine fair, Vinexpo. Bordeaux wine has been produced in the region since the 8th century. The historic district of the city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as “an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble” of the 18th century. After Paris, Bordeaux has the highest number of preserved historic buildings in France.

Leaving the crowded Paris, coming to Bordeaux, I was surprised by the serenity and tranquility of the city. As a major economic – cultural center of France, but Bordeaux does not seem rushed and bustling like many other cities. The pace of life here is very peaceful and pleasant. This is where trains, cars, motorbikes, bicycles, sleds and pedestrians and even pigeons roam the streets.

When to come? (#bordeaux blog)

Bordeaux is heavily influenced by its oceanic climate. Therefore, the summer here is quite cool and pleasant with an average temperature of just over 20 degrees Celsius. The best time to come here is from August to November every year. This is the time when the weather in Bordeaux is the most pleasant, it rarely rains, so it will be very convenient for visitors to explore the city.

The best time to see the city and visit the vineyards is from mid-May to November.

More specifically, if you want to go to Bordeaux during the grape harvest season, come here in September (late August or early October is also suitable).

Due to its location far to the south, winter in Bordeaux is not too harsh. In addition, the city’s Christmas market is also welcomed by European travelers.

Getting to Bordeaux

The Bordeaux international airport is about 12km from the city center. After landing you can catch a public bus, airport shuttle, Uber or taxi to get to the central city. The bus #1 located between arrival hall A and B with the fare of 1.70 euros with the traveling time is about 1 hour. The 3D Direct Shuttle bus with the fare of 8 euros which picks you up at the arrival hall B for just 30 minutes to get to the center. While Uber costs you 25 euros to 40 euros. Taxi price is also. Private driver from 90 euros which will take you to the hotel and meets you at the arrival halls.

Bordeaux is nearly 600 km south of Paris, takes about 3 hours by train, with a normal fare of 80 euros, if you buy it on promotion, it is only around 30 euros.

Getting around Bordeaux (#bordeaux travel guide)

Bordeaux is a city with a very modern and convenient transportation system. The types of transportation in this city are also very popular such as bus, tram, ferry or shuttle bus, etc. All the most important information about these types of vehicles can be found here.

The price of a bus or tram ticket will range from 1.5 Euros to 6 Euros. If you travel a lot, you should buy a Bordeaux City Pass with validity 24h, 48h or 72h to save money.

Here are some basic information and notes

• Tickets for a journey will cost 1.70 euros, applicable for 1 hour from the time of ticketing for all three types of vehicles above.
• You can also buy tickets for 2 (3.10 euros) or 10 journeys (13.20 euros) with cheaper single ticket.
• Tickets can be purchased directly on the vehicles, online here or at TBM ticket counters.
• Remember that you need to punch a hole on the ticket with the machine on the vehicle when you get on and off them.

Bordeaux City Pass (#bordeaux travel blog)

Before coming to Bordeaux, we had to consider because time was tight, our pocket was not much, but we wanted to go a lot. Unexpectedly, the city has Bordeaux CityPass, a universal card that allows comfortable travel by all public transport, including nearly 100 tram lines, buses, riverboats and even self-rented bicycles. With Bordeaux CityPass, you also get free admission to museums, exhibitions, churches, monuments, discounted tickets for yachts, castles, wine tours and even cave tours.

Bordeaux CityPass has three options: 24h pass for adults for 34 euros, 48h card for 44 euros, 72h card for 50 euros, activated on first use. This pass is very beneficial compared to buying train single tickets or sightseeing tickets, because to enter two certain museums in Bordeaux, you can have to spend up to 40 euros, while if you spend 34 euros for Bordeaux CityPass, you will have to spend up to 40 euros. You can also enter dozens of attractions, places to visit, travel by train with unlimited distance and number of trips. These passes are available at the city tourist office. The office is located in the central square, which is also the place to start the journey to discover the old town of Bordeaux. With this card, going all day around Bordeaux, we didn’t have to pay any cent.

What to do and where to go in Bordeaux? (#bordeaux guide)

St. Andre Cathedral

Address: Pl. Pey Berland, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Hours: 10:30 AM–12 PM, 3–7 PM/Monday: 3–7 PM/Sunday: Closed

Located in the heart of Bordeaux, the more than 800-year-old church of Saint-André has played an important role in Europe’s religious community throughout history. This structure is an important stop on the Route of Saint James pilgrimage.

The grandeur of the Saint-André church has been compared by many experts with the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris. The most attractive point when you visit this scenic spot is the elaborately built facade. Here, visitors can admire the sculptures made based on famous paintings such as The Last Supper, the Ascension …

In the summer, this church is also the venue for the international organ festival.

National Opera of Bordeaux (Grand Theatre of Bordeaux)

Address: Pl. de la Comédie, 33000 Bordeaux, France

One of the most famous attractions in Bordeaux that any visitor to this city cannot ignore is the National Opera of Bordeaux. This is one of the most beautiful architectural works of Europe and is also considered a cultural symbol of the city of Bordeaux. Grand Theatre of Bordeaux was built in a very unique Greek architectural style with 12 giant pillars erected in front of the theater. On each pillar are beautiful goddess statues.

The Grand Theatre of Bordeaux is the most important feature on the Place de la Comédie, located on an ancient Roman meeting place. Right from the outside, this theater has overwhelmed visitors by its lavish architecture with 12 Corinthian columns.

The interior of the theater will make even the most discerning visitors admire the regal interior accents, reminiscent of a rich lifestyle.

Bordeaux Museum of Fine Arts (#bordeaux travel blog)

Address: 20 Cr d’Albret, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Hours: 11 AM–6 PM/Tuesday: Closed

Located in the Jardin de la Mairie public park, the Museum of Fine Arts is part of the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall). The museum offers an insight into European art history, with an art collection spanning the 15th to 20th centuries.

The collection includes masterpieces by Titian, Veronese, Rubens, Delacroix, Renoir and Rodin, among others. The paintings are displayed by theme, era and country, such as the Renaissance, Dutch paintings of the 17th century and French paintings of the 17th to 18th centuries. The adjoining Galerie des Beaux-Arts organizes exhibitions of contemporary art.

Musée Mer Marine

Address: 89 Rue des Étrangers, 33300 Bordeaux, France
Hours: 1–6 PM/Saturday, Sunday: 10:30 AM–6 PM/Monday: Closed

If you’re traveling with kids, they’ll likely enjoy exploring the Musée Mer Marine, which displays thousands of models of ships, boats and tools that man made during maritime and naval history. It has canoes that prehistoric people carved from large trees, to submarines and aircraft carriers of the 20th century. The museum also regularly devotes large spaces for exhibitions of environmental sea, where visitors can observe images of the current state of the world’s oceans.

Pont de Pierre Bridge

Address: et la, Entre la place Bir Hakeim, Pl. de Stalingrad, 33000 Bordeaux, France

The city of Bordeaux is located right next to the gentle and poetic Garonne river. Across this river is a beautiful bridge called Pont de Pierre. This is considered one of the most beautiful and ancient bridges in France. This bridge was built by Emperor Napoleon the Great in 1813. Walking on the bridge, watching the scenery of Bordeaux city on both sides of the bridge is an interesting experience that you should try.

Quinconces Square

The Esplanade des Quinconces is considered the largest square in Europe. Although located not far from Le Grand Theatre, this square has a peaceful beauty. From this square you can enjoy river views at the pier Louis XVIII or go shopping at Rue Sainte-Catherine.

Located next to Quay of Louis XVIII along the waterfront, the esplanade offers a peaceful setting. Built between 1818 and 1828, the square’s monumental fountain honors the Girondins, the group of republican politicians from Gironde’s office who were delegates to the Legislative Assembly of the French Revolution.

The original fountain was destroyed during World War II and later restored. There are also statues of Montesquieu and Montaigne. Another notable attraction nearby is Jardin Park, where you can visit the botanical gardens and natural history museum.

Just south of the Place des Quinconces is Rue Sainte-Catherine, the busiest shopping street in the city. This street is also the oldest existing street in Bordeaux, as it was a street in Roman times.

Or you can also take a stroll on this quiet square and see the main fountain which is more than 200 years old.

Basilica of Saint Severinus

Address: Pl. des Martyrs de la Résistance, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Hours: 8:30 AM–7:30 PM/Monday: Closed

This church is a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site. Saint-Seurin was built in the 11th century with architecture inspired by many styles. Not only playing an important role in terms of religion, Saint Seurin church is also a place to keep many precious treasures.

Musée d’Aquitaine (Museum of Aquitaine)

Address: 20 Cr Pasteur, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Hours: 11 AM–6 PM/Monday: Closed

The Aquitaine Museum vividly illustrates the history of Bordeaux and the Aquitaine region from prehistory to the present day. The museum has exceptional antiques, including Laussel Venus, an artifact from 25,000 BC, Gallic gold coins from around the 2nd century BC, and a 3rd century statue of Hercules.

Other highlights include the 13th-century figure of the knight Curton and the 16th-century tomb of Montaigne. The monument to Montaigne once stood at the museum’s entrance, and visitors would touch the statue’s feet as a ritual to “absorb” the wisdom of the great man.

L’Intendant (#bordeaux travel guide)

Address: 2 All. de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Hours: 10 AM–7:30 PM/Sunday: Closed

Bordeaux is famous for its wine industry, which has a history of hundreds of years of formation and development. Therefore, when traveling to Bordeaux, you must not miss the opportunity to discover L’Intendent. This place is considered a mecca of wine. This building has 4 different floors and is currently home to more than 15,000 bottles of wine. There are affordable bottles but there are also extremely rare bottles of wine with sky-high prices.

Palais Gallien

Address: 126 Rue du Dr Albert Barraud, 33000 Bordeaux, France

The only remaining monument of the Roman period in Bordeaux, the Palais Gallien was built at the end of the 2nd century and is located just outside the town of “Burdigala”.

This large theater can accommodate 15,000 spectators on wooden benches. Visitors can imagine life in Roman times by visiting the theater. In addition, the theater also displays artifacts of the brutal sport under the Roman era – gladiator.

Tour Pey Berland

Address: Pl. Pey Berland, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Hours: 10 AM–12:30 PM, 2–5:30 PM

This tower is one of the independent towers in the Cathédrale Saint-André. Built in the 15th century for Archbishop Pey Berland, the tower exhibits resplendent gothic architecture with ornate details, soaring spiers, and sharp angles.

Recently, the tower has been supplemented with a 19th-century statue of Notre-Dame adorning the top of the tower. Visitors can climb to the top for panoramic views of the magnificent city. There are also regular concerts held at Place Pey-Berland that are free to the public.

Place de la Bourse

Traveling to Bordeaux without visiting Place de la Bourse is a pity. This can be said to be the busiest and most bustling place in the city of Bordeaux. Especially when visiting Place de la Bourse, you will have the opportunity to see the Water Mirror. This is a very unique reflecting pool and has been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site.

French cruiser Colbert (Colbert)

Address: Quai des Chartrons, Bordeaux

The Cruiser Colbert was once one of France’s largest battleships. Built in 1953, the ship served until 1990 during the Gulf War. Visitors can tour the 75 rooms including the kitchen, engine room, the captain’s footbridge and the Admiral’s apartment to see life on board the 600 sailors.

Grosse Cloche

Address: Rue Saint-James, 33000 Bordeaux, France

One of Bordeaux’s medieval remnants, the Grosse Cloche (Great Clock) is a monument built in the 13th and 15th centuries. The clock in the gate tower is part of the old town hall. This medieval monument in the heart of this historic city has been restored to its former glory and ushered in a new era wonder.

Museum of Decorative Arts and Design

Address: 39 Rue Bouffard, 33000 Bordeaux, France

Featuring an excellent collection of artworks, this museum displays furniture, tableware, jewelry, miniatures and musical instruments from the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum is housed in the Hôtel de Lalande, an elegant villa built between 1775 and 1779. By visiting the museum, tourists will get an overview of the noble lifestyle and aristocratic art deco during the Enlightenment period in Bordeaux.

Miroir d’Eau (The Water Mirror)

Miroir d’Eau is a must-visit in Bordeaux, because it is the largest light reflecting lake in the world, measuring up to 3,450 square meters. This work of art was completed in 2006. Children and adults like to come here to wade in the water, especially when it’s hot. The operating cycle of the water mirror is as follows: from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., every three minutes water floods, 5 minutes water flows out, 15 minutes creates a reflection effect and 3 minutes fog. Place de la Bourse square reflected in the water mirror is the symbol of the city of Bordeaux.

Porte Cailhau (Gate of Cailhau)

Once the main gate to the city, Cailhau Gate has remained almost unchanged since it was built together with Bordeaux in 1494. The riverside still has a monument to King Charles VIII. This gate was built to celebrate the king’s victory in the battle at Fornovo, Italy. Go through the gate, heading up, you will meet a small museum displaying relics showing how people built Bordeaux from limestone.

Darwin

What to do with barracks that have fallen into disuse? You will only have the answer in Bordeaux. In 2000, the Niel barracks was renamed Darwin and was given a new life. They now have an indoor skate park, organic supermarket, brewery, trendy restaurants and an impressive collection of street art, making Darwin a cultural meeting place and number one  hot spot of the city. Sustainability is central here, where artists and business professionals meet to share ideas for a better future.

La Cité du Vin

Address: 134 Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux, France
Hours: 10 AM–7 PM

La Cité du Vin – a 55m high architectural block can make art devotees hold their breath. This is a building in the shape of a wine decanter located on the banks of the Garonne River. As both a museum, a restaurant, as well as a library and cinema, La Cité du Vin uses the most advanced technologies to satisfy all senses. Not only learning the history of the familiar drink, visitors coming here can also feel the scent, find out the difference of each ingredient, participate in the 5 stages of the winemaking process, go through various courses in the wine production process. Short lessons, and finally a Bordeaux wine tasting on the 8th floor of the building, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city. La Cité du Vin was once commented by the Lonely Planet travel site as a “sparkling work in the sun” with 3,000 square meters of display areas.

Inside the walls of this futuristic structure, you’ll find a feast for the senses, where you can taste, smell and admire the cellar’s 14,000-bottle collection. In addition to the permanent exhibition, Cité du Vin has many other time-changing exhibitions.

Betasom

Address: 284 Bd Alfred Daney, 33300 Bordeaux, France
Hours: 10 AM–9 PM

Betasom is most likely the most unusual cultural center you will ever be in. Why? Because it’s located in an old submarine base. This massive concrete bunker was used by the Germans during World War II as a garage for their submarine fleet.

The warehouse has been abandoned for decades, but is now a large complex for the visual arts. Under the impressive 9-meter thick and indestructible concrete roof, visitors can enjoy exhibitions, digital slideshows, concerts and theater performances. Even if you’re not an art fan, this unique and slightly sinister location is still worth putting on your must try list in Bordeaux.

La Rue Gourmande

The original name of La Rue Gourmande was Rue Porte de la Monnaie, but thanks to businessman Jean-Pierre Xiradakis, it is now known as one of the best culinary streets in Bordeaux. This Greek Frenchman opened his restaurant La Tupina on this street in 1968. It has become a  family brand for locals. Over the years, Xiradakis has added a great bistro (Le Bar Cave de la Monnaie), a shop where you can buy and eat La Tupina specialties (Le Comestible) and a boutique hotel (Maison Fredon) also on the same street.

Medoc Vineyards

The city of Bordeaux is the dream paradise of any wine lover. Therefore, when coming to Bordeaux, you definitely cannot miss the opportunity to visit the vineyards here. However, day tours to Bordeaux wineries are not cheap, on average cost from 70-99 Euro/person for a half-day tour and can go up to 160 Euro/person or more for a 1-day tour.

Thus, you should choose a tour with an affordable price. And the bus tour to Medoc vineyard for only 42 Euro/person will be quite economical for you. In this tour, the group will have about 53 guests with 1 guide. However, this is one of the cheap bus tours that is quite difficult to find, so you should book in advance.

Normally, the tour visits the Medoc vineyards on Thursdays and Saturdays. During the tour, you will get to visit the vineyard, winery and cellar.

Saint Emilion

Bordeaux is surrounded by extensive vineyards, so it is no wonder that a visit to this city should include a visit to the wine region of Saint-Émilion. This prestigious wine region is located about 40 km from Bordeaux and is a paradise for those who love fine wines, French landscapes and romantic castles.

St. Emilion is a medieval village located on the outskirts of Bordeaux. It will only take you about 30 minutes by train to get here. Visiting St. Emilion, the beautiful scenery of this town will make you not regret spending a full day to visit.

Highlights of St. Emilion is an underground sightseeing space with wineries and cellars. Above are historic sites, quaint shops and cafes dotted the narrow streets along with some magnificent churches and towers.

With this attraction, you can completely travel by yourself at a cost of only about 45 Euro/person. However, for safety and convenience, you can refer to the Bordeaux – St. Emilion with a number of stops in the route, but the price is only about 42 Euro / person. You should note, this tour is only available on Sundays (all year round) and Wednesdays in summer (1/4 -15/11).

What and where to eat?

The cuisine in Bordeaux has a charming and rich Southern French accent. This place owns specialties that can cause nostalgia for all travelers. Notable among them are:

Éclade de Moules: Bordeaux is located on the Garonne River with the most prominent specialty being fat mussels. The people of Bordeaux have a very interesting way of reprocessing this product. They will arrange the boys in a large pile, place them on a damp wooden board with pine needles and burn them. Éclade de Moules is usually served with garlic mayonnaise or bread and butter.

Entrecôte à la Bordelaise: This is the most popular main dish in the Bordeaux region. The traditional ingredient for this dish is bazas beef ribs. Once seasoned, these ribs are pan-fried and served with a rich wine sauce.

Cèpes: This famous mushroom grows best in the Bordeaux region. Cèpes season begins immediately after the grape harvest. The rich flavor of this mushroom is so treasured by the people of Bordeaux that they will never wash the mushrooms in water, just dust them off and gently wipe them with a damp cloth. Cèpes are also prepared in a very simple way: sauteed with butter, red onion and a little parsley.

Cannelés: Today, Canalés can be found all over France. However, if you want to enjoy dessert in the most authentic way, you have to go to Bordeaux. This cake has a soft filling with a hint of rum and vanilla. The outside of the cake is baked quite crispy with a honey coating.

Cheese: In Bordeaux in particular and France in general, there are more than 500 types of cheese with all kinds of quality from popular to high-end. Therefore, this place is considered one of the largest cheese consumers in the world.

No need to go to luxury restaurants, you can still enjoy many impressive dishes. Try oysters at Chez Jean Mi at the Marché des Capucins market, or Moules Frites at restaurants near the train station, in the center of town. In addition, you should also enjoy lunch at Le Cheverus Cafe, sample some cheap Frites Steak at the famous Le Entrecote. In particular, do not forget to look for crepes. In Bordeaux, you can get crepes for around 8 Euros for a cheeseburger and around 14 Euros for a higher quality cake.

Wine

Wine is an integral part of the journey to discover Bordeaux cuisine. Most of the vineyards in the region produce red grapes. Therefore, red wines appear in Bordeaux the most. Try to try at least 1 of the 3 following wines on your journey.

• Classic Carbenet Sauvignon at Château Poujeaux (Moulis-en-médoc grape region)
• Classic Merlot at Château Les Trois Croix (Fronsac grape region)
• White Bordeaux at Clos Floridène (Graves region)

Dubbed the city of wine, it can be said that Bordeaux is the paradise of this drink that captivate visitors. Therefore, it is a pity to go to Bordeaux without drinking wine.

You can sample wines while touring the wineries. In addition, you can also drink wine with many different flavors at cafes and bars in Bordeaux. Some bars and cafes can help you enjoy alcohol at an affordable price:

• Bar a Vin Ecole du Vin Bordeaux: only 2 Euro/ glass.
• Frog & Rosbif Bordeaux: Happy Hour from 5.30pm – 8pm on Mondays – Fridays of the week and all day on Tuesdays, the price is reduced to only 4.50 Euro/glass.

Day trips from Bordeaux

Château de La Brède

Address: Av. du Château, 33650 La Brède, France
Hours: 2–6 PM/Monday, Tuesday: Closed

Listed as a historic monument, Château de La Brède is a medieval castle 30 minutes south of Bordeaux, built in the 13th century and bears a striking resemblance to Leeds Castle in Kent County, England.

Surrounded by 150 hectares of forest and built on two islands, the feudal castle has the appearance of a dreamy fairy tale. Its most famous owner is the author Montesquieu, born in the castle on January 18, 1689.

The castle is open to tourists from April to November, and to groups (by advance reservation) from March to December. Visitors can tour the castle and take a walk about the famous park with its many landmarks delightful English gardens.

Château ducal de Cadillac

Address: 4 Pl. de la Libération, 33410 Cadillac-sur-Garonne, France
Hours: 10 AM–12:30 PM, 2–5:30 PM/Monday: Closed

About 40 kilometers southeast of Bordeaux, the Château de Cadillac is a historic site that was once the residence of the Duke of Épernon. Overlooking the Garonne River, the castle was built between 1598 and 1620 and is one of the finest examples of French architecture. The interior features carved fireplaces and sumptuous carpets. The outside is surrounded by a protective moat and the immense walls are decorated with statues. The castle is open to tourists year-round and also hosts temporary exhibitions and special themed events.

Grande-Sauve Abbey (Abbaye de La Sauve-Majeure)

Address: 14 Rue de l’Abbaye, 33670 La Sauve, France
Hours: 10:30 AM–1 PM, 2–5:30 PM/Monday: Closed

Located 25 kilometers from Bordeaux, in the countryside of the Entre-Deux-Mers region, Grande-Sauve Abbey is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The abbey is surrounded by majestic forests (the name “Sauve-Majeure” comes from “Silva Major” meaning “great forest”) covering 200 hectares.

A masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, the abbey has an excellent sculpture collection. The Abbaye de la Sauve-Majeure is open for self-guided or one-hour guided tours.

Grotte de Pair-non-Pair

Address: Chem. de Pair Non Pair, 33710 Prignac-et-Marcamps, France
Hours: 9:30 AM–12:30 PM, 2–5:30 PM/Monday: Closed

One of the oldest caves in the world, Grotte de Pair – non-Pair features prehistoric drawings of horses, deer and mammoths. In 1881, François Daleau discovered this cave along with the remains of an 80,000-year-old Neanderthal man and an 18,000-year-old Cro-Magnon man.

Archaeologists have also found 15,000 tools from prehistoric times. The Grotte de Pair-non-Pair is open to tourists on a guided tour.

Where to stay?

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• Eklo Bordeaux Centre Bastide (Agoda, Booking)
• Hilton Garden Inn Bordeaux Centre (Agoda, Booking)
• Best Western Grand Hotel Francais (Agoda, Booking)
• ibis budget Bordeaux Centre – Gare Saint Jean (Agoda, Booking)
• Staycity Aparthotels Bordeaux City Centre (Agoda, Booking)
• Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre (Agoda, Booking)
• Hôtel de Tourny – Boutique Hôtel Bordeaux Centre (Agoda, Booking)
• Radisson Blu Hotel Bordeaux (Agoda, Booking)

Check out more top & best hotels in Bordeaux on Agoda.com or Booking.com

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Bordeaux you can refer to

• Bordeaux City Pass
• Bordeaux Winery Tour
• Bordeaux Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience
• Bordeaux Historic and Gourmet City Tour
• Bordeaux 48-Hour or 72-Hour CityPass
• The Great Escape Full Day Tour from Bordeaux
• Bordeaux Wine, Sweet, and Savory Food Walking Tour
• Saint-Emilion Half or Full Day Wine Tour from Bordeaux
• Private Wine Day Tour from Bordeaux
• Bordeaux Private Wine Charter in a Tesla to St Emilion, Médoc, Entre deux Mers, Paulliac & Margaux
• Arcachon Bay Discovery Private Day Tour from Bordeaux

Read more France guide here.