What to see in Bordeaux in one day
Bordeaux is a city that makes you fall in love at first sight. Its elegance, its history and its special atmosphere make it an ideal destination for a getaway. However, if you only have one day, you should make good use of your time to discover the essentials of this city. In this itinerary we tell you what to see in Bordeaux in one day. You will be able to visit its most emblematic monuments, its most charming neighbourhoods and the essential gastronomic corners.
What’s more, if you’re looking for a more enriching experience, you can join our free tour of Bordeaux and get to know the capital of Aquitaine with the help of an expert guide.
The ideal route for discovering Bordeaux in a day
Bordeaux lends itself to being explored in a single day thanks to its compact and well-connected historic centre. With proper planning, you’ll be able to visit the most emblematic places without missing any of its treasures.
The morning is centred on the old town of Bordeaux, with its iconic squares and monuments. At midday, a gastronomic break is essential to savour the cuisine of Bordeaux. In the afternoon, the itinerary takes you through the commercial and cultural area. The day ends with panoramic views and a good glass of wine.
How to get around Bordeaux in one day?
Bordeaux has an excellent public transport system that makes it easy to get around. The modern tram connects the main tourist areas and perfectly complements the walking tours. You can buy a day pass (Pass Journée) that costs approximately between €5.50 and €6.10, depending on the option chosen. This will give you unlimited use of trams and buses.
For bicycle lovers, the V³ (V-Cube) rental system offers an ideal ecological alternative for touring the city and its riverbanks. The first stations open at 7:00 am, providing you with flexibility from the very start of the day.
Most of the attractions are located in the historic centre, a perfect area to explore on foot. The distances between monuments are short and strolling around will allow you to discover small details, local shops and cafés.
Bordeaux by morning: the historic centre and main monuments
The morning is the best time to explore the historic centre before it fills up with visitors. The fresh air and morning light enhance the beauty of the buildings, creating exceptional photographic opportunities.
Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d’Eau
Start your tour in the emblematic Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux (Place de la Bourse), the city’s symbol par excellence. This 18th-century square, designed by Jacques Gabriel, represents the city’s opening towards the Garonne River. Its symmetrical façade houses the Chamber of Commerce and the Customs Museum.
Opposite the square you will find the Water Mirror (Miroir d’Eau), the largest reflective water installation in the world. This ingenious design alternates cycles of fog and mirror to create an extraordinary visual effect, reflecting the façade of the Place de la Bourse. Arrive early to photograph it with fewer people and to take advantage of the morning light.
Saint-André Cathedral and Pey-Berland Tower
Head towards the majestic Saint-André Cathedral in Bordeaux, an impressive example of Gothic architecture whose construction lasted from the 12th to the 16th century. Its royal door, decorated with statues of the apostles, is an example of exceptional sculptural work. The interior houses a wide nave with stained glass windows that filter the light in a spectacular way.
Next to the cathedral stands the Pey-Berland Tower, a free-standing bell tower 50 metres high. If you’re feeling energetic, climb its 231 steps to enjoy unparalleled panoramic views of Bordeaux. Admission costs around €6 and is well worth the money for the views it offers of the city’s rooftops and monuments.
The Porte de Cailhau, a medieval vestige by the Garonne
Continue on to the Porte de Cailhau in Bordeaux, one of the old medieval entrances to the city built in 1495. This Gothic structure commemorates the victory of King Charles VIII at the Battle of Fornovo. With its 35-metre height and pointed towers, it provides a fascinating contrast to the neoclassical architecture of Bordeaux.
The gate houses a small museum that explains the history of Bordeaux and the evolution of its building materials. From its upper levels you will get excellent views of the Garonne River and the Stone Bridge.
The Saint-Pierre district and its charming squares
Spend the last part of the morning getting lost in the neighbourhood of Saint-Pierre, the heart of medieval Bordeaux. Its narrow streets hide charming squares such as the Square of the Parliament of Bordeaux (Place du Parlement) or the lively Place Saint-Pierre, next to the church of the same name.
This district is full of craft shops, cafés with terraces and traditional restaurants. Take the opportunity to discover the curiosities of Bordeaux that only the locals know about. For example, the masks sculpted on the facades or the old mooring rings on some of the walls. These details are silent witnesses to a time when the water reached these streets.
Midday: Bordeaux gastronomy to recharge your batteries
After an intense morning of cultural visits, midday is the perfect time to delve into the gastronomy of Bordeaux. This city boasts a rich culinary tradition that combines fresh produce from the Atlantic with influences from inland Aquitaine.
Lunch in the Saint-Michel district or Capucins Market
For an authentic experience, head to the Saint-Michel neighbourhood, a multicultural area with its own unique character. On Thursdays and Sundays it hosts the Saint Michel market of Bordeaux. There, traders offer everything from antiques to handicrafts.
Alternatively, you can visit the Capuchin market in Bordeaux (Marché des Capucins). This covered market is open from Tuesday to Sunday and brings together local producers offering fresh oysters from Cap Ferret, regional cheeses, artisan sausages and seasonal fruits. Many stalls have small bars where you can sample freshly prepared products.
Specialities of Bordeaux that you must try
Bordeaux cuisine is characterised by hearty dishes that pair perfectly with its famous wines. Try the entrecôte à la bordelaise, a juicy steak bathed in a sauce made with bone marrow, shallots and red wine.
Seafood plays a prominent role in the local gastronomy. Oysters from the Arcachon basin, served with a slice of lemon and buttered rye bread, offer an intense taste of the sea.
For dessert, don’t miss the canelé, a small cake caramelised on the outside and tender on the inside, flavoured with rum and vanilla. These delicacies are baked in copper moulds that give them their characteristic fluted shape.
Afternoon in Bordeaux: commerce, culture and architecture
The afternoon is an invitation to explore the more cosmopolitan side of Bordeaux. The elegant shopping areas, cultural buildings and squares show why the city was given the nickname ‘Little Paris’.
Rue Sainte-Catherine, the longest shopping street in Europe
Start your afternoon in the Rue Sainte-Catherine, a pedestrianised thoroughfare stretching 1.2 kilometres from the Place de la Comédie (Place de la Comédie) to the Place de la Victoire de Bordeaux (Place de la Victoire). This lively street is home to around 250 shops catering for all tastes and budgets, from department stores to independent boutiques.
The current street follows the route of an ancient Roman road, although the current buildings date mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries. During your walk, pay attention to the different architectural styles and the inner courtyards that can be glimpsed through some of the doorways.
Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, an architectural jewel
Not far from Sainte-Catherine is the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux (Grand Theatre), a neoclassical masterpiece designed by Victor Louis in 1780. Its imposing façade with twelve Corinthian columns topped by statues of the muses and Greco-Roman goddesses will take your breath away.
If your visit coincides with the guided tour times (normally at 14:30 and 16:30, except on Wednesdays), don’t hesitate to take part. The interior reveals a monumental staircase and a performance hall with blue and gold decoration. You will also discover an impressive ceiling painted by Jean-Baptiste Robin that seems to open the theatre up to the sky.
Bordeaux’s golden triangle and its elegant squares
Take time to explore the so-called ‘golden triangle’, bounded by the Clemenceau, Intendance and Allées de Tourny streets. This area is home to elegant buildings, luxury boutiques and harmonious squares such as the Place des Grands Hommes, with its glass rotunda.
The Place de la Comédie in Bordeaux (Place de la Comédie), presided over by the Grand Théâtre, serves as a meeting point for locals and visitors alike.
A few metres from the Place de la Comédie, you will find the grandiose Place des Quinconces in Bordeaux. With an area of more than 12 hectares, the Place des Quinconces has earned a reputation as one of the largest squares in Europe. The emblematic Monument to the Girondins and its spectacular fountains are a highlight.
Late afternoon: wine and sunset views
As the sun begins to set, Bordeaux is transformed by a golden light that enhances the limestone of its buildings. The late afternoon offers the perfect setting for more relaxed experiences to complement the day’s cultural visits.
A walk along the Garonne River and the Stone Bridge at sunset
The quays of the Garonne River, completely renovated in recent decades, are one of the most pleasant public spaces in the city. The promenade that runs along the river for almost 4.5 kilometres will allow you to contemplate the urban skyline from a privileged perspective.
The Pierre Bridge of Bordeaux, built by order of Napoleon I between 1810 and 1822, offers a magnificent viewpoint at sunset. From here, you can see how the last rays of the sun stain the facades of the docks orange and pink.
The Cité du Vin, an oenological experience with a view
If you have time before nightfall, take the tram to the Cite du vin Bordeaux (Cité du Vin), a spectacular museum dedicated to the culture of wine around the world. Its avant-garde architecture, which evokes the movement of wine in a glass, is in itself worth the visit.
Although the full tour takes several hours, you can choose to go directly up to the Belvedere on the eighth floor. For around €10, you can enjoy a glass of wine while taking in a panoramic view of Bordeaux and its surroundings. The circular terrace offers a unique vantage point over the city and the river at sunset.
Last night-time stroll through illuminated Bordeaux
Before finishing your day, take a moment to contemplate Bordeaux illuminated. The city’s lighting plan has been carefully designed to enhance its monuments and create a magical atmosphere. The Place de la Bourse with its illuminated Miroir d’Eau offers an incomparable visual spectacle that serves as the perfect end to your visit.
If you liked this tour, you might be interested in finding out what to see in Bordeaux in 4 days, a complete guide to exploring the city with more time.
We hope this itinerary has inspired you for your visit to Bordeaux. If you were wondering what to see in Bordeaux in one day, now you know that you can enjoy the best of this elegant city, even if you only have a short time. However, this intense journey is an invitation to return for a longer stay and delve deeper into the many treasures hidden in the capital of Aquitaine. Every corner of Bordeaux has a fascinating story to tell that deserves to be discovered at a leisurely pace.
References:
- Destino Suroeste. (2024, November 5). Qué ver en Burdeos en 1 o 2 días (con mapa). Available at: https:// destinosuroeste.com/que-ver-en-burdeos-en-1-o-2-dias-con-mapa/
- Office de Tourisme et des Congrès de Bordeaux Métropole. (n.d.). A day in Bordeaux. Bordeaux Tourist and Convention Office. Available at: https:// burdeos-turismo.es/las-6-regiones-vitivinicolas/dia-en-burdeos
- Office de Tourisme et des Congrès de Bordeaux Métropole. (n.d.). Weekend in Bordeaux. Bordeaux Tourist and Convention Office. Available at: https:// burdeos-turismo.es/parcours/fin-semana-en-burdeos.html
- Surfing the Planet. (n.d.). Discover the magic of Bordeaux in a day: our route through the city. Available at: https:// surfingtheplanet.com/que-visitar-burdeos-un-dia/
