Bordeaux in 2 days, on foot

This 2-day self-guided walking plan for Bordeaux covers 21 narrated sights in an easy day-by-day order. Each day is split into a morning and an afternoon loop, and every stop has a two to three minute audio story in the Gingerguide app.

You set the pace: this is a suggested order, not a schedule. Walk it in 2 days, or stretch it out. Reorder freely; Bordeaux rewards a detour.

The Bordeaux route at a glance

Day 1

Day 1 covers 11 stops over about 6.2 km as the crow flies, from Bassins à Flot to Place de la Bourse. ≈ 6.2 km between stops, straight line

Morning

1. Bassins à Flot: Bordeaux's regenerated docklands district, home to the Cité du Vin, a WWII submarine base turned arts venue, street art, and waterfront restaurants. 0.6 km to the next stop
2. Halles de Bacalan: A vibrant covered food market near the Cité du Vin, celebrated for Arcachon Bay oysters, local produce, and some of the finest food stalls in Bordeaux. 0.5 km to the next stop
3. Cité du Vin: A stunning architectural icon and wine museum opened in 2016, with a swirling golden form evoking wine in a glass and a panoramic wine-tasting belvedere. 2.1 km to the next stop
4. CAPC Musée d'Art Contemporain: A landmark contemporary art museum housed in a spectacular 1824 colonial warehouse, featuring works by Richard Serra, Hans Hartung, and international artists. 0.4 km to the next stop
5. Chartrons District: Bordeaux's historic wine merchants' district, once home to Dutch, English, and Irish wine traders, now a vibrant neighbourhood with antique shops and Sunday markets. 0.6 km to the next stop
6. Esplanade des Quinconces: One of the largest public squares in Europe at 12 hectares, dominated by the dramatic 1902 Monument aux Girondins fountain, Bordeaux's grand civic showpiece. 0.6 km to the next stop

Afternoon

1. Jardin Public: Bordeaux's beloved 18th-century public garden in French formal style, home to a Natural History Museum, a puppet theatre, and a charming children's playground. 0.2 km to the next stop
2. Palais Gallien: Atmospheric ruins of a 3rd-century Roman amphitheatre in the heart of Bordeaux, once capable of holding 15,000 spectators. 0.6 km to the next stop
3. Bar à Vin (Bordeaux Wine Bar): Run by the CIVB wine council, this elegant bar opposite the Grand Théâtre offers over 700 Bordeaux wines by the glass at remarkably accessible prices. 0 km to the next stop
4. Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux: A magnificent neoclassical opera house built in 1780, considered so perfect that it inspired the design of the Paris Opéra Garnier. 0.4 km to the next stop
5. Place de la Bourse: An 18th-century neoclassical masterpiece on the Garonne riverbank, home to the famous Miroir d'Eau reflecting pool.

Day 2

Day 2 covers 10 stops over about 97 km as the crow flies, from Rue Sainte-Catherine to Médoc Wine Route. ≈ 97 km between stops, straight line

Morning

1. Rue Sainte-Catherine: The longest pedestrian shopping street in France at 1.2 kilometres, lined with over 130 shops, boutiques, and cafés in the heart of Bordeaux. 0.3 km to the next stop
2. Tour Pey-Berland: A slender 15th-century Gothic bell tower standing apart from the Cathedral, offering panoramic views over Bordeaux's rooftops from its crown. 0 km to the next stop
3. Cathédrale Saint-André: A magnificent Gothic cathedral built from the 11th to 14th centuries, listed as UNESCO World Heritage as part of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. 0.2 km to the next stop
4. Musée d'Aquitaine: Bordeaux's premier history museum, covering 25,000 years of regional history from prehistoric times through the Roman era and the city's role in the Atlantic slave trade. 0.2 km to the next stop
5. Grosse Cloche: Bordeaux's most iconic medieval monument, a massive 15th-century Gothic belfry with a great bell, built over the original city gate dating to the 13th century. 0.7 km to the next stop

Afternoon

1. Église Saint-Michel: A Gothic basilica with a magnificent 114-metre detached bell tower (the Flèche), surrounded by the vibrant multicultural Saint-Michel neighbourhood and Sunday market. 0.8 km to the next stop
2. Pont de Pierre: Bordeaux's oldest and most beloved bridge (1822), with 17 arches spanning the Garonne, built on Napoleon's order and offering beautiful views of the city's UNESCO riverfront. 1.8 km to the next stop
3. Darwin Ecosystem: A post-industrial creative hub on the right bank of the Garonne, housing skateparks, street art, an urban farm, organic restaurants, and co-working spaces in converted barracks. 32 km to the next stop
4. Saint-Émilion: A UNESCO-listed medieval wine village built into limestone cliffs, famous for its monolithic church, Premier Grand Cru wines, and the Jurade ceremony. 61 km to the next stop
5. Médoc Wine Route: The legendary D2 road passing châteaux Latour, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild, and Pichon Baron, the most prestigious wine route in the world.

Distances are straight-line between stops; streets add a little.

Where the route eats

Food and market stops on the Bordeaux tour, each with its own story in the app:

• Halles de Bacalan: A vibrant covered food market near the Cité du Vin, celebrated for Arcachon Bay oysters, local produce, and some of the finest food stalls in Bordeaux.

Updated: September 4, 2026

Full Bordeaux guide and all stops →