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.

Day 1

Morning

1. Place de la Bourse: An 18th-century neoclassical masterpiece on the Garonne riverbank, home to the famous Miroir d'Eau reflecting pool.
2. 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.
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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.

Afternoon

1. Médoc Wine Route: The legendary D2 road passing châteaux Latour, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild, and Pichon Baron, the most prestigious wine route in the world.
2. 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.
3. Palais Gallien: Atmospheric ruins of a 3rd-century Roman amphitheatre in the heart of Bordeaux, once capable of holding 15,000 spectators.
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.
5. 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.

Day 2

Morning

1. 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.
2. 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.
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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

Afternoon

1. 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.
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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

Full Bordeaux guide and all stops →