Yes, there is wine in Bordeaux, but there’s also so much more!
As international travel is not recommended at the moment, my boyfriend and I took a little trip from Paris to Bordeaux. Although the capital gets all the hype, there are many other places in France worth seeing – and Bordeaux is one of them!
Here are all the things you should see, do and eat on a short trip to Bordeaux!
🗺️ The landmarks you shouldn’t miss in Bordeaux
Place de la Bourse
When you type ‘Bordeaux’ into Google, what you will see the most is photos of the Place de la Bourse. This square has a fountain in the middle and is surrounded by beautiful buildings. Opposite the Place de la Bourse is the Miroir d’Eau, a flat surface which in the summer is covered in water, reflecting the buildings of the Place de la Bourse. It’s a lively area where children walk around the water in the summer, and people hang out and skate around during the rest of the year.
Monument aux Girondins
This monument is made of a monumental fountain and a column, erected to the memory of deputees killed during the Terror period that followed the French Revolution. You can climb up to see the sculptures of the fountain and admire their impressive beauty.
Cathédrale Saint André
The cathedral is the biggest church in Bordeaux and dates back to the 11th century, but of course it was rebuilt through time. As with all French religious buildings, it is very impressive to look at and I always recommend visiting the inside of churches and cathedrals to get a closer look.
Basilique Saint Michel
The Saint Michel district of Bordeaux is very multicultural. It reminds me of some areas in Paris and its suburbs. In the middle of the district you will find the Saint Michel Basilica, a beautiful church built in the 14th century. Don’t forget to visit especially on sunny mornings, as the sunshine reflects on the beautiful stained glass and the Basilica fills up with colour.
Rue Sainte-Catherine
This lively street is said to be the longest pedestrian, commercial street in Europe! There you will find all your usual high-street stores, bakeries, the Galeries Lafayette, the Apple Store and so on.
La Grosse Cloche
Bordeaux still keeps today some remarkable towers, clocktowers and gates all around the old city. I love these little gateways into the past. My favourite is la Grosse Cloche, which used to be the beffroy (clock tower) of the old town hall. It’s a beautiful Gothic tower that was built in the 15th century, and a very photogenic spot for a souvenir picture!
Cité du Vin
We didn’t get to visit the Cité du Vin as it was closed because of COVID, however if you go to Bordeaux in the future, and if you enjoy wine, don’t miss this spot! The Cité du Vin is an exhibition hall with permanent and temporary exhibitions on the theme of wine. Cheers!
Walk along the Garonne River
The Garonne is the river that runs through Bordeaux and to the Atlantic ocean. The quays alongside the Garonne have been built for pleasant walks, with lots of space to sit down for picnics, shops, restaurants and bars… You can even go on boat tours when the weather is good. A welcome escape from the narrow streets of the city centre!
⏳ If you have more time, you can also check out these spots:
Le jardin botanique
Bordeaux’s Botanical Garden is located in the modern Bastide district, which is more residential and has a lot of building projects going on. It’s a very calming space where you will discover various types of natural landscapes that are typical of the area, from an artificial lake to a sand dune, smaller flower displays and greenhouses.
Opéra National de Bordeaux
The area near the National Opera reminded me very much of Vienna. The Opera itself looks like it would fit in well in the Austrian capital. If you can, book a concert or a show at the Opéra National for a fancy evening out!
Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas
If you enjoy bridge architecture, you shouldn’t miss the Jacques Chaban Delmas bridge. Seeing it must be deserved: you have to walk all the way along the Garonne until you reach the bridge, which is a vertical lift bridge which has been in use since 2013. If you get to see it lifted, you’re a lucky bird: it only gets lifted around sixty times per year!
🍽️ Places to eat in Bordeaux:
Canelés, the traditional Bordeaux pastry
Have you ever heard of canelés? They are small pastries infused with vanilla flavour and rhum. They take their name from their unusual shape. The outside is caramelised and crispy, and the inside soft. There are many bakeries that make canelés in Bordeaux. We tried the canelés from Baillardran, which is more of a chain, but you can try them anywhere. I personally didn’t enjoy the taste of canelés but you should definitely try them when you visit!
🍕 Tripletta Saint Michel: for good pizza
There are many Italian restaurants in Bordeaux. We ordered pizza from Tripletta, the Saint Michel location (there are two locations for Tripletta). The dough is soft and bubbly, and the ingredients of good quality. The truffle focaccia is amazing!
📍 30 Place Meynard, 33000 Bordeaux
🍜 Umami Ramen, for ramen and teriyaki chicken
Umami Ramen is located in a lively square where you can order food and eat on a bench with friends. There is a great variety of ramen dishes, but my boyfriend went for teriyaki chicken which he really enjoyed! A great place to go, according to the line of people that were waiting there when we walked past.
📍 8 Place Fernand Lafargue, 33000 Bordeaux
🍔 Kokobo Cantine and their delicious burgers
Kokobo is one of these cool kid places which serves yummy street foods. I tried their Kokomo fried chicken burger and it was delicious! With real, generous chicken inside. The fries were also good. I would say it’s a little expensive all things considered, but a lot of these places are nowadays – still a good spot to try, I promise!
📍 9 Place Fernand Lafargue, 33000 Bordeaux
☕ For good coffee: L’Achimiste & Café Piha
There are quite a few places in Bordeaux for good coffee. I got to try two: L’Alchimiste Café Boutique and Café Piha. Both serve great coffee, L’Alchimiste gets bonus points for its yummy pastries. Piha Café also offers brunch, however due to COVID restrictions I only got coffee to go there.
📍 L’Alchimiste
12, Rue de la Vieille Tour, 33000 Bordeaux
📍 Café Piha
69, Rue des Ayres, 33000 Bordeaux