What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Bordeaux, France.
Photo: AG-Pics / Pixabay
Bordeaux is a French city of 267,991 people. It is not on the coast, but its centre sits along a river, and the Place de la Bourse and its Water Mirror face the riverfront. Most sights are in or near the old town of Saint-Pierre and Pey-Berland. La Cité du Vin and Bassins des Lumières are further north in Bacalan. The best months to visit are September, July, April and October, with September ranked first.
We have no set number of days for Bordeaux. Most main sights take 1–2 hours or less, but La Cité du Vin needs half a day. Allow time for both the old town and Bacalan.
Saint-Pierre / riverfront
A grand 18th-century square facing the Garonne, with a shallow reflecting pool, the Miroir d'eau, across the road. Come at dusk, when the buildings light up and reflect in the water. The riverside quays on either side are good for a walk or a bike ride.
Bacalan
A large wine museum in a curved modern building by the river. Its interactive galleries cover wine cultures around the world, and a visit usually ends with a tasting on the top floor with views over the city.
Pey-Berland
A large Gothic cathedral with a separate bell tower beside it. You can climb the tower for one of the best views over the old town's rooftops.
City centre
The city's history museum, covering the region from prehistory to today. It includes an honest section on Bordeaux's role in the Atlantic slave trade, which explains how much of the city's wealth was built.
Saint-Michel
A Gothic church with a very tall separate bell tower, in a lively, mixed neighbourhood. The square around it hosts markets and is a good place to see a less polished side of the city.
Saint-Éloi
A medieval gate with a large bell, one of the few remains of the old city walls. It is a quick stop on a walk through the old town's narrow streets.
Bacalan (Bassins à flot)
Immersive digital art shows projected onto the walls and water of a former Second World War submarine base. The concrete bunker itself is worth seeing, and the shows work well on a rainy day.
Pey-Berland
The city's fine arts museum, with European paintings from the Renaissance to the 20th century. It sits beside a quiet garden behind the town hall.
Chartrons
A contemporary art museum inside a former colonial warehouse. The huge arched main hall is as much a reason to go as the changing exhibitions.
Jardin Public / Chartrons
An English-style park with lawns, a pond and a botanical garden. It is a calm break from sightseeing and easy to combine with the antique shops and cafés of nearby Chartrons.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10°C / 3°C | 13 days (87 mm) | 5.0 h/day | 2.8/10 |
| February | 13°C / 4°C | 10 days (73 mm) | 6.7 h/day | 4.9/10 |
| March | 15°C / 6°C | 14 days (80 mm) | 8.0 h/day | 5.7/10 |
| Best month: April | 18°C / 8°C | 12 days (67 mm) | 9.6 h/day | 7.7/10 |
| May | 21°C / 11°C | 12 days (85 mm) | 11.0 h/day | 7.5/10 |
| June | 25°C / 15°C | 12 days (117 mm) | 11.5 h/day | 7.6/10 |
| Best month: July | 27°C / 17°C | 7 days (40 mm) | 12.2 h/day | 7.9/10 |
| August | 28°C / 17°C | 8 days (48 mm) | 11.7 h/day | 7.6/10 |
| Best month: September | 25°C / 14°C | 10 days (60 mm) | 10.0 h/day | 8.0/10 |
| Best month: October | 20°C / 11°C | 11 days (88 mm) | 7.7 h/day | 7.7/10 |
| November | 15°C / 7°C | 13 days (91 mm) | 6.1 h/day | 5.2/10 |
| December | 12°C / 5°C | 13 days (93 mm) | 4.9 h/day | 3.6/10 |
Avoid. Highs of 10°C, 12.7 rain days and about 5 hours of sun a day. It scores 2.8, the lowest of the year.
OK. Still cool at 12.5°C, but it has the fewest rain days of winter at 10.2. Score 4.9.
OK. Highs reach 14.9°C, but March has 13.6 rain days, the most of the year. Score 5.7. Pack a rain jacket.
Best time. Highs of 18°C, 11.6 rain days and 9.6 hours of sun. Score 7.7. Nights are still cool at 8°C.
Best time. Pleasant highs of 21°C and 11 hours of sun, though rain falls on 12.4 days. Score 7.5.
Best time. Warm at 24.9°C, but June is the wettest month with 117 mm over 12 rain days. Score 7.6.
Best time. Hot at 27.3°C and the driest month, with 7 rain days, 40 mm and 12.2 hours of sun. Score 7.9.
Best time. The warmest month at 27.7°C, with only 7.8 rain days. Score 7.6.
The top month, scoring 8. Highs of 24.5°C, 9.9 rain days and 10 hours of sun a day.
Best time. Mild highs of 20°C, but rain rises to 88 mm over 11.1 days. Score 7.7.
OK, but getting grey. Highs drop to 14.5°C, with 12.9 rain days and 6.1 hours of sun. Score 5.2.
Avoid. Highs of 11.8°C, 12.6 rain days, 93 mm of rain and the least sun, at 4.9 hours. Score 3.6.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit France →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, walkers, short stays
This is the medieval heart of Bordeaux, with narrow stone streets, small squares and many cafés, close to the river and Place de la Bourse. You can walk to most main sights from here. Bars and restaurant terraces can be noisy late at night, especially at weekends.
Good for first-timers, shoppers, couples
This is the smart, central area of wide streets, classic 18th-century buildings, shops and the Grand Théâtre. It is flat, well served by trams and easy to get around. It feels polished rather than local, and it is one of the more expensive parts of the city.
Good for food lovers, antiques, repeat visitors
This old wine merchants' quarter north of the centre has antique shops, a Sunday market by the river and a relaxed, neighbourly feel. It is quieter than the Old Town in the evening. The far end is a longer walk from the main sights, so you may use the tram more.
Good for budget travellers, markets, nightlife
This area is lively and mixed, with a tall Gothic bell tower, a weekend flea market and many cheap places to eat. It has a young, local feel and lots of bars. Some streets feel rough at night, and the market days bring crowds and noise.
Good for families, quiet, river views
Across the Pont de Pierre, this area has green spaces, a botanical garden and views back across the river to the old city's facades. It is calmer and more open than the left bank. You have to cross the river by bridge or tram to reach most sights and nightlife.
Good for families, quiet, longer stays
This residential area sits near the city's main park and an old basilica, with calm streets and local bakeries. It suits people who want a quieter base within walking distance of the centre. There is less to do in the evening, so you will walk or take the tram for dinner and nightlife.
A small cake with a dark, caramelised crust and a soft custard centre, flavoured with rum and vanilla. Bakeries across the city sell them, and locals eat them with coffee or after a meal.
Rib steak served with a sauce of red wine, shallots and bone marrow. It is sometimes grilled over vine cuttings. Look for it in traditional brasseries and bistros.
Oysters from the nearby Arcachon Bay, eaten raw with lemon or shallot vinegar and often with small grilled sausages. Locals enjoy them with white wine at market oyster bars, such as Marché des Capucins.
Lamprey, an eel-like river fish, slowly stewed with leeks in red wine. It is a strong, old-fashioned dish. You will find it only in season, mainly in traditional restaurants.
The city is the centre of one of the world's best-known wine regions. Try the red blends, dry whites, or sweet Sauternes by the glass in wine bars.
September is the best month to visit Bordeaux, with the highest score of the year at 8. Days reach about 24.5°C, there are about 10 hours of sun, and rain falls on about 9.9 days. July (7.9), April (7.7) and October (7.7) are also very good. Every month from April to October is rated best.
Yes, August is a good month for Bordeaux, with a score of 7.6. It is the warmest month, with highs of about 27.7°C and lows of 16.8°C. Rain is low at 48 mm over about 7.8 days, and you get about 11.7 hours of sun.
Yes, January and December are the months to avoid, with scores of 2.8 and 3.6. In January, highs reach only about 10.1°C, rain falls on about 12.7 days, and there are about 5 hours of sun. December is similar, with 93 mm of rain and 4.9 hours of sun. If you want cool weather, February (4.9) and March (5.7) are better choices.
June is the wettest month, with about 117 mm of rain over 12 days. It still scores 7.6 because it is warm, with highs of 24.9°C and 11.5 hours of sun. For dry weather, pick July. It has only 40 mm of rain over about 7 days.
One day is too short to see the main sights at a comfortable pace. La Cité du Vin alone takes half a day, and the Musée d'Aquitaine takes 2–3 hours. Many other sights take 1–2 hours each, including the cathedral and Pey-Berland Tower, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the CAPC museum and Bassins des Lumières. Short stops such as the Grosse Cloche (30 minutes) fit in between.
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