Bordeaux is synonymous with the famed French wine, but its joie de vivre cannot be bottled. A list of the best things to do in Bordeaux is sure to namecheck all the things the city is known for: historic monuments, bustling markets, attractive museums, boutique art shops that are as impressively stocked as the city’s galleries—and yes, plenty of wine. The Old Town, Vieux Bordeaux, is a charming neighborhood to explore, a place that blends the architecture of grand vintage buildings with contemporary wine bars where one can linger long after the last drop. On a trip to this world capital of wine, cups are sure to runneth over. Here are the very best things to do in Bordeaux, France. (And check out the best hotels in Bordeaux, while you’re at it.)
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Explore the fairytale towers of Vieux Bordeaux
A visit to Vieux Bordeaux is best approached as it would have been centuries ago through the defensive site of Rue du Palais. Here, in the 15th century, the Porte Chailou was built as a testament to King Charles VIII’s conquest of the Kingdom of Naples. Inspired by his campaign in Italy, it is a Gothic-Renaissance-style building with tall turrets and castle windows looking out to sweeping sea views. Stop by the city’s Grosse Cloche belfry; its bell, named Armande-Louise, was cast in 1775 and still rings at noon on the first Sunday of each month and for special occasions. While the Grosse Cloche is a charming sight on rue Saint-James (a street filled with boutiques, cafés and trays of cannelé, the region’s round rum-infused cakes), it was once used to enforce public order. Visitors can still view the site’s dungeons today.
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Cruise along the River Garonne
One of the best ways to get the lay of a new land is from the water. The Garonne River has long been essential for the free flow of products, ideas, and—it goes without saying—wine. Most boat tours take off from the city pier in front of the Royal Square, known as Place de la Bourse, which is reflected in the majestic Miroir d’Eau. Excursions cruise past Napoleon’s Pont de Pierre bridge and the Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas suspension bridge, which connect the left and right banks of the city. Companies, including Yacht de Bordeaux, offer a glass of wine and a cannelé along the way. Most sailings end near the Pont d’Aquitaine, with a gleaming view of the Cité du Vin. Those who venture further will see where the Garonne meets the Gironde, glide past the Vauban fortifications from the reign of King Louis XIV, and eventually reach the vineyards of the famed Blaye and Médoc regions.
