Bordeaux the Beautiful: 9 Things to See & Do in Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux the Beautiful

9 Things to See & Do in Bordeaux, France

By Lexi Grund

1. Go out exploring! The town of Bordeaux is absolutely gorgeous from the buildings along the riverside, to the churches throughout the town, to the park, to the atmosphere inside the town. Walking around and "getting lost" in the city is something you must do upon arrival! Below is the opera house that we saw in the main square when we first arrived! Every last detail in this town is breath taking!

Below: A passageway we found with an arch leading out to the riverside road!

2. Visit the Wonderful Churches! The churches throughout this town are not to be missed! These churches are beautiful on the inside and out. The three main ones are the Eglise Saint-Pierre, Basilique Saint-Michel, and Abbatiale Sainte-Croix. Each of these churches have such beautiful architecture.

3. Take a walk along the riverside! The buildings are beautiful! There is also a standing pool which alternates from looking like a pool 2 cm deep to a cloud of mist for people to run through under the warm summer sun! Also, a market takes place along this road during certain times of the week! Check it out for cheap clothes, fabrics, shoes, and the overall atmosphere!

4. Check out the arch into the city! This arch is along the riverside and is absolutely gorgeous!

Below: another view along the riverside leading into the beautiful city!

5. TAKE A WINE TASTING TOUR!!!!! This is probably the most important thing to do! These tours take you to different castles around Bordeaux to view the vineyards and taste the delicious wines. They range in price anywhere from 35 euros a person to 300 euros a person. Stop by the tourist office in the center of the city to decide which is right for you or better yet, look them up online! These fill up quickly and should be booked about a month in advance during the summer months! I did a half day tour that took us to 2 different castles for 35 euros and we were able to taste 4 different wines. It was absolutely perfect and worth every penny. I was able to learn and see how the wine was made. I learned about the different flavors of the different grapes and am now able to enjoy wine more thoroughly! Do NOT miss out on this adventure while being in Bordeaux!!!

They even drove us by at least 10 more castles along the way to see from the bus! They were gorgeous like the one below!

6. Take a Bus Tour! The bus tour costs about 9 euros per person and can give you insight on what sights you would like to visit next with more knowledge about each sight. This included some of the churches, the famous bell/clock tower shown below, the roman ruins, and much more! This is not the time to take pictures but rather a time to listen to the historical information and make note of where you would like to visit more!

7. Take a walk through the "Jardin Public" (Public Park)!! The atmosphere is amazing and the park is huge and breath taking! Devote at least an hour or two to this wonderful stroll through the park!

8. Enjoy the night life! Unfortunately, I was not able to do this but everyone says it is worthwhile to head to the different bars. There are jazz bars and so many others right on the river! Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity!

9. Eat at L'Entrecot! This is a wonderful restaurant known for their steak sauce. For 19 euros everyone gets two thin pieces of steak with their sauce, unlimited fries, a salad, and tap water. You may wait up to an hour in line to get in but it is worth the wait! I found it is best to go late on any day except for Friday and Saturday in order to have the shortest line! Sit down, relax, and enjoy some amazing steak!

Make the most of the your time in this wonderful city! It's my absolute favorite place to visit in France!