A Weekend in the Wine Capital
A Weekend in the Wine Capital
Embedded Files
Called the "Pearl of Aquitaine," Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous especially for its wine, picturesque riverside views along the Garonne, and lively café culture. Whether you’re exploring its grand Place de la Bourse, sipping endless wine or indulging in gourmet cuisine, Bordeaux is a perfect weekend getaway plan.
The best time to visit here is generally May to June and September to October as you'll find good weather, fewer crowds, and ideal conditions for wine-tasting trips. September is best if you want to see vineyards in all their glory before the grapes are harvested, and attend wine festivals though it's not technically summer.
Getting around in Bordeaux is easy since city centre is walkable and there is also an efficient tram system in place. For day trips to vineyards, consider renting a car, taking a cab, or simply joining a guided wine tour.
My trip to Bordeaux was for a long weekend, but this itinerary can easily be modified for a weekend plan. The Day 1 of the itinerary stays the same in both cases. Here's a round up of what the first day in Bordeaux would be perfect for, before we delve deeper -
Day 1: Explore the Heart of Bordeaux
Morning: Arrival and Walking Tour
Start your day by checking in at your hotel preferably near Place de la Bourse or the city center.
Visit the famous Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d’Eau, Europe’s largest reflecting pool. Walk along the Garonne River for scenic views of the Pont de Pierre and the grand architecture.
Café Stop: Have a light breakfast or coffee in a traditional café along Rue Sainte-Catherine, one of Europe's longest pedestrian streets. Try Canelés.
Afternoon: Cultural Highlights
Head to Cathédrale Saint-André, a stunning Gothic cathedral, and climb the Pey-Berland Tower for panoramic city views.
Visit the Grand Théâtre and admire its neoclassical architecture. (Optional)
Enjoy lunch at Les Halles de Bacalan, a vibrant food market with plenty of local and gourmet options.
Explore Cite Du Vin, the interactive wine museum (Optional)
Evening: Riverside Stroll and Dinner
Return back to Place de la Bourse for the evening OR go further ahead along the Quais de Bordeaux to enjoy dinner at any riverside spot there.
End the night with a glass of Bordeaux wine at Le Bar à Vin, a wine bar run by the Bordeaux Wine Council offering wines by the glass.
We checked into our hotel, Hotel Singulier, in the morning. Its a lovely, modern property very close by to the centre. It has a pretty rooftop terrace, spa facilities and lovely breakfast. The staff is very sweet and helpful as well. It's on the dearer side so best visit in good weather when it is not raining and you can enjoy the rooftop. Other hotels that I considered for budget and splurge respectively -
Hôtel de la Presse - close to Place de la Bourse and Rue Sainte-Catherine, Bordeaux’s main shopping street. Affordable and centrally located.
InterContinental Bordeaux – Le Grand Hôtel - 5 star hotel facing the Grand Théâtre. Has a Michelin-starred restaurant, a rooftop bar and a luxurious spa.
The walk to the Place de la Bourse from our hotel at Rue Toulouse Lautrec is very pretty. We first entered Place Gambetta, a green park in the city where people were just sitting, smoking or chatting. Some teenagers were skating, and some kids were playing around the beautiful fountain in the middle of the square. Then we crossed the Porte Dijeaux, a neo-classical styled city gate and then strolled along the cobbled street Rue de la Porte Dijeaux which is lined with branded fashion and accessory stores and beautiful arcades. There are also many boutique shops dominated by soap and other fragrance products, alongside stationery and books.
It was here we stopped to try a Canneles at the famous Baillardran store at Porte Dijeaux. We tried one with rum and one without, and no wonder there, but the one with rum was way tastier. These also make a great gift for friends back home as they do have a generous product date. They have a nice seating space to sit and to enjoy the canneles with some coffee.
Charged up by the coffee and sugar, we moved forward into Rue Saint Remi, another beautiful street that begins with the big shopping arcade Galeries Lafayette (you can spend hours and hours here), and is then specked with interesting cafes and restaurants on either side. Notable mention to Fufu Ramen which was so tempting that we ended up trying their ramen for our midday hunger pang - and it was in line with the best we've ever had.
It was a whole of 12 minutes walk but took us 2 hours before we reached Place De La Bourse, having already stopped for coffee, canneles, and brunch; also so much shopping and even more window shopping. Bordeaux’s most iconic landmark, it is also a part of UNESCO heritage and is renowned for its stunning 18th-century French classical architecture. A symbol of transformation of the city into a major European port, the symmetry of the buildings is fascinating and so are the vivid details of the centre fountain. You can easily spend hours looking at this square.
Photo by Qais khan khanzada
As you can see, it had already begun to rain (we visited in early September) and we were told by the locals that rain is always a possibility here, just like back home in our good old London - so always pack an umbrella. In front of the square, is the Miroir d’Eau (Water Mirror), the world’s largest reflecting pool, which creates a mesmerising mirror effect, especially enchanting at sunrise and sunset, or when it is illuminated at night. The surroundings are lively, packed with cafés and restaurants. Cultural events also keep taking place here, making it a hot spot to visit.
Photo by Mathias Reding
Our next stop was a 15 minute walk to Cathédrale Saint-André, a stunning Gothic cathedral - no photos can do any justice to its glorious architecture and heaven-kissing stature. It has a majestic, looming presence in the city, and is a definite attraction to visit, just for the grandeur if not religious purposes. You can also climb the Pey-Berland Tower for panoramic city views. Sorry, i didnt take any pictures because it was raining crazy by then.
From here we took a tram (15 mins) to Cite Du Vin stop, next to Les Halles De Bacallan. This is a food stall market perfect for trying a variety of food. Just remember it closes post lunch and opens again in the evening so plan your visit accordingly. Its a perfect food and craft market to enjoy a few hours in.
We also visited the Cite Du Vin next to the market before heading back. It's an ultra-modern museum offering a unique, immersive experience into the world of wine, covering its history, culture, and influence across civilizations. The interactive exhibits are very interesting and their panoramic viewing deck provides stunning views of Bordeaux and the Garonne River.
By the evening, we returned to Place De La Bourse, to view the water mirror in the night. Its even prettier when its not raining, and you can see a full reflection of the buildings.
Then we strolled through the Place Du Parlement (cute square close to the Bourse) and Place des Quinconces (there is also a giant wheel here to catch lovely views) and visited the Le Bar a Vin closeby. It's perfect for trying wines by the glass in an affordable yet stylish set up.
Lastly we ended up at the Place Gambetta where we had dinner at Le Clemenceau Terrasse, an authentic and affordable gem, which had a great evening vibe.
We started our next day with an extensive breakfast at our hotel that we really enjoyed.
Then we checked out and headed for the Grand Cru Classé vineyard hotel Les Sources de Caudalie. It is a 25 min drive to the Martillac region to reach this hotel which offers an ultra-indulgent experience. We did a night-stay here, but you can also book a guided tour of the Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte to explore the vineyards and winery, and do a wine tasting here, followed by lunch in one of their three restaurants, before heading back to Bordeaux centre.
Visiting a Grand Cru Classé hotel is a great idea when you are in Bordeaux. These are luxury hotels associated with the prestigious Grand Cru Classé wine estates, specifically those that are part of the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux wines. These hotels are typically located within or near renowned vineyards and provide a very memorable experience which is a must for wine - enthusiasts.
Alternatively, you can visit the medieval town of Saint-Émilion, a famous wine region, for a similar experience. You can also book a guided tour for the same as there are many available online for this one. I'll take you through my stay at Les Sources de Caudalie for now, but i'll also include an alternate Saint Emilion itinerary at the end of the post.
We checked into Les Sources de Caudalie, and spent a good few hours exploring the area where our accommodation was. There is a beautiful terrace area to sit, and the whole place has a very tranquil atmosphere where you suddenly feel transported into Nature.
The view of vineyards from the top floor of Hotel Reception building.
La Table Du Lavoir - the country-inn styled Bistro restaurant with lot of veg options.
The Bistro from inside, where we had our lunch. The food is great, and is affordably priced.
Post lunch we headed for the MUST DO guided tour of the wine estate which involves the roof-top view of the vineyards, visit to underground cellars and wine-making equipment with detailed information on how different wines are made, and then proceeds to collection cellar and finally ends with wine tasting of red, white and vintage. Different tours are available in different seasons. You can find them in activity brochure of their tailor made experiences section - and they are brilliant for their price.
After the tour, we headed to the famed Caudalie Spa at the property where I went for their patented vinotherapie ritual involving a crushed cabernet scrub, a facial and body wrap, which were all divine but the scrub was my absolute favourite. The therapists also recommend great, personalised skin-care products. If you are not a hotel guest, you can still book any treatments you like - go for the wrap if you want their exclusive, signature treatment.
Later that night, we had dinner at La Grand 'Vigne restaurant - an indulgent gourmet flight - where 5-7 courses with wine pairing are available. It is an experience completely worth it. Ingredients are sourced from their organic vegetable gardens, or from the best local producers, and carefully selected by their two Michelin starred chef, Nicolas Masse.
We had breakfast in our room the next morning and checked out. We left our luggage at the reception and spent the day exploring the expansive grounds, forest of the senses (where you can cycle), white-wine vineyards and more. You can easily spend all day just wandering around these serene surroundings.
The organic herb garden
Fountain by the Bar
Harvest season
Art installations in the vineyards
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte grounds
Famous sculptures in the vineyards
We had our last lunch at their third restaurant, Rouge, a gourmet grocery and wine bar, because we wanted to try them all. Here we enjoyed a 3 course sharer meal of gazpacho, shrimps, tartare and burrata followed by a pecan caramel cookie dessert (which was the cherry on top). The wine was delectable, light and overflowing here, just like it had been since we stepped into this hotel. We also purchased some vintages from this bar along with some dark chocolates, for souvenirs.
Following this lovely lunch, we bid goodbye to the hotel (till we meet again) and headed for the airport, thus concluding our lovely Bordeaux trip.
And as promised, here is the alternate itinerary to consider -
Day 2: Travel to Saint-Émilion
Morning:
Take a short train or car ride (about 40 minutes) to the medieval town of Saint-Émilion, one of the most famous wine regions in Bordeaux.
Start with a visit to Château de Pressac or Château La Dominique for a vineyard tour and wine tasting experience. Learn about Bordeaux’s wine-making traditions and taste exceptional Merlot-based wines.
Afternoon
Have lunch at L’Envers du Décor, a charming restaurant known for its excellent local wine list and regional dishes.
Walk through the cobblestone streets of Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the Monolithic Church, an underground church carved from limestone.
Evening
Return to Bordeaux and head back home
Or if you have time, enjoy a laid-back evening with dinner at Brasserie Bordelaise, a popular spot offering hearty portions of traditional French cuisine and local wine.
BON VOYAGE!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse