City Trip to Bordeaux: The 11 Most Beautiful Experiences

Did you know that Bordeaux is the sixth largest city in France and that its Old Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007? Over 350 historical buildings in Bordeaux's historic center have been added to the UNESCO list. A stroll here strongly resembles a walk in Paris - only there are significantly fewer tourists. Here's what you absolutely must experience in Bordeaux.

On the banks of the Garonne, you will find the Old Town of Bordeaux, one of the most beautiful spots in this French city, in my opinion. My highlight there was the Porte Cailhau, a royal city gate built in 1495 that looks very elegant with its little towers. From here, you can see the famous Pont de Pierre bridge, and you will find many people in front of the gate all day long wanting to take selfies. My most beautiful experience was watching the sunrise there. Why? At sunrise, there are almost no people in the city, and you can enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the Old Town all by yourself. The sunrise at Porte Cailhau is particularly special because the sun can be seen directly underneath the gate, creating a truly outstanding moment. For me, it's the best place to see the sunrise in Bordeaux!

A visit to the Cité du Vin, Bordeaux's wine museum, is a must. The very futuristic building opens daily at 10 AM and closes at 7 PM. The goal of the paid exhibition is to introduce the general public to wine as a living cultural heritage. In an open and creative exhibition, you can embark on a journey through time and learn about the diverse wine cultures around the world.

Here, I learned a lot about French wine culture. After finishing the exhibition, you have the opportunity to head up to the 55-meter-high tower of the Cité du Vin. At the top, you'll find a rooftop bar to taste a wine while enjoying a fantastic view of Bordeaux and its landmarks.

My tip: Visit the Cité du Vin right at 10 AM to fully enjoy the exhibition.

Want to discover Little Paris? The Old Town of Bordeaux is full of buildings that are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Walking through the many alleys felt like I was in Paris. Simply beautiful, and there is something to discover everywhere: beautiful architecture, small cafés and restaurants at every corner, and a very relaxed atmosphere.

My tip: Take two hours and wander through the many alleys of the Old Town. Start from the Porte Cailhau and keep to the right.

Not only New York, but Bordeaux also has its own "Statue of Liberty." The "Monument aux Girondins," as it is officially called, is visible from afar with its 43-meter-high column. The statue is quite elegant and commemorates representatives who fell victim to terror during the French Revolution. While the water splashes from the small fountains, you can take a break on the lawn and enjoy your city trip.

Not far from the Cité du Vin is the famous lift bridge, the Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas. From the rooftop of the wine museum, you already have a fantastic view of this artwork. Standing right in front of it is even more impressive. The Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas is one of the largest lift bridges in the world, allowing vehicle traffic as well. It has a length of over 500 meters and a height of 70 meters. The lift bridge faces the Atlantic side of the Garonne, so cruise ships can also pass under the bridge and dock directly at the Old Town.

It's said to be a spectacular sight to see the bridge being raised to let ships pass. The opening and closing only takes twelve minutes. Unfortunately, during my stay in Bordeaux, I was not lucky enough to see the bridge open.

My tip: The bridge operator's website has precise times for when the bridge opens. At those times, the roadway in the middle of the bridge reaches a height of 53 meters.

The Grand Théâtre is one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Bordeaux. Twelve statues, three goddesses, and nine muses adorn this structure, which opened in 1780. As it slowly gets darker and the theater is illuminated, a magical atmosphere prevails here and at the adjacent Place de la Comédie.

Take a moment to simply stand still, soak in the atmosphere, and settle down in one of the many cafés and restaurants to round off your day.

What you shouldn't miss: drinking a wine from Bordeaux while in Bordeaux. The wine capital is the center of the famous wine-growing region and has the largest contiguous wine-growing area in the world. Here, five million hectoliters of wine are produced annually. A true Bordeaux wine must accompany a delicious dish during your city visit, or just in between!

My tip: Go to Les Halles de Bacalan, which is not far from the Cité du Vin and opened in November 2017. Here, you will find a huge marketplace with many different food and drink stalls. From truffle cheese to local crabs, you'll find a lovely atmosphere to enjoy a Bordeaux wine.

Have you ever spotted a spaceship in a city? The spaceship in this French port city is hard to find and has only been visible near the Cité du Vin in the inner harbor since June 2018. It is a work by the British artist Suzanne Treister and is meant to remind us of World War II. The artist discovered that there were still many remnants of warships from World War II lying in Bordeaux. Her idea was to use the remains and materials of a warship that lay at the bottom of the Garonne. This resulted in the spaceship, which stands securely on ten stilts in the inner harbor. The inner harbor around the Bacalan district is well-chosen as a spot, as this district will undergo significant changes in the coming years, as seen in its modern architecture today.

My tip: Discover it quickly before everyone knows about it.

Shopping should never be missed on a city trip, right? I warmly recommend the Promenade Sainte Catherine in the city center. Here you will not only find many great shops but a modern promenade. In two alleys, many colorful umbrellas hang over the shops, making the promenade a true Instagram spot. Even if the shops close at 8 PM during the week, many people still stroll through the alleys to take photos with the umbrellas.

My tip: The promenade will be closed by security around 9:30 PM. But just before that, you still have a great opportunity to take photos of this place, as it will be almost empty.

The Place de la Bourse is the highlight of Bordeaux and definitely the most visited square in the city. Right in front of the Place de la Bourse, which used to be the commercial and maritime heart of Bordeaux, there is a gigantic granite slab with the Miroir d'eau, which is constantly watered and spans nearly 3,500 sqm.

In the evenings, so many people gather to experience this spectacle and look towards the setting sun. You can feel the life of Bordeaux here, as children run through the approximately two-centimeter-deep water in front of you and many others use the reflective surface as a fantastic photo opportunity with the 18th-century facades!

My tip: Bring a blanket and enjoy the evening by the Miroir d'eau.

The Pont de Pierre is the oldest stone bridge in Bordeaux, measuring a total length of 487 meters. Quite long. You need a good ten minutes on foot to cross the Garonne. The Pont de Pierre is the most beautiful and popular bridge in Bordeaux, as it leads directly into the Old Town. When the sun goes down, many people gather here to feel the cool breeze of the Garonne and to take photos under the bridges' lanterns. The bridge is illuminated after sunset and makes for a great photo opportunity.