I’ve just returned from an amazing weekend in Bordeaux with one of my friends, so I wanted to share the best spots to see in one weekend !

Day 1

– Brunch at Miah Café !

The first step to a successful weekend is a full stomach ! To avoid wasting time at breakfast and lunch we decided to find a brunch to combine the two. We found Miah café online and let me tell you it is the best place I’ve ever had a brunch ! You can choose between vegetarian, vegan & gluten-free, or meat menu. Each one offers a savory dish, a cold drink, a sweet dish, and a hot beverage. The portions were not too big and the price was very reasonable. The food and drinks were amazing so I highly recommend it !

⚠️ Just beware of the queue. We got a spot right away but it got more crowded around 12 pm.

Address: 71 rue Judaïque, 33000 Bordeaux

– Take a stroll through the old town

The old Bordeaux is located on the West part of the Garonne and is very famous for its charming authentic narrow streets. They were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2007, confirming their prestige. So let me give you some of the major spots to see :

1. Place de la bourse & Miroir d’eau
2. Grand Théâtre
3. Place des Grands Hommes
4. Librairie Mollat
5. Rue Sainte Catherine
6. Cathédrale Saint-André
7. Grosse Cloche
8. Porte Cailhau

As a bonus, you can add the Jardin Public at the beginning of your itinerary to add some fresh air to your walk.

– Taste the local pastry : the canelé

During your walk, you can stop at La Toque Cuivrée to buy a traditional local pastry : the canelé ! It is a small sweet cake created by local nuns in Annonciades convent in the XVIII century. Today it is a famous local sweet largely shared in the country.

– Discover the right bank with the Botanical Gardens

Thanks to sustainable development projects, the popularity of the right bank has increased and has become an important attraction in the city. The landscape is completely different from the left bank. The architecture is modern and the accent is put on nature.

The botanical garden has a greenhouse with a small exhibition but most of the plantations are outside. The gardens are organized in different areas depending on the types of plants which vary according to the seasons. The garden is a very nice place to enjoy some fresh air and for all the plant lovers.

Address: Jardin Botanique de la Bastide, Esplannade Linné, 33100, Bordeaux

– Night walk along the Garonne

At night the city lights up and you can appreciate a whole new view of Bordeaux. You can take a walk along the Garonne to see the city from afar and the bridges over the river. You can make a stop at Place de la Bourse where all the buildings are perfectly reflected onto the Miroir d’eau.

Day 2

– Buy a City Pass !

If you have a full day ahead of you and want to visit as much as possible the city pass is great option. It gives you access to main museums, the tram lines and includes a guided tour. You can purchase the pass for 24h, 48h, or 72h and you book your tour when you buy the pass. The price varies according to the duration but if you do 2 museums and the guided tour in 24h it is completely worth it. You can buy the pass at the Tourism office (Office de Tourisme in French).

– La cité du vin – Museum of Wine

La cité du vin opened in 2016 but it became one of the most famous museums in Bordeaux. The impressive architecture represents the movement of wine in a glass. Even if you don’t drink wine, the museum is a must to understand the city’s history. The museum is modern and interactive which also makes it easier to do with children. They provide you with an audio guide so you can follow along with all the animations. You can smell, watch, and touch so it is really an immersive experience. At the end of the visit, you can go up to the top of the building to get a 360 view of Bordeaux. With your ticket, you can get a glass of wine at the bar so you can sip it while walking around.

⚠️ With the city pass you must get there before 12 pm

– Lunch at the Bacalan Market (Les Halles de Bacalan)

This place is right at the feet of La cité du vin so it is very convenient if you want to have lunch right after your visit. The market offers a large variety of cuisines so you can easily find something you like: sushis, meat, fish, pasta … The place is very lively and the food is very nice.

– Le Bassin des lumières

This building doesn’t look very appealing from the outside but it is part of the history of Bordeaux. During the Second World War, the Germans built it to welcome and maintain submarines. Today, it is used to project images from different artists on the walls. The experience is immersive with a light show and music ambiance. Moreover, the water reflects the projections which add to the 360° experience. Also, the space is organized in 6 different areas, so you can get more than one experience.

– Guided Tour

With the city pass, we had 3 choices for the guided tour: on foot in the old town, in a bus around the city, or on a boat to have a view from the Garonne. Since the weather was (relatively) nice, we chose the cruise. The boat has two decks and you can choose to sit inside or outside. The crew welcomes you with a small Cannelé and you can choose a free drink while you admire the view. A tour guide is on board to present the city with explanations in French and English.