The city can be visited in a single day, it is perfect associated with a visit to the Dune of Pilat or a 3/4 day itinerary in its surroundings which I will talk about shortly in other posts.
It might interest you: 5 European cities to visit in a weekend
Where to sleep in Bordeaux?
Before telling you what to see in Bordeaux, I want to open a very brief parenthesis on where to sleep.
My advice is to find accommodation along the tram lines intersecting in the city center. The two main lines are the A (red) and the B (purple) that both pass in front of the Cathedral. Alternatively, you could consider finding it on the tram line C (lilac) that passes along the riverside.
Here is a small screenshot that allows you to understand what the Bordeaux lines are.
I slept at Bordeaux Cozy B&B (click to see the hotel) on line B, 5-10 minutes by tram and I was in the city center. A beautiful B&B with a breakfast with so much choice.
What to see in Bordeaux in one day: walking itinerary
This time, more than a list of things to see in Bordeaux, I want to recommend a walking itinerary to visit all the main places of interest in the city. When it comes to visiting a city in one day, you need to optimize your movements, if you follow this itinerary you will be able to appreciate Bordeaux even when you see a place a little less known.
Before telling you about the first stage, I recommend that you consider the Bordeaux City Pass . The duration can be 24/48/72 hours, the 24h one costs 29 euros (2019 prices) and allows you to access various attractions included in the price, as well as unlimited public transport. The price, in my opinion, allows you to save a lot if you start from the assumption that the entrance to the Cité du Vin (the Bordeaux wine museum) costs 20 euros, while with the Bordeaux City Pass it is included. Alternatively, you can find out all tours to discover the city , many of which are free and with free cancellation.
If you just want to visit the Cité du Vin -> buy your ticket here
Find more information on the Bordeaux City Pass on official site of the city.
1st Stop: The Cathedral of Saint-André of Bordeaux and the Tour Pey Berland
As I wrote to you at the beginning of this article. Tram lines A and B intersect near the Bordeaux Cathedral (stop HĂŽtel de Ville), so I couldn't start this walking itinerary to visit Bordeaux if not from its beautiful cathedral.
Like most cathedrals, this is an impressive building. Definitely well integrated in the urban context, however, it does not overlook a large square. In Romanesque style, it was built before the end of the 1998th century; in XNUMX it was registered in the Unesco heritage as associated with the monuments touched by the French Way of Santiago de Compostela.
You must know, and as you walk through the city you will have proof, that Bordeaux passes the via Turonensis, one of the 4 pilgrimage routes to Santiago which converge and join Ostabat.
Here, if you are thinking of doing the Camino de Santiago and want to add a few kilometers to the French way (since they are already few right?), Starting from Bordeaux could be a solution.
Returning to the Cathedral, I was unable to visit the Gothic tower Pey Berland tour but I think it is one of the things to visit absolutely in Bordeaux. Seeing the city from above always has a certain effect.
Admission is free and the Cathedral is open at different times depending on the day, you can find the times here -> official site of the cathedral
2nd Stage: From the Cathedral to the Grand Theater of Bordeaux
Right in front of the main entrance of the Cathedral, a small street with the name starts Rue Vital Charles, you will have to go along it following a little what is the tram route.
The only peculiarity of this street is that, along its entire length, turning around you can see the entrance to the cathedral and its spiers.
After a few hundred meters you can turn into Cours de l'Intendance. This way, much wider, is full of shops and pastry shops, including some offering the classic French Macarons and the typical Bordeaux sweets made with called vanilla and rum Canelés. To tell the truth, there is a risk of exchanging pastry shops with jewelers, given the cost of Canelés⊠I leave it to you to find out how much they cost, I was disappointed. However, I tasted one and liked it very much.
At the end of the street you will find the imposing Grand Theater of Bordeaux, one of the oldest wooden theaters in Europe. During the day you only perceive how imposing it is, in the evening, when illuminated, it acquires a great charm.
3rd stage: La Cité du Vin
Ok, I admit that among the things I'm recommending to see in Bordeaux, there is one quite far from the center: I'm talking about the "City of Wineâ, The interactive wine museum of Bordeaux.
To reach it you have to take tram B towards âLa Garonneâ and get off at the âLa CitĂš du Vinâ stop.
The beautiful building which appears to be made entirely of mirrors is located north of the city center, overlooking the Garonne River.
I recommend that you spend no more than two hours inside the museumotherwise you will waste time visiting the rest of the city. If you are a wine lover, or just want to know more, this is the place for you. Through more or less interactive steps, helped by an audio-guide included in the price, you will be able to discover a lot about wine and the viticultural cultures present in the world.
Since I like wine a lot, the museum left me pleasantly impressed. Furthermore, always included in the ticket price, you have the possibility to taste a wine on the top floor of the structure. A glass of wine with a view of Bordeaux.
Aside from that, I think La Cité du Vin is one of the stops to visit in Bordeaux.
Hours: every day from 10 to 19, except Friday which closes at 18.
Do you want to visit the Cité du Vin? 
4th stop: From the Cité du Vin to the Hangar Darwin
Maybe it's not the best of life to go a long way after drinking a glass of wine, but trust me, this stage will take you to a little visited area of ââBordeaux and from my point of view not very touristy.
Leaving the Cité du Vin, continue on foot towards the south, arriving near the Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas, cross it and go to the other side of the Garonne.
Here you will find a more bare but still characteristic Bordeaux. Walking along the roadside of via Quai des Queyries, after a few hundred meters on your left you will find the former military barracks. Today the area (nearly 20000 square meters) is called Darwin Hangar.
It is a redeveloped area very beautiful. You will find sheds with murals, unconventional places, the largest organic restaurant in France and even a couple of covered skate parks.
A place that I strongly recommend you to include in your walking itinerary for Bordeaux.
There is not much information in Spanish about Hangar Darwin so I suggest you read an article you find on the Bordeaux tourism website ->
5th Stage: From Darwin Park to Porta du Borgogne and Porte Cailhau
Since you have come a long way in the previous stage, why not repeat it?
It's time to move on to other Bordeaux monuments. The river view walk will be very pleasant, you will have to continue on the same street as before, namely via Quai des Queyries and arrive at Pont de Pierre, and then cross it.
Across the bridge you can see the Porte de Bourgogne, one of the oldest gates of Bordeaux. Let's say an "appetizer" at the time of the most famous door to see in Bordeaux: Doors Cailhau, in Gothic style, one of the oldest in the city.
6th stage: Arrive at the beautiful Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d'Eau
Past the Place du Palais you can take it Rues de Argentiers and after a hundred meters you will find yourself in front of another important church to see in Bordeaux: St. Peter's Church.
This will be the last stop before reaching one of the most photographed spots in Bordeaux. I'm talking about the mythical Place de la Bourse which opens directly onto the Garonne. Across the street, in front of the square you will find Le Miroir d'Eau. If you find it filled with water and pass by when the sun goes down, you will be able to enjoy a nice play of reflections.
Possible excursions from Bordeaux
As I told you, if you visit Bordeaux you will not have to limit yourself to the city but to the territory that surrounds it.
1 - At the first position among the suggested excursions there is to visit the Dune of Pilat, the largest dune in Europe, I will better explain how to reach it in a dedicated post. Know that any description in words or any photograph of the dune you will see, none can really give them credit. The only way is to "climb" it and admire the expanse of sand that stretches towards the ocean on one side and towards the woods on the other. Wonderful.
2 - In second position I would put Saint-Emilion, a village that is part of the Unesco heritage, even if I admit that it did not impress me that much. It is a beautiful village, but nothing more. The road to reach it, however, is worthwhile because it passes alongside countless vines. Kilometers and kilometers of vines. In the summer it must be beautiful. I visited it at the end of winter and perhaps it is also for this reason that it did not impress me that much. If you want to take a hike to Sain-Emilion I recommend this tour .
3 - Finally, in third position, if you have time to do a couple of hundred kilometers, you could go as far as the beautiful La Rochelle, a quiet seaside town where it is pleasant to walk through its narrow streets. Last but not least, it is also famous for Ile de RĂ©, the island that you can reach via a paid bridge (8 euros return). At the end of the large Ăle de RĂ© there is a lighthouse on the ocean. We really made an itinerary starting as a first stop from La Rochelle in an itinerary along Aquitaine.
