Bordeaux tours

Stretched along the banks of the Garonne River, Bordeaux, also known as the Sleeping Beauty of France, will enchant you from the very moment you arrive.

Bordeaux is surrounded by vineyards whose names are known around the world, such as Médoc, St Emilion, Margaux and Sauterne. As well as Bordeaux wine tasting tours, we can help you discover the beautiful coastline too – the Atlantic Ocean and Bay of Arcachon are never far away. There is truly something for everyone here.

 

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Our Self-Guided Tours in Bordeaux

Enjoy wine tastings, stay at wine estates and take the opportunity to meet with French oenologists and sommeliers.

Duration
10 days
Price
US$ 3670
Region
in Bordeaux & Dordogne

The Bordeaux area and Dordogne are 2 very rich regions in terms of heritage . . . and of course gastronomy & wine. From the Middle Ages to the Renaissance (and even prehistoric times), you will find what you like here!

Heritage & History
Gourmet Food
Duration
8 days
Price
US$ 3080
Region
in Bordeaux & Dordogne

You will be traveling from Bordeaux and its world famous vineyards to the fabulous Perigord, renowned for its gastronomy, historical heritage and amazing landscapes.

Towns & Villages
Gourmet Food
Duration
8 days
Price
US$ 3150
Region
in Bordeaux & Loire Valley

Are you a gourmet, history and a wine lover? If the answer is yes, you might like this itinerary.

Wine Tasting
Heritage & History
Duration
13 days
Price
US$ 3830
Region
in Loire Valley & Bordeaux

Uncover every hideaway and detail of the Loire Valley and Bordeaux UNESCO heritage sites. Taste typical regional fo od at your hosts’ table and stay at Bed & Breakfasts with unique atmospheres .

Heritage & History
Towns & Villages
Duration
13 days
Price
US$ 4240
Region
in Loire Valley, Bordeaux & Dordogne

Travel through three of the most fascinating regions in France. Let your friendly hosts introduce you to the French "sweet life" in their charming B&Bs.

Wine Tasting
Towns & Villages
Countryside
Duration
16 days
Price
US$ 4980
Region
in Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Dordogne & Provence

France Just For You has organized its own very special Tour de France. No need for a bike but be ready for a great deal of adventure! This itinerary will take you off the beaten path to all the must sees & dos in four of the most enthralling regions of France.

Wine Tasting
Towns & Villages
Gourmet Food
Duration
16 days
Price
US$ 5460
Region
in Basque Country, Dordogne & Bordeaux

This self-drive itinerary will take you to the South West of France, from the Basque coastline to authentic Dordogne, ending in the bustling city of Bordeaux.

Towns & Villages
Gourmet Food
Countryside
Duration
10 days
Price
US$ 3510
Region
in Bordeaux, Basque Country & Carcassonne

From the Unesco city of Bordeaux and the surrounding world-famous vineyards, to the mythical beach towns of Biarritz and St Jean de Lu z, feeling the fresh air of the Pyrenees foothills, and ending in the mysterious medieval town of Carcassonne . . . what a program!

Wine Tasting
Towns & Villages
Countryside
Duration
20 days
Price
US$ 6350
Region
in Bordeaux, Basque Country, Carcassonne & Dordogne

This loop from Bordeaux will take you on a journey to the South West of France: vineyards, mountains, cliff-hanging fortresses and rolling hills. You will enjoy all the diversity of this unique part of France.

Wine Tasting
Towns & Villages
Duration
26 days
Price
US$ 7980
Region
in Paris, Normandy, Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Carcassonne, Provence & French Riviera

Spend about a month traveling from Paris to Nice on the French Riviera and get a real feel for the authentic France!

Wine Tasting
Heritage & History
Countryside
Duration
26 days
Price
US$ 7560
Region
in Burgundy, Dordogne, Bordeaux, Loire Valley & Normandy

This itinerary is for independent travelers who may already know the southern coast of France and who are looking for discovering the “inside” of the country. Five regions that are totally different from each other, showing you the diversity of France.

Wine Tasting
Towns & Villages
Gourmet Food
Duration
26 days
Price
US$ 7640
Region
in Bordeaux, Dordogne, Basque Country, Carcassonne & Provence

When the South of France is mentionned, many travelers think of Provence. But there is so much more to discover between the South-West and the South-East of France. This 26 day itinerary is designed to give you a very complete tour of the southern part of France, enjoying the gastronomy, heritage, wine, villages, and scenic roads . . . the best that France has to offer.

Wine Tasting
Gourmet Food
Duration
13 days
Price
US$ 4880
Region
in Bordeaux, Loire Valley, Burgundy & Champagne

This itinerary is designed for gourmet travelers who aim at discovering and learning more about French wines. Our tours also mix heritage, culture, nice walks, gardens, etc. In this tour, you will stay in wineries, by vineyards & in wine towns. An absolute must for wine lovers !

Wine Tasting
Gourmet Food
Countryside
Bordeaux

How to Get to Bordeaux

If you are flying into Paris then getting to Bordeaux is a piece of cake. Simply hop on the TGV train at Paris Montparnasse and ride down to Bordeaux St Jean. The quickest train takes 3 hours 15 minutes. Next year, thanks to the installation of an extra fast TGV, travel time will be cut down to just 2 hours!

If you would rather focus your energy on the Southwest of France, you can fly straight there. Fly into Bordeaux Merignac or Toulouse Blagnac airports and you’ll save a whole lot of time and energy to start your Bordeaux region tour.

For those who prefer the freedom of taking their own vehicle down to Bordeaux, driving takes around five hours from Paris. If you plan on travelling by car, we recommend stopping off in the Loire Valley on the way.

Alternatively, Bordeaux is easily accessible by car from the Dordogne (2 hours), Carcassonne (3 hours) and Toulouse (2.5 hours). Why not start your Bordeaux region tour in one of these magical cities ?

Wine estate in St Emilion - Bordeaux wine tours France
Wine estate in St Emilion (Bordeaux wine tours France) © Nicolas Claris

The Gironde Region

Bordeaux is just one part of the magnificent Gironde region. When the Garonne leaves Bordeaux, it widens and flows to the ocean. This wider stretch of water is known as the Gironde Estuary and gives the region its name.

The river is an important part of the city and is beautiful to walk along in the sunshine. Some travelers also enjoy river cruises along the Garonne, though we specialize in driving tours which include walking tours and bike tours for those who enjoy cycling.

 

Médoc Wine Region

Sitting between the Gironde and the Atlantic Ocean is Médoc – the Gironde’s famous wine country. The wines here are famous across the globe, so Bordeaux wine tours are very popular!

Within Médoc are a number of small villages that are well worth taking the time to explore. Pauillac, Margaux and St Estèphe are particularly beautiful with their cobbled streets and wine chateaux. This a real taste of France.

For something a bit different, you could head to Verdon, on the bank of the Gironde Estuary, and get the ferry across to Royan. The ferry runs throughout the day and only takes around 20 minutes. This short trip offers you the chance to see part of the Loire Valley.

 

Le Bassin d’Arcachon

Known in English as Arcachon Bay, le Bassin d’Arcachon is a stunning section of France’s coastline. With fine sandy beaches and sparkling (albeit incredibly cold) water, it is easy to spend the day soaking up the sun here.

Of course, no trip to Arcachon is complete without climbing the Pyla Dune (Dune du Pyla). This monstrous sand dune measures 110m in height, making it the largest of its kind in Europe. The view from the top is utterly breath-taking and worth the sweating and panting as you clamber to the top.

Once you’ve exhausted yourself exploring le Bassin d’Arcachon’s natural wonders, it’s time to eat. Arcachon is famous for oyster farming so make the most of this by tucking into some at one of the region’s restaurants. Of course, you will need to wash it down with a glass of Bordeaux wine (or two).

 

Bordeaux - A Unesco City

Now we come to the pièce de résistance of the Gironde region: Bordeaux. This incredible city has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has undergone massive renovations in the past decade or so.

Bordeaux is a city that exudes beauty, from its majestic architecture to the river that divides it in two. Walking along the quay when the sun is out is the perfect way to see the city and absorb Bordeaux’s laid-back atmosphere.

The city’s snazzy and unique new bridge is also a must-see, especially if you’re a fan of interesting architecture. Or, if your interests lie more in the world of wine, La Cité du Vin cannot be missed. This intricate building encompasses all kinds of wine-based exhibitions, workshops and events. A must for any wine-lover.

 We have made a shortlist of the 8 cities we like the most in France and of course, Bordeaux is one of them !

 

Entre-Deux-Mers

Located between the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, Entre-Deux-Mers is one of Bordeaux’s wine regions. This special region attracts people from across the globe who are interested in wine tasting tours in Entre-Deux-Mers, and in sampling the local produce so we warmly recommend making it a point to spend some time in this area.

 

 

Saint Emilion Vineyards

Saint Emilion is living proof that with great beauty comes great numbers of tourists. This staggeringly gorgeous little town is always jam-packed with visitors, but there are peaceful parts too, which we will direct you to in your personal guidebook.

We recommend taking a walk on the outskirts of the town so you can make the most of it without getting caught up in the crowds. You may like to spend a full day walking through some of our favorite vineyards and wine estates and have a picnic in one of them under the ever-present sun.

 

Bordeaux Wines

The main reason people go to Bordeaux is to sample its mouth-watering selection of French wines. However, while it is one thing to taste the wine, it is quite another to fully understand them.

Bordeaux wines have more detailed classifications than any other kind in the world. They have 57 appellations encompassed within 6 classifications:

  • The 1855 Médoc Classification
  • The 1855 Sauternes and Barsac Classification
  • The 2012 St Emilion Classification
  • The 1959 Graves Classification
  • The 1932 Cru Bourgeois Classification
  • The 2006 Médoc Crus Artisans Classification

You will learn all about these classifications and more on your guided tour with our special wine guide. Our guide comes from a wine-making family and will sculpt your itinerary to show you the best wines in Bordeaux. Thanks to our guide you will be able to access wine estates that are not usually open to tourists.

If you want something special, our guide can organise a lunch in a winery for you. Your meal will be presided over by a ”maitre de chai” (cellar master). Alternatively, we can take you to a wine estate for a less in-depth wine experience. Here you will be welcomed with open arms and big smiles – this isn’t always the case with some of the bigger, more commercial wineries. To learn more about France Wine regions.

A bottle of bordeaux wine on the beach - self guided wine tour bordeaux
Enjoy a bottle of Bordeaux on the beach, if you like! (self-guided wine tour Bordeaux © CC0 Vicky Hincks)

Where to Stay in Bordeaux

We have specially selected a few premium B&Bs for our guests who wish to stay in the city centre. From here it is easy to take public transport or walk to all of Bordeaux’s best districts. This is a great option if you want to enjoy the big city.

For those looking for something a bit quieter, we also have B&Bs available in the countryside. Guests can stay in Médoc or St Emilion – the perfect location to get acquainted with the local vineyards and self-drive tour the Bordeaux region.

Bordeaux is the pride and joy of southwest France. With the Atlantic Ocean on one side, the vineyards on the other and dozens of glorious chateaux in between, it simply cannot be missed. 

 

FAQ about Bordeaux

We recommend spending at least 3-5 nights touring Bordeaux region if you are visiting it as part of a self-drive tour of France, where you'll also be visiting other regions. This will give you time to enjoy the best of Bordeaux city, visit some of Bordeaux's wine regions, such as Médoc and Saint Emilion, and enjoy different wine-tastings at various wine estates. Longer Bordeaux region tours will also give you the time to visit the beautiful coastal area of Arcachon, and sample some of the best oysters in the world!

Bordeaux is most famous for its wine, its oysters, and for being the world's largest urban UNESCO world heritage site, which extends across an area of 1,810 hectares. 

The best time to visit Bordeaux is in MayJuneSeptember, and October. These months offer pleasant weather for exploring the city and nearby countryside and coastal areas, and great opportunities for wine tourism.

Visit other French regions

Brittany

Alsace

Lyon

Somme

Champagne

Verdun

Normandy

Provence

Dordogne

Loire Valley

Paris

Our Travelers’ Reviews

Sharon & Bob
We couldn't recommend France Just For You highly enough. After visiting various parts of Europe on our own we were delighted to have someone else attend to all the details. Emilie was a joy to work with and couldn't have chosen better B&B's, tours and day trips to meet our needs. I can't wait to call upon her services again!
Elliot
You gave me so many good suggestions that honestly, I just walked everywhere you recommended, with something breathtaking around every corner. The guidebook was great and the suggestion to make an effort to try French was a solid one. I did much better once I got comfortable trying. I will recommend your service to anyone I know thinking at coming …
Sandra
We are a group of Wine Aficionados and we recently traveled to Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and Paris and were very impressed with this service. It took us quite some time to formalize (and agree) what we wanted in terms of places and wineries we wanted to visit, but in the end "France Just for You" came through with excellent organization and …

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