Can You Get To Bordeaux Wineries By Public Transportation?
Yes, there are several excellent wineries around Bordeaux city that are easy to visit using Bordeaux public transit system.
The wine region of Bordeaux is comprised of sixty-five AOCs (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée). These areas differentiate smaller wine-growing areas within the larger Bordeaux wine region.
Your plane or train will lead you into the heart of Bordeaux city, while most wineries on the right and the left bank of the Gironde are approximately 30 minutes to 1.5 hours away by car.
The appellations Pessac-Léognan and Haut-Medoc are the closest to the city of Bordeaux. These areas are home to high-quality wineries that are well worth a visit. While other regions in the Medoc or St. Emilion are best visited by car, the wineries surrounding the city of Bordeaux are best accessed by public transport. Through Bordeaux’s easy-to-use bus and tram system, visiting a winery for a tour or tasting has never been easier.
How To Use Public Transportation In Bordeaux?
Bordeaux’s public transportation runs through the company Transports Bordeaux Métropole (TBM). This covers buses and trams as well as BAT3 boats which you can use to get to Bordeaux wine museum, La Cite Du Vin. There are four tram lines, A, B, C, and D that cover the majority of Bordeaux city. All trams converge at the tram stop Quinconces, located right in the heart of the city center and next to the Bordeaux Tourism Office.
You can buy tickets for public transport at any metro stop in Bordeaux, in a TBM office, on the bus (although not preferred), or through their TBM app. You may want to consider a Bordeaux City Pass which includes unlimited access to public transportation.
Tickets are affordable at €1.70 for a one-way trip. If you have to transfer during your trip, for example, from a tram to a bus, you can rescan your ticket an unlimited amount of times for up to one hour. TBM also offers the option to buy 2 trips, 10 trips, a 24-hour pass, and a 7-day pass.
How Can You Visit Wineries In Bordeaux?
When visiting a winery in Bordeaux, make sure to pre-book your tour. While some wineries are willing to accommodate walk-in visitors, if you want to ensure that your precious exploration time isn’t wasted, make sure to reserve a tour ahead of time.
Wineries in Bordeaux can offer a wide range of experiences, from a guided tour to a personalized tasting, make sure to book the exact experience you desire to have.
Once you book your tour, plan your route. While Bordeaux’s public transportation system is extensive and easy to use, its buses are known to not always arrive at the scheduled time. To ensure you arrive on time for your visit, check the TBM website for exact arrival times for all buses and trams. I recommend not relying on the “scheduled” time that google directions provide.
It is important to not be late for your scheduled visits, especially if you are part of the group tour at a winery.
More on How to Visit Bordeaux Chateaux.
What Wineries Can You Get To On Public Transportation From Bordeaux City?
The following Bordeaux wineries can be accessed by either tram or bus from the city center.
Website: www.les-carmes-haut-brion.com
How To Get There: From the Quinconces tram stop, where all tramlines converge, take the number four bus at the Tourny stop in the direction of Pessac Magonty. Ride fifteen stops to Réservoir Lavardens. From there, walk ten minutes to Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion. The walk is flat and easy to complete.
About: Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion perfectly merges nature with modern architecture. With sprawling meadows and vines, touring Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion will feel like a true city escape, even if you are just moments from the city center of Bordeaux.
While on your tour, spend some time exploring the grounds the winery prioritizes preserving and honoring. Search for the modern metal boat-like structure in the stream running through the property. Head below ground to the cellar room, cooled by the water running above. Awe over the hand-painted clay aging vessels that are painted by local artists to represent each vintage. Finally, finish your excursion with a tasting of the winery’s delectable wines.
Website: www.chateau-pape-clement.fr
How To Get There: From the Quinconces tram stop, take the number four bus at the Tourny stop in the direction of Pessac Magonty. Ride twenty-six stops to Le Monteil (Cité Le Corbusier). From there, walk eight minutes to Château Pape Clement. The walk is flat and easy to complete.
About: Surrounded by vineyards and gardens, Château Pape Clement has been a pillar in the Bordeaux wine industry since 1252. Take some time to learn the history of the winery on a tour of the property and enjoy a tasting as a part of the experience. Try something you like? Buy a bottle from the Bernard Magrez collection at their plentiful onsite wine shop. While the voyage on public transport is short if you want to ditch the commute, spend the night onsite at the Château Pape Clement winery hotel.
Website: www.haut-brion.com
How To Get There: From the Quinconces tram stop, take the number four bus at the Tourny stop in the direction of Pessac Magonty. Ride sixteen stops to Sembat. From there, walk three minutes to Château Haut-Brion. The walk is flat and easy to complete.
About: Château Haut-Brion focuses on respecting the winemaking traditions that have been passed down by generations throughout the centuries. Located in Pessac, this château is just a quick bus ride to wine bliss. The wines of Château Haut-Brion are world-renowned and well worth a visit. It is important to book this winery visit well in advance.
While the winery is currently closed for visits until 2025, you can still visit their sister winery, Château La Mission Haut-Brion to try wines from Château Haut-Brion. Visits are usually free of charge.
4. Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Website: www.mission-haut-brion.com
How To Get There: From the Quinconces tram stop, take the number four bus at the Tourny stop in the direction Pessac Magonty. Ride sixteen stops to Sembat. From there, walk seven minutes to Château La Mission Haut-Brion. The walk is flat and easy to complete.
About: Château La Mission Haut-Brion is located in Talence. Similar to the flagship winery, Château La Mission Haut-Brion is a quick bus ride from the center of Bordeaux city. Château La Mission Haut-Brion produces high-quality wines that are both complex yet accessible and easy to drink. Learn about the history of wine production in Bordeaux and how Château La Mission Haut-Brion came to be when touring the impressive buildings, gardens, and cellars.
Website: www.chateaubardins.fr
How To Get There: From the Quinconces tram stop, take the number fifteen bus at the Tourny stop in the direction Villenave Courrejean. Ride thirty-one stops to Trigan. From there, walk twenty minutes to Château Bardins.
About: Château Bardins not only offers standard tours and tasting experiences on their property, but also hosts many tasting workshops that range from bicycle tours, hiking excursions, wine quizzes, blending workshops and so much more!
Website: www.chateau-bouscaut.com
How To Get There: From the Quinconces tram stop, take the number fifteen bus at the Tourny stop in the direction Villenave Courrejean. Ride thirty-two stops to Coin. From there, walk thirty-four minutes to Château Bouscat.
About: This winery in Cadaujac south of Bordeaux dates back to the 17th century and has made a name for itself over the centuries. Book an affordable tour and tasting for only €10 per person. Worked up an appetite from your adventure? Try out Château Bouscaut’s wine and cheese pairing, wine and food pairing, or gourmet food pairing tasting experience.
Website: www.agassac.com
How To Get There: From the Quinconces tram stop, take tram C in the direction of Gare de Blanquefort twelve stops to the final stop Gare de Blanquefort. From there, transfer to bus twenty-two at the station in the direction of Parempuyre Fontanieu. Ride seventeen stops to the stop Villa. From there walk twenty-two minutes to Château d’Agassac.
About: Château d’Agassac’s goal is to “craft honest wines whose sole ambition is to give pleasure.” And pleasure you are sure to find when visiting this historic Bordeaux vineyard via public transportation. Dating back to the 13th century, this winery and its stunning fortress that stands boldly on the grounds has produced high-quality wines you’ll find delightful to drink. Learn more about the heritage and history of the winery and explore how they make their wine from the beginning to the end of the process while touring the property. As the winner of the Best Of Wine Tourism Award, you are sure to have a highly pleasurable experience visiting Château d’Agassac.
Website: www.saintahon.com
How To Get There: From the Quinconces tram stop, take tram C in the direction of Gare de Blanquefort twelve stops to the final stop Gare de Blanquefort. From there transfer to bus fifty-seven at the station in the direction of Parempuyre Fontanieu. Ride three stops to the stop Terrefort. From there walk six minutes to Château Saint Ahon. The walk is flat and quick to complete.
About: This family-run cru bourgeois winery is worth a visit during your time in Bordeaux. Enjoy a tour of the vineyards, fermentation room, and cellar during your visit and finish with a tasting of Château Saint Ahon’s wines. If you’re traveling with children, they also provide grape juice for your little ones to enjoy so that everyone is included in the fun! Want to escape the rush of the city and enjoy some time in nature? Even if you do not book a winery tour, take some time to explore Château Saint Ahon’s stunning Mirabel gardens. Use your smartphone to scan QRCodes throughout the gardens to learn more about your surroundings.
Can You Get To Other Regions In Bordeaux By Public Transport?
Regions in Bordeaux outside of Bordeaux city, like Margaux or St. Emilion, cannot be reached by tram or bus. However, they are still easily accessible by train from Bordeaux Gare Saint-Jean and are walkable upon arrival.
Where is Saint-Emilion and How to Get There?
How to Visit Margaux Chateaux?
If you’re just visiting Bordeaux for a few days and don’t have time to explore the various regions of Bordeaux, or maybe you’re looking for a simple, minimal planning adventure, then using Bordeaux’s public transport system to visit the nearby wineries will be perfect for your trip. Buy your bus or tram ticket and all aboard, you have Bordeaux wineries to explore!
For more in-depth experiences I recommend visiting top wineries of the Medoc and Saint-Emilion on a private Bordeaux wine tour.
Jessica Blanarik
Author
Jessica Blanarik is an American wine and travel tourism writer. She is currently receiving her master’s degree in Wine Tourism with the Wintour Erasmus Mundus program in Spain, France, and Portugal. She believes wine is not only delicious but also an important unifier of people and cultures. You can find more of her work at www.jessisjourney.com.
