Visit Bordeaux on a Budget – Follow These 11 Local Tips and Save

Bordeaux is one of the most interesting places to visit in Europe, but it isn’t exactly a budget-friendly destination.

I have been living in Bordeaux for several years and here are my local finds and tips to help you save a few euros.

1. Getting from the Bordeaux Airport to the City Centre Cheap

Take tram A at tram stop located between Hall A and Hall B of the Bordeaux Merignac airport. The tram fare is €1.70. There is no extra charge for luggage.

The tram will take you about 40 minutes to the city center.

See other ways to get from the airport in my article How to Get from Bordeaux Airport to Central Bordeaux.

2. Getting from the Bordeaux Train Station Gare St. Jean to the City Centre by Public Transport

If you are arrive at Bordeaux by train you will disembark at Gare St. Jean. The train station is about a 25-minute walk from the city center.

The easiest way to get to the city is a tram. The tram stop is right in front of the train station.

Tram C in the direction of Parc d’Expositions or Gare de Blanquefort, or

Tram D in the direction of Eysines Cantinolle

Get off at Quinconces or Place de La Bourse stops if you are heading to the central part of Bordeaux.

See below on the payment methods.

3. Getting Around the City - Bordeaux Public Transit (TBM)

Here you will find the Bordeaux transport system /(TBM) map.

The Quinconces station serves as a central hub where all tram lines and some bus lines intersect.

The magnetic tickets can be bought at the machines at most bus and tram stops (use cash and credit cards).

The single ticket is €1.70. There are discounts on multiple-trip tickets, day passes (24 hours, 7 days), and evening tickets. See current ticket prices here.

You can use TBM transport tickets for 1 hour. Remember to validate your ticket every time you make a transfer – just tap it by the machine when you change a tram.

If you buy a Bordeaux city pass, your transport is included for 24 hours or 72 hours.

You will find that central Bordeaux is quite small and walkable. If you like to walk, you may not need to get a multi-day pass or a bunch of transit tickets. You can also move around by bike or electric scooter.

To give you an idea, the center of Bordeaux is around the Grand Theatre area and anywhere along the river between the neighbourhoods of St. Michel and Chartrons.

Tip: the TBM tickets can be used on a TBM riverboat BAT3. Get on a budget river cruise (€1.70). This water tram circulates in the city center. It is a convenient and fun way to get to the Cité du Vin as well.

4. Budget Accommodation in Bordeaux

For convenient budget accommodations check out these areas of Bordeaux close to the city center:

Meriadeck is only 5-10 minutes by foot from the action. A number of budget chain hotels such as Ibis, Novotel, and Mercure are located there.
Bastide is on the other side of the La Garonne river across from the center of Bordeaux. It is a calm residential area about 15-minute walk or a short tram ride from the old town. Ibis Bastide could be a good option on the right bank.
Chartrons is an atmospheric local area, where wine merchants used to live and trade wines. Today, Chartrons is a trendy area full of cafes and antique shops. Mercure Bordeaux Cité Mondiale Centre Ville is quite close to the core center and is just one of many options.
Bordeaux is actively developing the Euroatlantique area in the south of the city next to the train station Gare St. Jean. If you don’t mind taking a tram or a bike into the city center, you may consider this option. I don’t recommend walking from there to the city center as there are too many cars and the areas around the train station could be sketchy. A couple of hotel options at Euroatlantique: Golden Tulip Bordeaux Euroatlantique, ibis Bordeaux Centre – Gare Saint-Jean

As to hostels, there are a few in Bordeaux. The Central Hostel at Place Saint-Projet is very conveniently located off rue Sainte Catherine, the longest pedestrian street in Europe. There is even a rooftop terrace for the hostel guests.

Booking.com

5. Eat on a Budget in Bordeaux

How about a croissant, a sandwich, or a quiche for breakfast? Just find a bakery for croissants to go or a cafe that serves a breakfast fare.

For lunch, there are a few good options:

The best is to find a restaurant that serves a lunch menu (menu midi) which will include an appetizer, a main dish, and a dessert for anywhere between 11 and 14 euros (tax in, small tip optional as the locals rarely tip). Coffee will be an extra, but tap water and bread are included.

The lunch menu options are easy to find. Look for black chalkboards with Entrée-Plat-Dessert offers.

Bordeaux is famous for its many gastronomic restaurants, however, they could get pricey. For budget options look for a dinner menu at bistros and brasseries.

Another popular option is L’Entrecot, near the Office of Tourism, a chain restaurant with amazingly nice entrecote meat served under their secret sauce. For 22 euros you get a green salad with walnuts and a portion of fantastic entrecote with unlimited high-quality French fries. There are no other items on the menu except for two brands of red wine, dessert, and coffee which are extra.

If you don’t need a proper dinner, start with an apéro, a local aperitif tradition. For example, at one of these places – 3 Squares for an Apéro in Bordeaux.

Continue through the evening at a local bar – taste wines and finger foods – cheese boards, cold cuts or foie-gras. Remember that dinner starts after 7 pm.

Find more local restaurant recommendations in my article here.

One last piece of advice: choose the local La Toque Cuivrée over the more tourist-oriented Baillardrin when it comes to local sweets, Canelés de Bordeaux.

6. Budget Wine Tasting in Bordeaux

You must taste wines in Bordeaux. There is a wonderful place across from the Office of Tourism – called Le Bar à Vin.

They are open all day Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm. For the evening drink, it is better to be there early – around 5 pm. Otherwise, you may have to wait to be seated for a while. You will see many tourists there, however, locals love this place too.

The idea is that the bar serves wine by the glass with a mission to present the appellations of Bordeaux to the public.

Le Bar frequently updates their wines list which always has a selection of thirty wines: reds, dry, sweet, whites, rosés, clairets, and sparkling wines. You can order a board of cheeses, cold meats, or chocolates to pair with your wines.

A glass of wine costs between 2 and 8 euros. Most wines on the menu are under 4 euros a glass.

My understanding is that the bar is operating on a low margin or no margin at all being subsidized somehow, but I have yet to confirm this.

Try the sparkling Crémant de Bordeaux. This is a local alternative to Champagne made from Bordeaux grapes.

Obviously, there is a bunch of wine bars in the city. Remember that many will require you to buy at least an appetizer when you sit down for a glass, a restaurant license requirement. However, there are some secret ones with a bar license. Hint: you will see many young people drinking beers without food at those.

My secret wine bar is Le Vertige in the heart of Quarter St. Pierre. Excellent choice of wines by the glass, quality appetizers and a friendly team.

There are good discounts on beers and basic cocktails during Happy Hour all around the city from 5pm to 8pm. A pint of beer will cost you around 5 euros.

If you don’t want to spend a nice summer evening inside a bar, you can pick up a bottle to go (bars are allowed to sell bottles to take away (a emporter) and have a picnic on the banks of the Garonne river.

For a more structured tasting with a professional consider these Bordeaux wine experiences:

7. Explore Bordeaux on a Self-Guided Tour

To do a self-guided tour explore the areas around Saint Pierre, Grand Theatre, rue de Notre Dame, Cours de l’Intendance, Allees Tourny, Cathedral St. Andre, Basilica of Saint-Michel, and the river banks.

For a self-guided food tour walk through rue des Remparts and visit a Basque food shop, a cheese shop, and a chocolate shop. Some of the food shops offer tastings such as the pairing of cheese and wine.

Another stop is Marche des Capucins, a local farmers market with bars, places to eat, taste the freshest oysters, to snack, and to have coffee. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 6 am and 2 pm, however, some stalls are not open till about 9 am.

Some ideas for good value Bordeaux tours with local guides:

Bordeaux guided walking tour with a wine tasting

Bordeaux private walking tour with a local

3-hour Bordeaux bike tour

8. Affordable Bordeaux Wine Tours

Here is how to visit a Bordeaux winery on a self-guided wine tour without a car:

Option 1:

Take Bus 4 from the Bordeaux center to visit the prestigious Château Pape Clément in Pessac. Reservation required.

Option 2:

Take a train to Saint-Émilion from Gare St. Gean, walk over to the village (20 minutes) and visit wineries located around the village. Advance booking is required.

Option 3:

Bike to Cantenac or Margaux and visit a chateau for only 8 euros. Advance booking is required.

If you have a car, check out my Bordeaux guide for suggestions of the best wineries to visit in Bordeaux.

Consider these visit options to one of my favourite wineries in Saint-Émilion and Margaux:

Alternatively, select one of these good-value wine tours. Normally, group wine tours depart from the Office of Tourism. Check your pickup point with your tour operator.

Medoc wine tours starting from 72 euros per person

Saint-Emilion wine tours

If you are looking for a private Bordeaux wine tour, I will be happy to take you to the best wineries in Bordeaux (you can pick your own!). Check out my Atlas Bordeaux website for private tour options (2-8 people).