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 bus number 1 at a bus stop located between Hall A and Hall B of the Bordeaux Merignac airport.
You can buy a magnetic ticket at the grey machine at the bus stop or pay cash to a driver.
The public bus fare is €1.70. There is no extra charge for luggage. Drivers do not accept large bills.
As you enter a bus tap your ticket against one of the screens marked TBM. Recently, TBM installed credit card reading machines on the airport bus.
The bus will take you about an hour to the city center as it makes many stops along the way.
Get off at Centre Commercial Mériadeck or Palais de Justice stop and then walk to the historic center. The bus makes its final stop at the train station, Gare St. Jean.
Download Bordeaux bus schedules here.
A direct tram line is coming is to the airport in 2022.
See other ways to get from the airport in my article How to Get from Bordeaux Airport to Central Bordeaux.
- Tram C in the direction of Parc d’Expositions or Gare de Blanquefort, or
- Tram D in the direction of Eysines Cantinolle
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.
Another convenient way to pay your bus fare is through a Witick app. Register and load an app with your credit card. Pay by bringing your phone close to the payment terminal and confirming the payment.
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 neighborhoods 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 Cite du Vin as well.
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.
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. For quality inexpensive lunch check out:
- Leopold -67 cours de l’Intendance, 33000 Bordeaux near Place Gambetta. Quality food with a twist is served by a very friendly family. They are always open.
- Le Bistrot de Tutelle, 13 Rue Piliers de Tutelle, 33000 Bordeaux. Very nice and good value for money French lunch and dinner just steps away from the Grand Theatre. Open daily except Sunday and Monday.
- If you are up for a quick salad lunch look for Eat Salad or Pausk chain stores in the city center. They also serve other lunch foods and cold sandwiches.
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 19 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 apero, a local aperitif tradition. For example, at one of these places – 3 Squares for an Apero in Bordeaux.
Continue through the evening at a local bar – taste wines and finger foods – cheese boards, cold cuts or foie-gras. How about a Spanish bar in Bordeaux with Real Spanish Tapas?
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.
You must taste wines in Bordeaux. There is a wonderful place across from the Office of Tourism – called Le Bar a 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 Cremant 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:
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
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 Chateau Pape Clement in Pessac. Reservation required.
Option 2:
Take a train to Saint-Emilion from Gare St. Gean, walk over to the village (20 minutes) and visit wineries located around the village. Advance booking is required.
When in Saint-Emilion, visit these wine bars.
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-Emilion 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
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).
I have just written about Where to Buy Wine in Bordeaux and to Not Break a Bank. Get a list of the best wine shopping options in Bordeaux.
Visit La Cite du Vin, the Bordeaux wine museum on the Bordeaux City Pass. However, remember that you will need to arrive before noon.
Skip the line tickets to the Cite du Vin can be purchased online.
Use portable WiFi device in EU countries and connect up to 10 devices. Save on roaming fees.
Enjoy your stay in Bordeaux!
I mostly write about wine tasting experiences in Europe, check out my Blog for more articles about Bordeaux and join my private Bordeaux wine tour.
Where to Buy Wine in Bordeaux? Get Local Advice
6 Saint-Emilion Bars Recommended by a Local Guide
10 Best Wineries to Visit in Bordeaux
The Real Spanish Tapas Experiences in Bordeaux
Michelin Star Restaurants in Bordeaux with a Map
Best Bordeaux Wines Awarded 100 Parker Points
Do You Need to Rent a Car in Bordeaux?
How to Get from Paris to Bordeaux?
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