Tour guides France > Bordeaux

5 ideas for guided tours in Bordeaux

• The Port of the Moon

  

  A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Port of the Moon traces the arc of the Garonne through the historic center. Its name comes from that crescent bend—soft, sweeping—as the river curves into the city.

  Covering more than 1,800 hectares, this district spans a third of Bordeaux. The neoclassical buildings, lined up along the quays, shape one of Europe’s grandest urban scenes.

  Look down—copper plaques mark out a path. They guide the steps while sights rise around you. And with a Bordeaux tour guide, details emerge. Layers of time. Stories once lost. For more, stop by the tourist office.

  From medieval gates to hidden courtyards, everything here invites wandering. At dusk, the lights come on. That’s when stone and shadow play together—and the streets turn quiet, golden.

• Place des Quinconces

  

  Set between the river and the old town, Place des Quinconces opens like a breath—broad, still, unexpected. There’s space here, and time seems to move slower.

  At the center stands the Girondins Monument. Its sculptures, its columns—they rise without strain. A tribute to freedom, but not too loud.

  Trees grow in rows, set on a quincunx grid. That’s where the name comes from. Simple geometry turned into calm paths.

  A few steps lead to the Grand Théâtre, rue Sainte-Catherine, or the Chartrons quay. Each direction feels like a continuation.

  Tram lines B and C glide nearby. The stop is easy—but the square itself? It lingers, long after you’ve crossed it.

• Saint Pierre, the historic heart

  

  Saint Pierre used to be a port—Gallo-Roman times. The square at its center, Place Saint-Pierre, marked the entrance. It’s long been filled in now.

  Merchants once walked these streets. And the names still whisper it: Rue du Chai des Farines, Rue des Argentiers, Rue des Bahutiers. Each one tied to a craft. A past that hasn’t entirely left.

  Today, the area stays lively but slow. Little traffic, much to see. Cafés with terraces, stone façades weathered but proud, shops tucked under arcades.

  At the heart, the Saint Pierre Church. Gothic and serene, it rises above the square. Not imposing—but present. Like the memory of everything that came before.

• The Quays

  

  Since their transformation, the left-bank quays have become a favorite. Locals linger, travelers pause. A place for bikes, for walks, or nothing in particular.

  Among the highlights:
  – The Water Mirror lies just across from Place de la Bourse. A granite expanse, thinly veiled in water, where children run and reflections shift. It appears from May to October.
  – Cap Sciences sits near the Pont Chaban-Delmas. Inside, exhibitions twist learning into play. Families stop there. Curiosity finds its rhythm.

  Or board a boat. Let the river carry you along vineyards—Blayais, Médoc. Some days, festivals take over. Bordeaux Fête le Vin, the River Festival—the city opens up, and strangers toast beneath the sky.

• The Wine Roads

  

  In Bordeaux, wine isn’t just something poured—it’s place, tradition, movement. And the routes leading out of the city offer all of it.

  – The Médoc: Straight lines of vines, stately châteaux, names with weight.
  – Graves and Sauternes: Where golden wines gather sweetness from the mist.
  – Pomerol and Saint-Émilion: Wine meets history in stone and slope.
  – Blaye and Bourg: A gentler pace, near the water.
  – Entre-deux-Mers: Rolling hills, soft light—some call it Bordeaux’s Tuscany.
  – Bordeaux Métropole: Vineyards within the city. Over twenty. Each one a short trip, a new bottle.

  For a deeper dive, the Cité du Vin waits. Not a museum, exactly. More like a conversation—tasting, seeing, learning. Slow travel with a glass in hand.