Bordeaux in 1 day – Self-guided tour with itinerary and tips

Visit Bordeaux in 1 day ? I did and loved it! With the route I followed, I was able to get an overview of historic Bordeaux and its main monuments.

So, in your turn, you can download the Google Maps route below for free and follow it on foot to make a nice tourist circuit of Bordeaux.

In this article, I share with you not only my detailed step-by-step circuit but also my good gourmet addresses that make Bordeaux my favorite city in France !

Visit Bordeaux in 1 day on foot

How to visit Bordeaux in 1 day?

Living 2h30 from Bordeaux, I have had the chance to stay a dozen times in this city. And with each new visit, I discover a new nice restaurant, a small market on the corner of a district or an unusual exhibition ... Bordeaux is a small town but it is full of curiosities and places where we like to stroll and inevitably come back. ...

To discover the city of Bordeaux in 1 day, you have several possibilities, it all depends on your desires:

Itinerary to visit Bordeaux in 1 day

here is my route from the historic center of Bordeaux to do in one day for visit Bordeaux on foot. This circuit makes a loop that starts from the Place de la Bourse and comes back to the place de la Bourse (obviously since it's a loop!).

Walking tour to visit Bordeaux in 1 day

Start with the Place de la Bourse

With his mirror of water, this splendid square is the emblem of Bordeaux!

It dates from the XNUMXth century, when Bordeaux opened up to the whole world by leaving its medieval walls and building a royal square.

Bordeaux walking tour in 1 day

Discover the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux

Start my tour by taking Rue Saint-Rémi then turn right onto Rue Sainte Catherine.

Continue straight ahead and on the left Cours de l'Intendance to reach the Grand Theater of Bordeaux.

Construction strongly influenced by Freemasons, its facade displays 12 Corinthian columns which correspond to the sum of the ribs of the Sacred Triangle of Freemasons.

Built at the end of the 18thnd century by architect Victor Louis, the Grand Théâtre, listed as a Historic Monument, would have inspired the founders of the Opéra Garnier in Paris. 

Today it is the seat of theBordeaux National Opera which programs its lyrical season and performances by the Opera Ballet.

Grand Théâtre in my Bordeaux tour in 1 day

If you have the chance to visit Bordeaux for the end-of-year celebrations, here is how the Grand Théâtre is transformed: It's magical and wonderful!

Grand Théâtre stopover when visiting Bordeaux in 1 day

See the Place des Quinconces and the Girondins monument

From Place de la Comédie, take allées de Tourny and turn left onto Cours du 30 Juillet.

Then turn left onto Allée de Munich which leads to the Place des Quinconces (the largest square in Europe).

From there, you just have to continue until Monument to the Girondins.

It is a set made up of gushing bronze fountains and a statue of liberty breaking its chains. It is a posthumous tribute to the Girondins of the Revolution. For the anecdote: during the 2nd world war, to protect it, the Girondins had the good idea to hide it by burying it.

Monuments of the Girondins in the Bordeaux itinerary in 1 day

Square of Great Men

To get there, you will have to turn right on Cours de Tournon then left on Allées de Tourny, right on Rue Condillac, left on Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau and you will arrive Square of Great Men.

The district of Big Men, witness to a new era of town planning, is revealed by its magnificent glass roof where there is a shopping center. For shopaholics, you will find in this district beautiful and very chic boutiques and big brands.

This is not where I dress because I cannot afford it ... but this is where I buy the famous Bordeaux cannelés.

This little flan cake with a caramelized color and a soft heart belongs to the culinary heritage of Bordeaux. It is flavored with vanilla and rum. It takes its name from the fluted copper mold in which it bakes in the oven. The Baillardran house manufactures them respecting artisanal know-how and has become the benchmark for Canelés.

So I usually go to Baillardran at 12 place des grands Hommes but there are Baillardran boutiques throughout Bordeaux ...

Break at Baillardran during my Bordeaux tour in 1 day

The Porte de Dijeau

To continue my tour, you will have to go right on Rue Voltaire then on Rue de Grassi which leads to the Door of Dijeau.

This door is a pretty, typically Bordeaux building that deserves a little photo!

Stage of my visit to Bordeaux in 1 day Porte Dijeaux

Finally the Saint André Cathedral!

Then head towards Rue du Temple and turn left on Rue Vital Carles and continue on Place Jean Moulin.

You get to the Saint André Cathedral. It dates from the XNUMXth century but has since been renovated. Classified by UNESCO on the World Heritage List, this Cathedral was associated with the routes of Saint-Jacques de Compostelle.

Bordeaux Cathedral a must on the walking tour

Now is the time for a well-deserved lunch break!

My good restaurant plan in Bordeaux

Opposite the Cathedral, at 37 Place Pey Berland is the restaurant The Museum bistro.

Its setting is pleasant (interior with exposed stones and a pretty terrace in summer). You can enjoy good traditional and generous cuisine. As for the prices, they are quite correct considering the quality of the products.

The little extra of my favorite restaurant is its wine list (more than 50 Bordeaux vintages) with the possibility of ordering by the glass!

Stroll through the small streets of Bordeaux

On the way for a little digestive walk ...

To resume my tour, you have to go left on Place Jean Moulin then right on Rue des Trois-Conils.

Continue on Place Saint-Projet and turn right onto Rue Sainte-Catherine.

Then turn left onto Rue des Ayres.

Stop for a good coffee

There, if you like coffee, I advise you to take a little break at the VerdeNero. In a cozy and authentic atmosphere, you can taste exceptional coffees that are roasted on site. For gourmets, their homemade pastries will make more than one crack.

Discover the typical doors of Bordeaux

After a good little coffee, you will have to continue straight on to arrive on the Place Fernand Lafargue.

This small square is very pleasant because it is surrounded by small cafes and restaurants which animate it all day long.

Place Lafargue

My route continues to the right on Rue Saint-James and towards Rue Saint-Eloi.

here is Big Bell. It is the symbol of Bordeaux which still appears on the coat of arms of the city. This monument was mainly used as a prison. Later, the magistrates of Bordeaux rang this bell to give the signal for the harvest, to announce major events or alert the population in the event of fires.

Stage of the Bordeaux circuit in 1 day: the big bell

Take a further left onto Cours Victor Hugo which leads to the Burgundy Gate. It is not as popular as other Bordeaux gates and yet it is listed as a historic monument and worth a visit.

Continue towards Rue des Pontet and turn left on Pl. De Bir Hakeim and join the Richelieu quay.

You will walk along the quay to the rue de la porte Cailhau on the left in which you will have to turn to get to the famous Porte Cailhau . I advise you to go back there in the evening because it is beautiful with its night lighting ...

Erected at the end of the 35th century, this XNUMX-meter-high monument was part of the city walls.

To finish my circuit here is the Porte cailhot

And finish the circuit on the Water Mirror

From Porte Cailhau, you will take the Quai Richelieu on the left to arrive at the Water mirror Place de la Bourse.

And there you have it, the circle is complete!


Where to stay to visit Bordeaux on foot?

And if you have not yet booked a hotel for your stay, here is one of the most beautiful hotels in the city center in the best district of Bordeaux :

InterContinental Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel

best hotel in Bordeaux

And for those on a tight budget, discover the below

3 best CHEAP HOTELS in Bordeaux


The circuit that I have just presented to you is perfect for discovering most of Bordeaux on foot but it is far from complete. A single day is not enough to discover all the riches, museums and parks of this city. This is why I suggest you discover my circuit: Visit Bordeaux in 2 days.

You want to discover grandiose and wild landscapes very close to Bordeaux… Here are some ideas for a visit:

Arcachon Bay - Cap Ferret

Circuit in the Landes

2 days in the Basque Country

City Tour in Bayonne

Camping stay in the Landes

27 thoughts on “Bordeaux in 1 day – Self-guided tour with itinerary and tips”

  1. Thank you very much for this tour proposal! We scrupulously followed your course and it was TOP! We were even able to take a Ferris wheel ride on the Place des Quinconces. From the station, we took the 13 min tram and walked back to the station. We took more or less 13000 steps Thank you again

    1. Thank you Corinne for your comment. I am always happy to see that Internet users appreciate my little itineraries. I wish you a great summer!

  2. Merciii
    I rarely leave comments but there… it was really great.
    Visit of Bordeaux in 1 day: we go to the essentials but we do not forget the beauty and the history of the city. The multicultural Victor Hugo course also allows you to see another side of the city ...
    My husband and my daughter congratulated me on this beautiful day.
    For your information, we parked at the P + R at Bègle station. 20 min by tram line C to reach Place de la Bourse. It was nickel for € 4,50 at 3 (up to 5 people in the vehicle) we did not spend the money in parking !! And we avoid traffic in the city center.

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  8. Hello
    We will be on vacation in the region in a few days and have planned a day in Bordeaux.
    Your itinerary for a day me.szmble interesting but some information is missing. … Where to park ????
    Thank you for your reply
    Norah. Pa

      1. Good evening, we have planned to visit Bordeaux in one day, this course seems ideal to us. How long does it take to go around? And how far does the course go?
        Thank you in advance.

  9. Thank you very much for this great journey that we have followed almost to the letter.
    No complaints, it allows you to do a lot of things in 1 day.
    Bordeaux is truly magnificent!
    We 'recommend.

  10. Thank you for this nice course! We were able to see the most important monuments of Bordeaux, as well as its small shopping streets.
    We had lunch in front of the cathedral, and had an ice cream at Place Fernand Lafargue under a magnificent sun.

    I also recommend a nap in the Jardin Public, not far from the Place des Quinconques 🙂!

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