Aquitaine Travelers Recommend

Charming towns dotted with medieval architecture, dramatic French countryside scenery, fertile vineyards, and rich culture: the Dordogne region is an alluring corner of rural France. Here are a few ways to make the most of your time in the Dordogne River Valley.

Sarlat

The medieval town of Sarlat in the Périgord region draws many visitors, especially in summer. With more than 250 buildings dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, the town’s sense of history is strong. Take a walk along the Rue de la République, then use Sarlat as a base for other destinations in the region.

Rocamadour

Nestled in a gorge overlooking the Dordogne River, Rocamadour has been a popular pilgrimage site for centuries. Visitors come for the maze of cliffside chapels and spectacular scenery in equal measure, and highlights—that can be enjoyed via a guided tour—include the sacred Notre Dame Chapel and sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. No visit is complete without heading up to the 14th-century hilltop castle to gaze out over the landscape below. 

The Lascaux Caves

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the prehistoric caves at Lascaux are home to primitive drawings of animals dating back to the Upper Paleolithic era, about 50,000 years ago. Believed to have been painted over many generations, the images depict hunting scenes from daily life at the time. Some tours combine these caves with the National Prehistory Museum in Les Eyzies de Tayac and the UNESCO-listed Rouffignac Cave.

Saint-Émilion

Guarded by no fewer than seven imposing medieval gates, the UNESCO–listed town of Saint-Émilion features Romanesque churches and ancient ruins hidden along its narrow, cobbled streets. Most famous for producing some of the finest wines in the Bordeaux region, the town remains a popular base on the Dordogne’s wine route. The vineyards were first planted by the Romans roughly 2,000 years ago and continue to thrive in the sun-soaked hills today.

Domme

The fortified medieval village of Domme is one of the most beautiful in France, and it boasts impressive 13th-century ramparts along with spectacular countryside views. The Esplanade du Belvédère, which offers sweeping views over the valley, is the best spot to take in the scenery.

With three days in Bordeaux, there’s time to experience the city highlights and explore the surrounding region. Take time to savor Bordeaux’s gourmet cuisine, shop at the markets, and enjoy a leisurely wine tasting amid the vineyards. Here are some ideas for three days in Bordeaux.

Day 1: Sightseeing in the City

With three days in Bordeaux, you can afford to spend a full day taking in the sights. For independent travelers, hiring an electric car is a great way to get around, offering the convenience of a GPS-programed itinerary, while leaving you free to explore at your own pace. Alternatively, book a private tour and benefit from the expertise of a local guide who can customize the tour to suit your preferences. 

If you didn’t stop at the historic squares of Place de la Bourse, Place des Quinconces, or Place de la Comédie in your morning tour, do so in the afternoon. Also, pay a visit to the Cité du Vin wine museum for an insight into France’s winemaking history. In the evening, admire the city’s illuminated monuments on a night tour or set sail along the Garonne River for a scenic dinner cruise.  

Day 2: Wine Tasting

Bordeaux is one of France’s most renowned wine regions, known for its bold reds and home to more than 60 different appellations. The most popular wine-growing areas are the Medoc, which stretches north along the Gironde, and Saint Emilion, east of the city. It’s possible to visit both on a full-day tour, including visits to some of the region’s most prestigious wine chateaux, guided wine tastings, and a walking tour of the UNESCO-listed medieval village of St. Emilion. 

Alternatively, combine wine tasting with fresh oysters on a visit to nearby Arcachon, the oyster capital of France, where you can also take in the views from the Dune of Pilat—the highest in Europe. For an even more special wine tasting experience, choose a private customized tasting tour or add on a hot air balloon ride or helicopter flight over the vineyards.

Day 3: Shopping and Street Markets

Head to Bordeaux’s main market, Marché des Capucins, in the morning, where you can sample regional specialities including cheeses, wines, and sweet canelés cakes. Another top spot for foodies is the Golden Triangle—the shopping area bordered by Cours Georges Clemenceau, Cours de l’Intendance, and Allées de Tourny—where you find some of Bordeaux’s best patisseries, delicatessens, and chocolatiers. To fully experience the flavors of Bordeaux, oin a guided food tasting tour or take a cooking class at the renowned L'Atelier des Chefs cooking school.

Spend your final afternoon in Bordeaux in the atmospheric Chartrons district, where highlights include the Cap Sciences Museum, CAPC Contemporary Art Museum, and Quai des Marques shopping center. Stick around after sunset, when the bars and bistros along the waterfront Quai de Chartons afford views along the Garonne.

With its historic architecture, buzzing nightlife, and world-famous wines, Bordeaux has plenty to keep visitors entertained. Two days provides time for sightseeing in the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and exploring the surrounding wine regions. Here’s how to spend the perfect two days in Bordeaux. 

Day 1: Monuments and Museums

**Morning:**Take in the highlights of downtown Bordeaux, from the grand monuments of Place des Quinconces and Place de la Comédie, to the shopping boulevard of Rue Sainte-Catherine and the riverfront Place de la Bourse. A guided walking tour is a great way to get an overview, or choose a fun Segway, bike, or electric scooter tour. For something self-guided, try an electric car tour.

**Afternoon:**Spend the afternoon exploring Bordeaux’s museums. Learn about Bordeaux’s history at Musée d’Aquitaine; admire artworks by Rubens, Boudin, and Marquet at Musée des Beaux Arts; or visit the CAPC contemporary art museum. A must-do for wine lovers is the Cité du Vin, a museum devoted to Bordeaux’s wine-making heritage.

**Night:**Set sail along the Garonne River for an evening dinner cruise with the glittering city skyline as the backdrop. Cruise along Bordeaux’s scenic waterfront and admire landmarks such as Quai Richelieu, Pont du Pierre, and St Michael’s Basilica. 

Day 2: A Taste of Bordeaux

**Morning:**Make an early start and head to Bordeaux’s main market, Marché des Capucins, to sample regional delicacies such as Arcachon oysters, truffled ham, caviar, and sweet canelés cakes. Bordeaux’s Golden Triangle—the shopping area within Cours Georges Clemenceau, Cours de l’Intendance, and Allées de Tourny—is another popular spot for foodies, with artisan food shops, delicatessens, and chocolatiers.

**Afternoon:**The Medoc and Saint-Emilion wine regions are easy to visit on an afternoon tour. To maximize time, choose a tour that includes round-trip transport from Bordeaux, wine tasting at two or more wineries, and a walking tour of the UNESCO-listed village of St. Emilion.

**Night:**Experience Bordeaux’s nightlife in the St. Pierre district, where you can sip cocktails or enjoy a glass of wine with the locals at a terrace bar. There are plenty of places to dine in the city, but consider one of the city’s Michelin-starred restaurants. 

The Médoc region of France is known across the world for its heady, full-bodied red wines and traditional, family-owned châteaux. Here are a few ways to explore the Médoc wine region from Bordeaux and enjoy some of the wines in production—from signature blends to grand cru varietals.

Highlights

• Visit the vineyards and cellars of local Médoc wineries such as Margaux and St. Julien

• Meet the winemakers, sample some of the grand cru red wines in production, and gain insight into centuries of winemaking history

• Admire panoramic views over the region’s rolling, vine-covered hillsides

• Enjoy free time to explore local sights such as Pauillac or the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saint-Emilion

Half-Day Tours

Half-day wine tours from Bordeaux take you into the bucolic Médoc region, where family-run wineries such as Château Palmer and Château Margaux honor age-old techniques. Spin through the vine-laden hills with a guide and enjoy sweeping scenic views. Along the way, stop at two local châteaux to meet the winemakers and sample the delicate red wines in production.

Full-Day Tours

With a little more time to spend on a full-day Médoc wine-tasting tour, enjoy the freedom to perhaps linger a little longer at each winery and gain further insight into the Haut-Medoc’s winemaking heritage. Sample delicious reds at three prestigious wine estates and take guided tours of the vineyards and wine cellars. During your day, perhaps stop to explore local towns and villages such as Pauillac—home to the region’s most famous appellation—or the historic, UNESCO-listed Saint-Emilion.

One of the closest coastal resorts to UNESCO–listed Bordeaux, the lively beach town of Arcachon is famous for its plump, fresh Pacific oysters. Here are a few ways to explore the sun-drenched shores of the Côte d’Argent and savor the seafood flavors the locals love.

Highlights

• Visit one of the 350 local oyster farms (the oldest of which dates back to 1849), and sample fresh oysters accompanied by delicate French white wines.

• Learn how oysters have been cultivated and harvested for centuries at the Oyster House in Larros port.

• Work up an appetite with a hike to the top of Pyla Dune—the highest sand dune in France—and admire sweeping views over the Atlantic Ocean, the Bay of Arcachon, and the Landes forest.

• Combine an oyster-tasting trip to Arcachon Bay with a wine-tasting tour of the Médoc region, and visit a château where Bordeaux wine is made.

• The region’s oyster-farming villages host a number of summer oyster festivals when oyster stalls line the sidewalks and seafront restaurants serve up huge bowls of oysters, accompanied by a fine selection of Bordeaux’s white wines.

The capital of one of France’s most famous wine regions, Bordeaux attracts visitors for its fine wine, gourmet cuisine, and stately architecture. With just one day, planning ahead helps you maximize your time and see more of the area’s attractions. Here’s how to see Bordeaux in one day.

Morning: Sightseeing in the City

Spend the morning exploring Bordeaux’s historic center, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its grand squares and monumental buildings. Opt for a guided walking tour to get an overview of the city, or choose a bike or Segway tour to explore further and enjoy views along the scenic Garonne riverfront with a guide. 

Must-see sights include the waterfront Place de la Bourse, with its Miroir d’Eau; the Monument aux Girondins on Place des Quinconces; Place de la Comédie, home to the Grand Théâtre; and the shopping boulevard of Rue Sainte-Catherine. For lunch, the streets of Bordeaux’s Golden Triangle—the shopping area between Cours Georges Clemenceau, Cours de l’Intendance, and Allées de Tourny—are dotted with artisan shops, delicatessens, traditional cafes, and upmarket restaurants. 

Afternoon: A Taste of Bordeaux

Even time-crunched visitors won’t want to leave Bordeaux without sampling the region’s renowned wines. Afternoon tours to Saint-Emilion, just 45 minutes from the city, are a popular choice, and typically include wine tasting at one or more wineries, along with a visit to the medieval village.

If you prefer to stay in the city, head to Cité du Vin wine museum for insight into France’s winemaking history, and then join a wine tasting workshop to sample Bordeaux’s reds with an expert to explain the different appellations and classifications.

Night: Cruise the Garonne

Bordeaux is most atmospheric in the evening, and the best way to see it is on a river cruise. Hop aboard for an evening cruise along the Garonne River and glide past landmarks such as Quai Richelieu, Pont du Pierre, and St Michael’s Basilica. 

If you want to explore further, head to Bordeaux’s St. Pierre district, full of bars where you can sip cocktails on the terrace. Quai de Paludate or the Bassins-à-Flots are the best places for a late-night party.  

Stretching from southern France through the Gironde region to Spain, the Garonne River runs through the heart of the city of Bordeaux, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here are a few ways to enjoy the best of Bordeaux on a Garonne River cruise.

Highlights

• Take a Garonne River cruise and admire riverside landmarks such as the Basilica of St. Michael, Louis XV's grand Place de la Bourse, and the grassy Quai Richelieu from the water.

• Opt for a lunch tour and sip cocktails as you float downstream, or book a 3-course dinner cruise and savor delicious French cuisine as the UNESCO–listed sites drift past outside.

• Combine a scenic river cruise with an on-board wine tasting led by an expert sommelier, and sample some of the wines for which Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion, and the Médoc wine region are famous.

• Cruise to the UNESCO–listed Citadel of Blaye, and enjoy sweeping views over the rolling vineyards of the Côtes de Bourg wine country and the Aquitaine countryside.

UNESCO World Heritage–listed Bordeaux ranks among the most interesting culinary corners of France. With regional specialties including Arcachon oysters, locally harvested truffles, and, of course, luscious wines, it’s no surprise that foodies flock here year-round. Here are some ways to give your taste buds a treat in Bordeaux.

Must-Try Dishes

Nestled on the Atlantic coastline by the banks of the Garonne River, France’s Bordeaux region is famous for its seafood and red wine. The delicate oysters of Arcachon are a must-try, especially when complemented by a fresh glass of white Bordeaux wine such as Haut-Brion or Clos Floridène. Dishes such as entrecôte bordelaise —essentially rib steak prepared in a gravy of butter, bone marrow, herbs, shallots, and, of course, plenty of local red wine—are also popular.

For something a little sweeter, canelés are a tasty sweet treat popular across France, but they originated in Bordeaux around the 16th century. With a caramelized crust, custard center, and rich rum and vanilla flavors, they perfectly complete any meal.

Must-Do Experiences

• Take a cooking class at the famous L’atelier des Chefs, and master skills like sautéing and deglazing while creating dishes like duck confit or roast lamb.

• Indulge your sweet tooth in a pastry class, and whip up a feast of macarons, eclairs, and canelés.

• Sample locally harvested oysters in the coastal town of Arcachon.

• Treat yourself with a meal at one of Bordeaux’s exceptional Michelin-starred restaurants.

• Delve into the Médoc or Saint-Émilion region on a wine tour, and sample some of the delicate wines for which the region is famous.

• Follow a guide on a foodie walking tour of Bordeaux, visiting local bakers, chocolatiers, and cheese-makers around the city center and historic Place de la Bourse.