One of the wonders of visiting Bordeaux is the day trips you can do in the region. Gironde (Bordeaux’s department) is one of the most fascinating areas in France, rich with beaches, beautiful villages, nature, and heritage. If you’re spending more than a weekend in Bordeaux, be sure to leave some time to discover its surroundings.
If you have a car or plan to rent one, I have a more detailed guide to all the best day trips in Gironde. This article, however, is dedicated only to places around Bordeaux you can get to by train. If you have more time to discover the southwest of France, check out this list of other destinations to visit by train.
Arcachon and Dune du Pilat – a day trip from Bordeaux to the Ocean
Arcachon is one of the most popular summer destinations in southwest France. A seaside resort town renowned for its beautiful beaches, impressive architecture, and vibrant atmosphere. The town is divided into four districts, named after the four seasons. Ville d’Été, covering the tourist center, main beach, restaurants, and boutiques. Others include Ville d’Hiver with glamorous 19th-century villas, and Ville de Printemps (the beautiful beaches). Ville d’Automne (the port).
Note: Check out my self-guided audio tour of Arcachon, from Ville d’Hiver’s charm to Belle Époque villas. Explore at your own pace, with fun facts and no rush!
Its most popular attraction, however, is not the town itself but rather Dune du Pilat, the tallest sand dune in Europe. A day trip from Bordeaux to Arcachon, especially when combined with the dune can easily take a whole day, so don’t plan anything else that day. I have a detailed guide to a day trip to Arcachon and the dune, be sure to read it before you go. You can also take a semi-private tour from Bordeaux to Arcachon.
In case want to stay the night in Arcachon, here are my recommendations for the best hotels.
How to get to Arcachon by train?
There is a direct train to the center of Arcachon from the Gare Saint Jean train station (or Pessac train station). To continue to Dune du Pilat, take bus number 1 from the train station in Arcachon. The train leaves Bordeaux every 30 minutes from 6 am to 11:30 pm. You can buy tickets here or at the station.
Saint Émilion – a day trip to the Bordeaux wine region
Saint Émilion is the most famous wine-related day trip out of Bordeaux. Its picturesque center, densely filled with wine shops and fancy restaurants, turns this little town into a prominent attraction for tourists in the area. And luckily it’s one of the easiest day trips from Bordeaux by train – here’s my article about it.
The main attraction of Saint Emilion is, of course, visiting wineries. In my article about the best wineries to visit by public transport in the Bordeaux region, you can find a few Saint Emilion chateaux. For more recommendations check out my list of recommended wineries in Saint Emilion.
🎧 Saint-Émilion is even better when you know its stories. My self-guided audio tour takes you through its streets and viewpoints, just like I would if we were exploring together. You can find it here.
Another option for visiting Saint Emilion is taking a wine tour from Bordeaux. Here are two tours I highly recommend for a full-day trip and a half-day trip to Saint Emilion. For more wine tour recommendations click here.
Saint Emilion, however, is worth a visit even if you’re not a wine enthusiast. Important historical monuments can be found in abundance in this medieval town, some of which date back as far as the 11th and 12th centuries. You can read about all the special things to do on a day trip to Saint Emilion in my article.
If you have time to stay the night in Saint Emilion, that is also a perfect destination for a weekend. Here are my recommendations for the best places to stay in the Saint Emilion region.
How to get to Saint Emilion by train?
A direct train from Bordeaux to the Saint Emilion train station, which is located 15-20 minutes walk from the station to the city center. For more details about getting to Saint Emilion by train, read this article. You can buy train tickets at the station or online.
Visit Châteaux in Bordeaux by tram or bus
Did you know that some of the best wineries in the Bordeaux wine region are actually located within Bordeaux Metropole? This means you don’t have to make the effort to get to Saint Emilion or Medoc if you want to visit chateaux in the region. A few months ago I published a detailed list of all the wineries you can get to by public transport. However, here I want to mention the closest one to the center of Bordeaux (booking in advance is recommended).
Château Pape Clément in Pessac
Take line B to Pessac Centre and then continue for 20 minutes by foot or take a direct bus from Place Tourny in Bordeaux (line 4). You can book the tour online – just click here.
Château du Taillan in Le Taillan-Médoc
Chateau du Taillan is a beautiful winery in Medoc. You can reach it by bus 5N from Place Tourny in Bordeaux. For more info click here.
Château Saint Ahon In Blanquefort
Take line C to the Blanquefort train station and then continue 20 minutes by foot or take bus 29 from the Blanquefort train station. If you’re visiting with kids, this is one of the most kids-friendly wineries to visit in the Bordeaux wine region. For more info click here.
Château Olivier
Another gem in the Pessac Leognan appellation is Château Olivier. Just a few km from Bordeaux, you’ll find a beautiful château, surrounded by a forest and vines. Take bus number 5 from Palais de Justice in Bordeaux to get to the winery. Book your visit here.
La Réole – a charming medieval town
La Réole is a small hilly town situated on the banks of the Garonne river about 50 km from Bordeaux. It’s considered one of the most beautiful villages in Gironde. The town grew around a monastery founded in the 7th or 8th century, but its golden era was in medieval times when it became the region’s second-largest city after Bordeaux.
Today La Reole is a quiet town that often holds interesting cultural events as well as one of the best markets in Gironde on Saturday mornings. Get lost in the narrow charming streets of the historic center of La Réole and let the beautiful architecture take you back in time. On the way back be sure to stop by the beautiful Château de Cérons for wine tasting (get down the Cerons station on the same train line).
How to get there by train? It takes about 40 minutes to get from Bordeaux to La Réole train station. The train leaves from Gare Saint Jean every two hours.
Wine tasting in Margaux
Margaux is one of the most prestigious wine appelations in the Bordeaux wine region. It’s one of the 8 wine appelations in Medoc, a region I usually recommend visiting by car. Having said that, visiting wineries in Margaux by train is very easy.
A train will bring you directly from Bordeaux to the town of Margaux. Some of the best wineries in this appellation are located within a walking distance from the train station. When there don’t miss the chance to dine in one of the great restaurants this town has to offer.
The beautiful Château Margaux is only a 25 minutes walk from the train station. Unfortunately, their tours are only open to professionals but you can walk around the winery, see the beautiful vines and take photos of the famous chateau. Check out these and other wineries I recommend visiting in the Medoc wine region. For more info about Bordeaux check out the tourist office website.
How to get there by public transport: There’s a train leaving Bordeaux to Margaux every couple of hours.
Angoulême – the capital of comics and street art
Angouleme is one of the biggest cities in the southwest region, known as the capital of comics in France. In recent years it has been attracting many tourists thanks to its beautiful historic center and vibrant cultural life. Stroll the streets to explore the historic part of the city and the beautiful boulevards with their view on the original ramparts.
It’s a vibrant city with plenty of cafes and restaurants, a big market, museums, and historic monuments. However, it’s mostly known for its huge comics museum and the annual International Comics festival (in January).
One of the biggest attractions Angouleme has to offer is its street art scene. There are more than 20 murals of comics and illustrations on buildings in almost every neighborhood around the city. Discover the best murals in my article about street art in Angouleme.
How to get there by train? The TGV train to Paris stops in Angouleme, so even though it’s located 130 km from Bordeaux, you can still get there from Bordeaux in about 35 minutes. You can book your tickets in advance.
Saint Macaire – a charming medieval town
Saint Macaire is a medieval city located some 50 km from Bordeaux on the banks of the Garonne river. It’s not a familiar destination to most people visiting Bordeaux, but it’s definitely worth a day trip.
In the 13th and 14th centuries, Saint Macaire was one of the most prosperous cities in Aquitaine due to its significant agricultural and trade activities. The charming town with its narrow streets and beautiful old houses is a great place for those looking to get a sense of the region’s heritage. Read more about Saint Macaire here.
The town is also well known for its white wine. Guided tours are organized by the tourist office, including tastings of the Côtes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire wines. It’s really worth visiting Saint Macaire at the end of August when the Fêtes médiévales takes place. The little town gets very lively with amazing costumes, music, medieval games, and more.
How to get there by public transport? You can get to Saint Macaire by train from the Saint Jean station in Bordeaux. There are several trains running to Saint Macaire on Saturdays and fewer during the week.
A more flexible option would be to get to Langon, the main town of southeast Gironde, and then take a taxi (it’s a 10-minute ride from Langon). Or if you have a bike you can take it with you on the train to Langon and then ride about 15 minutes to Saint Macaire.
Libourne – One of the best markets in Gironde
Libourne is a pretty town located at the confluence of the Isle and Dordogne rivers. Founded as a Bastide town in the 13th century it used to be an important port city central to the wine and wood trade in the region.
Surrounded by some of the world’s most renowned wine labels such as Saint Emilion, Pomerol, and Fronsac, it used to play an important role in the economy of the region. While it’s not as attractive as Bordeaux, it’s the main city in northern Gironde and it’s rich with history and beautiful architecture. Due to its location, many people see it as a wine destination from which you can visit the numerous chateaux in the area. But this city has more to offer and is worth a separate visit.
You can start your day trip at Place Abel-Surchamp, the main square of the city hosting the outdoor market every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. This is one of the main markets in the area, attracting people from all the little towns around Libourne. It’s recommended to visit the city on one of the market days as it really lifts the atmosphere. Read more about the city on the page of the tourist office.
How to get there by train? There’s a train from Bordeaux to Libourne every 20-60 minutes.
Sainte Foy la Grande – visit a bastide town
This beautiful bastide town, situated in the northeast of Gironde, is one of the most charming towns in the Libournais area. The Dordogne river runs through the town, unusual for bastides which are typically situated on hilltops. Many of the buildings in the center of this medieval town date back to the 15th century and give St. Foy la Grande its charming look.
Although it’s not a very touristy destination it does get quite busy during Saturday’s market, one of the biggest markets in the region. Every fours Sunday of the month, the town hosts a big antique market too. If you want a full-day trip you can then continue to Bergerac, one of the biggest towns in the Dordogne department (the station is located on the same train line).
If you want to spend the whole day there you can cross the river to the other side and visit a small river beach called Plage des Bardoulets. You can combine this day trip with a visit to the Chateau de Vayres. The stunning castle is located in Vayres, a village sited on the same train line as Sainte Foy la Grande.
How to get there by train? It takes about an hour by train from Saint Jean station to Sainte Foy la Grande.
Gujan-Mestras – discover oyster farming
Gujan-Mestras is a little town known as the capital of oyster farming on the Bassin d’Arcachon. It has seven oyster ports which you can visit and watch oyster farmers work. The best way to discover the town and its ports is by bike. You can rent one in the Gujan itself, here’s the link to the bike rental shop.
You can even join one of the farmers and take part in their work for a few hours. Find the list of farmers providing that experience on the tourist office website.
A place I particularly like in Gijan Mestras is La “Maison de Huitre”, an interactive museum where you discover everything about oyster farming. Gujan also has a very cute beach, Plade de la Hume. You can see more details about it in my article about the best beaches around Bordeaux.
No matter what you choose to do in Gojan Mestra, there’s one thing you shouldn’t miss – taste oysters! Along the ports and especially at Port de Larros, you’ll find tend of oyster cabanes. That’s where most Bordelaise will go for fresh oysters.
How to get there by train? Gujan-Mestras is one of the stations on the way from Bordeaux to Arcachon. The train leaves every 30 minutes from Bordeaux Saint Jean or Pessac Centre stations.
That’s my list of the 10 best day trips from Bordeaux by train! If you enjoyed it, please help me spread the word by sharing this post.
If you have more time to discover the southwest of France, here are a few other destinations you should check out. All of these are easily reachable by train from Bordeaux.
A weekend in Toulouse
The best things to do in Biarritz
Best things to do in Sarlat, Dordogne
A day trip to Bergerac, Dordogne
What to do in Cognac
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9 Comments
Fabulous information……we live near Angoulême and thought we knew the area! …..obviously not!
Keep up the good work
Thank you so much Maureen! I’ve learned so much more about this region since I wrote this article, I think I need to update it 🙂
thanks for your work with your site! i have been to bordeaux many times and you keep unearthing new treasures to visit!
Thank you so much Nancy!!! I am so happy to bring something new event to people who are familiar with this region 🙂
We are visiting Bordeaux in June and your information is fantastic. I wish now we had booked to go for a longer time.
I will be using your 10 day trips by train to visit a few of the places you have suggested.
Many many thanks.
Thank you!!!!
If you’re planning to take a car you should also check out my article about the best day trips in Bordeaux – wine, villages and beaches
We’ve lived on Osmond street since 2001– Ed has been one of our neighbors since we purchased our house. He has a drive, especially for block parties! 😉 He has other very successful business ventures in the surrounding neighborhoods and I have no doubts his transformation of the Tilden Market will be anything but great. 🙂.
Your website is great for navigating in and around Bordeaux. This website has been my “go-to” resource. Thanks so much for all the great and well-organized information!!!
Thank you Celeste!!! It’s so cool to see that my information really helps people!