Exploring Bordeaux’s extensive wine region is a dream for many, but without access to a car, navigating the countless châteaux can seem daunting. Having spent years visiting Bordeaux’s wineries, I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the region’s top destinations that are easily accessible by public transport. This guide starts with wineries in Bordeaux Métropole itself, then moves to some of the most famous wine regions nearby, like Saint-Émilion and Médoc. All of them are accessible by tram, bus, or train.
If you don’t want to go through a long list and just need one great winery option, go for Château Pape Clément in Pessac. It’s a beautiful estate, the wine is excellent, and they offer several visits in English. It’s also very easy to reach from the city center.
If you’re looking for more organized options, such as private or semi-private tours to the vineyards, check out my articles about wine tours from Bordeaux and visiting the Bordeaux wine region without a car.
Visit wineries in Bordeaux by bus or tram
You’d be surprised to learn that some of Bordeaux’s wineries lie within the city limits and are accessible by tram or bus.
Château Pape Clément in Pessac
Château Pape Clément is a Grand Cru Classé estate in the Pessac-Léognan appellation and one of the most beautiful châteaux you can visit near Bordeaux. Its vineyards were planted at the request of the Archbishop of Bordeaux, who later became Pope Clement V, while the château itself was built later with elegant Neo-Gothic details.
The estate offers daily visits in French and English, as well as winemaking workshops where you can create your own blend. You can book the tour online – just click here.
Where: 216 Av. Dr. Nancel Penard, 33600 Pessac
When: Open Mon – Sun
How to get there from the center of Bordeaux:
– Line 24 from Musée d’Aquitaine to Pont de l’Orient or Line 4 from the Meriadeck to Le Monteil station in Pessac.
– You can also take Tram B to the Pessac Centre station and then continue by foot for about 20 minutes.
See more info here.
Château du Taillan in Le Taillan-Médoc
Château du Taillan is a beautiful Bordeaux wine estate dating back to the 19th century. Today it’s owned by five sisters who all contribute in some form to their wine-making business. The winery produces red, white, and rosé wines and is labeled as “Médoc Cru bourgeois”. Château du Taillan is labeled under the Medoc wine appellation, but I’ve put it in this segment just because it’s located in the Bordeaux metropole region.
The château offers several types of visits, but the classic and gourmand options are the most popular. The classic tour takes you through the beautiful 16th-century vaulted cellars and the winemaking facilities, ending with a tasting of two wines. The gourmand visit follows a similar route but adds a more indulgent touch, with a tasting of three wines paired with a selection of local cheeses and charcuterie. You can book your visit online – just click here.
Where: 56 Av. de la Croix, 33320 Le Taillan-Médoc
When: Mon to Sun
How to get there from Bordeaux:
Line 2 from Place Gambetta to La Pargaud station (le Taillan la Boetie) – see schedule.
Château Les Carmes Haut Brion
Château Les Carmes Haut Brion is one the most interesting visits for both wine and art lovers. Its history goes back to the 16th century when the Lord of Haut Brion, Jean de Pontac, donated a windmill surrounded by vines to the Carmelite Order. In the 17th century, the Carmelite order purchased more land with vines and continued to develop the estate for more than two centuries.
Today the château is owned by Patrice Pichet, who turned it into a modern winery. The 35 hectares château produces red wines under the appellation of Pessac Leognan. It’s actually the only winery to be located in the limits of Bordeaux city. What makes the tour more exceptional is the stunning modern reception area designed by Philip Starck in 2016.
This is a prestigious château and the prices of the tours are higher than most wineries on this list (ranging from 65€ to 85€ per person). See all the details of the tours they offer here.
Where: 20 Rue des Carmes, 33000 Bordeaux
When: Mon-Sat (private visits only).
How to get there:
– Line A or F – from Hôtel de Ville (direction of Lw Haillan Rostandor / airport) to Saint Augustin, and walk about 10 minutes until you get to the château.
– Line 24 from Musée d’Aquitaine to Campus Carreire.
Château Saint Ahon – the kids’ friendly one
Château Saint Ahon, right at the beginning of the Médoc wine route is the one I recommend to families. My kids particularly enjoyed the gardens, called Les Jardins de Mirabel. They offer a fun discovery trail that teaches kids about winemaking and nature in the region in a playful way. Here’s a link to book a visit to the chateau and the gardens.
Where: 57 Rue de St Ahon, 33290 Blanquefort
When: Mon- Fri
How to get there from Bordeaux:
line E (tram) from Quinconces to Gare de Blanquefort train station and then continue 20 minutes by foot (or take bus 38 from the Blanquefort train station to the Caychac station).
Visiting wineries in Saint Emilion by public transport
I have a detailed guide on how to get to Saint-Émilion from Bordeaux, so check it out if you’re planning to visit without a car. The train station is about a 20-minute walk from the village center, while most wineries are located outside the village itself. That means only a few châteaux are easily accessible by public transport, and you’ll find the best ones below.
*During the summer, there’s a direct bus from Bordeaux to the center of Saint Emilion, see all the details in my article.
Château Villemaurine – the underground
Château Villemaurine is one of the most popular wineries for tourists visiting Saint-Émilion. The Château combines tradition, modernity, centuries of history, and the refined production of great wines.
The Château offers two group guided tours. A discovery tour where you get to visit the vineyards and the monolithic cellars, which are located underneath the vines of the estate. A Heritage tour where you will discover the stunning network of quarries owned by the Château. Click here to book their visits online.
Where: 23 Villemaurine-Sud, Saint-Émilion
When: Mon – Sun
How to get there from Bordeaux:
Take the train from Gare Saint Jean to the Saint Emilion train station and walk for about 20 minutes in the direction of the center of Saint Emilion.
Château Soutard
Château Soutard is an impressive 18th-century winery, located a few minutes’ walk from the center of Saint Emilion. It’s about 30 minutes walk from the train station, but it’s worth a visit if you’re going to spend time in the village anyway. The Château offers plenty of fun activities such as a wine blending workshop, biking in the vineyards, a gourmet picnic, and of course, wine tours.
To book any of their activities, click here.
Where: Soutard, 33330 Saint-Émilion
When: The schedule is changing during the less touristy season.
How to get there from Bordeaux:
Take the train from Gare Saint Jean to the Saint Emilion train station and walk for about 30 minutes in the direction of the center of Saint Emilion.
Château La Gaffelière
Closer to the train station, you can find Château La Gaffelièr. The winery is classified as Premier Grand Cru Classé under the Saint Emilion wine classification, making it one of the more prestigious estates on this list.
The château belongs to the Malet-Roquefort family, who are very passionate about sharing their wine-making craft. Their group tours, lasting for about an hour, take you through their colorful vats and the underground barrel cellar. The visit includes a tasting of three of their wines. Book your tour here.
Where: Château La Gaffelière, BP 65 33330 Saint-Émilion
When: Daily during the tourist season
How to get there from Bordeaux:
Take the train from Gare Saint Jean to the Saint Emilion train station and walk a few minutes to get to the chateau.
Visiting Medoc without a car
One of the easiest parts of Medoc to reach by public transport is the town of Margaux. A direct train from Gare Saint Jean (train 42) will take you to the famous wine town with several options for chateaux to visit. Check out the schedule here. See more details about how to visit the Medoc wine region in my article.
Château Ferrière in Margaux
If you choose Medoc for your wine trip, I highly recommend visiting Château Ferrière, founded in the 18th century by a shipbroker named Gabriel Ferriere. In 1988 the château was sold to Jacques Merlaut, the owner of Château Chasse-Spleen, La Gurgue, and Haut-Bages Liberal. The Merlaut family revived the winery and produced its first vintage in 1992. Today, the château is run by the granddaughter, Claire Villars, who took over the family business after the tragic death of her parents in a car accident.
A variety of tours are available to you at Château Ferrière, all of which include wine tasting, of course. One of their popular tours takes you through the history of the chateau, while another is more focused on the agricultural aspect of wine production. Book your tour at the Château here.
Where: 33 bis Rue de la Tremoille, 33460 Margaux-Cantenac
When: Mon – Sat During the tourist season and Mon to Fri the rest of the year.
How to get there from Bordeaux:
Take a train from Gare Saint Jean to Margaux (in the direction of le Verdon) and walk a few minutes to the winery. If you’re staying closer to the city center, take tram C, to get to the Blanquefort station instead of Gare Saint-Jean. The winery is located about 1km from the train station.
Château Marquis de Terme in Margaux
Another great winery to visit in Margaux is Château Marquis de Terme. The chateau offers wine tasting without a tour in case you’re not interested in yet another explanation about how wine is made. The visit is particularly fun over the summer, as sometimes they open a wine bar in their garden. Château Marquis de Terme also has a great restaurant, which is yet another reason to go there. You can book your visit here.
Where: 3 Rte de Rauzan, 33460 Margaux
When: Daily during the summer season and weekdays during the winter season.
How to get there from Bordeaux:
How to get there from Bordeaux: take a train from Gare Saint Jean to Margaux (in the direction of le Verdon) and walk a few minutes to the winery. If you’re staying closer to the city center, take tram C, to get to the Blanquefort station instead of Gare Saint-Jean.
Visiting Graves by train
Château de Cerons – off the beaten track
Château de Cerons is one of the most impressive properties in the Graves wine region. It’s also one of the only wineries in the Graves region you can reach by public transport. A few other wineries in Graves are reachable by bike, but that’s for another article 🙂
The château is a historical Chartreuse (little house) dating back to the 17th century. The winery produces both red and white dry wines and offers a range of different visits that include wine tasting, picnic baskets with regional products, and more. You can book their tours here.
Where: 1 Latour, 33720 Cérons
When: Mon to Sat from May to October and Mon to Fri from November to April – by appointment only.
How to get there from Bordeaux:
Take the TER train from Gare Saint Jean in Bordeaux to the Cerons station. Château de Cerons is located within a 15-minute walk from the station.
Wine tours from Bordeaux city
If you’re too nervous to use public transport in Bordeaux, you can always take one of the many guided wine tours from Bordeaux. For that be sure to read my article about the best wine tours in Bordeaux.
Just to conclude, visiting wineries in the Bordeaux region is a marvelous experience that you should not miss even if you don’t have a car. In this list, you have so many amazing options for chateaux reachable by public transport! Now it’s time to choose the one you like most! Enjoy!
See other wine-related articles here:
Best wineries to visit in Saint Emilion
The Medoc wine route
Best wineries to visit in Medoc
Best family-friendly wineries in Bordeaux
Bordeaux wine region – the full guide
All the Open door events in the wineries of Bordeaux
You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:
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*Note – Some of the links in this article include affiliate links for which I earn a small commission. It adds absolutely nothing to your cost and helps me continue writing about this amazing region. Don’t worry, I’m not getting rich here, I’ll never recommend anything I don’t believe in 🙂
