While Bordeaux is not a winter city, in December it gets very festive and beautiful! Around the end of November, Christmas lights and little Pères Noels (the French Santa) are starting to decorate the streets of the city.
Like many other French cities, Bordeaux has a big Christmas market but also a few smaller, fun markets around the Metropole. In this article, I gathered all the best Christmas markets in Bordeaux in 2023, some are in Bordeaux itself and some are in other towns in Gironde.
The traditional Christmas market of Bordeaux will take place between November 24 and December 27. This is one of the biggest Christmas markets in the region with 150 pavilions selling all the traditional Christmas merchandise such as clothes, decorations, jewelry, toys, and local products.
Even if you don’t intend to buy any gifts at the market you can still enjoy the Christmas spirit with some hot wine and roasted chestnuts. For more info click here.
When: November 24 – December 27 / Where: Allées de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux
Xmas Market – Darwin
This market is gradually gaining status as one of the main Christmas markets in Bordeaux. Like Darwin itself, the Xmas market is an alternative event with craftsmen and regional creators. The market will include stands of clothes, jewelry, accessories, art objects, books, sports accessories, and organic products.
This year the market is taking place not once but twice! The dates are December 8-10 and December 15-17, for more info click here.
When: December 8-10, 15-17 / Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
IBOAT • Super marché de noël
IBOAT & Blonde Venos will host their annual Christmas market on December 2-3. IBOAT’s Christmas market is always a super fun and chic event, with plenty of stylish stands, activities for kids and alcohol :). For more details click here.
When: December 2-3 / Where: Esplanade du pertuis, cours Henri Brunet, Bassin à flot n°1, Bordeaux
Kids Day: la boum de Noel en famille
Another fun event at the Blonde Venos this year is the kids’ Christmas party that will take place on December 17. The program includes DIY workshops, tattoos, sweets, snacks, and good music. See all the details here.
When: December 17 / Where: Esplanade du pertuis, cours Henri Brunet, Bassin à flot n°1 33300 Bordeaux
Marché de Noël in Saint-Émilion
The traditional Christmas market in Saint Emilion will take place on December 16-17. You will find tens of exhibitors at the main locations of the historic center: the square of the monolithic church, the old market hall, and the cloister of the collegiate church. For more details click here.
If you want to make a fun Christmas weekend out of it, here are a few recommended hotels in Saint Emilion.
When: December 16-17 / Where: Saint Emilion – center
Arcachon fête Noël
The city of Arcachon invites you to its traditional Christmas celebration with beautiful decorations and activities for kids. The event will take place from December 9 to January 7 at Place des Marquises. See more details here.
When: December 9 – January 7 / Where: Place des Marquises, Arcachon
Marché de Noël in Bazas
Bazas will host its traditional Christmas market at the main square on December 10. Besides the traditional Christmas stands, the market will have activities for kids, concerts by local bands, and Santa Clauss of course :). For more info click here.
When: December 10 / Where: Place de la Cathédrale, 33430 Bazas
Christmas markets in other parts of Southwest France
Marché de Noël à Sarlat
If you’re in the mood to travel a bit, why not go to one of the most impressive Christmas markets in the region, le Marche de Noel of Sarlat.
Sarlat is a magical place that is worth a visit any time of the year, but this market makes it even more worthwhile. The village includes 70 chalets selling local products, clothes, decorations, hot wine and more. The market will take place on December 6-31 in the city center. For more info click here.
When: December 6-31 / Where: Place de la Grande Rigaudie , 24200 Sarlat-la-canéda
Noël à Bergerac
Another great destination in Dordogne which is much closer to Bordeaux is Bergerac. Bergerac is one of the best Christmas markets in the south-west region with tens of stands, beautiful decorations and activities for kids. The market and the kids’ village will take place on December 9-24. More details are to come soon on this website.
When: December 9-24/ Where: different locations in 24100 Bergerac
Throughout the month I’ll give plenty of updates about Christmas-related events in and around Bordeaux in my newsletter so be sure to subscribe here.
Also, if it’s your first time in the region, know that many wineries are open during December as well, so it’s worth contacting them and scheduling a meeting. If you’re planning to go to Saint Emilion here are my recommendations for wineries to visit there. If you’re more into Medoc wine, in this article you’ll find plenty of wineries to visit in the Medoc wine region. If you rather stay in Bordeaux city, Chateau Pape Clement is a great winery to visit by public transport from the city center – book a visit here.
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:
As someone living in this city, writing an article about things to do on a weekend in Bordeaux is not as easy as you might think. In the last few years, this amazing city has been booming with festivals, art events, amazing coffee places, and a sea of gastronomic restaurants. So choosing the best things to do over a few days is almost impossible, but I will give it a try nevertheless 🙂
I have a longer article where I talk about my 50 favorite things to do in Bordeaux and its region. However, if you have only a few days to spend here, this article will guide you step-by-step through all the must-see things Bordeaux has to offer.
For many years, Bordeaux was nicknamed the sleeping beauty. A stunning city turned into a somewhat shady town following years of neglect. However, in the last two decades, the beautify has been awakened following a massive restoration work done by its administration. The goal was to make Bordeaux an attractive town to tourists again and give it back its well-deserved glory.
The makeover included the restoration of monuments, modern tram lines, a building of a long beautiful promenade, an extensive cleaning of all the facades, and more. That plan was a great success with Bordeaux becoming one of the most interesting and popular destinations in Europe in the last decade.
Bordeaux has 362 historic monuments (second only to Paris), to visit them all will probably take weeks. So here in this article, I will cover only the most interesting/ beautiful ones. If you’re interested in a more deep understanding of the history and architecture of Bordeau you might consider the two hours guided walking tour, offered by the tourist office. Or a guided bicycle tour that will allow you to discover some of the most interesting spots in Bordeau in just a few hours.
Cycling in Bordeaux – by lost in Bordeaux
Also, despite it being the world capital of wine, I did not include wine-related activities in this article. I believe you need more than two days from that. If however, you do want to include a wine-related experience on your visit here, check out my articles about the Bordeaux wine region and wineries in Saint Emilion.
Although this guide proposes a specific route to follow, feel free to take whatever you want from the list, and adapt it to your style of travel. You can switch the order of places you’re planning to visit but pay attention to things that are taking place only on Saturdays or Sundays. This list is quite dense so if you come for more than two days, feel free to reduce the pace and take some time to visit the city more calmly, and enjoy its cafés and the general atmosphere.
One last thing before we dive in. If you’re looking for a hotel to stay in during your visit here, check out my posts about the best districts in Bordeaux and about the best places to stay in Bordeaux. I’ve included some beautiful boutique hotels and several more affordable ones.
*If you’re also planning to visit Toulouse while traveling in the region read my detailed guide to a weekend in Toulouse.
A weekend in Bordeaux -Day 1
Place de la Victoire
Start your day from Place de la Victoire, on the southern end of Bordeaux’s shopping street rue Sainte Catherine. The impressive square you can recognize by the 18th-century arc and the marble obelisk at its center.
Place de la Victoire – by Lost in Bordeaux
Its proximity to the busiest street in the city, the University campus, and the numerous cafes and bars give it a very young and happy vibe. It’s not one of my favorite squares in Bordeaux but it’s a great place to start your discovery tour of Bordeaux. If you only have one day in Bordeaux, you can skip Place de la Victoire and focus on the most beautiful monuments in the city.
Marché des Capucins – discover local gastronomy
It’s never too early to start your gastronomic discovery of Bordeaux and for that, there’s no better place than Marché des Capucins.
The Capucins, the biggest daily market in Bordeaux has everything from stands of fruits and vegetables, sweets, spices, and a bunch of lively cafés and restaurants. It’s the best place to taste some of the specialties of this region like oysters, duck products, and sheep cheese.
It’s a covered market so you can enjoy it on the city’s numerous rainy days. Most cafes and restaurants also have tables outside where you can have a coffee or an early lunch. During the weekend, the market is packed with locals, who gather to eat oysters accompanied by white wine. Be sure to come early if you want to catch a table.
Marché des Capucins – for an early lunch with the locals
Before you go, be sure to check out my article about the best places to eat at the Marché des Capucins. The market is open from Tuesday to Sunday, however, be aware that not all the restaurants and stands are open on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Now after opening the morning at the market we can start touring Bordeaux and admire its beautiful architecture.
If you followed my advice and went to the market, your next destination should be Saint Michel. From Place des Capucins continue to rue Clare which brings you to the heart of the Saint Michel neighborhood. If you don’t have two full days in Bordeaux skip Saint Michel and go to the next item.
Discover the Saint Michel neighborhood
Saint Michel is skipped by many tourists. But I think that its authentic atmosphere, chic cafes, and markets make it one of the more interesting places in Bordeaux. There are many things to do and see in this area and you have more time to discover the neighborhood, be sure to read my detailed guide to Saint Michel. If, however, you are short in time and just want the “best of”, this is what I suggest:
The Basilica of Saint Michel – classified as a world heritage by UNESCO in 1998 stands at the heart of this lively neighborhood. It is located on the main square, Place Meynard, surrounded by plenty of cafes, restaurants, and bars.
la Flèche Saint-Michel – Just next to the basilica you’ll find the Saint Michel bell tower, one of the main monuments of the city. I highly recommend climbing it to see a magnificent view of Bordeaux.
The view from la Flèche Saint-Michel
The market on Saturday – Every Saturday there’s a local market around the Basilica. Even if you don’t need to buy anything I’d still recommend going there on a Saturday morning just for the atmosphere
Antiques – if you love antique markets, whether it’s to buy or just to have a look, you’re at the right place. This neighborhood has several antique places that are open daily. Check out my guide to Saint Michel for a detailed list of addresses.
We are now going to enter the historic center of Bordeaux! If you’re short on time, I recommend starting the tour here!
The Grosse Cloche – one of the most impressive monuments in Bordeaux
From Place Meynard (in Saint Michel) take rue des Faures to get to one of the main streets in the center of Bordeaux (rue Victor Hugo). After a minute’s walk, on your right, you’ll see the spectacular bell town called the Grosse Cloche.
The 15th-century bell tower is one of the most prominent symbols of Bordeaux. The gate was built on the remains of Porte Saint-Éloy, through which the pilgrims of Saint Jacques passed on their way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
You will now be entering the historic center of Bordeaux through the Quartier de la Grosse Cloche/ Saint Paul. Let yourself be charmed by the narrow paved streets of this small neighborhood. It’s one of my favorite districts of Bordeaux, full of chic cafés and boutiques.
Rue Saint James
The first street you encounter when entering through the Grosse Cloche gate is Rue Saint James. This is one of the most charming streets in the neighborhood, with beautiful coffee shops (such as books and coffee ) chic boutiques, and specialized shops. Take some time to discover this street as well as the lovely narrow streets around it.
Quartier de la Grosse Cloche – by Lost in Bordeaux
Continue on the street until you get to Place Fernand Lafargue. A long time ago this square used to be the city’s market and today it’s one of the best spots for a nice Lunch. The square and the emerging streets are a real food hub with plenty of cafes, bars, and a variety of restaurants from hamburgers to Sushi and Ramen soup.
A few of my recommendations areApollo bar for a drink, Wine More Time for a glass of wine, Frida restaurant for a brunch on a nice terrace, Kokomo for a great hamburger, and Piha for a great coffee.
After you finish strolling around the Grosse Cloche continue on Cr d’Alsace-et-Lorraine until you get to rue Sainte Catherine.
Shop on rue Sainte-Catherine
Sainte Catherine is the longest pedestrian street in France. A long strip of shops where you can find all main clothing retail stores as well as boutiques of cosmetics, jewelry, books, and more.
The Southern part of the street (closer to Place de la Victoire) is where you’ll find most of the cheap clothing shops. The big chain clothing stores are located in the northern part of the streets. After you finish your shopping go back to Place Saint Projet, a square in the middle of rue Sainte Catherine. Now take rue des Trois-Conils and walk towards the main cathedral of Bordeaux on Place Pey Berland.
Sainte Catharine – the main shopping street in Bordeaux
Visit the main Cathedral of Bordeaux on Place Pey Berland
Place Pey Berland is one of the most central squares of Bordeaux and home to the main Cathedral of Bordeaux and its town hall. It’s also one of the liveliest neighborhoods in Bordeaux with many coffee places, chocolate shops, museums, and art galleries.
Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux
The Cathedral of Saint André is the main church of Bordeaux and the seat of the Archbishop of Bordeaux. It is a Roman Catholic church that was labeled as a national monument of France. In the evening the Cathedral often hosts concerts of classical music, choirs, and an organ festival during the summer. You can check out more info about the concerts here.
Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux
Tour Pey Berland
Just next to the Cathedral, you’ll find its 15th-century bell tower – la Tour Pey Berland. On the top of the tower, the statue of Notre Dame d’Aquitaine rises to the height of 66 m.
If you want to enjoy a beautiful view of Bordeaux climb the 231 stairs of the tower to get to the top. A ticket to the bell tower is 6 euros and free to people below 26 years old. I recommend climbing it only if the weather is good, otherwise, you won’t see much. See the hours and buy tickets here. *If you have the Bordeaux City Pass, you get free entry to the Tour Pey Berland.
Good places for a coffee break:
Although I’m not a big fan of French coffee, somehow Bordeaux has figured out the secrets of a great brew. Some of the best coffee places in the city are actually in this central neighborhood, among them: Sip, Black list, and l’alchimiste café. If you’re a coffee-lover check out my article about Five coffee places in Bordeaux you don’t want to miss.
L’alchimiste café – by Lost in Bordeaux
Other interesting streets in the Pey Berland neighborhood
From Place Pey Berland continue on rue Vital Carles, alongside the tram B line which goes through the main spots of the center of Bordeaux. On your left, don’t miss one of the city’s establishments – LibrairieMollat, the oldest independent bookstore in France since 1896.
Another place worth mentioning is Porte Dijeaux. This pretty arc is another gate to the historic center of Bordeaux and has been classified as a historic monument in 1921.
Here are three museums in the neighborhood you should know about (all three have free entry with the Bordeaux City Pass):
Musée des Beaux-Arts: is the fine-art museum of Bordeaux and one of the largest art galleries in France outside Paris. See the ongoing exhibitions on their website.
The address: 20 Cours d’Albret, 33000 Bordeaux
Museum of Decorative Arts of Bordeaux – installed in a beautiful chateau, the museum is home to collections of furniture, ceramics, and many other objects dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum also has a nice outdoor coffee place in the beautiful courtyard of the building. See the ongoing exhibitions on their website.
Address: 39 Rue Bouffard, 33000 Bordeaux
Musée des arts décoratifs bordeaux
Musée d’Aquitaine – If you want to learn about the history and archaeology of Bordeaux and its region (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), this is your best source.
Address: 20 Cours Pasteur, 33000 BordeauxIf you skipped the museums continue walking on Vital Carles street and be ready for a beautiful surprise. At the end of the street, you will turn right to one of the most impressive streets of Bordeaux Cours de l’Intendance. This street conveys the feeling of Bordeaux – historic, beautiful, and very calm- just stand there and take a breath for a second.
Cours de l’Intendance – by Lost in Bordeaux
Continue on Cours de l’Intendance until you get to Place de la Comédie.
Grand Théâtre – one of the landmarks of Bordeaux
The beautiful 18th-century building on Place de la Comédie will be hard to miss. The Grand Théâtre, the home of the National Opera of Bordeaux is one of Bordeaux’s most important landmarks.
Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux
If you have the chance, try to book tickets to one of the concerts at the Opera or the national ballet. If you speak French, I recommend taking a tour of the Grand Théâtre. The tours take place twice a week, not during school breaks or the summer period. You can book your visit here.
Have a fancy meal in one of Bordeaux’s great restaurants
If you want to have a fancy meal while in Bordeaux, Place de la Comedie and its surrounding streets are one of the main spots for fine dining in Bordeaux.
One of my favorite restaurants in Bordeaux is le Quatrième Mur, which belongs to the famous French chef Philippe Etchebest. The restaurant is located inside the Opera of Bordeaux complete with all its lavish decor.
There are of course many other amazing restaurants in Bordeaux such as Bo Tanique, Lauza, and Mably.
Place des Quinconces
Place des Quinconces
Next on our list is Place des Quinconces, the largest city square in France and one of the biggest ones in Europe. On one of the sides of this enormous square, you’ll find le Monument aux Girondins, a spectacular monument dedicated to the members of a political faction that were killed during the French Revolution.
Throughout the year, many different events, festivals, and fairs (like the Brocante de Quinconces and the Foire aux Plaisirs) take place on this square. I tend to write a lot about the events that take place in Bordeaux in my newsletter and monthly to-do lists in Bordeaux.
The tram passing Place de Quinconces
If you’ve been following my guide so far, you’ve probably walked quite a bit. This would be the perfect time to rest in one of Bordeaux’s most beautiful parks. From Place des, Quinconces continue to Cours du Marechal Foch until you get to Jardin Public.
Do a picnic in Jardin Public
Jardin Public is the largest park in the center of Bordeaux with more than 300 trees and vast green planes – a perfect place for a picnic. It has a large pond (with ducks and geese!), great facilities for kids, and even a nice coffee place. If you’re traveling with kids, it’s really worth visiting the Natural history museum which is situated in the park.
If you want to know more about parks and gardens in Bordeaux check out my article with plenty of places for picnics in Bordeaux.
Now back to the city and to the last stop on the first day of discovering Bordeaux – the Chartrons neighborhood.
Leave the park from Cours Xavier Arnozan and continue towards the Garonne river. On your right don’t miss the CAPC, the Contemporary art museum of Bordeaux. This beautiful building was previously used as a warehouse for colonial foodstuffs and today is the house of contemporary art in Bordeaux, curating many exhibitions.
Visit the northern chic district of Bordeaux – Les Chartrons
Located to the north of Bordeaux’s center, Chartrons is a very popular neighborhood with chic boutiques, antiques, and a lot of restaurants. The most interesting part of Chartrons is the main street, rue Notre Dame which is also one of the most foodie streets in Bordeaux. Don’t miss Eglise Saint-Louis des Chartrons, a 19th-century Neo-Gothic church.
rue Notre Dame – by Lost in Bordeaux
Turn left straight after the church to get to the heart of the neighborhood- Halle des Chartrons. There are plenty of restaurants around the central square, with good lunch menus. The Halle des Chartrons often hosts activities and exhibitions, so take a peek inside to see if there’s anything going on.
If you want to discover all the interesting places you can visit in the Chartrons district check out my article about the best things to do in Chartrons.
How to spend a weekend in Bordeaux – Day 2
Start the day at Place du Palais Station (Tram A) to enter the Saint Pierre Neighborhood.
Enjoy the squares of the Saint Pierre neighborhood
Saint Pierre is the most ancient district of Bordeaux and the tourist heart of the city. There aren’t any major monuments to see in this part of town but the little narrow paved streets and the beautiful lively squares are what make it one of the more pleasant places in Bordeaux.
I’ll mention some of the best things to do in this neighborhood, but I really recommend just taking a few hours to get lost in the charming narrow streets and get a feel of historic Bordeaux.
rue Parlement Saint Pierre in Saint Pierre – by Lost in Bordeaux
Porte Cailhau
From Cours d’Alsace et Lorraine turn to place du Palais. This is the first of many squares you’ll see while touring the neighborhood and probably the most beautiful one.
The magnificent Porte Cailhau, a monument that looks like it has been taken from a fairy tale cannot be missed. This gate was built in 1495 to commemorate the glory of king Charles VIII. On the square itself, you’ll find a few nice cafes and restaurants with a view of the medieval gate.
One I particularly like here is Tutiac, Le Bistro Vignerons.
Porte Cailhau on Place de Palais
There are three other squares worth mentioning in this neighborhood, all of which are beautiful and abundant with cute terrace restaurants. Each one is quite unique and worth a visit, but if you don’t have much time don’t feel obligated to visit all the squares.
Place Camille Julian
Place Camille Julianis one of the busiest squares in towns. Its main highlight is Utopia, a monastery turned into a cinema with a varied program of both blockbuster movies and small independent films.
Place Saint Pierre
The little square of Place Saint Pierre is where Bordeaux was born in the 3rd century. In the center stands the main church of the neighborhood Gothic Flamboyant styled Église Saint-Pierre. This historic monument used to be the main praying temple of the craftsmen and traders living in the area in medieval times.
Place du Parlement
Another beautiful square in this lovely neighborhood is Place du Parlement, which was classified as a historic monument in 1952. This is yet another spot with many cafés with tables outside, perfect for a sunny day in Bordeaux. The Parlement square is located just a few steps from one of the important squares of Bordeaux – Place de la Bourse.
Place du Parlement
Miroir d’eau – the most popular attraction in Bordeaux
From Place du Parlement continue to rue Fernand Philippart until you reach Place de la Bourse, a masterpiece of classic French architecture from the 18th century. Don’t miss the famous mascarons of Bordeaux, the little faces looking at you from the arches of the buildings. There are more than 3000 of them decorating the buildings and monuments of Bordeaux.
In front, on the quay of the Garonne river, you’ll find one of the most popular attractions in Bordeaux – le Miroir d’eau! This modern monument, built in 2006, is the world’s largest reflecting pool. The surface is made from blue granite covered in water, reflecting the 18th-century Place de la Bourse.
le Miroir d’eau – the world’s largest reflecting pool
During the summer months, the system of le miroir d’eau operates in cycles of 15 minutes creating a shallow pool where you can wet your feet. The sight of little kids running in the water creates one of the most beautiful and photogenic moments that you can experience in Bordeaux.
Take a walk on the quai – Bordeaux’s promenade
The promenade on the board of the Garonne is one of Bordeaux’s highlights. In recent years, since the renovation of the area, the riverfront became one of the city’s most central spots, hosting many events and festivals during the summer.
The 4.5 km promenade is also perfect for a walk or a bicycle tour. The most interesting part of it is between the two bridges of Bordeaux – Pont Saint Pierre in the center and Pont Chaban Delmas in the north of the city. This trail includes the water mirror as well as big playgrounds for kids, restaurants with a view of the river, and the Chartrons Market, which is our next stop.
One of the best markets in Bordeaux takes place every Sunday morning at Quai de Chartrons. The Chartrons market hosts dozens of food stalls, fruits, vegetables, cheese, fish, and plenty of food trucks.
Marche des Quais – by Lost in Bordeaux
The market is usually quite busy with both locals and tourists, especially if you come towards noon, but it’s still worth the visit. For many visitors, the main attraction is the few stalls with oysters and a bottle of dry white wine. This, in a way, embodies life in the region 🙂
From here (if you have more time left) will start discovering Bacalan, the northern district of Bordeaux, with is rather different from the center of Bordeaux. From the market just continue walking north on the riverfront until you reach the Chaban Delmas bridge.
Pont Chaban Delmas – by Lost in Bordeaux
Pont Chaban Delmas
Pont Chaban Delmas is a modern bridge, named after the previous mayor of the city, which was inaugurated in 2013. It’s the longest vertical-lift bridge in Europe and seeing it elevating to let the tall ships pass is a very impressive sight. On the way there you will pass by several hangars that were turned into restaurants, boutiques, and a fantastic science museum for kids (Cap Sciences).
La Cité du Vin – Bordeaux wine museum
Just next to the bridge, you’ll find one of Bordeaux’s main attractions – la cité du vin. The wine museum of Bordeaux is a one-of-a-kind cultural center, all dedicated to discovering the wine world. It’s a “must” place for wine lovers but can also be very interesting and enjoyable for people who don’t drink at all.
The museum offers an immersive exhibition to help you discover both French and global wine history. You will learn about winemaking, see movies and interviews with wine producers and then smell and taste wine.
Click here to buy tickets to the wine museum in advance to avoid the line.
Read more about visiting the world’s best wine museum in my article about the Cité du Vin.
Les Halles de Bacalan
Les Halles de Bacalan is a covered market that was inaugurated in 2017 and immediately became one of the most popular spots in Bordeaux. This impressive 950m2 hangar is located just in front of the famous Cité du vin and hosts tens of stalls with amazing food and drinks.It’s a perfect place to stop by for a snack or a drink when discovering the Bacalan district.
Les Halles de Bacalan – a new covered market
Take a boat to the other side of the Garonne
Now it’s time to discover the other side of the Garonne river – the Bastide neighborhood. It’s yet another district of Bordeaux worth exploring if you have time. There are a few ways to get to the Bastide district. You can either cross the bridge (it’s a very nice walk but will take some time), take a bus or take a boat.
Since 2013 the public transport system in Bordeaux has introduced a ferry (navette fluviale) that will cross you over to the other side. The ferry which operates from 7 am to 7 pm, stops at five stations: Stalingrad, Quinconces, les Hangars, La Cité du Vin and Lormont. If you followed my guide up to now, take the navette at La Cité du Vin and get down at Stalingrad (on the other side of the river).
You can use the boat and all other public transport in Bordeaux free of charge if you have the Bordeaux City Pass.
Jardin Botanique
Arriving from Place de Stalingrad you have a nice walk on the riverfront to get to our next stop. On the way don’t miss le Jardin Botanique de Bordeaux. This beautiful park was created to allow the wide public to discover the world of plants, biodiversity, and sustainability. It’s definitely not a must-stop, but can be a great spot for a picnic with kids.
From the part continue straight on the riverfront until you get to our next stop – Darwin.
Darwin – the hipster hub of Bordeaux
Darwin is probably one of the most surprising places in Bordeaux. An old military base turned into an urban space with a workspace/incubator for startups, a skate park for all ages, a restaurant, and many other surprises, all with an agenda of ecological awareness.
Whether alone or with kids you can spend hours in Darwin. One of the buildings hosts the restaurant and the Darwin products store with a huge selection of different organic products.
Darwin – one of the coolest places in Bordeaux
Darwin is also an extraordinary hub of street art done by many local and international street artists. The place hosts many cool events so don’t be surprised if suddenly you see an artisan market or a collection of old cars on display.
This is the end of our weekend journey in Bordeaux! Before I leave you, here are some useful links:
Useful links and info when visiting Bordeaux
The Bordeaux expats blog is a great source of info for people considering moving to Bordeaux.
The site of the tourist office in Bordeaux has loads of information about all the points of interest in the city as well as about most of the main events. They also offer a lot of tours in and around Bordeaux – so check it out here.
The official site of Bordeaux offers a lot of interesting info about the places you will see (in French)- read it here.
As I said, Bordeaux has a lot to offer! It’s hard to see everything if you only have a day or two but don’t be stressed, just take the time to enjoy the city.
Before we end I want to help out those who are looking for accommodation in Bordeaux! If you’re looking for a hotel, I have an article with recommendations about the best hotels in Bordeaux for different budgets. If you’re looking for an Airbnb or just want to understand where you should stay in Bordeaux, you should definitely read my Bordeaux districts guide.
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:
If you like this article and want to read it again when you’re in Bordeaux – Save it to your Pinterest board!
*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 🙂
When my family and I decided to move from Paris to Bordeaux, practically everyone guaranteed that the hot weather is the real bonus of moving to the South of France. “No more rainy days being stuck at home with the kids” I thought to myself. Boy, was I wrong! Although there are a lot of sunny and hot days in Bordeaux, not many people know that on average it’s raining here 170 days a year. Almost every weekend I see people on social media asking: what do I do with the kids when it’s pouring rain outside and you can’t go to the park? Apparently a lot!!! You just have to know about it. So I’ve made a list of all the fun indoor things you can do with your kids when it is raining in Bordeaux:
Cap sciences
If you want a fun activity which is also educative then Cap Sciences is the place for you. It is located on Quai de Bacalan, in a beautiful spot with a view on the Jacques Chaban-Delmas bridge. The museum proposes interactive exhibitions and activities all dedicated to different aspects of science. Another interesting feature of the museum are the workshops that are dedicated to kids of different age groups (3-6, 6-12 and 8-14 years old) among them you can find photography, molecular k kitchen, eco-citizens and more. And while your kids are busy exploring the wonders of the universe, you can enjoy the amazing view of the Garonne river from the terraces of the “Cafe des sciences”. The museum is open Tue- Fri from 14-18 and from 14 to 19 on weekends. The prices varies according to the exhibition and a 50% is given to holders of the Carte Jeunes.
Address: Cap Sciences – Hangar 20 – Quai de Bacalan – 33300 Bordeaux
credit: Cap-Sciences Bordeaux
Natural History Museum
Bordeaux natural history museum
After years of renovations the museum of natural history of Bordeaux has finally opened its doors on March 2019. Created in 1971, the museum has one of the biggest collections in France with more than a million specimens. Besides the new design and the incredible collection, one of the new features in the renovated museum is the “Early Years Museum” for kids under 6 years old.
Where: 5 Place Bardineau, 33000 Bordeaux
Skating in darwin
Darwin eco-system is where the cool kids go :). An ancient military base, located in the Bastide neighborhood on the right side of the river, that has been turned into a place full of innovation and surprises for both parents and kids. And although it seems like a perfect spot for a sunny weather it has a lot to offer indoors as well, notably the skating park. As part of its environmental friendly agenda, the skate house is made of recycled materials and has a special cultural landscape of street art and electronic music. Your kids will love it!
In order to skate in the hangar you would have to pay a member fee of €5 and then €3 for the whole day every time you come. Open everyday except Monday.
Address: 87 Quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
Ice skating in La Patinoire de Mériadeck
For even colder days, you can get into the winter spirit with ice skating. La Patinoire de Mériadeck is a sports complex in Bordeaux center that hosts hockey games as well as many different concerts. However, several days a week the place is open to the public and you can come with your family and enjoy ice skating in this huge arena. The Patinoire is open on Wednesday afternoon, Thursday, and Friday evening and from the morning on Saturday and Sunday (with a lunch break). The prices range between € 5.70 to € 8,30 (depending on your age and if you need skates or not) and free for kids under 5.
As the Patinoire hosts many different events during the year, its opening hours might change from time to time, so before heading there with your kids, check out the schedule.
Address: 95 cours du Maréchal Juin 33000 Bordeaux
Royal Kids in Pessac
There are some days when you just have to get your little ones out of the house to release all their energy, so if it’s raining non-stop and you can’t take them to the park, take them to Royal Kids in Pessac. Royal Kids is an indoor soft play with different structures adopted for kids from 0 to 12 years old. The place is open on Tue, Wed, Fri , Sat and Sun and every day during school break. The prices varies according to the age and number of kids in the family (between €4.5 and €9) and the entrance is free for kids under 1 years old and over 13 years old.
Address: 6 Rue Henri de Châtelier, 33600 Pessac
Karting and Bowling
If your kids are a bit older (over 11 years old) and you need an activity with more action, karting is always a good idea. There are two karting facilities in Bordeaux, one in Bordeaux-Lac (indoor) and the other one in Merignac (outdoor), both belong to Kart System.
However, Kart system is not only a karting place, you can easily make a family fun day out of it. In Bordeaux- lac, additionally to the huge karting indoor space there is a bowling alley with 20 lanes as well as 13 billiard tables with a bar. Kart-System in Bordeaux-Lac is open 7 days a week from 14:00.
Address: KART System INDOOR – Rue du grand Barail – 33300 Bordeaux Lac
Jump in the Trampoline park
Another great place for the whole family is the Let’s Jump Trampoline Park which is also located next to Bordeaux Lac. The Trampoline park has a 500m² of trampolines where besides jumping you can play dodgeball, trampoline basketball or (trying to) walk on a tightrope. Kids over 3 years old are welcomed to the park and the prices are €8 for 5-6 years old and €12 for the rest (there’s also a discount with a student cart) for one hour, it’s recommended to reserve a spot in advance.
Address: 49 Rue Pierre Baour, 33300 Bordeaux
Enjoy lunch while your kids playing in Kidooland
kidooland by lost in Bordeaux
In this soft play wonderland you can enjoy a lunch while someone is watching your little kids enjoying 1000m² of soft playground. The Kidooland facility includes many inflatable installation for kids whose height is under 140cm, with the goal to make it a safe space for little kids. Apart from the soft-play space the place organizes artistic workshops: comics, painting, photography, theater and more. Kiddoland is closed on on Mon and Thur and the price is €9 for half a day and free for the parents.
Address: 280 Boulevard Alfred Daney – 33300 Bordeaux
Climb on Blocks in Block’Out
If your family needs more action try climbing on blocs! Block’Out Bordeaux is the first climbing center dedicated to bloc climbing to open in Bordeaux, with a huge selection of structures and more than 1,100 m² of climbing surface. The place is equipped with 45 blocs and 7 different levels so that both beginners and professionals can enjoy this activity. Block’Out runs climbing courses for both adults and kids (7 years old and up) and it’s open every day of the week.
Address: 3 Rue Georges Barres, 33300 Bordeaux
Magic Makers
When the weather is bad many kids are stuck in front of the screen. This could be a good opportunity to discover if they like to create their own video games or to learn coding in general. To help them discover the digital world take them to an atelier at Magic Makers in Chartrons. Every Saturday at 13:30 Magic Makers invites children and teenagers between the ages of 6 and 15 to learn programming like adults and to enjoy themselves with other potential coding geeks 🙂 The price is €15 for every atelier.
Address: 60 Cours de la Martinique 33000 BORDEAUX
Bibliothèque Mériadeck
This activity for rainy days is fun, educative and totally free! If your kids are interested in books, the Bibliothèque in Mériadeck has a library for kids between 0 and 13 years old. The place includes novels, comics, manga, music, movies and even a coloring space for younger kids. Apart from books the Meriadeck library also hosts different events such as little shows for kids, story time and video games in groups.
Address: 85 cours du Maréchal Juin 33000 Bordeaux
La Parentèle for babies and toddlers
Last but not least, if your kids are too young for most of these activities, don’t be discouraged! La parentele hosts families with little kids every day except Sunday and it’s free. The Parentele is an indoor space for babies and toddlers where you will find a play area for different ages, a lot of toys, books, colors and a large space with coffee for parents to have a chat (while watching their kids of course). As the Parentele is open for all, it is limited for one hour and a half, but I guess for a toddler it is more than enough.
Address: 2 rue Courpon – 33000 Bordeaux
So next time you see clouds approaching, don’t panic! Bordeaux offers great indoor activities to keep you and your kids occupied.
If you know of any other places to escape the rain with the kids, please let us know in the comments below.
The summer is barely over but I know that many already start planning their Halloween so I’m releasing the list early this year. Having said that, most places that usually host Halloween parties haven’t published their events yet, so please try to check this list in a week or so for more updates.
Here’s a list of Halloween events taking place in the Bordeaux region (and some in Dordogne) in 2023.
The Zombie Walk of Bordeaux is probably one of the best ways to get into the Halloween spirit. This year the event will take place on October 21, starting at 14:00 at la Place de la Victoire. See all the details here.
Thriller Party : Le Bal des Loups-Garous
Blonde Venus, located at the Bassin a Flot is hosting its annual Halloween party, this year’s theme is “Thriller – The Werewolf Ball”. The party will take place on October 31st, see all the details and tickets here.
Halloween Roller Party – Darwin
On October 31, Darwin is hosting a Halloween Roller Party. See all the details here.
Château de Vayres
Château de Vayres always hosts the best Halloween events! This year their Halloween weekend will take place on October 28-29 with all the Halloween classics: witches, phantoms, and werewolves. The two-day event will be accompanied by exceptional Halloween decorations and plenty of activities. For more details click here.
Also, throughout the upcoming school break (until November 3), the chateau will host afternoons for kids (3-12 years old) with workshops to create monsters and different surprises in the château and its beautiful gardens. For more info and reservation click here.
Halloween au Château de Villandraut
Château de Villandraut never disappoints and like every year they offer a great Halloween program. This year the events will take place f on October 29 -31 with a program that includes a treasure hunt, a murder party, and more. Check out all the details here and here.
Blonde Venus • Halloween: Kids Day monstrueux
Another fun Halloween event at the Blonde Venus (Iboat) is dedicated to kids! On October 22, they will be hosting a party with DIY mask workshops, music, and sweet surprises. See more details here.
A Halloween party at the IBOAT
Halloween brunch and kids party- Mama Shelter
Mama Shelter never misses a chance to celebrate Halloween! This year they are hosting a kids’ Halloween party on Saturday afternoon (October 28) and two Halloween brunches on Sunday (October 22 and October 29) – with a babysitting service included 🙂
Reservations are a must for both events. See more details here.
The Temple Halloween Party
A very cool costume party will take place on October 31 at the Temple gym in the Bastide neighborhood, with plenty of fun surprises for kids and adults.
You must reserve your spot, all the details are here.
Halloween au Château de Duras
Château de Duras will celebrate its annual Halloween party on October 31. The party is for adults and kids over 10 years old, you can buy tickets here. From October 21 to November 5 (the autumn school break) Château de Duras will also host plenty of activities and workshops for younger kids. See all the details here.
School of witches in Château de Bridoire
If you don’t mind traveling a bit then you would also enjoy this event. The Château de Bridoire in Dordogne, also known as the Castle of Games, is hosting a game called The School of Witches, which should be fun for both kids and adults. The activities are about to take place daily during the kids’ fall break from October 21 to November 5.
On the weekend of October 27 – 31, the château is also organizing Halloween nights with a murder party escape game. See all the details here.
Students Halloween Party
A big Halloween party for the students of Bordeaux organized by the International Students Network will take place on October 27. See all the details here.
Arcachon Fête Halloween
Like every year, the town of Arcachon is hosting a big Halloween event in the city center on October 28. All the details will be published here.
Halloween & fête de la citrouille
The town of Cadaujac is hosting a fun event on October 31 that will combine the two best things of this period: Halloween and pumpkins! Plenty of fun activities will be offered to kids depending on their age: games for the little ones and a more scary activity for older kids at the Chateau.Halloween et sa fête de la Citrouille will take place at Le Parc du Château. See all the details here.
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:
This weekend (June 14-18) Bordeaux will turn into a big wine celebration, marking the 20th year anniversary of “Bordeaux Fête le Vin”, one of the largest wine festivals in the world, a biannual event taking place in Bordeaux since 1998. Every two years, the banks of the Garonne are inviting wine lovers to five unforgettable days of events all dedicated to discovering the wines of Bordeaux and its region, Nouvelle aquitaine. But “Bordeaux Fête le Vin” is much more than a wine celebration! Visitors will be able to enjoy many events like visiting the beautiful tall ships, daily fireworks and music concerts. In this post I packed all the details you’ll need to plan your visit.
So how does it work?
This event allows you to taste wines from more than 80 appellations from Bordeaux and the Nouvelle – Aquitaine area and meet the wine makers and other professionals from the domain. While the event is free, in order to actually taste the wines you will have to buy the “Pass dégustation” that will cost you 21 euros. You can use the pass for the whole event (5 days).
Pass dégustation for the Bordeaux wine festival
What does the pass include:
One wine glass with its red cute case to carry it around the festival
12 wine tastings: one from each of the 11 pavilions and an additional one of your choice. The pass is not personal so if you don’t need 12 wine glasses share the pass with friends.
A workshop at the pavilion of the Bordeaux wine school.
A daily public transport ticket (tram, bus, boat) that you can use in only one of the festival days
Participation in the festival raffle
Reduced prices to the guided wine themed exhibitions in Musée d’Aquitaine, Musée des Beaux- Arts and Musée du Vin et du Négoce de Bordeaux.
The pass is valid from Thursday to Sunday (June 14-17) from 10:30 to 23:30 and on Monday (June 18) from 10:00 to 18:00.
Where and when can I get the pass?
You can either purchas the pass online or buy it in one of the three information/selling points along the banks of the river. Either way in order to get the pass itself and the wine glass, you will have to reach one of these three points:
Locations: Chartrons, Quinconces, Cailhau (you will see them in front of the promenade).
Opening hours: Thursday to Sunday (June 14-17) from 10:30 to 23:00 and Monday (June 18) from 10:00 to 18:00.
See the ships parade in Bordeaux
What other activities are on?
la Fête du vin de Bordeaux is so much more than just wine tasting. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the wine festival 30 amazing tall ships are about to arrive to Bordeaux on Thursday the 14th, and you’ll get a chance to visit them.
Here is the list of all you can do besides tasting wine:
Visit the ships- For the five days of the Fête le Vin (June 14-18), 30 tall ships will be docking along the banks of the river, arriving from many different European destinations. About 20 of these are going to be open to the public where you could take a free tour on the decks and discover the ships and their equipment. You can learn more about these special ships and their stories here.
The ships parade– you can see the beautiful parade of all the 30 boats leaving Bordeaux on Monday the 18th at 11:00.
The crew parade – The crew of the Tall ships are coming to Bordeaux from England, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, India and different ports in France. Saturday the 16th at 16:00 the crews parade, from soldiers to young trainees will march along the quai from Miroir d’eau throug Cours du Chapeau rouge, Place de la Comédie and Colonne des Girondins and will finis at Place Munich.
Fireworks – every evening at 23:30 the festival will welcome the night with an incredible pyrotechnic show that will be seen from the quais.
Sailing on the Garonne – three of the boats will offer one hour daily trips on the Garrone between Pont de Pierre to Pont Chaban-Delmas. The price is 15€ for adults and 8€ for kids. The sailing will take place June 14-17. See more info here.
Deck parties – two ships, la Caravelle Vera Cruz and le l’Étoile du Roy, will hosts evening parties of two hours from Thursday to Sunday (June 14-17) at 22:00. The ticket to the party includes two glasses of wine of Bordeaux or Nouvelle- Aquitaine, some snacks and non-alcoholic drinks for kids. The price is 25 € for adults and 15 € for kids (5-15 years old) and free for kids under 5 years old.
Concerts – throughout the festival plenty of concerts and shows will take place all around the city. See the full list of concerts here.
LOVE-LOVE-LOVE event – Friday the 15th at 18:00, the National Opera of Bordeaux will give one concert in Darwin as part of the Bio wines celebration. See more info here. The price is 10€.
Big Wheel– if you’re coming to the festival with kids and they get a bit bored, take them to the big wheel installed at Place des Quinconces (5€).
Meet the crew of the big ships that arrived especially for the wine festival
Grand Crus Weekend
One of the most interesting events accompanying the Bordeaux wine festival is the Grand Crus Weekend that will take place June 16-17. This event, organized by the the Union des Grands Crus (regional wine classification), aims to create an international meeting of wine lovers. The highlights of this weekend will include tasting wines from over 120 Grand Crus and meeting different chateaux owners as part of pre-organized dinners in these châteaux.
Read more about the event and the full program here.
“Bordeaux Fête le Vin” is probably the biggest event in Bordeaux, celebrating what this city is most famous for. This year the celebrations are going to be even larger than usual with the arrival of the beautiful tall ships that will be docking at the banks of the Garonne. You can see the the full program of events here and buy the pass here. For more updates follow the Lost in Bordeaux facebook page.
Don’t miss the chance to be a part of this incredible wine feast and don’t forget to share this post with friends on social media 🙂
If you don’t have time for a ski vacation this year but still want to enjoy the after-party you’re going to love the Hors Piste event taking place in Darwin this weekend. Apart from that, we have an art festival, a truffle market in Saint Emilion and plenty of other cute events. You can also use this weekend to discover Bordeaux in a special way… This weekend I have a special guest, Tim from the wonderful site Invisible Bordeaux who was kind enough to write an article about Five alternative ways to discover Bordeaux. For those of you who missed it, I recently started a Facebook group fully dedicated to traveling in the region, it’s called Travel in the Southwest of France, and you’re very welcome to join us:) If you want to see what’s on in the next few weeks check out my February list. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (January 31- February 2)
Hors Piste – ski in the city
Hors Piste is a cool winter event in Darwin where they transform one of the Hangars into a ski station with fun free activities. The event will take place on February 1st. For more details and the full program click here.
When: February 1 / Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
Truffles market in Saint Emilion
Truffles are one of the most identified products of the Southwest of France. Usually, Dordogne is the one taking most of the credit when it comes to truffle markets, but Gironde is giving a fight. Every Saturday morning in February a truffles farmers market will take place at Logis de Malet in Saint Emilion. See more info here.
When: February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 / Where: rue des anciennes écoles, in front of la maison du vin), Saint-Émilion
La nuit des conservatoires
This Friday (January 31) le Conservatoire de Bordeaux invites you to a special night with concerts and performances from all the disciplines taught at the conservatory. Besides concerts, the night includes workshops and lectures. The concert is free and open to all. For more info click here.
When: January 31 / Where: Jacques Thibaud 22 quai Sainte-Croix, Bordeaux
Trente Trente – Emerging arts Festival
Trente Trente is an annual festival, created to promote emerging artists in Bordeaux and Nouvelle Aquitaine in general. The festival includes more than twenty performances by artists from all genres, with some experimenting with interdisciplinary arts. Check out the full program that includes dance, music, theater, circus and more. The festival takes place on January 21-February 1st in different theaters and cultural spaces across the metropole (see the full list here).
When: January 21 – February 1st / Where: Different venues in the Bordeaux area (check out the full program)
Tremplin de 2 Rives
This is the 7th edition of the Tremplin de 2 rives festival which aims to promote the musical talents of Bordeaux. The festival includes eight evenings from January 10 to February 8 in different districts of Bordeaux. This weekend is dedicated to the western districts of Bordeaux with a night of concerts taking place this Saturday ( February1) at Salle Quintin Loucheur. For more details click here.
When: February 1st / Where: 96 Rue de la Béchade, 33000 Bordeaux
Free museums Sunday
Like in most cities in France, the first Sunday of the month is a free museums day. You have a free entrance to all the public museums and to most exhibitions. Check out my articles about the best museums of Bordeaux to get a sense of the art scene in the city.
It’s the last weekend to enjoy the winter sales of 2020! The sales are taking place until February 4 and most shops in the city center will stay open during the weekend.
Plenty of concerts at the IBOAT
If you’re looking for a cool music venue in Bordeaux, the Iboat is your place. Tens of concerts are planned to take place in this chic boat in Bassin a Flot. For the full program click here.
When: February / Where: Bassin à Flot n°1, Cours Henri Brunet, 33300 Bordeaux
Lacanau En Jeu 2020
Lacanau En Jeu is a fun weekend event for kids and adults that includes costumes, creators competition, video games and a lot more. The event will take place on February 1-2 in Lacanau city. For more details click here.
When: February 1-2 / Where: COSEC – Avenue Albert François – 33680 Lacanau-Ville
Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d’Angoulême
If you love comics here’s a great festival for you! The international comics festival is taking place in Angouleme this weekend (January 30 – February 2). I know it’s a bit far but it’s a cool city and can be a great day out. For all the details click here.
When: January 30 – February 2 / Where: 71 Rue Hergé, 16000 Angoulême
Swing Party avec Hot Swing Sextet
A swing concert and party will take place this Friday (January 31) at the Quartier Libre club in Saint Michel. It will start with a swing lesson at 20:00 and continue with a Hot Swing Sextet concert. For more info click here.
When: January 31, at 20:00 / Where: 30 rue des Vignes, 33800 Bordeaux
Pintxo Gaua
Pintxo Gaua is a fun event taking place in Halles de Bacalan every last Friday of the month. As the name indicates, this event is all about Pintxos, with ingredients coming solely from the market. Finish your week this Friday (January 31) with Pintxos, some wine and a Dj set. For more info click here.
When: January 31 / Where: 10 Esplanade de Pontac, 33300 Bordeaux
Le M.U.R de Bordeaux Performance
The Blind is the next artist whose work will decorate the M.U.R de Bordeaux. You can meet him and see him perform his art on the wall this Saturday (February 1st). For more info click here.
When: February 1, at 18:30 / Where: place Paul et Jean-Paul Avisseau 33300 Bordeaux
I hope you enjoyed the weekend list and if you need help with some Bordeaux basics check out my ultimate guide to Bordeaux that will help you get familiar with all the must-see places in the city. Also, don’t forget to join my newsletter where I share a lot of exclusive info about Bordeaux and the region – sign up here.
After a warm and sunny weekend, it looks like this one is going to be a bit rainy and colder. Luckily, this weekend is very lively with plenty of things to do for kids and adults. This week we have a gastronomic festival, an artistic event at Les Vivres de l’Art, a dinosaur exhibition, music concerts and more. I also added details about the big truffles festival taking place this weekend in Sarlat, in case you’re in a mood to travel to the region. If you do, check out my new Facebook group, Travel in the Southwest of France, for more tips on what to do in the region. This week I released my February list, so you can see all the fun events taking place here next month. If you’re visiting Bordeaux in the last two weeks of January, you should also read my January list.
Le monde des Dinosaures
If your kids love dinosaurs they will be happy to hear that this weekend the exhibition “The world of Dinosaurs” is coming to Bordeaux. The exhibition will present 25 species of dinosaurs, among them a huge T-REX measuring 13.5 m long and 4.5 m tall. The exhibition will take place on January 18-19 at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux. For more info click here.
When: January 18 -19 / Where: Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux, Cours Charles Bricaud, 33000 Bordeaux
Festival Bouche à Bouche – Bordeaux
Following its success in Paris, the Bouche à Bouche festival is arriving this year to Bordeaux for the first time. During the two nights of the event you will discover the signature dishes of five Bordeaux chefs like Jérôme Billot from Madame Pang and Julien Camdeborde of L’avant Comptoir du Palais. The event will take place on January 17-18 and includes a lot of music, shows and street art. For more info click here.
When: January 17-18 / Where: 7 Rue du Palais-Gallien, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Tremplin de 2 Rives
This is the 7th edition of the Tremplin de 2 rives festival which aims to promote the musical talents of Bordeaux. The festival includes eight evenings from January 10 to February 8 in different districts of Bordeaux. This weekend is dedicated to the Bastide neighborhood with a night of concerts taking place this Friday (January 17) at the centre d’animation Queyries. For more details click here.
When: January 17 / Where: 13 Allée Jean Giono, 33100 Bordeaux
Le Salon du Livre Ancien de Bordeaux
Le Salon du Livre Ancien de Bordeaux brings together more than 40 French exhibitors for the biggest ancient books event in the Southwest of France. Every year more than 3000 people attend this event to look for rare pieces of literature and discover old books from every genre: fiction, kids’ books, old magazines and more. The event will take place this weekend (January 18-19) at Cours Mably. Read more about the book fair here.
When: January 18 -19 / Where: Cours Mably, 33000 Bordeaux
Salon du Mariage de Bordeaux
Salon du Mariage, the biggest wedding fair of the region will take place this weekend (January 17-19) at the Palais des Congrès. The fair will host more than 150 professionals from the wedding industry in France. Fore more details click here.
When: January 17 -19 / Where: Palais Des Congrès Bordeaux, Bordeaux Lac, Bordeaux, France
Bulles & Elles – Soirées femmes chez Calicéo Bordeaux
Girls this one is for you!! This Friday (January 17) Calicéo Bordeaux one of the biggest Spa complexes in Bordeaux is hosting a women’s night! The entry is free and no prior reservation is required. For more details click here.
When: January 17 at 20:30 / Where: 8 rue Jean Pommiès, 33520 Bruges, Aquitaine, France
Mama Bordeaux / DJ SET & LIVE
This weekend Mama Shelter expands its Sunday DJ set & Live line to a Dj set weekend. Every evening from January 16-19 one DJ is invited for a live set and a fun party. For more info click here.
When: January 16-19 / Where: 19 Rue Poquelin Molière, 33000 Bordeaux
Fête de la truffe à Sarlat
A big truffles market will take place this weekend (January 18-19) in Sarlat. I know that’s a bit far from Bordeaux but it’s one of the biggest truffles markets in the region so worth checking out. For more info click here.
When: January 18-19 / Where: Sarlat-la-Canéda
Carnal X Maracuja
A fun day of skating, music and fun will take place this Saturday (January 18) in Darwin. For more info about the event click here.
When: January 18, starting 14:00 / Where: 87 quai de Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux, France
Coulisse – Le décor de l’envers
Coulisse is an immersive experience presenting the work of young artists that mix different art genres like fashion, music and plastic arts. The event will take place this Saturday (January 18) in Les Vivres de l’Art. For more details and tickets click here. For more things to do in this cool neighborhood go to my article about things to do in Bacalan.
When: January 18, starting at 18:00 / Where: 4 rue Achard, 33300 Bordeaux
Passages Festival – Hypno5e ciné-concert Acoustique
This Friday (January 17) a fun evening will take on Place du Palais with some of the bars and shops there hosting live music events. For more details click here.
Porte Cailhau on Place de Palais
When: January 17, starting at 19:30 / Where: Place du Palais , 33300 Bordeaux
IBOAT • Roller Disco Dancing
A Roller Disco party will take place this Saturday (Saturday 18) evening on the docks of the Iboat. The entry is free. For more details click here.
When: January 18, starting at 19:00 / Where: Bassin à flot n°1, 33300 Bordeaux
Berlioz and Rimski-Korsakov – concert
This January the Opera of Bordeaux invites everyone to come and enjoy a big variety of concerts from dance, to Jazz and Classical music. This Sunday (January 19) a concert of classical music (Harold en Italie by Berlioz and Schéhérazade by Rimski-Korsakov) will take place at the Auditorium de Bordeaux. For tickets click here.
When: January 19, at 15:00/ Where: 8 – 13 Cours Georges Clemenceau, 33000 Bordeaux
Winter Sales
The Soldes d’hiver are the winter sales lasting several weeks during which you can find really good deals on clothes, shoes, appliances, toys and more. This year the winter sales were shortened to 4 weeks from the previous six weeks period. But from my experience even if you come to Bordeaux a week or two after the sales many shops will still have a lot of items on discount. Les soldes d’hiver will take place from January 8 to February 4
Mama’s Brunch
Another fun event this Sunday is Mama’s Brunch. Mama Shelter invites you to its big buffet brunch which is a bit pricey (39 euros per person) but includes almost four hours of activities and artistic workshops for kids, so it’s like brunch with a babysitter :). For more details and the menu click here.
When: January 19 / Where: 19, rue Poquelin Moliere, 33000 Bordeaux
Is it your first time in Bordeaux? If it is you should definitely check out my ultimate guide to Bordeaux to get familiar with all the must-see places in the city. To help you choose a hotel I’ve gathered a list of the best hotels in the center of Bordeaux as well as a guide to the districts of Bordeaux to help you find your preferred AirBnB location. Also don’t forget to join my newsletter where I share a lot of exclusive info about Bordeaux and the region – sign up here.
This is the weekend of 14 Juillet (French national day) so many events in and around Bordeaux will be dedicated to that. Two big summer festivals are also starting this weekend, one will make you dance during the summer and the other will keep you and your kids fit. Before we dig into this weekend’s list, I wanted to remind you to take a look at what else is on this month in my July list. Here’s the list of things to do in Bordeaux this weekend (July 12-14).
Celebrate French National Day
July 14th is the French national day which is celebrated in every city in France. Like every year, Bordeaux will hold a series of popular events and parties, the main ones are:
Military parade at Quai des Chartrons – 18:30
The traditional dance party at Placette de Munich – Quai Louis XVIII (in front of Quinconces) – 20:30
Fireworks show above the Garonne river between Pont de Pierre and Place de la Bourse – 22:45
Most towns around Bordeaux will also hold firework shows (full list):
July 13:
Cenon – Parc Palmer – 23 :00
Mérignac – Stade Robert Brettes – 23:00
Gradignan – Parc de Mandavit – 22:45
Bouliac – Parc de Vialle Bété – 22:00
Bruges – Esplanade Charles de Gaulle -23:00
Blanquefort– Parc de Fongravey- 23:00
July 14
Pessac – Parc de Cazalet – 23 :00
Talence – Parc Peixoto – 23 :00
Lormont – Place Aristide – 23:00
Arcachon – next to the sea – 23:00
Bal Pompiers
Bal Pompiers are traditional firemen parties that take place in many cities in France on July 13 and 14. Bordeaux’s firemen will also celebrate the national day with a few parties of their own. One of the biggest ones will take place at the Ornano Fire Academy (Meriadeck) on July 13, check more details here. Another big party is Bal de la Benauge that will take place on July 13 at the Benauge fire station, Check more details here.
When: July 13 / Where: see the addresses of the fire stations in the links above
Quai des Sports
This is the 11th edition of this fun sportive event taking place every summer (July 13 to August 11) at the Parc des sports Saint Michel. The program this month includes a variety of sportive activities such as a fitness night, beach volleyball, basketball, BMX, beach wrestling and more. The festival will be accompanied by artistic and music events. Many of the activities are aimed at kids and teenagers and are a perfect solution for entertaining them in the center of Bordeaux during the summer. Check the full program here.
When: Daily from July 13 to August 11 / Where: Parc des sports Saint Michel, Bordeaux
Dance on the Quai
Dansons sur les Quais is a series of dancing classes and events where people gather to dance together and learn a variety of dancing genres like Tango, Salsa, Bollywood, Forro, Hip Hop, Street Jazz, Zumba, Country and more. These activities will be guided by professional dancers from different dance schools in Bordeaux and they are completely free, so this is a great opportunity you don’t want to miss. Dansons sur les Quais is finally starting this Sunday (July 14) and will take place on the quai almost daily until August 18. For more details and the full program check out the website of Dansons sur les Quai.
When: Daily from July 14 to August 18 / Where: Quai Louis XVIII, 33000 Bordeaux
Go to the beach
In case you missed it on my facebook page, a few days ago I published an article about the best beaches near Bordeaux. So if you were planning to discover a new beach this weekend this article will give you some great ideas. I included beaches on lakes, on the ocean and on Bassin d’Arcachon.
Bordeaux Open Air
Bordeaux Open Air festival by Lost in Bordeaux
Bordeaux Open Air is a series of free summer electronic music events, all set in different locations and with a great city vibe to them. Every event is dedicated to a different country and hosts its DJ’s for sets of electronic music. The next Open Air event will take place this Sunday (July 14) at Square Dom Bedos. For more details click here.
When: July 14, starting 15:00 / Where: Square Dom Bedos, Bordeaux
Raphaëlle Boitel – Horizon
Horizon is a dance and acrobatic artwork by the French choreographer Raphaëlle Boitel. The piece pays tribute to the emblematic architecture in Bordeaux by using the Opera building as its stage. The show will take place on Place de la Comedie on Friday and Saturday (July 12-13) at 20:00. For more details click here.
When: July 12-13 / Where: Place de la comédie, 33000 Bordeaux
The summer pavilion on the right side of the river
Like every summer in the last five years, the Orangeade association opens its summer pavilion on le Quai Deschamps (in the Bastide neighborhood) with live concerts every Friday (18:00 – 01:00) and Saturday (12:00 to 01:00). These events are not just music concerts but rather a place for friends and families to spend the weekend with yoga classes, creative workshops, activities for kids and more. The next event will take place this weekend (July 12-13), for more details click here.
When: July 12-13 / Where: Quai Deschamps, 33100 Bordeaux, France
Zanzibar – Opening
This weekend Darwin will open their summer bar. This year the bar takes inspiration from East Africa and will pay tribute to Afro-Caribbean and South American music. You can join the opening event on Friday and Saturday (July 12-13) with plenty of cocktails and concerts. See the full program here.
When: July 12-13 / Where: Quai Deschamps, 33100 Bordeaux, France
Go to see an exhibition
Mika at Institut Bernard Magrez
There are some amazing exhibitions presented this summer at various museums in Bordeaux. I gathered the best exhibition you should see this summer in one of my recent articles, read it here. It’s a great way to escape the heat 🙂
L’Eté de l’Escale du livre
Plenty of free activities for kids will take place this Thursday and Friday (July 11-12) in front of la Salle Des Fêtes Bordeaux Grand-Parc. Check out the full program here.
When: July 11-12 / Where: 39 Cours de Luze, 33300 Bordeaux, France
Music O Teich
Music O Teich will take place this weekend (July 12-14) at the port of Le Teich in Bassin d’Arcachon. The event includes a big creators market and free concerts every night. For more info click here.
When: July 12-14 / Where: 33470 Le Teich, Aquitaine, France
If you want to receive more tips and updates about things happening all over our region join my newsletter where I share a lot of exclusive info for my readers only – sign up here.
Finally, if you are looking for a fun and delicious activity in Bordeaux, check out my food tours in which I’ll take you through a three hours journey in the culinary scene of the Southwest of France.
Just like in the last two weeks, most events on this list are related to Christmas. As we get closer to December 25, more and more Christmas markets are popping up in and around Bordeaux. I covered some of them in my article about Christmas markets in Bordeaux. If you still haven’t finished (or started) you Christmas shopping, take a look on my post about where to shop for Christmas in Bordeaux. However, if you’re fed up with Christmas I have few other suggestions such as the Bordeaux wine tasting festival, the kids theater festival, a special effect exhibition and more.
This is the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (December 14-16):
Taste the best French wines
This month you have a chance to taste some of the best French wines in one place at an event called “Bordeaux Tasting”. During two days (December 15-16) more than a hundred wine houses from Bordeaux area and other regions in France like Bourgogne, Rhône, Alsace and Loire will be there to present their best wines. The tasting will take places in six different sites around Place de la Bourse: – Palais de la Bourse : les grands bordeaux / les cognacs / les grands invités – Le Gabriel : Pomerol Séduction – La Bulle : les bordeaux / bordeaux supérieur – Le Musée national des Douanes : les grands étrangers – l’Espace Saint-Rémi : les champagnes – la Maison Darnozan : l’espace des vins bio
Tickets are 23-27€ depending on the day. For more details click here.
When: December 15-16 Where: Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux
Drôle de Noël
For the 9th time the city of Talence invites you to their big Christmas celebrations taking place on December 14-30in Park Peixotto. For two weekends in a row (December 14-16, December 21-23) a Christmas market will take place in the park and on December 24-30 (except December 25) the park will host plenty of activities for kids. For more info click here.
When: December 14-30 Where: Parc Peixoto, 33400 Talence
Les lumières de la ville 2018
Les lumières de la ville is a great chance to discover how Bordeaux’s monuments look at night. It’s an hour and a half biking tour that will start at Place Pey-Berland and will finish at the Garage moderne for Christmas drinks. On the way you will get to see the most important monuments and all the beautifully decorated little streets of Bordeaux. The event will take place this Friday (December 14) at 19:00, it’s free and open to all. For more details click here.
When: December 14, at 19:00 Where: Place Pey-Berland, 33000 Bordeaux
Christmas Concert
A special Christmas concert will take place this Friday (December 14) at the Notre Dame church in Bordeaux. The girls choir of Bordeaux will take the stage accompanied by soprano Romie Estèves and Jérémie Genet on a cello. The event is free. For more details click here.
When: December 14, at 20:30 Where: 1 Rue Mably, 33000 Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux
Take your kids to Cirque Pardi!
Cirque Pardi! is a modern circus whose shows combine a lot of dance and humor and are very entertaining for both kids and adults. This year they are coming back to Bordeaux for the second time with their show BorderLand, which gained a great success on their last visit here in 2015. Cirque Pardi! will perform 15 shows from November 30 to December 22. The temporary circus will be located on Quai de queyries, just next to Darwin. For all the dates and tickets click here.
When: November 30- December 22 Where: 86 quai des Queyries, 33 100 BORDEAUX
Xmas Market – Darwin
This market is gradually gaining a status as one of the main Christmas markets in Bordeaux. Like Darwin itself, the Xmas market is an alternative event with craftsmen and regional creators. The market will include stands of clothes, jewelry, accessories, art objects, books, sport accessories and bio products. To make it more entertaining many activities will take place during these three days, among theme workshops for kids, tasting of bio products, concerts and other surprises. The market will take place on December 14-16, for more info click here.
When: December 14-16 Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
Marché & Cuisine De Rue
This is the other market Darwin will host this weekend (December 15-16) to accompany the Christmas market. The “market and street cooking” event will hosts local producers of organic food that will allow you to taste and learn about eco-responsible cooking. The event will take place at the Caserne de Noël just in front of the Christmas market. For more info click here.
When: December 15-16 Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
Le Marché de Noël des Halles
Les Halles de Bacalan are holding their Christmas market this week (December 14-16). Tens of creators will participate in the market, selling products like soaps, jewelry, accessories, kids clothes and more. The rich program of the event includes activities like kids room with creative workshops, pizza making, pony tours, Raclette de Noël and more. For more details click here.
When: December 14-16 Where: 10 esplanade de pontac, 33300 Bordeaux
Festival « Sur Un Petit Nuage » de Pessac
The city of Pessac invites you to a fantastic kids festival with plenty of live shows. This is the 17th edition of the festival and this time the program includes circus, dance, music concerts, theater and a puppet show as well as artistic workshops for kids. The festival Sur un Petit Nuage, will take place on December 16-22 in different locations in Pessac. See the full program here.
When: December 16-22 Where: different places in Pessac (check out the program)
Christmas Swing Party
Arbre de Noël is a Christmas swing party with a live band that will take place this Sunday (December 16) at La Salle Des Fêtes Bordeaux Grand-Parc. To get into the Christmas spirit, there is a dress code (white and red colors) and even a secret Santa game. if you want to take part in the Santa game be sure to bring a little gift (maximum 5€). Entry is 10€, for more info click here.
When: December 16 at 15:30 Where: 39 Cours de Luze, 33300 Bordeaux
Noël 2018 à Bergerac
If you want to travel a bit this weekend, visit the Bergerac Christmas market. Bergerac is one of the best markets in the south-west region with tens of stands, beautiful decorations and activities. The market takes place at place Louis de la Bardonnie on December 8-24. For more details check out the website of the market.
When: December 8-24 Where: place Louis de la Bardonnie, 24100 Bergerac
Marché de Noël de Bordeaux
The traditional Christmas market of Bordeaux will open its gates between November 30 and December 30. This is one of the biggest Christmas markets in the region with 150 pavilions selling all the traditional Christmas merchandise such as clothes, decorations, jewelry, toys and local products. Even if you don’t intend to buy any gifts at the market you can still enjoy the Christmas spirit with some hot wine and roasted chestnuts. For more info click here.
When: November 30 – December 30 from 10:30 to 21:30 Where: Allées de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux
Le Marché de Noël Solidaire
The Solidarity Christmas market is part of the Social Economy and Solidarity month. This is a unique market, organized by the city hall and the local social development fund aiming to support young local creators who founded their company thanks to microcredits. The market will take place at Place Pey Berland on December 7-24. See more details here.
When: Until December 23 Where: Place Pey Berland
Arcachon Christmas market
The official Christmas market of Arcachon will start this weekend (December 15) and will continue until January 6. Besides the traditional market this one includes an open ice skating rink on place Thiers. For more info click here.
When: December 15- January 6 Where: center of Arcachon
L’Arche de Noël – creators market
L’Arche de Noël is a creators market taking place in the Chartrons neighborhood every weekend until Christmas (December 22-23 is the last event). Each weekend a group of local talented craftsmen and artists will present their original creations. See more details here.
When: Until December 23 Where: 23 Rue Minvielle, 33000 Bordeaux
Interactive special effects exhibition
Do you ever wonder how the special effects you see in movies are made? A new exhibition for kids (older than 6 yo) by the name of “Effets speciaux” is taking place these days in Cap Science. It’s an interactive exhibition that allows you to see the behind the scenes of the cinema world and experiment with different special effects like the green screen. Entry prices range from 6.5€ to 9€ and free for kids under 5 years old. For more info click here.
When: until August 26 Where: Hangar 20 quai Bacalan, 33000 BORDEAUX
I hope this weekend will be more cheerful than the last one! And if you’re afraid to go to the city center I hope I gave you enough ideas for events outside the center of Bordeaux.
If you want more tips on things to do and places to visit, be sure to subscribe here to my newsletter.
Have a great weekend!
Just like in the last two weeks, most events on this list are related to Christmas. As we get closer to December 25, more and more Christmas markets are popping out in and around Bordeaux. I covered some of them in my article about Christmas market in Bordeaux. If you are still haven’t finished (or started) you Christmas shopping, take a look on my post about where to shop for Christmas in Bordeaux. However if you’re fed up with Christmas I have few other suggestions such as Bordeaux wine tasting festival, kids theater festival, a special effect exhibition and more.
This is the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (December 14-16):
Taste the best French wines
This month you have the chance to taste all the best French wines in one place at an event called “Bordeaux Tasting”. During two days (December 15-16) more than a hundred wine houses from Bordeaux area and other regions in France like Bourgogne, Rhône, Alsace and Loire will be there to present their best wines. The tasting will take places in six different sites around Place de la Bourse: – Palais de la Bourse : les grands bordeaux / les cognacs / les grands invités – Le Gabriel : Pomerol Séduction – La Bulle : les bordeaux / bordeaux supérieur – Le Musée national des Douanes : les grands étrangers – l’Espace Saint-Rémi : les champagnes – la Maison Darnozan : l’espace des vins bio
Tickets are 23-27€ depending on the day. For more details click here.
When: December 15-16 Where: Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux
Drôle de Noël
For the 9th time the city of Talence invites you to their big Christmas celebration taking place on December 14-30in Park Peixotto. For two weekends in a row (December 14-16, December 21-23) a Christmas market will take place in the park and on December 24-30 (except December 25) the park will host plenty of activities for kids. For more info click here.
When: December 14-30 Where: Peixoto, 33400 Talence
Les lumières de la ville 2018
Les lumières de la ville is a great chance to discover how Bordeaux’s monuments look at night. It’s an hour and a half biking tour that will start at Place Pey-Berland and will finish at the Garage moderne for Christmas drinks. On the way you will get to see the most important monuments and all the beautifully decorated little streets of Bordeaux. The event will take place this Friday (December 14) at 19:00, it’s free and open to all. For more details click here.
When: December 14, at 19:00 Where: Place Pey-Berland, 33000 Bordeaux
Christmas Concert
A special Christmas concert will take place this Friday (December 14) at the Notre Dame church in Bordeaux. The girls choir of Bordeaux will take the stage accompanied by soprano Romie Estèves and Jérémie Genet on a cello. The event is free. For more details click here.
When: December 14, at 20:30 Where: 1 Rue Mably, 33000 Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux
Take your kids to Cirque Pardi!
Cirque Pardi! is a modern circus whose shows combine a lot of dance and humor and are very entertaining for both kids and adults. This year they are coming back to Bordeaux for the second time with their show BorderLand, which gained a great success on their last visit here in 2015. Cirque Pardi! will perform 15 shows from November 30 to December 22. The temporary circus will be located on Quai de queyries, just next to Darwin. For all the dates and tickets click here.
When: November 30- December 22 Where: 86 quai des Queyries, 33 100 BORDEAUX
Xmas Market – Darwin
This market is gradually gaining a status as one of the main Christmas markets in Bordeaux. Like Darwin itself, the Xmas market is an alternative event with craftsmen and regional creators. The market will include stands of clothes, jewelry, accessories, art objects, books, sport accessories and bio products. To make it more entertaining many activities will take place during these three days, among theme workshops for kids, tasting of bio products, concerts and other surprises. The market will take place on December 14-16, for more info click here.
When: December 14-16 Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
Marché & Cuisine De Rue
This is the other market Darwin will host this weekend (December 15-16) to accompany the Christmas market. The “market and street cooking” event will hosts local producers of organic food that will allow you to taste and learn about eco-responsible cooking. The event will take place at the Caserne de Noël just in front of the Christmas market. For more info click here.
When: December 15-16 Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
Le Marché de Noël des Halles
Les Halles de Bacalan are holding their Christmas market this week (December 14-16). Tens of creators will participate in the market, selling products like soaps, jewelry, accessories, kids clothes and more. The rich program of the event includes activities like kids room with creative workshops, pizza making, pony tours, Raclette de Noël and more. For more details click here.
When: December 14-16 Where: 10 esplanade de pontac, 33300 Bordeaux
Festival « Sur Un Petit Nuage » de Pessac
The city of Pessac invites you to a fantastic kids festival with plenty of live shows. This is the 17th edition of the festival and this time the program includes circus, dance, music concerts, theater and a puppet show as well as artistic workshops for kids. The festival Sur un Petit Nuage, will take place on December 16-22 in different locations in Pessac. See the full program here.
When: December 16-22 Where: different places in Pessac (check out the program)
Christmas Swing Party
Arbre de Noël is a Christmas swing party with a live band that will take place this Sunday (December 16) at La Salle Des Fêtes Bordeaux Grand-Parc. To make get into the Christmas spirit, there is a dress code (white and red colors) and even a secret Santa game. if you want to take part in the Santa game be sure to bring a little gift (maximum 5€). Entry is 10€, for more info click here.
When: December 16 at 15:30 Where: 39 Cours de Luze, 33300 Bordeaux
Noël 2018 à Bergerac
If you want to travel a bit this weekend, visit the Bergerac Christmas market. Bergerac is one of the best markets in the south-west region with tens of stands, beautiful decorations and activities. The market takes place at place Louis de la Bardonnie on December 8-24. For more details check out the website of the market.
When: December 8-24 Where: place Louis de la Bardonnie, 24100 Bergerac
Marché de Noël de Bordeaux
The traditional Christmas market of Bordeaux will open its gates between November 30 and December 30. This is one of the biggest Christmas markets in the region with 150 pavilions selling all the traditional Christmas merchandise such as clothes, decorations, jewelry, toys and local products. Even if you don’t intend to buy any gifts at the market you can still enjoy the Christmas spirit with some hot wine and roasted chestnuts. For more info click here.
When: November 30 – December 30 from 10:30 to 21:30 Where: Allées de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux
Le Marché de Noël Solidaire
The Solidarity Christmas market is part of the Social Economy and Solidarity month. This is a unique market, organized by the city hall and the local social development fund aiming to support young local creators who founded their company thanks to microcredits. The market will take place at Place Pey Berland on December 7-24. See more details here.
When: Until December 23 Where: Place Pey Berland
Arcachon Christmas markets
The official Christmas market of Arcachon will start this weekend (December 15) and will continue until January 6. Besides the traditional market this one includes an open ice skating rink on place Thiers. For more info click here.
When: December 15- January 6 Where: center of Arcachon
L’Arche de Noël – creators market
L’Arche de Noël is a creators market taking place in the Chartrons neighborhood every weekend until Christmas (December 22-23 is the last event). Each weekend a group of local talented craftsmen and artists will present their original creations. See more details here.
When: Until December 23 Where: 23 Rue Minvielle, 33000 Bordeaux
Interactive special effects exhibition
Do you ever wonder how the special effects you see in movies are made? A new exhibition for kids (older than 6 yo) by the name of “Effets speciaux” is taking place these days in Cap Science. It’s an interactive exhibition that allows you to see the behind the scenes of the cinema world and experiment with different especial effects like the green screen. Entry range from 6.5€ to 9€ and free for kids under 5 years old. For more info click here.
When: until August 26 Where: Hangar 20 quai Bacalan, 33000 BORDEAUX
I hope this weekend will be more cheerful than the last one! And if you’re afraid to go to city center I hope I gave you enough ideas for events outside the center of Bordeaux.
If you want more tips on things to do and places to visit, be sure to subscribe here to my newsletter.
My brocante loving readers will be very happy to know that the big brocante of Bordeaux (Brocante des Quinconces) starts this Friday. If antiques is not your thing, there’s a huge variety of other events such as the literature, the history and the zero waste festivals along with the open doors of the Bordeaux galleries, all happening this weekend in and around Bordeaux. We start feeling the Christmas spirit with a few creators markets opening up allowing you to start looking for Christmas gifts. Keep an eye on the blog in the next few days as I am about to publish a little guide to Christmas markets in our region. If you need some lighter weekend plans in Bordeaux there are some wine, food and music related events as well :). This is the list of things to do this weekend in the Bordeaux area (November 23-25):
Brocante des Quinconces
The big brocante of Bordeaux is hosted twice a year at place des Quinconces with 200 antique dealers, horticulturists, restaurants and craftsmen. This fall edition of the brocante will take place from November 23 to December 9. Although it’s quite upscale, you can find some fine antiques and vintage pieces at a bargain price. For more info and the list of exhibitors check out the website of the event.
When: November 23- December 9 Where: Place des Quinconces
Festival Zéro Déchets Zéro Gaspi (ZZ)
Festival ZZ is a an event that aims to make you reflect on the changes you can make in your life to reduce your waste to the minimum level. Although the topic is serious, the event has a very fun and festive atmosphere: workshops, games, concerts, exhibitions, a fashion show, drones demonstrations, cooking competitions and more. This event is both fun and important for kids and adults. Festival ZZ will take place at at Hangar 14 (Quai des Chartrons) on November 23-24.
When: November 23-24 Where: 173 Quai des Chartrons, 33300 Bordeaux,
Bordeaux galleries weekend
This weekend (November 23-25), 13 galleries in Bordeaux will open their doors to the public and present the best contemporary art Bordeaux has to offer. The artists come from a variety of disciplines which will allow you to explore new forms of art. You can see the map of all the participating galleries here. For more info about the event, click here.
When: November 23-25, from 14:00 to 19:00 Where: see the map here.
International History films festival
The theme of the 29th edition of the Festival international du film d’histoire of Pessac, taking place November 19-26 is “1918-1939 La drôle de paix” (the funny peace). The rich program of the festival includes debates and lectures with several historians as guests and screenings of more than a 100 movies, from classics to works of heritage, rare or unpublished films, previews, fiction and documentaries. For more info and the full program click here and for ticket prices click here.
When: November 19-26 Where: several venues in Pessac center – check out the end of the program
les Journées Gourmandes Loupiac & Foie Gras
In the last twenty years Loupiac has been hosting the Loupiac & Foie Gras event that allows people to get familiar with the sweet wines of Loupaic and meet the farmers of the department and taste their gourmet production. On the 21st edition of the festival, that will take place on November 24-25, 18 chateaux will open their door to the public and will offer plenty of activities such as workshops, guided tours, tastings, exhibitions and more. On Saturday evening a big gourmet cocktail event will be hosted by two chefs, Christophe Girardot (a Michelin star chef) and Solenn Lemonnier,
for reservations contact: 0556626271/ infos@vins-loupiac.com . For more details about the festival click here and here.
When: November 24-25 Where: Different chateaux in Loupiac-De-Cadilla
Lettres du monde
The literature festival, Lettres du monde, is taking place on November 16-25 with lectures and debates in different venues across Bordeaux Metropole. Events will take place in libraries, schools, book stores, cinemas and others.
You can enjoy this festival even if you don’t speak French as most of the writers participating in the lectures are coming from all over the world, from Yemen, Syria, Spain, Haiti and more. For the full program click here and for more details here.
When: November 16-25 Where: Different places in Bordeaux – check the program
Emmaüs Salon in Darwin
This weekend (November 24-25) Darwin invites you to the 7th edition of the Emmaüs salon. Emmaüs is an international solidarity movement that has a big second hand store in Darwin. For more info click here.
When: November 24-25, from 10:00 to 18:00 Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux,
Kaléidoscope – Street art exhibition
One of my favorite art venues in Bordeaux, l’Institut Culturel Bernard Magrez has finally opened a new street art exhibition. The Kaléidoscope exhibition is all about feminine art, hosting nine female street artists to present their works in a genre that is usually considered more masculine. The exhibition will be presented until February 17. For more info click here .
When: until February 17 Where: 16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux
Geese Festival
Every winter more than 50,000 gees find refuge in the Arcachon area. The gees festival (Festival de la Bernache), taking place on November 17- 25, gives you a unique opportunity to discover this species in a festive atmosphere. In the program: boat trips, guided tours, conferences, concerts, workshops on comics creation, photo exhibition and more. The activities of the festival will be held in different places on the Bassin, among them: Gujan-Mestras, Andernos-les-Bains, Arès, Lanton, Arcachon, La Teste-de-Buch and more. Don’t forget to reserve a spot for the different activities here. For more info click here.
When: November 25 Where: the center of Podensac
Marché des producteurs au Château Fombrauge
Château Fombrauge invites you to its first local products market that will take place this Saturday (November 24). The event includes meetings with local producers, tastings and a guided visit in the chateau. The event is free but registration is requited for the guided tour (05 57 26 38 34). For more info about the participating stands click here.
When: November 23 (9:00-14:00) Where: 1 Fombrauge, 33330 Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes
Jazz weekends at the Caillou
This is the last month of the Fall program at the Caillou Jazz bar in Jardin Botanique where different musicians and groups take the stage every weekend. This weekend Roger Biwandu will perform on both Friday (November 23) and Saturday (November 24).
When: Noevmber 23-24 Where: Le Caillou du Jardin Botanique, Esplanade Linné, 33000 Bordeaux
Swing Party
A swing concert and party will take place this Friday (November 23) at the Quartier Libre club in Saint Michel. It’ll start with a swing lesson at 20:00 and will continue with a concert of Confit de Swing. The entry is free and a chic outfit is obligatory :). For more info click here.
When: November 23, at 20:00 Where:30 rue des Vignes, 33800 Bordeaux
Perry Gordon au Café Brun
The American Jazz musician, Perry Gordon, accompanied by his group, will perform in Café Brun this Sunday (November 25) at 18:00. For more details click here.
When: November 25 at 18:00 Where: 45 Rue Saint-Rémi, 33000 Bordeaux,
That’s it for this week! Hope there’s enough events on this list to fill your weekend with plenty of interesting stuff! If you have other suggestions and events you know about, please write a comment below! And I’d really be happy if you share this post with your friends on social media 🙂
For those subscribed to my newsletter, I haven’t been very active there lately, but starting next week I will be sending some of my discoveries in Bordeaux directly by mail only to my email subscribers! So if you aren’t subscribed to my newsletter yet do it now, and get some great recommendations about places to visit in Bordeaux.
