Christmas markets in Bordeaux

Last updated on February 2, 2022 2 Comments

While Bordeaux is not a winter city, in December it gets very festive and beautiful! Usually from the end of November, the streets are being decorated with Christmas lights, and stores all over the city adorn their vitrines with little Pères Noels (the French Santa) and little snowflakes. 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 2021, some are in Bordeaux itself and some in other towns in Gironde. Due to Covid concerns, some towns have not confirmed their dates yet, so I will probably update this article during the next month, don’t forget to come back to it from time to time. Also if you need information about other markets in the SW of France, join my Facebook group Travel in the Southwest of France.

If you still haven’t done your Christmas gifts shopping, check out my French Christmas gift ideas article, where you can find plenty of products and experiences that anyone who loves France will enjoy!

If it’s your first visit to Bordeaux don’t forget to 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.

Marché de Noël de Bordeaux

The traditional Christmas market of Bordeaux will take place between November 26 and December 26. 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 26 – December 26 / 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. The market will take place on December 10-12, for more info click here.

When: December 10-12 / Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux

Marché de Noël in Saint-Émilion

The traditional Christmas market in Saint Emilion will take place on December 4-5. 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.

When: December 4-5 / Where: Saint Emilion – center

Marché de Noël de Libourne

Libourne will host a Christmas market between November 28 and December 26 at Place Decazes. Apart from a traditional market with local craftsmen and food stands, the city will offer plenty of entertainment for kids. See more details here.

When: November 28 – December 26 / Where: Place Decazes, 33500 Libourne

Marché de Noël in Bazas

Bazas will host its traditional Christmas market at the main square on December 12. 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 12 / Where: Place de la Cathédrale, 33430 Bazas

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 12 to January 3 on place des Marquises. For more details click here.

When: December 12 – January 3 / Where: place des Marquises, Arcachon

Château de La Ligne

The beautiful Château de La Ligne in the Entre Deux Mers region will host its first Christmas market this year, with a variety of stands of local producers and craftsmen. The market will take place on December 4-5, can see more info here.

When: December 4-5/ Where: 30 Rte de l’Entre Deux Mers, 33360 Lignan-de-Bordeaux

La Boca Market

The Boca Market in Bordeaux is organizing its own big Christmas market this year! Apart from the stands, there will be Santa, music, and other Christmas surprises. The market will take place on December 17-19, see more details here.

When: December 17-18 / Where: Euratlantique, Quai de Paludate, 33800 Bordeaux

I hope you enjoyed my Christmas market list!

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:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

In Bordeaux Monthly

What to do in Bordeaux in October

Last updated on September 21, 2021 No Comments

October has always been one of the best months for events in Bordeaux and this year is no exception. The international contemporary art festival is taking place this month as well as the hot air balloon festival in Saint Emilion and open doors weekends in different chateaux. In this post, I published only the biggest and most famous events and festivals in the region, but in a city like Bordeaux you can enjoy many activities and events like brocantes, art markets, and concerts every weekend. I usually publish those in my newsletter which is send every Friday morning – you can subscribe to my email list to enjoy all the updates about Bordeaux and the southwest of France.

Don’t forget to join my Travel in the Southwest of France group for more tips and ideas for things to do in the region. And if you’re currently planning your trip to Bordeaux, here’s an article about the best districts in Bordeaux with hotels recommendations.

Here are the best things to do in Bordeaux in October 2021 (scroll down for exhibitions recommendations)!

FAB – International art festival

FAB is the annual International art festival of Bordeaux Metropole taking place this year on October 1-23. As one of Europe’s biggest art festivals, it attracts some known names from the international contemporary art scene. During the three weeks of the festival, more than 30 shows will take place in more than 20 different locations in Bordeaux. Click here to see the full program of the festival.

When: October 1-20 / Where: Different locations in Bordeaux metropole – check out the program

Nuit des Bibliothèques

La Nuit des Bibliothèques taking place on October 2, is a great opportunity to discover the libraries across the city. 27 libraries in Bordeaux Metropole will participate in this event and will offer such activities as concerts, theater shows, science workshops, games for kids and more. See more details here and the full program here.

When: October 2 – evening / Where: Bordeaux, Merignac, Pessac, and more – check out the full program

La Grande Transhumance Urbaine

The Grande Transhumance Urbaine is a fun event taking place every October in Villenave d’Ornon (one of Bordeaux’s southern suburbs). The idea of this festival is to connect city people to the local agriculture with the main event being an 8km sheep march, passing through different farms. On the way, you can enjoy concerts and markets with local products. This year the event will take place on October 3rd, with the march starting from Ferme de Baugé and ending at Domaine de la Junca. See more details here and the full program here.

When: October 3 / Where: Villenave d’Ornon, check out the full program

Foire aux Plaisirs

This is the fall edition of the traditional Bordelais Fair that is taking place at Place des Quinconces from October 8 to November 1. It’s a perfect activity for kids and for those who are young in spirit as La Foire aux Plaisirs de Bordeaux has it all: a big wheel, roller coasters, ghost trains, bumper cars, donuts, crèpes, candyfloss and more. The fair is open daily from 14:00, you are not required to pay any entry fee, only for some of the attractions. See more info about the fair here.

When: October 8 – November 1 / Where: Place des Quinconces, Bordeaux

Festival Animasia

Animasia is a festival of Asian pop culture bringing together many elements like J-POP music, Yosakoi dance, karaoke and Cosplay performances. The place will also include thematic areas with martial arts, video games, board games and more. The festival will take place on the weekend of October 9-10 at the Parc des Expositions. For more info and tickets check out the website of the festival.

When: October 9-10 / Where: Parc des Expositions, Bordeaux

Village des Sciences

On October 9-10 Bordeaux’s science museum will host its annual Village des Sciences weekend. This year’s theme is “critical thinking”. See more details here (the program will be published soon).

When: September 9-10 / Where: Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan, Bordeaux

Lire en Poche – books festival

Lire en Poche is a pocketbooks festival that will take place in Gradignan on October 8-10. Besides a huge book sale, a wide range of activities are offered to the participants, among them: reading sessions, theater shows, music, games, workshops for kids, and more. The entrance to the festival is free, however, some activities are paid and require prior reservation. For more info click here.

When: October 8-10 / Where: Théâtre des Quatre Saisons et à La Médiathèque Jean Vautrin, 32 route de Léognan – 33170 Gradignan

Montgolfiades de Saint-Emilion

Montgolfiades is an annual festival of hot-air balloon flights organized by Le Ciel est à Toi association. The flights will take place on October 15-17 above Saint Emilion and the vineyards around it, so the sight is promised to be breathtaking. For more info click here.

Before you go be sure to check out my article about the best wineries to visit in Saint Emilion.

When: October 15-17 / Where: in the vineyards of Saint Emilion, just follow the balloons

Open doors in the Chateaux of Graves

Graves, one of the wine regions in the Bordeaux wine area, invites you to an open doors weekend, allowing you to discover its wines and châteaux. During the weekend (October 16-17) 71 châteaux will open their doors to visits, wine tastings, wine workshops and different activities for kids and adults. See the full program of the event and the list of participating châteaux here.

When: October 16-17 / Where: Graves area – chose your chateau from the program

FIFIB- Bordeaux international festival of independent movies

Bordeaux Independent Films Festival will take place on October 13-18 at Rue Mably in the center of Bordeaux. The program includes film screenings, concerts and meetings with special guests. Every evening, the festival village will transform into an open cinema theater and a dance floor. The event is free and open for all. See the full program on the site of the festival.

When: October 13-18 / Where: Le Village du FIFIB, 3 rue Mably, Bordeaux

A bit of Basque country!

Foire au Jambon

If you really love ham, this is the event for you! Every year, Bayonne, the capital of the French Basque country hosts the Foire au Jambon, where the best ham producer is chosen. The program also includes a big market with plenty of local food producers, farm animals, and music on the streets of Bayonne. The festival will take place on October 15-17. For more info click here.

When: October 15-17 / Where: Bayonne

Fête du Piment d’Espelette

Piment d’Espelette is the red pepper that decorates every market in the Basque country and every shop selling Basque products. Like every important ingredient in the French kitchen, this little pepper needs a “fête”. Fête du Piment d’Espelette is taking place on October 23-24 in the beautiful village of Espelette. The program includes a big parade, a huge market, musical concerts, activities for kids, a mass with the choir of Espelette, and more. For more details click here.

Read more about this beautiful village in my article about Espelette.

When: October 23-24 / Where: Espelette, 64250

Exhibitions not to miss in Bordeaux

If you want to discover the main museums of Bordeaux, check out my article about the best art, history, and wine museums of Bordeaux. Otherwise here are three exhibitions you can go see this month:

L’Institut Bernard Magrez – Free Spirit

Finally, for the first time since March 2020, l’Institut Bernard Magrez hosts a new exhibition. This beautiful place is known for hosting some of the best street art exhibitions in Bordeaux and this time it will be the American artist JonOne with his exhibition “Free Spirit”! The exhibition will be presented between September 25 and February 27.
For more details and tickets click here.

La Cité du Vin – Boire avec les dieux

Drinking with the gods is a temporary exhibition presented at the wine museum of Bordeaux until November 7. Through a lively experience of sound and visuals, the exhibition touches upon the connection between wine, gods, and men in Greco-Roman civilization. For more details click here.

Monet, Renoir… Chagall, Voyages en Méditerranée

Visiting Les Bassins de Lumières is an amazing cultural experience that should not be missed when in Bordeaux. The exhibition that is currently running there is called Monet, Renoir… Chagall, Voyages en Méditerranée. You can get a bit of an impression of how it looks inside in my video below. The exhibition is taking place from May 19 to January 2nd. You must book your tickets in advance.

If you’re looking for more ideas for day trips in the Bordeaux region here are a few other articles you might want to read:
The best beaches around Bordeaux
Day trips around Bordeaux – wine, beaches, and villages
10 day trips from Bordeaux by Public transport
A weekend in Medoc – Bordeaux wine tours
What to do and eat in Saint Emilion

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:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

In Bordeaux Monthly

What to do in Bordeaux in July

Last updated on September 10, 2021 2 Comments

With the latest news of the cancellation of the curfew in France it really starts to feel like a summer party in Bordeaux. While doing my research for this article I was positively surprised that many of the annual summer events are back this year. So what do we have this month? An electronic party in a chateau, a museums’ night, music festivals, and many more. If you’re new to this site, I also share quite a lot of events and things happening in the region on my mailing list, Instagram, Facebook, and Facebook group. So be sure to follow me 🙂

Now let’s start my list of all the events and fun things you can do in Bordeaux in July 2021.

European Museums Night

On July 3 some of the best museums and cultural establishments in Bordeaux will open their doors to the public with free exhibitions and activities. See the full list of museums and events here.

When: July 3 – 6 pm until midnight / Where: Different museums around the metropole

Open doors in the Chateaux of Sauternes and Barsac

Sauternes and Barsac are two wine areas (appellation d’origine contrôlée) famous for their sweet white wines. On July 10-11 many of the wine producers of Sauternes and Barsac will open their doors to the public and give you an opportunity to discover their estates. The program includes wine tastings, tours in the châteaux, gourmet food, concerts, and activities for kids. You can find the full program with the list of chateaux here.

When: November 10-111 / Where: Sauternes et Barsac– chose your chateau from the program

A beautiful 4D show on Chateau de Duras

Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday during the summer (July 1st to August 31) the beautiful chateau of Duras is hosting an amazing 4D spectacle where they screen the history of the chateau and a fun story for kids at the end. The show is really well done and the location itself makes the drive from Bordeaux well worth it. The show starts at 22:30 but If you’ve never visited the chateau before, make sure to come earlier in the day so you’ll have the chance to visit the rooms and see the stunning view from the top. See more details here.

When: July 1st to August 31 / Where: Chateau de Duras

Festival Rues et Vous

Rue et Vous is a performance arts festival that takes place every year in the charming medieval town of Rions. This year the festival will take place on July 7-11 and will include a rich program of theater, dance, cirque and music shows for both adults and kids. The first two days will take place in towns near Rions. For tickets and the full program check out the website of the festival.

When: July 6-8 / Where: Rions

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. The dancing events will take place on the quai almost daily from July 17 to August 1st. Many of the lessons and events this year require prior reservation, for more details and the full program see here.

When: Daily from July 17 to August 1st / Where: Quai Louis XVIII, 33000 Bordeaux

Tour de France

On July 16-17 Saint Emilion and Libourne will host the cyclists of the famous Tour de France. For more info click here.

When: July 16-17 / Where: Saint Emilion and Libourne

Durassic Festival

An electronic festival will take place in one of the most beautiful castles in our region, Chateau de Duras. The event will take place on July 16-18. For more details and tickets click here.

When: July 16-18 / Where: Chateau de Duras

Bordeaux Metropolitan Summer

Like every year Bordeaux Metropolitan invites you to discover the city through a series of cultural events and activities. This year tens of activities from music to dance, public reading, theater, circus, and gastronomy will take place between July 10 and August 29. The events are taking place in all 28 towns of Bordeaux metropole which is a great opportunity to get familiar with the less known parts of this city. Check out the full program of events here.

When: Daily from July 10 to August 29 / Where: Bordeaux Metropolitan – check out the exact location of every event in the program.

Summer Sales

Don’t we all need to refresh our closet after this long period of being stuck at home? Summer sales are a great opportunity to enjoy good deals on clothes, shoes, electric supplies, toys and more. This summer the soldes d’été will take place from June 30 to July 27.

Summer of Music in Medoc

Les Estivales de Musique en Medoc is the only music festival in France dedicated exclusively to young laureates of international competitions. The festival was created in 2003 to discover new talents in classical music. The concerts are hosted in some of the most prestigious châteaux in the Medoc area and are followed by wine tastings. The concerts will take place from June 30 to July 15. See the full program here.

When: June 30 – July 15 / Where: Different locations, see program above

Les Nouvelles Saisons – music festival

Les Nouvelles Saisons is a classic music festival taking place in Bordeaux on July 15-22 at Cour Mably and la Cathédrale de Bordeaux. The festival was created by the violoncellist Jeremy Genet and the composer Christian Lauba offering a great variety of musical styles (baroque, romantic, modern and more). For more details and tickets click here.

When: July 15-22 / Where: Different location in Bordeaux

La Bataille de Castillon

La Bataille de Castillon is a spectacle taking place during the course of several weeks in the summer, replicating the famous fight from 1453. Castillon-la-Bataille, the town where the show takes place also hosts many activities and events revolving around the big show: tours of the city, exhibitions, and workshops of medieval art, and more. For more info and tickets click here.

When: July 16 – August 21 / Where: Association 1453, Mairie de Castillon, 33350 CASTILLON-LA-BATAILLE

Nuits Atypiques Festival

This multidisciplinary festival in south Gironde has been taking place every summer since 1992. From June 4 to July 25, more than 20 events will take place in different towns of south Gironde. The program includes a variety of activities such as concerts, theater, films, and more. Check out the full program here.

When: July 4- July 25 / Where: South Gironde- check out the exact location of every event in the program.

See the new exhibition: Monet, Renoir… Chagall, Voyages en Méditerranée

Last summer Les Bassins de Lumières (Base sous-marine) invited us to see one of the best cultural experiences to ever arrive in Bordeaux, the Klimt exhibition. This year they are doing it again with Monet, Renoir, Chagall, and others. The exhibition is taking place from May 19 to January 2nd. You must book your tickets in advance.

Visit the huge Labyrinth of Gironde

Popcorn Labyrinth is a huge Labyrinth in Cestas that has opened its doors last year and will reopen again this year on July 3rd. During the summer the Labyrinthe will be open every day and even has several night sessions. You can see the hours and prices in this link.

Go for a drink in one of Bordeaux’s summer bars

Plenty of rooftops, terrace cafes, and open bars are surging all over the city starting the end of May / beginning of June. Some are more posh and chic, others simple and chill but they are all super fun to hang out in during the summer in Bordeaux. Check out the list of the best summer bars in Bordeaux.

Les Planches Éphémères summer bar in Bordeaux

Puppet Theater for Kids

Le Guignol Guérin, founded in 1853, is the oldest puppetry show in France with daily spectacles for kids in Parc Bordelais during the summer (July and August). The show usually starts at 16:00 but can be canceled or postponed when it’s raining or getting too hot. Read more about the theater here.

When: Daily during July – August at 16:00 / Where: Parc Bordelais

If you’re visiting Bordeaux for the first time, be sure to check up my ultimate guide to Bordeaux, that will get you familiar with all the “must” places to visits in Bordeaux. To help you to choose a hotel in Bordeaux 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 choose your preferred location.

If you’re looking for more ideas for day trips in the Bordeaux region here are a few other articles you might want to read:
The best beaches around Bordeaux
Day trips around Bordeaux – wine, beaches and villages
10 day trips from Bordeaux by Public transport
A weekend in Medoc – Bordeaux wine tours
What to do and eat in Saint Emilion

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:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

In EVENTS

European Patrimony Days – a plan for those who didn’t plan

Last updated on September 24, 2019 No Comments

This weekend the European Patrimony Days will take place all over France. Like all major cities, Bordeaux offers a rich program of more than 100 historical locations to discover. Many famous places such as the Opera of Bordeaux will be open to the public. However, popularity means big lines, so be prepared to wait patiently.

There are also plenty of great tours offered by the Bordeaux Metropole but many of them require a prior reservation and finding one that hasn’t been fully booked yet is quite a daunting task.

But fear not, I’m here to make your life easier and help you plan this weekend. While you might miss some of the more popular venues, there are plenty of gems in the city with less buzz around them or that do not require a reservation which are still worth visiting.

Here’s a list of places you can visit this weekend in and around Bordeaux that do not require a prior reservation.

Heritage Days in the center of Bordeaux

CAPC – the museum of contemporary art

During the weekend the Museum of contemporary art will hold tours of ongoing exhibitions with access to special areas, workshops and body painting activities.
When: Saturday and Sunday 11:00 to 18:00 / Where: 7 rue Ferrère, 33000 Bordeaux

Restaurant le Chapon Fin

Established in 1825, Le Chapon Fin is one of the first restaurants to receive 3 Michelin stars in the history of the guide. Upon its establishment, the main clients visiting the restaurant were wealthy travelers and Bordelaise merchants and it was regarded as an English Café. Today, however, Le Chapon Fin became a French institution of fine food, beautifully decorated by the architect Cyprien Alfred-Duprat. This Sunday you have a chance to admire this beautiful restaurant from within without having an expensive meal. For more info check out the site of the restaurant or contact 05 56 79 10 10
When: Sunday from 9:30 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 17:30 / Where: 5 rue Montesquieu

Synagogue de Bordeaux

synagogue bordeaux — The Synagogue of Bordeaux

There are plenty of beautiful churches in Bordeaux and you have probably entered at least some of them while discovering Bordeaux. How about discovering the structures dedicated to other religions? This Sunday you can visit the synagogue of Bordeaux and learn about the history of the Jewish community in this city.
When: Sunday 9:30 to 18:00 / Where: 8 rue du Grand Rabbin Joseph Cohen, Bordeaux

Palais Rohan

Visit the beautiful city hall of Bordeaux, Palais Rohan. During the weekend, plenty of performances and activities will take place in the courtyard of Palais Rohan as well as guided tours at the city hall itself.
When: Saturday 14:00-16:00 and Sunday 10:00-12:00, 14:00- 18:00 / Where: Place Pey Berland

Collections du Muséum d’Histoire naturelle.

Are you curious to see how the backstage of a museum looks like? The renovated Museum of Natural History in Bordeaux offers a guided visit to the backstage of its collection’s conservation center.
When: Saturday and Sunday 14:00-17:00 / Where: 5 place Bardineau, 33000 Bordeaux

Grosse Cloche

This beautiful monument can’t be missed when touring Bordeaux. The Grosse Cloche is the city’s former belfry and one of the last monuments remaining from the defensive wall built in the 14th century. The tower will be open to free visits during the weekend, however, the visit is limited to 5 people at a time so the queue is expected to be quite long so be sure to come early.
When: Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 19:00 / Where: Quai Louis XVIII, Placette de Munich

Académie Nationale des Sciences, Belles lettres et Arts de Bordeaux

Hotel Calvet, or Hotel des Sociétés Savantes, is a prominent example of a 19th century Bordeaux mansion, with a spacious staircase, reception rooms and a library. Today it is the home of the National Academy of Science, Literature and Art of Bordeaux, founded by Louis XIV. This weekend, academics from the institution will be there to answer all of your questions during your free visit.
When: Saturday and Sunday from 13:30 to 18:00 / Where: Hôtel des Sociétés Savantes, 1 Place Bardineau, 33000 Bordeaux

Site archéologique de Saint Seurin

Visit one of the most ancient sites of Nouvelle Aquitaine – Site archéologique de Saint Seurin. This free visit to the underground site gives you a glimpse into how an early Christian cemetery used to look like. The visit is limited to 20 people at a time, so you’ll probably have to stand in line.
When: Saturday and Sunday 10:00-12:00 and 13:00-19:00 / Where: Place des Martyrs-de-la-Résistance

Places to visit in Bordeaux Metropole

Journées européennes du patrimoine à Mérignac

Mérignac opens the doors to some of its interesting sites including among others the château de Bourran and the Chapelle de Beutre. Guided tours will be offered throughout the weekend. For more info click here.

Cité Frugès – Le Corbusier

Cité Frugès in Pessac is a very interesting site that looks like no other place in Bordeaux metropole. It was designed by the notable architect Le Corbusier and includes about 70 housing units. The site is registered on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites. Guided tours will be offered during the weekend. For more details about the Heritage days in Pessac click here.
When: 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, 15:30 and 17:00 / Where: Cité Frugès

Château de Laurenzane in Gradignan

The beautiful Château de Laurenzane in Gradignan was built in the 18th century and is now the town hall of Gradignan. The Chateau is surrounded by a large park with ponds and bridges and sculptures by the artist Bigata Escale, which definitely make the visit worthwhile.
When: Sunday from 11:00, 15:00 and 17:00 / Where: Allée Gaston-Rodrigue, 33170 Gradignan

What to do around Bordeaux

Saint Emilion

Saint Emilion is one of the best places to go to on the European heritage weekend. This little town is home to some of the most important historical monuments in the region and all of them will be open to the public. Moreover, the tourist office offers plenty of interesting guided tours and activities in the city center. For the full program click here.

Some of the activities and ceremonies on the Heritage weekend are related to the start of the harvest season in the area. So if you decide to go there be sure to check out my article about the harvest season in Saint Emilion.

Château de Vayres

The beautiful Château de Vayres will open its doors for two days of free visits and activities for kids. For more details click here.

When: Saturday and Sunday 14:00 – 18:30 / Where: château de Vayres, 33870 Vayres

Enjoy the Journées européennes du patrimoine! If you want to take a look at all the places you can visit in Bordeaux during the Journees Europeennes du Patrimoine, click here.

For more events this weekend check out my weekend list. You can also see some of next week’s event in the September list and plan your future weekends with the October list.

Want more updates about things to do in Bordeaux and the area? All you have to do is follow me on facebook/Instagram ! Or better yet, join my newsletter where I share a lot of exclusive info about Bordeaux and the region – sign up here.

In Around Bordeaux

How to get from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion

Last updated on October 12, 2020 2 Comments

Saint Emilion is one of the most popular day trip destinations from Bordeaux. It’s a beautiful medieval town, abundant with historical monuments and surrounded by its famous vineyards. I receive plenty of messages from tourists wondering about the best way to get from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion. So in this short article, I’m going to cover all the ways you can easily get to Saint Emilion and where you can park in case you come with a car.

Before visiting Saint Emilion you might want to check out my articles about what to do, see and eat in Saint Emilion and the best wineries to visit in Saint Emilion.

How to get to from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion without a car

How to get from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion by train

If you don’t have a car, the easiest way to get to Saint Emilion is by train! There’s a direct train from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion leaving from the Saint-Jean train station in Bordeaux. The 40 km ride takes approximately 35 minutes by train. The first train leaves at around 6 am and then every one/two hours until 10 pm. You can check the time table here. The price of a one-way ticket is € 9.50 and you can book it online or buy the ticket directly at the station.

I recommend buying a return ticket to Bordeaux as the ticket vending machines at the little station in Saint Emilion are often broken. If you’re not sure about your return time, you can buy an open return ticket at the agent’s desk with no additional cost.

The Saint Emilion station is about a 15 minutes walk from the city center. Alternatively, you can reserve a tuk-tuk shuttle service that will cost you 4 euros per person. Call +33640836260 or [email protected] to book it in advance (only from April to October).

Take a Bus from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion

Taking a bus to Saint Emilion is a much cheaper option than taking a train as the price is only € 2,60. The TransGironde company has a regular line from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion that takes about one hour. However, it operates only during the high season and otherwise stops only in Libourne, which makes the tour too complicated. Bus number 302 leaves from the Quinconces station in Bordeaux and stops just a few minutes’ walk from the center of Saint Emilion. You can check out the timetable here.

By Bike – an adventurous way to get from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion

If you’re in shape, making a bike trip to Saint Emilion can be a pretty amazing experience. You begin your trip cycling along the Garonne river, then continue on the Roger Lapebie cycle path where you can stop for lunch at one of the charming villages on the way. After you cross the Dordogne river you start the famous route through the vineyards of Saint Emilion. The route is quite long and will take at least three hours without stops.
You can see the exact cycling road map here.

Take a guided tour to Saint Emilion

Another option is taking a guided tour from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion. There are several options for day/ half-day tours to Saint Emilion, both group tours and private ones.

This is one of the most popular half-day tours from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion. Besides the ride to Saint Emilion from Bordeaux the tour also includes several wine tastings and a visit to two wine chateaux which for many people is plenty for one day. The price is €94 per person. You can find all the details of the tour and book directly here.

This is a half-day tour in Saint Emilion with a visit to one winery for € 75 per person. It’s rather intimate as they book small groups meaning you get to actually listen and ask questions. You can check out the details and get your ticket here.

A full day trip from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion, visiting three different chateaux at € 125 per person. This is a great option if you want to see different techniques of winemaking and taste different wines from the same area. You can see all the details and get your ticket here.

One of the cheapest tour options (€ 42 per person) is a half-day trip to Saint Emilion leaving on Wednesdays and Sundays that also includes a visit to a chateau. The downside is that these groups are quite big so don’t expect an intimate experience. See all the details and get your tickets here.

By car – the best way to go to Saint Emilion

If you just want to visit the city and a winery next to the city center, a train will do just fine. However, the Saint Emilion wine area is quite big and if you want to discover more distant beautiful chateaux, you must rent a car. Also, if you’re more than two people traveling, renting a car might be a much cheaper option. There are plenty of rental companies both at the airport and Gare Saint-Jean, the main train station, so renting a car is very easy.
To get to Saint Emilion by car take the N89 (Bordeaux – Libourne) route.

Where to park in Saint Emilion

There’s a free parking lot at the Gendarmerie (police station). However, this parking is often full so on busy days you can leave your car at the free parking next to the train station. There are several paid parking lots (about 2euros/ hour): around the collegiate church (the upper town) and Place Bouqueyre (bottom town).

*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 🙂

In Weekend plans

What to do this weekend in Bordeaux (August 8-9)

Last updated on August 7, 2020 No Comments

I’m officially on vacation with my kids so this post was written while they are physically climbing on me. If you see any typos, that’s where they’re coming from 🙂 There’s not a lot of interesting events currently happening in the city so this month I will share a lot of places I visited myself to give you some ideas of fun things to do during the weekend. Also, I invite you to read my Summer list for more ideas on things to do in Bordeaux. If you’re currently traveling in the region I invite you to join my Travel in the southwest of France Facebook group and get more ideas for places to visits from local people. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (August 8-9).

A beautiful 4D show on Chateau de Duras

This one was added last minute to my list as I went there yesterday. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday during the summer the beautiful chateau of Duras is hosting an amazing 4D spectacle where they screen the history of the chateau and a fun story for kids at the end. The show is really well done and the location itself makes the drive from Bordeaux well worth it. The show starts at 22:30 but If you’ve never visited the chateau before, make sure to come earlier in the day so you’ll have the chance to visit the rooms and see the stunning view from the top. The town of Duras is really charming and every Thursday night there’s a fun night market taking place there so think about combining it with the show when planning the trip.

Les Vivres de l’Art

This summer Les Vivres de l’Art in Bacalan invites you to the 7ème Ciel exhibition that’s hosting five different artists. For those who have never visited this fascinating place, Les vivres de l’art is an artistic association, holding cultural events, workshops, vintage sales, music festivals, exhibitions, and more. The expo is presented there until September 20, you can see all the details here. If you want to discover more fun places to visit in the area check out my article about the Bacalan district in Bordeaux.

Go Cycling in Saint Emilion

Last week I did a super fun electric bike tour in Saint Emilion with a company called Rustic Vines who specializes in biking tours in the vineyards. It was an amazing experience and you can read more about it in my Instagram post below. If you’re going to do it any time this summer, you can use my discount code BORDEAUX15 that will give you 15% off on their tours until the end of October.

View this post on Instagram

Last Friday I went on a fabulous electric bike tour in Saint Emilion with @rusticvines , which is a company specialized in biking tours in the vineyards of Bordeaux. As I write about the Bordeaux region, I obviously visited Saint Emilion many many times before, but this visit was probably one of my favorites. There's just something so special about cycling in the vineyards and passing by well-known chateaux. Even the fact that you can just stop from time to time and absorb the view makes it a great experience! Electric bikes by the way are an absolute must as the hills of Saint Emilion are no joke! So for those of you interested to visit Saint Emilion by bike, this is how the day tour goes. The tour starts in the center of Saint Emilion (if you're in Bordeaux they'll bring you there, so no worries). You cycle quite a lot of this trip but in between, you do plenty of stuff. During the day we visited and tasted wine in two wine chateaux (Chateau Bernateau and Chateau Cadet-Bon), both family-owned which I really appreciated. For lunch we had a yummy picnic with wine, cheese, charcuterie, and other cute surprises. At the end of the trip, we had a quick and fun tour of Saint Emilion itself, a visit that never gets old, even if you've been there many times before. 🤩🥳 Rustic vines were super nice to offer my followers 15% off on tours ordered until October 31st (in addition to the 10% off, they currently have on their site). To get the discount use the code BORDEAUX15 when ordering their tours online. One thing to keep in mind, it very hard to go back to a normal bike after you cycled on an e-bike for one whole day 🙂

A post shared by Lost_in_Bordeaux (@lost_in_bordeaux) on Aug 3, 2020 at 12:33pm PDT

La Nuit des étoiles au Bourghail

This Sunday (August 9) the park of Bourghail in Pessac is hosting a fun astronomy event with workshops for kids, stars observation, a tour of the forest by night, and more. The event is free, to see more details click here.

Discover the beautiful lakes near Bordeaux

Sometimes all you need is a calm weekend with a bit of nature for the soul 🙂 Luckily there’s plenty of nature around Bordeaux. Today I want to introduce you to two lakes in the region where you can have a lovely walk and admire the colors of the water. The first one is Lac Vert (the green lake) in Canejan and the second one is Lac Bleu (the blue lake) in Leognan, both located about 15/20 minutes’ drive from Bordeaux. Their names derive from the color of the water and they are both stunning.

If you want more ideas for hiking check out my article about hiking around Bordeaux.

Quai des Sports

I’m happy to tell you that even this summer the annual Quai des Sports was opened at the Parc the Sports in Saint Michel. The Quai des sports is a continuous sportive event for kids and adults where you can take part in many sports activities for free. The event this year will take place until August 23. For more info click here.

When: until August 23 / Where: Parc des Sports Saint Michel, Bordeaux

Go to a Night Market

You still have a few more weeks to try the night markets of the Southwest of France. If you’re planning to go on Saturday I recommend going south to Les Landes, where several night markets are taking place each week. You can see all the details about the markets of the region in my article about the night markets of the southwest of France.

Enjoy the night summer bars of Bordeaux

Bordeaux is a fun city all year long but in the summer there’s a special vibe in the city with plenty of open summer places opening up all around the city. Many of them are good but my favorite is La Guinguette Chez Alriq where you can also see daily concerts. This video for example is from a Flamenco show that took place there last Sunday afternoon. You can see the full list of the best summer places in Bordeaux in my article.

Free beach activities in Bordeaux

This summer (until August 31) Bordeaux Lac will offer FREE activities such as kayaking, SUP, zumba and more! The activities are taking place daily from 14:00 to 18:00 and registration is taking place on the beach starting from 13:30. Please read the content in this link as it includes instructions for some documents you need to present to be able to register as well as the schedule of the daily activities. For more events and activities taking place this summer in Bordeaux check out my article about things to do this summer in Bordeaux.

If you’re looking for more ideas for day trips in the Bordeaux region here are a few other articles you might want to read:
The best beaches around Bordeaux
Day trips around Bordeaux – wine, beaches and villages
10 day trips from Bordeaux by Public transport
A weekend in Medoc – Bordeaux wine tours
What to do and eat in Saint Emilion

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:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

In Weekend plans

This weekend in Bordeaux (January 31 – February 2)

Last updated on February 3, 2020 No Comments

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.

Check out my article about what to do and see in Saint Emilion if you decide to go.

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 ( February 1) 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.

Here are more ideas for free things you can do in Bordeaux.

Winter Sales – last chance

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.

In Weekend plans

This weekend in Bordeaux (October 4-6)

Last updated on October 8, 2019 No Comments

This week there are several art events taking place in and around Bordeaux, the main one is the International art festival. Also, the space month is starting this weekend, so you have something nice to take your kids to. Bordeaux Open-air surprised us with one last party for this season so it’s not going to be boring this weekend!. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (October 4-6).

La Grande Transhumance Urbaine

Don’t be surprised if on the first weekend of October you’ll suddenly see plenty of sheep crossing your street, that’s the Grande Transhumance Urbaine. The idea behind the event that will take place on October 6th is to connect city people to agriculture. Seven breeders and their sheep will lead the 9 km march passing through different locations in Villenave d’Ornon. You can enjoy the festival even if you don’t want to make the walk, just attend the events at one of the points on the way. See the full program of events related to this festival here and the map of the march here.

When: October 6 / Where: Villenave d’Ornon (see exact locations in the program and map)

FAB – International art festival

FAB is the annual International art festival of Bordeaux Metropole taking place this year on October 4-20. As one of Europe’s biggest art festivals, it attracts some known names from the international contemporary art scene. During the three weeks of the festival, more than 30 shows will take place in more than 20 different locations in Bordeaux, from the TnBA theater to the Opera of Bordeaux and the CAPC. Click here to see the full program of the festival.

When: October 4-20 / Where: Different locations in Bordeaux – check out the program

Space month

The city of Mérignac will host a whole month dedicated to space discovery with workshops, exhibitions, conferences, parties and more. Here’s a sneak peek at the rich program they offer in October:
ASTRALALA exhibition – a fun exhibition for kids that will allow them to learn a lot about astronomy through a journey in the solar system – October 2-23 at the Médiathèque de Mérignac.
A visit at the planetarium – October 7 at MJC Mérignac Centre
L’Espace en fête – an afternoon space party with plenty of activities for kids – on October 5 at Côté sciences Air&Espace.
This is only a small part of what is planned by the townhall of Merignac and Cap Sciences. For the full program and registration details click here. For more details and updates check out the facebook page of the event.

When: October 2-23 / Where: Different locations in Merignac – see the program

Marché des Producteurs

On Saturday (October 5) Darwin will host its big organic market with many local producers from all over the southwest of France. Among others, you will find stands of oysters, wine, cheese, flowers and more. For more info click here.

When: October 5 / Where: Darwin Caserne Niel / 87 quai des queyries

Fête du Vin à Caudéran

On Saturday (October 5) the Cauderan neighborhood will celebrate its Fête du vin at the Chartreuse Saint André. Plenty of wine producers will gather to present their wines to the public accompanied by delicious regional food. For more details click here.

When: October 5 / Where: 198 avenue de Lattre de Tassigny 33200 Bordeaux

Nollywood – Nigerian film industry festival

l’Institut des Afriques invites you to a three days festival that will focus on Nollywood – the Nigerian film industry. In recent years, Nollywood has become one of the biggest film industries in the world and has a strong following in the African diaspora community in Europe. The program of the festival, that will take place on October 2-5, includes concerts, film screenings and debates about the Nollywood industry in Africa and other places. To see the full program check out the facebook page of the event.

When: October 2-5 / Where: Different locations in the center of Bordeaux, check out the program.

Journée Portes Ouvertes – Kfe des Familles

Kfe des Familles is a cute associative café that allows parents to spend time with their kids while also enjoying a coffee or lunch. This Saturday (October 5) Kfe des Familles invites you to an open doors brunch where you can discover their activities through workshops, games and more. For more info click here.

When: October 5 from 10:00 to 15:00 / Where: 46 rue de New York, 33300 Bordeaux, France

Eufonia, festival international chant chorale

Eufonia is an international choir festival that will take place in Bordeaux on October 4-13. The festival will host choirs from all over the world taking the stage of some of Bordeaux’s most iconic places. For the full program click here.

When: October 4-13 / Where: Check out the different locations in the program.

Marché Zéro Déchet

Marché Zéro Déchet is an event that aims to make you reflect on the changes you can make in your life to reduce your waste to its bare minimum. The market includes many stands and demonstrations of recycling ideas and objects like clothing, toys, cosmetics and more. The event will take place this weekend (October 5-6) in ATELIER d’éco SOLIDAIRE. The entry is free, for more details click here.

When: October 5-6 / Where: 7 rue de la Motte Picquet, 33300 Bordeaux

Le Salon d’Automne

Saint Emilion will host a big art exhibition with works by 24 artists from photographers to graffiti artists, sculptors and many painters. The exhibition will be presented in Salle des Dominicains and Salle Gothique from October 4 to October 20. For more details click here.

When: October 4-20 / Where: Guadet, 33330 Saint-Émilion

Vide Grenier et Dressing d’Automne

This Sunday (October 6) big vide Grenier will take place on Place Aristide Briand in the Saint Genes district. For more details click here.

When: October 6 / Where: Barrière Saint-Genès, 33560 Bordeaux, France

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 the full list of museums in Bordeaux that you can visit for free this Sunday.

Fête de la Récup

This Saturday (October 5) the Sictom du Sud-Gironde association in Langon invites you to the Fête de la Récup. The goal of the event is to show and share solutions that will considerably decrease your daily waste. The program includes a recycling market, a repairing space where you can come with broken items from home, a textile space where you can be creative with your old clothes and more. For more info click here.

When: October 5 / Where: 5, rue Marcel Paul, 33210 Langon, Aquitaine, France

Le Frac fête la rentrée

This is the first anniversary of MECA. To celebrate it, FRAC, the regional contemporary art museum invites you to a weekend of lectures and meetings with artists that are now or in the past have presented their works in the museum. On Saturday (October 5) you can participate in all the events for free, you only have to buy the ticket to the main exhibition. For the full program click here.

When: October 5 -6 / Where: MÉCA, 5 Parvis Corto Maltese, 33800 Bordeaux

Mama’s Party

Enjoy the last party nights at Mama Shelter, the coolest rooftop in Bordeaux. This weekend (October 4-6) Mama Shelter invites you to three DJ nights starting from 21:30. For more info click here.

When: October 4-6 / Where: 19 Rue Poquelin Molière, 33000 Bordeaux

The Big Plants Sale

A big plant sale will take place this weekend (October 4-6) in Hangar 15-19. The prices are guaranteed to be quite low (from 2€ to 10€) so it’s a good opportunity to fill your house with summer plants. For more details follow the facebook page of the event.

When: October 4-6 / Where: Hangar 15 à 19 – Quai des Chartrons, 33000 Bordeaux

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.

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 Bordeaux. To help you choose a place to stay in Bordeaux 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.

Lost in Bordeaux helps you enjoy the city and region in many ways so be sure to follow us on facebook/Instagram for more daily updates on things to do and see. Or better yet, join my newsletter where I share a lot of exclusive info about Bordeaux and the region – sign up here.

In Weekend plans

This weekend in Bordeaux (June 28-30)

Last updated on July 2, 2019 No Comments

This is going to be a very musical weekend with a lot of music festivals in Pessac, Bacalan, different parks in Bordeaux and the big one, the GaroRock in Marmand. Also, the sales have started this weekend, so it’s a good opportunity to hit the stores. If you want to travel a bit, there are quite a lot of activities in Saint Emilion this weekend, with celebrations of the 20 years to the Unesco declaration. You can also just go traveling to the Medoc area by following my new guide to the Medoc wine region.

Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (June 28-30).

Saint Emilion celebrates 20 years in Unesco

In 1999, Saint Emilion was the first vineyard to enter the UNESCO world heritage list. This year, to marks the 20th anniversary of this nomination, Saint Emilion invites you to a weekend full of fun events in the village and the châteaux around it. The program includes concerts, markets, guided tours, open doors at the wineries and more. For more details click here and for the full program here. The event will take place on June 28-30.

If you’re wondering which wineries you should visit while there, check out my recent post about the best châteaux to visit in Saint Emilion.

When: June 28-30 / Where: Saint Emilion

Les Tropicales – film festival

The Tropicales is a cinema festival created to encourage people to share their thoughts and feelings about different movies. This year’s program includes many popular films as well as new movies that were premiered at the Cannes festival, outdoor screenings, debates and more. The festival will take place on June 27-30 in Cinéma Utopia and Place du Palais. Take a look at the full program.

When: June 27-30 / Where: Cinéma Utopia and Place du Palais, Bordeaux

Festival Les Z’Arpètes

This is the 17th edition of this outdoor arts festival that takes place this Friday and Saturday (June 28-29) in Villenave d’Ornon. the two-day festival includes a very rich program of concerts and performances as well as an artisans’ market and many activities for kids. Check out the full program here.

When: June 29-29 / Where: Plaine de Courréjean, Chemin de la Caminasse, 33140 Villenave d’Ornon

Festival en Bonne Voix

This is the 13th edition of the Bonne Voix festival, a free event that takes place every year in Parc Razon in the center of Pessac and proposes a rich program of French music. This year the festival will take place on Saturday (June 29) and will include artists like Sinclair, Léa Paci, Delta, Bancal Chéri and others. For more info click here.

When: June 29 / Where: Parc Razon, 33600 Pessac

Festival Mur du Souffle – Street art live

Mur du Souffle is an artistic association that fights against the Cystic fibrosis disease. This weekend (June 29-30) they invite you to a live street art festival in Bruges. during two days, four street artists (Rouge, DACO, KARTE and MIKA) will paint in three different locations in the city. The program also includes a music concert, food and activities for kids. For more info click here.

When: June 29-30 / Where: Bruges – Tram C – Arrêt Ausone

Festival des arts et des cultures Grand Parc en Scène

The Grand Festival was created to reunite people through art and culture. The artistic program includes culinary activities, workshops, circus, dance, DJ sets and more. For more info click here. The free festival will take place this weekend (June 28-29) at Place de l’Europe.

When: June 28-29 / Where: Place de l’Europe, 33300 Bordeaux

Bordeaux Open Air

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 first event this summer is taking place this Sunday (June 30 ) at Square Dom Bedos. The locations of the following events have not been published yet. For more details click here.

When: June 30 / Where: Square Dom Bedos, Bordeaux

Fête de la pirogue

Fête de la pirogue is a fun festival that celebrates the Tahitienne culture and gastronomy with activities like traditional dance, an artisan village, traditional food and more. The event will take place this weekend (June 29-30) on Plage du Moutchic at Lacanau lake. For more info click here.

When: June 29-30 / Where: Plage du Moutchic, 33680 Lacanau

Week-end découverte des plantes sauvages comestibles médicinales

A discovery weekend of wild, edible and medicinal plants will take place this weekend (June 29-30) at Ferme d’Hortélie in Saint-Sauveur. The program includes a discovery walk of wild plants, lunch in the farm, workshops on aromatic plants and oil fabrication and more. Check out the full program here.

When: June 29-30 / Where: 12 bis route de la Garosse – 33250 Saint-Sauveur

Festival Garorock

One of the biggest music festivals in our region is taking place on June 27-30 in Marmande (about an hour drive from Bordeaux). Garorock is an international festival with 5 big stages that will host more than 50 French and international artists. For more info and tickets click he r e.

When: June 27-30 / Where: Plaine de la Filhole, 47200 Marmande

If you want to discover other festivals taking place in the region, check out my post about the best music festivals around Bordeaux.

Festival Connexion Brasil

This fun event is about to take place this weekend (June 29-30) in different locations in Bacalan. During the two days, plenty of fun activities related to music and dance from Brazil will take place in locations like Les Vivres de l’Art, Halles de Bacalan and others. For more info click here.

When: June 29-30 / Where: Different location in Bacalan, Bordeaux

Meeting de l’Air de Cazaux

La base aérienne 120 de Cazaux is one of the biggest economic actors in the region. This weekend (June 29-30) the airbase opens its doors to the public with plenty of demonstrations of their airplanes. For tickets and more info click here.

When: June 29-30 / Where: Base aerienne 120 – BP 70413, 33260 Cazaux

Eysines Goes Soul

The annual soul festival in Eysines will take place this Friday (June 28) at the Domaine du Pinsan. You are invited to bring your picnic to the park and celebrate the summer with concerts of soul, rock, funk and blues. The evening will end with a fireworks show. For more details and the lineup click here. The event is free.

When: June 28 / Where: Domaine du Pinsan, Eysines

Heures d’été in Caudéran

Heures d’été is a series of musical evenings taking place every Friday in different parks in the Cauderan neighborhood in Bordeaux. This week the musical evening will take place on Friday (June 28) at Chartreuse Saint-André. For the full program click here.

When: June 28 / Where: Chartreuse Saint-André, Bordeaux

Soirée dj set croisière

How about a party on a boat, sounds nice, right? That’s exactly what you can do this Sunday afternoon (June 30). The boat-restaurant SICAMBRE invites you to get on board and enjoy three hours of music, wine, snacks and a guided tour of Bordeaux on the water. The tour starts at Quai des Chartrons. For tickets and more details click here.

When: June 30 / Where: Quai des Chartrons, Bordeaux

SUNDUB Session

SUNDUB is a music event dedicated to Reggae & Dub music with a great lineup of free concerts. The event is taking place once a month from June to October. This month Sundub will take place on Sunday (June 30) at Université Bordeaux Montaigne in Pessac. For more details click here.

When: June 30, from 14:00 / Where: Esplanade des Antilles, Domaine universitaire, 33607 Pessac,

PIK NIK ZIK – free concerts

Pik Nik Zik is a series of free concerts organized by the Les P’tits Gratteurs association, that will take place every last Sunday of the Month from April to August. This week the event will take place on Sunday (June 30) at the Quai des sports Saint-Michel. For more details click here.

When: June 30, starting 17:00 / Where: Quai des sports Saint-Michel, Bordeaux

Last chance to see the “When art and design take on glass” exhibition

This is the last chance to see this beautiful glass exhibition at the Cité du Vin. The exhibition beautifully combines the wine and glass worlds. It includes the works of several glass designers who all modified and reinvented wine glasses and bottles. For more details click here.

When: March 15 – June 30 / Where: Esplanade de Pontac, 134 quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux

That’s it for this weekend 🙂

If you’re visiting Bordeaux for the first time, be sure to check out my ultimate guide to Bordeaux to get familiar with all the must-see places in Bordeaux. To help you choose a hotel in Bordeaux 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.

In Bordeaux Monthly

20 things to do in Bordeaux in May

Last updated on April 22, 2019 2 Comments

There are several important events related to wine about to take place this May in Bordeaux. One of them is the Open doors in the chateaux of Saint Emilion, a great opportunity to visit this magical village. We all know, however, that Bordeaux is not all about wine and so this month we’ll also have several festivals of arts, dance, and circus as well as cultural events like the European museums night. All you have to do to get up-to-date about things to do in Bordeaux this May is to keep on reading…

Open doors in Saint-Emilion

An open door weekend will take place on May 4-5 in Saint Emilion where 81 wine producers will open their chateaux to the public. The weekend will include many activities such as wine tastings, visits to the chateaux, games for kids and bike rides. Check out the full program for the participating châteaux, the activities and the wine tasting proposed for that weekend – here.

When: May 4-5 / Where: different locations around Saint Emilion

The opening of La Guinguette chez Alriq

The best place for sunny weekends in Bordeaux is about to reopen for their summer season. La Guinguette chez Alriq is a taverne at the la Bastide neighborhood, on the rive droite of the Garonne. On a sunny day you can enjoy a cold beer, nice food and daily concerts with a magnificent view of the Garonne. The opening night will take place on May 2 with a concert of Bojan Krstic. See the full program for the weekend here.

When: Starting May 2 / Where: ZA Quai des Queyries, Port Bastide, 33100 Bordeaux

Let your kids discover the art of circus at the Jubil’à Jongle festival

The 13th edition of the festival will start with an inauguration evening on May 3, which will include magic and fire shows, different activities for kids and even a rock concert. On the second day of the festival (May 4), you will discover the art of circus and street entertainment through shows of Juggling, magic, games and introductory workshops. The festival will take place at the Parc de Fongravey in Blanquefort. For more info click here.

When: May 3-4 / Where: 4 Parc de Fongravey in Blanquefort

Search for beautiful antiques at the Brocante

The big brocante of Bordeaux is hosted twice a year at place des Quinconces with 200 antique dealers, horticulturists, restaurants and craftsmen. It’s the biggest brocante event in the area and the selection is huge, from vintage home decor, to paintings, antique furniture, garden accessories and more. The brocante started on April 19 and will continue until May 5. For more info and the list of exhibitors click here.

When: April 19 – May 5 / Where: Place des Quinconces, Bordeaux

Bordeaux Tango Festival

The 7th edition of the Bordeaux Tango Festival will take place on May 7-12. This hot festival connects Bordeaux and the place where Tango was born, Buenos Aires. A variety of activities will be offered to celebrate the link between these two cities, such as dance, music, art, literature and even food. Most of the events will take place in Espace St. Remi and Rocher Palmer in Cenon. See the program of the festival.

When: May 7-12 / Where: Different locations in Bordeaux

Vinexpo Bordeaux

Vinexpo is one of the most famous wine-related events in Bordeaux, intended for professionals in the wine world. The program includes master classes, wine tastings, conferences, and networking events. The fair will take place at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux on May 13-16. For the full program and more details click here and for tickets click here.

When: May 13-16 / Where: Cours Jules Ladoumègue, 33000 Bordeaux, France

European Museums Night

On May 18 some of the best museums and cultural establishments in Bordeaux will open their doors to the public with free exhibitions and activities. This year the event will have a 90’s vibe to it and the organizers encourage you to dress up in a 90’s style: so pull out your high jeans and too colorful clothes, you know the drill :). Besides exhibitions, the museums will host lots of kids friendly activities, concerts and more. See the full list of museums and events here.

When: May 18 – 6pm until midnight / Where: Different museums around the metropole

Big Bang – Air and Space Festival

The Big Bang festival in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles will take place on May 14-18. This year the cultural and scientific festival is dedicated to the moon. The program includes art and science exhibitions, conferences, films, concerts and much more. Check out the full program of the event.

When: May 14-18 / Where: Le Carré des Jalles, Place de la République, 33160 Saint-Medard-En-Jalles

Le Marché des créateurs

The 29th edition of the creators market (Marché des créateurs) will take place on May 18-19 at Place Camille Jullian (next to Utopia cinema). This market proposes a great variety of items giving everyone a chance to find something fitting their tastes and budget: clothes, accessories, jewelry, decorations, kids accessories, toys and more. For more details check out the facebook page of the event.

When: May 18- 19 / Where: Place Camille Jullian, 33000

Belem, the famous French vessel arrives to Bordeaux

Belem, the oldest big French vessel (launched in 1896, 51 meters long) will arrive in Bordeaux for five days and will be open to the public. The beautiful ship, classified as a historic monument, will dock at Quai Richelieu on May 16-20. Follow the facebook page of Belem for updates about the hours you can visit the vessel.

When: May 16-20 / Where: Ponton d’Honneur, Quai Richelieu, 33000 Bordeaux

Go to a secret event at the Festival de Caves

Festival de Caves (the Cellars festival) is an underground theater festival, gathering a small number of spectators in cellars and other underground places throughout the city. In Bordeaux, the festival will take place on May 11-25 and will run the whole month of May in different cities in Aquitaine. The festival will premier on May 11 (at 18:30) at the Maison Cantonale. Check out the full program on the website of the event. For more details click here.

When: May 11-25 / Where: Different locations in Bordeaux

Festival Echappée Belle in Blanquefort

The Echappée Belle festival is a great entertaining event for the whole family merging theater, dance, circus and other forms of art. The festival will take place from May 23-26 in Blanquefort, starting in Parc Majolan and continuing for the weekend in Parc de Fongravey. See the full program here.

When: May 23-26 / Where: Different locations in Blanquefort (see the program)

Grand Crus Weekend

One of the most anticipated events in Bordeaux’s wine world is the Grand Crus Weekend that will take place on May 23-26. This event, organized by the Union des Grands Crus (the regional wine classification), aims to create an international meeting of wine lovers. The highlights of this weekend will include tasting wines from over 110 Grand Crus and meeting different chateaux owners as part of pre-organized dinners in the châteaux. Read more about the event and the full program here.

When: May 24-26 / Where: many locations in Gironde, see the program

Take your kids to an inflatable water park in Biscarrosse

The huge inflatable water park in Biscarrosse (about an hour drive from Bordeaux) is about to reopen for the Summer at the beginning of May. The AquaPark is equipped with water ziplines, several diving boards of different heights, trampolines, catapults, climbing walls, slides and more. The park is accessible to kids over 4 years old. For more details and tickets click here.

Where: Port Maguide, 18 Chemin de Maguide, 40600 Biscarrosse

If you need more ideas of activities with kids check out my post about 30 things to do with kids in Bordeaux.

Enjoy a cocktail party on the Iboat

The Iboat, mostly known as a concert venue, is a three-level ferry spanning 687m2, anchored to one of the docks of Bassins a flot. One of the special features of the place is the Upper deck where events and exhibitions are held during the evenings. Every Wednesday at 19:00 the Iboat hosts the SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE, an after-work party with very creative cocktails :). For this and other events taking place at the Iboat click here.

Where: bassin a flot n°1 – Quai Armand Lalande

To discover more cool places in Bacalan, read my post about the best things to do in the North of Bordeaux.

Quatre tendances – Dance show

Quatre tendances is a collaboration between several ballets groups and choreographers. Like every two years, Quatre tendances will take the stage for several nights to perform a number of contemporary choreographies. This year the national ballet of Bordeaux will collaborate with Ballet Preljocaj – CCN d’Aix-en-Provence, le Malandain Ballet Biarritz and le CCN-Ballet de l’Opéra National du Rhin. Four choreographies will be performed during nine shows, taking place on May 22-31. For more details and tickets click here.

When: May 22-31 / Where: Grand Théâtre, place de la Comédie, 33000 BORDEAUX

Last chance to see the D’un soleil à l’autre exhibition

In the D’un soleil à l’autre exhibition artists present their poetic journey in space. Aspects like elastic distances, weightlessness, dazzling, infinitely large landscapes and incandescent materials are beautifully translated into contemporary digital art. La Base sous marine is known for the phenomenal use of their unique space for art, so don’t miss this one. The exhibition will be presented at the museum until May 19. For more info click here.

When: March 9 – May 19 / Where:Boulevard Alfred Daney, 33000 Bordeaux

When art and design take on glass

A new temporary exhibition was inaugurated at the Cité du Vin in March. The exhibition beautifully combines the wine and glass worlds. It includes the works of several glass designers who all modified and reinvented wine glasses and bottles. For more details click here.

When: March 15 – June 30 / Where: Esplanade de Pontac, 134 quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux

Les chōchin du Japon- exhibition

This is the last chance to see the Les chōchin du Japon exhibition at the Musée des art décoratifs that is dedicated to special lamps that were declared a “traditional craft knowledge” in Japan. The exhibition will be presented at the museum until May 19. For more info click here.

When: until May 19 / Where: Musée des Arts décoratifs et du Design, 39 rue Bouffard, 33000 Bordeaux

Festins – a funky exhibition at the Bernard Magrez Cultural Institute

Yet another great exhibition is presented these days at the Institut Bernard Magrez. Festins is an exhibition by two artists, Gérard RANCINAN and Caroline GAUDRIAULT, that have been working together in the last 20 years and have now agreed to present their works at the museum. For more details click here. The exhibition will be presented at the institute until June 9.

When: March 7 – June 9 / Where: 16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux

If you’re visiting Bordeaux for one of the wine events, be sure to check out my ultimate guide to Bordeaux, that will get you familiar with all the “must” places to visits in Bordeaux. Also, if you have more days to spend in our beautiful region, check out my article about the best day trips from Bordeaux.

Need more ideas for things to do in and around Bordeaux? you should definitely join my newsletter where I share a lot of info about the area – sign up here.

saint emilion

Marché de Noël de Bordeaux

When: November 26 – December 26 / Where: Allées de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux

Xmas Market – Darwin

When: December 10-12 / Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux

Marché de Noël in Saint-Émilion

When: December 4-5 / Where: Saint Emilion – center

Marché de Noël de Libourne

When: November 28 – December 26 / Where: Place Decazes, 33500 Libourne

Marché de Noël in Bazas

When: December 12 / Where: Place de la Cathédrale, 33430 Bazas

Arcachon fête Noël

When: December 12 – January 3 / Where: place des Marquises, Arcachon

Château de La Ligne

When: December 4-5/ Where: 30 Rte de l’Entre Deux Mers, 33360 Lignan-de-Bordeaux

La Boca Market

When: December 17-18 / Where: Euratlantique, Quai de Paludate, 33800 Bordeaux

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FAB – International art festival

Nuit des Bibliothèques

La Grande Transhumance Urbaine

Foire aux Plaisirs

Festival Animasia

Village des Sciences

Lire en Poche – books festival

Montgolfiades de Saint-Emilion

Open doors in the Chateaux of Graves

FIFIB- Bordeaux international festival of independent movies

A bit of Basque country!

Foire au Jambon

Fête du Piment d’Espelette

Exhibitions not to miss in Bordeaux

L’Institut Bernard Magrez – Free Spirit

La Cité du Vin – Boire avec les dieux

Monet, Renoir… Chagall, Voyages en Méditerranée

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European Museums Night

When: July 3 – 6 pm until midnight / Where: Different museums around the metropole

Open doors in the Chateaux of Sauternes and Barsac

When: November 10-111 / Where: Sauternes et Barsac– chose your chateau from the program

A beautiful 4D show on Chateau de Duras

When: July 1st to August 31 / Where: Chateau de Duras

Festival Rues et Vous

When: July 6-8 / Where: Rions

Dance on the Quai

When: Daily from July 17 to August 1st / Where: Quai Louis XVIII, 33000 Bordeaux

Tour de France

When: July 16-17 / Where: Saint Emilion and Libourne

Durassic Festival

When: July 16-18 / Where: Chateau de Duras

Bordeaux Metropolitan Summer

When: Daily from July 10 to August 29 / Where: Bordeaux Metropolitan – check out the exact location of every event in the program.

Summer Sales

Summer of Music in Medoc

When: June 30 – July 15 / Where: Different locations, see program above

Les Nouvelles Saisons – music festival

When: July 15-22 / Where: Different location in Bordeaux

La Bataille de Castillon

When: July 16 – August 21 / Where: Association 1453, Mairie de Castillon, 33350 CASTILLON-LA-BATAILLE

Nuits Atypiques Festival

When: July 4- July 25 / Where: South Gironde- check out the exact location of every event in the program.

See the new exhibition: Monet, Renoir… Chagall, Voyages en Méditerranée

Visit the huge Labyrinth of Gironde

Go for a drink in one of Bordeaux’s summer bars

Puppet Theater for Kids

When: Daily during July – August at 16:00 / Where: Parc Bordelais

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Heritage Days in the center of Bordeaux

CAPC – the museum of contemporary art

Restaurant le Chapon Fin

Synagogue de Bordeaux

Palais Rohan

Collections du Muséum d’Histoire naturelle.

Grosse Cloche

Académie Nationale des Sciences, Belles lettres et Arts de Bordeaux

Site archéologique de Saint Seurin

Places to visit in Bordeaux Metropole

Journées européennes du patrimoine à Mérignac

Cité Frugès – Le Corbusier

Château de Laurenzane in Gradignan