The Best Hotels in Bordeaux

Exploring Bordeaux

Set along the Garonne River in south-western France, Bordeaux is one of the world’s most famous wine centers as well as housing a magnificent old city centre. In fact, its historical city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, as it home to one of the largest 18th century architectural areas in Europe. Today, Bordeaux is France’s ninth largest city, though it was one of the first urbanised cities in the country thanks to King Louis XV. Wine has been produced here since the 8th century and the largest annual wine fair in the world takes place here. There are around 116,160 hectares of vineyards in Bordeaux, which produce around 960 million bottles per year.

Bordeaux is home to 362 historical monuments, some of which date back to Roman times. It is classified as a ‘City of Art and History’ and has been nicknamed the ‘Pearl of Aquitaine’. It is a fairly flat city that sits on the west side of the Garonne River and is home to very few skyscrapers, giving it an old world charm. In addition to its historical area and the landmarks found within it, Bordeaux is home to some fabulous museums, lovely gardens and a great shopping street, Rue Sainte-Catherine. Its surrounding vineyards make for great day trips, as does the nearby Atlantic Ocean.

Sights nearby

Bordeaux and its surrounding area is filled with attractions that will keep visitors busy for days, while its selection of hotels is plentiful, with offerings ranging from budget to luxurious.

Old City
Home to some of Bordeaux’s most visited sites, the Old City centre dates to Roman times and was the birthplace of Decimius Magnus Ausonius, Michel de Montaigne and Richard II of England, among others. It is the most visited area of the city, housing great architectural buildings such as the 18th century Grand Théâtre, the 14th century Saint-André Cathedral and Saint-Seurin Basilica. It is also home to the largest square in Europe, Place des Quinconces, dating back to 1818. Stay in the heart of this historical area by securing a room at the Grand Hotel de Bordeaux and Spa, which is one of Bordeaux’s most elegant hotels.

Rue Sainte-Catherine
The shopping centre of Bordeaux, this pedestrianised street runs for about three quarters of a mile right through the heart of the historical area of the city, from Place de la Comédie to Place de la Victoire. It is the longest pedestrian street in Europe and is a great place for a stroll. Fashionistas can spend hours searching through its stores, which range from second-hand clothing shops to ultra-chic boutiques. Staying at the Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre means you don’t have to venture far to enjoy this famous street, as it is situated at the northern end of it.

Wine tours
No trip to Bordeaux is complete without visiting some its most famous vineyards, such as Château Haut Brion, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Cheval Blanc and Château Margaux. Tours leave the city daily to visit all the major vineyards where the country’s best cabernet sauvignon, merlot, sémillon and sauvignon blanc are produced. These tours last a full day and include transportation in a comfortable minivan.

Eating and drinking and shopping nearby

There is a wide selection of restaurants in the city that serve up traditional French cuisine as well as flavours from around the world. The cheapest eateries can be found around the church of Saint Michel, while the best restaurants are sited in top hotels such as the Hotel Burdigala Bordeaux - MGallery Collection. The majority of bars in the city are found in the La Victoire area, while Les Quais is the nightclub heart of the city.

Public transport

The Tram et Bus de la CUB provides public transportation in the city, which consists of 75 bus routes, three tram lines and a boat shuttle that runs from one side of the Garonne River to the other. There is also a trolleybus (navette du centre-ville) that travels around the city centre and even runs along its pedestrian roads.