How to Spend One Day in Bordeaux: Layover in Bordeaux Itinerary

If you watched my Instagram stories a few weeks ago, you got a glimpse into our travel nightmare trying to get to our friend’s wedding in France. An air strike in Italy left us stranded and feeling defeated. After multiple canceled flights and route changes, we unexpectedly ended up with a layover in Bordeaux for the day as it was the closest city we could fly to, rent a car, and make our original flight back to the states out of Toulouse.

It’s no secret Bordeaux’s known for wine and is home to some of the oldest vineyards in the world. In our short time in this beautiful city, we enjoyed delicious french cuisine and checked off a few sites. Here’s how to spend one day or a long layover in Bordeaux, France.

Logistics for your Layover in Bordeaux

When flying to Bordeaux, you’ll want to book a flight to Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport, less than 8 miles from the city of Bordeaux, about a 25-minute drive. The airport is small and easy to navigate, with nods to the French wine region. You can even see vines at the airport!

Accessing the car rental area is convenient, just a short walk from arrivals. This itinerary ideally requires a car but can be modified to use if you’re traveling by train. We needed the rental car to get to Toulouse, so we opted for this transportation method.

Start your day in the historic Bordeaux Downtown

Start your day by heading to the Historic Center. If you’ve rented a car, use Maps to head over. We found plenty of parking and parking structures in the centre, so don’t worry about these logistics. If you opt for public transportation, you have a couple of options to get to Bordeaux quickly.

Bus: The local bus service connects to Saint-Jean station and other city centre destinations via routes Lianes +1. This trip will cost you less than 2 euros.
Shuttle: The airport operates a 30-minute shuttle service to the Saint Jean train station, costing 8 Euros. Find additional shuttle info and times here.

Start with breakfast at Books & Coffee – this place offers stunning views of the Gross Cloche, so get there early to avoid crowds.

Here are some of the top sites I recommend checking out:

Place de la Bourse – Stock Exchange Square
Miroir d’Eau – The world’s largest reflecting pool (skippable depending on the time of year as the )
Porte Cailhau (Palace Gate)- offers an incredible view of Bordeaux
Grosse Cloche (Big Bell)- one of the oldest belfries in France
Cathedrale Saint Andre (Cathedral of St. Andrew)
Monument des Girondins- fountain commemorating the Girondists of the French Revolution

Optional: Alles de Tourney offers trendy boutiques, luxury shopping, and international brands. If you’re tight on time, skip this site. We went on a Sunday, and many things were closed.

Pro Tip: Download the GPS My City App for accessible itineraries to follow.

Have lunch and spend the afternoon in Saint-Emilion

After visiting a few sites, have lunch and spend the afternoon in Saint-Emilion. Saint-Emilion is a quaint medieval village known for its world-famous wineries, architecture, and monuments. It’s about a 45-minute drive or 35-minute train ride from the Saint-Jean train station in Bordeaux. The first train leaves at ~ 6 am and then comes every one/two hours through 10 pm.

Pro Tip: Make a reservation for lunch. The top rec we found was L’ENVERS DU DÉCOR – but we couldn’t get a last-minute reservation.

We ended up eating at La Côte Braisée, which was pretty quaint and had a delicious prix-fixe menu. Don’t miss trying the original “macaron” – a staple there. For more food options, check out this great post by Bordeaux Travel Guide.

Things to do in Saint-Emilion:

Eglise Monolithe de Saint–Emilion – make a reservation beforehand. Adult tickets cost 12,00€, while students and kids receive a discount at 9,00€.
Office de Tourisme du Grand Saint-Émilionnais- The plaza next time this office offers an incredible town view.
Walk near la tour du Roy – another excellent lookout point.
Walk around shops and explore the general area.

Note: Many of the wineries and vineyards are closed on Sundays (the day we visited), so we stayed in town. If you’re visiting any other day, definitely check out a winery- that’s what the city is known for, after all.