Bordeaux Activities: Where to Start
Bordeaux Activities: Where to Start
Four things anchor a first visit to Bordeaux, and none of them need a car.
Two towers, two views
Cathedrale Saint-Andre’s bell tower, Tour Pey-Berland, is the classic climb: 231 stone steps to two viewing terraces over the city’s rooftops and the curve of the Garonne. Tickets are timed and sold online only, EUR 6 full rate, EUR 4 reduced, free under 18. A second option reopened in June 2026 after five years of restoration: La Fleche Saint-Michel, the 114-metre spire of the Basilique Saint-Michel, runs daily April through October, 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 18:00, EUR 7 full, EUR 5 reduced, free under 13. Climbing both in one day is possible if you book the first slot at one and the last at the other.
La Cite du Vin
The building itself, shaped like wine swirling in a glass, holds 19 interactive modules on world winemaking before ending at the 8th-floor Belvedere, 35 metres up, with a glass of wine and a 360-degree view of the Port de la Lune. Adult admission runs close to EUR 23 in 2026, though the exact figure moves year to year, so check laciteduvin.com before you go. Browse Cite du Vin tickets on GetYourGuide if you want a combined ticket with a tasting workshop.
Bassins des Lumieres
Inside a former WWII submarine base in the Bacalan district, this digital art center projects moving artwork across four concrete pens, each 110 metres long, with the water in the pens doubling every image. Adult entry is EUR 16, reduced EUR 12.50, family (2 adults, 2 children) EUR 40. Evenings tend to be quieter than the first hour after opening.
Marche des Capucins
Locals call it “Le Ventre de Bordeaux,” and Saturday morning is when it earns the name: stalls sell Arcachon oysters by the dozen alongside a chilled glass of Entre-Deux-Mers, plus charcuterie, tapas, and canneles from the same handful of counters. Arrive before 11am for both the oysters and a seat.
Planning around the tickets
Tour Pey-Berland and La Fleche Saint-Michel both cap visitor numbers per time slot, so book a specific hour rather than turning up and hoping. Search Bordeaux city tours on Viator if a guided version that bundles several of these stops suits your schedule better than doing it solo.
Read more: Family-Friendly Activities in Bordeaux covers what works for a day with children, and the Bordeaux city guide has the wider picture beyond this list.
Book tower slots directly through pey-berland.fr and check bordeaux-tourisme.com for combined passes covering several of these sites at once.