Family Days Out in Bordeaux
Family Days Out in Bordeaux
Bordeaux’s family-friendly options cluster into an easy day: a splash pad that’s actually a landmark, two museums built for younger visitors, a puppet show older than most countries, and a ferry that doubles as entertainment.
The water mirror kids treat as a splash pad
Place de la Bourse’s Miroir d’Eau is a 3,450 square-metre granite slab holding just 2cm of water, and it cycles between a still reflecting pool and a cooling mist. On hot days it becomes the most popular free play spot in the city center, and there’s no ticket or opening hours to plan around.
Two museums built with children in mind
Museum de Bordeaux - Sciences et Nature, set inside the 18th-century Hotel de Lisleferme in the Jardin Public, runs interactive natural history exhibits with specimens kids can touch, plus a dedicated Musee des Tout-Petits section built specifically for children under 6. Across town at the foot of the Pont Chaban-Delmas, Cap Sciences fills the Hangar 20 building with hands-on science and engineering exhibits and rotating labs where children run their own experiments. Check Cap Sciences workshop tickets on GetYourGuide if a specific lab session is on your list.
A puppet show that predates the Eiffel Tower
Guignol Guerin, inside the Jardin Public, has staged traditional hand-marionette shows since 1853, making it France’s oldest continuously running family puppet theater. Performances run Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons; check the schedule ahead since it shifts with the season.
A ferry ride for the price of a tram ticket
The BAT3 river catamaran connects five pontoons along the Garonne, and the short hop from Quinconces to La Cite du Vin makes a breezy mini-cruise for kids at no extra cost beyond a standard TBM transit ticket.
Planning the day
Aim for a morning at one of the museums, lunch in the Jardin Public, and the Miroir d’Eau or the ferry in the afternoon when the heat picks up. Most museum tours and interactive labs run in French by default, so check ahead for English-language options if that matters for your visit. Family day options around Bordeaux are listed on Viator if you want a guided add-on to the day.
Read more: Bordeaux Activities: Where to Start covers the landmarks worth adding once the kids have had their fill of museums, and the 2-day Bordeaux itinerary shows how a family day fits into a short trip.
Check current hours for the Museum de Bordeaux and Cap Sciences directly at bordeaux-tourisme.com , and infotbm.com for the BAT3 ferry timetable before you set out.