Favorite Places in Bordeaux: 7 Personal Tips

May 23, 2025, 12:55 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

Travelbook author Amira Proksch presents her seven favorite spots in and around Bordeaux in this article. With its numerous attractions, the French metropolis offers many wonderful places to explore.

Bordeaux impresses with its elegant old town, magnificent squares like the Place de la Bourse, and a successful blend of historical and modern architecture. The city is picturesquely situated on the Garonne and offers numerous opportunities for walks along the river promenade or through charming neighborhoods. Art, culture, and a vibrant culinary scene make Bordeaux a versatile and inspiring travel destination. To provide a bit of inspiration for your next trip to the French metropolis, here are my 7 favorite places in Bordeaux.

1. The Saint-André Cathedral of Bordeaux – a Must-See

The Saint-André Cathedral is located at Place Pey-Berland, where you can enjoy an ice cream or other delicacies. This very opulent cathedral has existed for nearly 200 years. I was particularly impressed by its architecture, which is why I recommend a visit to everyone and consider it one of my favorite places in Bordeaux.

2. The Bassins des Lumières in Bordeaux

Exhibitions are regularly held at the Bassins des Lumières—but not as one might expect. They work with light: Projectors display a painter’s works on the massive walls. During the presentation, you learn many interesting, both historical and personal, facts about the featured celebrity (at least that was the case during a Mozart presentation). Additionally, visually impressive transitions between the different artworks are created. The whole experience is accompanied by poetic and dramatic music.

Les Bassins des Lumières — Numerous exhibitions have been held at the Bassins des Lumières, captivating audiences with light shows

3. The Musée de l’illusion Bordeaux – A Perfect Excursion Destination in Bordeaux

Here you will find content from third-party providers

To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

In order to display embedded content, your consent to the processing of personal data, which can be revoked at any time (via the switch or via “Revoke tracking and cookies” at the bottom of the page), is required. Data may be transferred to third countries such as the USA (Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). By switching to “on” you agree. You can find more information here.

The Musée de l’illusion Bordeaux is an exciting museum where playful effects trick you—an experience for both young and old. For example, you can stand in front of a special mirror that gives the impression of being partially transparent. According to “witfm,” it offers more than 70 interactive illusions. Each station is complemented by scientific explanations that clearly elucidate the mechanisms behind the illusions.

BILD Reisen: Discover the best hotels in Aquitaine now!

4. Place de la Victoire in Bordeaux

Place de la Victoire, one of my favorite places in Bordeaux, is a wonderful spot to linger—not only because the square itself is beautiful and offers many dining options. From here, you can directly access a shopping and café street. Behind the streets, you’ll find numerous shops—from high-end brands to cozy cafés and restaurants, as well as small no-name stores and vintage shops. You can update your wardrobe while enjoying a coffee or matcha.

5. The Beautiful Architecture of the Houses in Bordeaux

I always enjoyed strolling through Bordeaux because the streets are simply beautiful. Many of them are artistically decorated with flowers, plants, or other elements. I particularly liked Rue Pas-Saint-Georges and Rue Saint-James, where pretty flowers hung from the balconies. In the evening, these small streets appear almost magical due to the warm glow of the lanterns. This romantic atmosphere invites you to dine in one of the many small restaurants. That’s exactly what I did, and after a long walk, I had dinner at HUSH HUSH. The restaurant offers Vietnamese cuisine, as well as classic French dishes.

Here you will find content from third-party providers

To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

6. A Famous Food Court in Bordeaux

The Halles de Bacalan is a highly recommended destination. Whether healthy or unhealthy, salty or sweet, a lot or a little—there’s something for every taste here. The food market is famous for its good food—which I can only confirm.

In the South of Spain This Coastal City Is as Beautiful as Barcelona, Only Less Well-Known

From the historic port city of La Rochelle to Hendaye on the border with Spain - this route is perfect for a road trip along the Atlantic through France.

Nine stops The best route for a road trip along the French Atlantic coast

Charming Seaside Resort Hidden Gem De Haan: The Beautiful Town on Belgium’s Coast

7. Léognan Near Bordeaux

Le lac bleu — There are some excellent restaurants around Lac Bleu

If you’re willing to travel about half an hour by public transport or car, you’ll find a quiet, tourist-free spot in the small suburb of Léognan for a relaxing walk by the water. The Lac Bleu (near Chemin du Peych Cazaux) is particularly suitable for this. Afterward, a visit to the restaurant La Force de Léognan, which offers traditional, rural dishes, is worthwhile. The staff there are also exceptionally friendly.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TRAVELBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@travelbook.de.