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Are you pondering of visiting Bordeaux? Assume no additional, as a result of Bordeaux is wonderful and it is best to completely go to it. If this isn’t convincing sufficient, on this publish, I’ll let you already know about 10 the explanation why Bordeaux is the best possible metropolis in France (to go to).
Our weekend in Bordeaux in February
I needed to go to Bordeaux for fairly some time, however each single time I needed to purchase the tickets, they have been actually costly. Fortunately, I managed to search out a really reasonably priced flight and purchased our return flights for £60 per individual (which actually low-cost, because it’s arduous to search out good offers on the flights to Bordeaux). We visited Bordeaux low season, in February and we have been lucky with the climate, because it was sizzling and solely rained as soon as for quarter-hour on Sunday. Climate in Bordeaux in winter could possibly be unstable with a whole lot of rain and sunny days as nicely. For those who’re unfortunate, you possibly can come for every week and have every week of rain in Bordeaux in winter, nevertheless, finish of February, for instance, normally sees extra solar.
Our itinerary for a weekend in Bordeaux
Our weekend in Bordeaux was wonderful, and we managed to see rather a lot with the Bordeaux Metropolis Go kindly supplied to us by Go to Bordeaux (large because of Bordeaux Tourism Workplace for that). Our itinerary for a weekend in Bordeaux included the Cite Du Vin, Cathedrale Saint-Andre, Tour Pey-Berland (you should climb one thing like 225 steps to see the panorama of town, but it surely’s price it), Porte Cailhau, Grosse Cloche, and the Museum of the Effective Arts.
We may have seen a bit extra, however on Saturday, all of the museums (aside from the Cite Du Vin) have been closed, and the general public transport wasn’t working due to the weekly yellow vest demonstration, so we may have seen extra in case the demonstration wasn’t there.
The place to remain in Bordeaux?
For those who’re questioning, the place to remain in Bordeaux, I’d positively suggest town centre, particularly in the event you’re solely coming for a weekend. We stayed in Mama Shelter, a really uncommon and funky lodge for millennial within the coronary heart of Bordeaux. Mama Shelter had an amazing rooftop terrace and a pleasant bar on the primary ground. It’s really a sequence, so there are Mama Shelters in Paris, Lyon, London and even Rio!
Nonetheless, if Mama Shelter is to not your liking, you could possibly keep in an incredible historic lodge like, for instance, lodge Cardinal or lodge Vatel.
I most likely want to put in writing a separate publish about the perfect locations to go to in Bordeaux, our detailed itinerary for 2 days in Bordeaux and locations to eat and exit in Bordeaux, however on this publish, I needed to concentrate on 10 the explanation why Bordeaux is the perfect metropolis to go to in France.
10 the explanation why Bordeaux is the Finest Metropolis in France (to go to)
1. Bordeaux is an genuine French metropolis (similar to within the films!)
Bordeaux is all the pieces Paris needs to be, and all the pieces vacationers hope Paris can be – an exquisite genuine French metropolis. After visiting Paris, many individuals find yourself being upset, as a result of it’s not like they imagined Paris to be – it’s nothing like town within the films from the 40-es and 50-es – this Paris is lengthy gone and misplaced. Paris is a big, touristy multicultural metropolis and in the event you’re on the lookout for a smaller lovely and spotless French metropolis – one thing, Paris has been determined in the past, you could find all of it in Bordeaux now.
As a way to get to know Bordeaux even higher, you possibly can take a guided strolling tour of town!
2. Bordeaux has among the greatest wines on this planet
For some individuals that will most likely be the primary motive to go to Bordeaux – the wine! Bordeaux is all about wine and in the event you’re a wine connoisseur, it is best to positively go to Bordeaux if you wish to be taught extra about Bordeaux, head to the well-known Cite Du Vin, the place you could find a whole lot of details about wine in several eras within the interactive format. For those who purchase a Bordeaux Metropolis Go, you possibly can go to the Cite Du Vin at no cost earlier than 12 pm. You may also purchase the Cite Du Vin tickets individually right here.
Bordeaux has a few wonderful vineyards not so distant from town, so you possibly can both hire a automobile or purchase a wine tour to St. Emilion, for instance!
3. Bordeaux has a whole lot of wonderful photogenic spots
Bordeaux is likely one of the most Instagrammable cities in France! To be sincere, earlier than visiting Bordeaux, I didn’t have excessive expectations and wasn’t hoping to search out a whole lot of lovely storefronts, eating places and cafes, however Bordeaux had all the pieces and extra! Head to this publish about the perfect photograph areas and most Instagrammable spots in Bordeaux – learn it right here.
4. Bordeaux has unbelievable nightlife and wine bars
Bordeaux has a whole lot of reasonably priced and wonderful bars (principally wine bars and cocktail bars) like Aux Quatre Cash du Vin – it will get very busy, so it is smart to order your desk upfront. Principally, the bar is self-service and you’ve got some wonderful wines to strive – simply insert your card (the preloaded card from the bar) to the machine and select the scale of your “portion” of wine – from the smallest to the biggest and get to strive wonderful wines from throughout France (and in addition some international ones).
5. Bordeaux has nice service and really pleasant individuals
France is legendary for the service that’s removed from nice and a few impolite waiters (I’ve encountered that in lots of French cities, sadly). Nonetheless, everyone in Bordeaux was so good and welcoming, and the individuals have been very nice and pleasant. Waiters have been explaining us the menus and have been affected person, pleasant and actually nice! So service in Bordeaux was a very nice shock for me.
6. Bordeaux has good climate and a pleasant local weather
Another excuse to go to Bordeaux is to flee from chilly and rain of Northern Europe. Bordeaux is situated very near Spain, and the climate there in Spring, Summer season and Autumn is wonderful! And if you wish to swim, you are able to do it by simply driving for 40 minutes to the coast!
7. Bordeaux has wonderful countryside
If you wish to be within the metropolis, which you’ll go away at any second and see the countryside, there are some nice alternatives for it in Bordeaux. You’ll be able to hire a automobile and discover the attractive villages and vineyards close to Bordeaux, and you may even drive to San Sebastian in Spain, which is about 3 hours driving from Bordeaux (which isn’t unhealthy in any respect).
Learn extra about San Sebastian in my publish about touring Northern Spain >
8. Bordeaux has nice meals
French are well-known for his or her meals, nevertheless, some cities are higher than the others by way of meals and culinary delights. Bordeaux has truthfully the perfect meals I’ve tried in France: Michel’s restaurant within the metropolis centre was a gem, and we additionally had a few sharing boards in numerous eating places across the metropolis. The particular one was the cheese and charcuterie board with the black truffle in Tutiac Wine Bar and the desserts within the meals market close to Cite Du Vin! There are additionally loads of meals excursions devoted to the delicacies in Bordeaux, for instance, this wonderful Connoisseur Metropolis tour of Bordeaux, the best-rated within the metropolis.
9. Bordeaux is a good metropolis for funds travellers and bagpackers
As I discussed earlier than, France just isn’t low-cost. It’s most likely some of the difficult nations to journey to for funds travellers and backpackers (together with Switzerland and all Scandinavia. And the UK, in fact), nevertheless, I felt like in Bordeaux, there have been so many budget-friendly choices. Our lodge, Mama Shelter, wasn’t low-cost, nevertheless, if you wish to keep on a funds, you possibly can hire a personal room on Airbnb for a fraction of the value (we couldn’t as we have been arriving very late and no Airbnb hosts may meet us at the moment). For those who want an Airbnb promo code for nearly 30 euros (in the event you’re new to the service), you need to use my hyperlink to get the journey credit score!
Bordeaux additionally has a public bus going on to the airport and the ticket prices simply 1 euro 70 cents! As for the meals, you may as well discover loads of reasonably priced eating places and bars in Bordeaux, so that you gained’t be left hungry! That makes Bordeaux an amazing metropolis for funds travellers and backpackers!
10. Bordeaux is absolutely actually lovely
And naturally, Bordeaux is absolutely lovely and has some wonderful architectural landmarks! Bordeaux is essentially the most lovely metropolis in France I’ve seen thus far and for some motive, it jogged my memory of Edinburgh, Scotland (I used to dwell in Edinburgh for 1.5 years, learn a bit extra about Edinburgh in this information to town) and town centre of Bordeaux is big and completely beautiful. I can describe it without end, however I’d somewhat present you some extra photographs of town, so that you’ll see it your self!
I hope it was sufficient causes to go to Bordeaux for you and you’ll e book a ticket to Bordeaux for a weekend (or perhaps even longer)!
Are you interested by visiting another cities in France? I’ve received a few different posts about France!
Street journey round French Riviera: Good, Cannes, Monaco and extra
Weekend in Marseille
Finest villages close to Toulouse, France
Weekend in Toulouse
Most Instagrammable locations in Paris