Arrival Information Bordeaux, France

View over Old Town
(photo by elainne_dickinson)

The most romantic and memorable way to fully enjoy the view of Bordeaux is to approach it from south along the Garonne River. The city is large, having a population of over 500 thousands and visibly rich. It has been founded in the time of the Roman Empire as an important trading port on the river and the nearby Atlantic Ocean. At present day it still holds an important role as a major transport centre for the region of Aquitaine. Bordeaux has a very appealing, well preserved, compact and easy for touring on foot old town with architecture mainly dating back to the 18th century - the city's heyday when the expanding colonial trade brought large revenues to the locals. On the other side is the public transportation network consisting of ultramodern and even futuristic trams which impress visitors not less than the historic centre and give the city a contemporary, electric look on the backdrop of the splendid classical buildings. In brief Bordeaux can be easily explored with its several prominent sights worth visiting, friendly and pleasant atmosphere, intense and thrilling nightlife, as well as a variety of good hotels and other accommodation options.

(photo by ahisgett)

The entire city spreads along the west bank of the Garonne River. Its atmospheric 18th-century old town or Vieux Bordeaux is situated between the impressive building on the river front to the east, the Cathedral to the west and Place de la Comédie to the north. Beyond the latter square is located the Esplande des Quinconces - the Europe most spacious square, built in the first quarter of the 19th century. A couple of steps north-east from here is the Jardin Public containing some interesting remains from the Roman past of the city, the Natural History Museum and the Botanical Garden.

The easiest way to reach Bordeaux is by plane. The Bordeaux-Mérignac International Airport is located just 12 km west of the centre, well served by public transport with shuttle service to/from Grand Théâtre, available every 30 minutes. If you travel by train you will have to get off at Gare St-Jean. The railway station is located 3 km south from old town and features its own tourist office. Bus #16 and tram line C provide quick and convenient connection between city centre and the train station. Most of the international and intercity bus lines have their terminal in Allées de Munich, right next to the Esplande des Quinconces and close to the main tourist office on cours du 30-Juillet. Not far from here, on 21 cours de l’Intendance is the other tourist office responsible for the Gironde department, organizing nice day-trips in the surroundings of the city.

(photo by ilesh)

The easiest way to explore Bordeaux is on foot and by the convenient public transport system. The new tram network was inaugurated in 2003, costing more than a billion euro. It has a positive effect on the city’s landscape, reducing the traffic and making it more friendly to the pedestrians. The tram lines run from 5:00 am to 1:00 am on the other day, connecting the all areas of the city centre with the suburbs. A single ticket valid for all lines within 1 hour costs € 1.30. You can also buy a carnet of 10 tickets for € 10.00. Although most of the important city sights are easily accessible by walking, if you stay longer you can invest in an unlimited-use pass providing access to all public transportation for one day or for one week. The electric navette bus lines operate every 15 or 10 minutes (during busy hours) between Place de la Quinconces and Place de la Victoire, having convenient stops at Gambetta, St-Pierre and St-Michel. If you arrive by car you can take advantage of the numerous underground parks in the city centre. It is also possible (and cheaper) to park at the tram station located on the eastern bank of the river, buy a round-trip-park-and-ride ticket for € 2.60 and explore Bordeaux with the convenient tram transport.