Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux is a port city in the south west of France. It is the capital city of the Aquitaine region and is famous for its many varieties of wine, which are considered among the best in the world.

Bordeaux is a historical city with many tourist attractions. The city itself boasts elegant neoclassical architecture, wide avenues, and attractive public squares and parks. The centre of town lies between Place Gambetta and the Garonne River. There are many fascinating museums and art galleries, excellent shopping and beautiful gardens to enjoy.

Bordeaux also offers a great selection of cafes and restaurants in the Place de la Victoire, the Place du Parlement or the Rue de Parlement Sainte Catherine. Sample some of Bordeaux's lively nightlife by checking out the city's late night dance venues on the Quai de Paludate.

Things to See & Do

* Place Gambetta
* Musee d'Aquitaine
* Gothic Saint-André Cathedral and bell tower
* Museums of regional history, fine arts, contemporary art, etc.
* Winery tours

General information

Cruise Season - Feb - Dec
Currency - Euro (€)
Language - French
Land Area - 49.36 sq km's
Population - 210,000
Electricity - 2 pin Round pins European style
Time - GMT + one hour
International Country Telephone Code - 33

Port Location - The port is located on the Garonne River.

Transport Links - Bordeaux's Merignac Airport is located west of the city. It's a regional airport which serves mostly domestic flights, though there are international flights as well connecting Bordeaux to some European "hub" airports like Paris (Orly and Roissy), London (Gatwick) Madrid and Amsterdam. An express bus runs every 40 minutes to the city center, and makes several stops in the city. The main train station (Gare Saint Jean) is located about 4km from the center of town. Several trains per day (around one every two hours) go north (to Paris, about 5 hours, Angoulème, Poitiers), south (to Toulouse, Marseille, Montpellier (about 4 to 5 hours), up to Nice), and east (to Périgueux and Clermont-Ferrand). Buses and taxis leave from in front of the station. Catch the tramway to go to the inner center.
The bus station is located just in front of the train station, in the center of the town. Eurolines provide bus service to the city.

Bicycle hire is available for getting around Bordeaux, although getting around on foot is very easy.