For Wine Lovers: A Day Trip to Bordeaux from Paris

If you are looking for an exciting day trip from Paris, look no further than Bordeaux. This beautiful city is known for its world-class wine. But Bordeaux is also a World Heritage Site with impressive architecture, great museums, and an outstanding culinary scene.

And the best? The train Bordeaux Paris only takes 2 hours!

This article guides you through organizing a day trip from Paris to Bordeaux. It covers activities in Bordeaux, planning a wine tour, and booking train tickets.

Drawing from my own trip there with my husband, I offer insights from our experience. To streamline your planning, you’ll find two ready-to-use itineraries that serve as templates for your Bordeaux adventure.

Paris to Bordeaux Day Trip: Your Complete Guide

A day trip to Bordeaux from Paris offers you plenty to see and do and allows you to explore more of France’s cultural diversity. All you need to do is hop on a train to Bordeaux from Paris and enjoy a 2h ride through the French countryside.

Plus: the renowned wine headquarters of Saint Emilion is just a short drive away from Bordeaux. Making it easy to join a half-day tour while in Bordeaux to visit this gem of a village.

You might also like these articles:

• Quick Weekend Guide to Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion, and Arcachon!
• 21 Best Day Trips by Train from Paris
• A day trip to Champagne from Paris – All you need to know!
• Monet’s Garden – visit Giverny from Paris (2024)

Is a Day Trip to Bordeaux from Paris worth it?

Truth be told, It sounds a bit like a crazy idea to visit Bordeaux for one day. Especially considering that Paris and Bordeaux are almost 600 km apart. But France has the TGV!

The high-speed train manages the distance between Paris and Bordeaux in just a little more than 2 hours! Which makes Bordeaux perfect for a day trip by train from Paris!

If you wonder about the time in Bordeaux, it’s the same time zone as Paris 🙂 

Many Parisians moved to Bordeaux during the past years while still working in Paris. They just hop on a train when needed and go back to Paris for the day. Working from home made things easier in this regard, but by French standards, 2h on a train is nothing and a rather normal commuting time.

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Why You Should Visit Bordeaux From Paris

Many are saying that Paris is not France. And it’s kind of true.  The French understand France as consisting of two areas: Paris and not Paris, also known as “La Province”, not to be mistaken with “Provence”, a region in the south of France, that you easily visit as a weekend getaway from Paris. 

That being said, if you wonder which places to visit in France, Bordeaux should be on that list. Bordeaux is a great and easy-to-reach destination from Paris. Plus, it’s so far away from the capital, that it grants an entirely different experience and will complement your impression of France.  

#1 A Day Trip From Paris to Bordeaux – Visit for the Wine

Bordeaux is one of the leading wine regions worldwide, and nothing is better than enjoying a wine-tasting locally. Together with the folks that produce it, and that put their heart and soul into it. As you can guess, there are plenty of wine tours in Bordeaux. Get a complete overview of all wine tours and activities in Bordeaux here.

Did you know that no wine is actually produced within the city limits of Bordeaux? But don’t worry, the famous wine regions St.Emilion and Medoc are just outside town, and most wine tours from Bordeaux are aiming for exactly those stunning regions.

Are you worried to getting tempted to buy wine and don’t know how to transport your precious bottles? Click here to find solutions!

#2 Bordeaux is a World Heritage Site

But even though wine is omnipresent in Bordeaux, there are more reasons to visit. Because Bordeaux is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The historic part of the city got included in the list of heritage sites as one of Europe’s biggest 18th-century urban and architectural areas. After all, Bordeaux is the city in France – after Paris – with the most preserved historical buildings. 

Did you know that Bordeaux was voted the top destination in Europe in 2015? And that’s not without reason. There is plenty to do in Bordeaux and not everything has to do with wine even.

Some of the best things that you can do in Bordeaux and that make your day trip to Bordeaux from Paris an unforgettable experience are:

• Take a River Cruise on the River Garonne (more info and booking and ticketing here)
• Visit the Cité du Vin (Skip the Line Entrance possible)
• Explore Bordeaux’s most charming neighborhoods by Bike (get more info here)
• See the enchanting Bassins des Lumières Museum (secure your tickets here)

If you need more ideas, refer to the full range of attractions and activities in Bordeaux.

#3 Bordeaux is a Paradise for Food Lovers

In Bordeaux, the food scene is as delightful as it is diverse. You’ll find everything from charming bistros serving classic French dishes to sophisticated restaurants offering gourmet experiences.

Each meal is an opportunity to taste the region’s culinary heritage, enhanced by its famous wines. It’s a straightforward yet enriching experience, adding a special touch to your visit.

Indeed, on my last visit to Bordeaux, I had one of the most extraordinary meals ever. It was at Symbiose.

How to get to Bordeaux from Paris

Bordeaux lies roughly 600 km southwest of Paris. The ride from Paris to Bordeaux by train will take you only a bit more than 2 hours, though. Thanks to the famous French high-speed train TGV, long-distance traveling in France is super convenient and easy. 

You can of course also rent a car or take the plane, but those options will definitely take longer much longer in travel time, cost you a pretty penny, and spoil your carbon footprint. They are no good option for a Bordeaux day trip from Paris.

If you are traveling on a shoestring budget and the good train deals are already sold out, you also can take a bus to Bordeaux from Paris. However, this will take significantly longer, and you need at least one overnight stay in Bordeaux.

The best value for money if you’re on a budget offers the hotel Eklo Bordeaux Centre Bastide

How to take the train to Bordeaux from Paris

The TGV is the French high-speed train that connects French major cities at up to 320 km/h (200 mph) and transports more than 110 million passengers per year. The TGV is also one of the safest ways of traveling. It is unarguably the best way if you are looking into how to get from Paris to Bordeaux for a day trip.

Paris Montparnasse Train station

If you are traveling from Paris to Bordeaux by train, you need to head to the Montparnasse train station in the south of Paris. The station is reachable by Metro lines 4, 6, 12, and 13. It is also serviced by the Transilien suburb train that connects communes in the southwest to Paris.

Where’s the TGV leaving at Montparnasse?

When arriving at the train station, head to the train platforms on Level 2. The TGVs are leaving usually from Platform 1-9, on the very left. Please make sure to arrive 30 minutes before the train departure and have your mobile vouchers ready for the ride. If you are not sure if you’ll have an internet connection, simply take a screenshot of the QR code

Purchasing tickets for your trip from Paris to Bordeaux by train

Book your Bordeaux train tickets here in advance to get a better price

To avoid super expensive train tickets or – and more likely – sold-out tickets, plan your trip to Bordeaux in advance. You easily can purchase train tickets here. Make sure that your purchased ticket is a mobile ticket, so you only need to have them on your phone and don’t need to print them out.

However, if you are not sure if you’ll have an internet connection, take a screenshot, just to be on the safe side.

Interesting read: 15 mistakes most tourists make in Paris – how to avoid them!

You can purchase your train tickets also at the ticket office on Level 2, directly next to platform 1, or at the yellow ticket vending machines that you find all over the station. However, buying your ticket on the day will be expensive, and you risk that the train you plan to board is sold out.

Better: Purchase your tickets in advance online!

To assist you effectively in organizing your day trip from Paris to Bordeaux, I’ve crafted two detailed itineraries that can serve as your guide.

Additionally, I’ve included links for each step of the journey to simplify and expedite your booking process for a hassle-free Bordeaux trip.

#1 Itinerary: Full-Day Wine Tasting From Bordeaux

Click here to see the best wine-tasting experiences in Bordeaux!

This is your perfect itinerary if you are traveling to Bordeaux because you are a wine lover and want to visit one of the best wine regions in France!  

➲ Leave Paris first thing in the morning

In order to make the most of your day in Bordeaux, hop on the first train that leaves Paris direction Bordeaux. The earliest train is at 6:06 am from Montparnasse. You’ll be at the Bordeaux Saint-Jean train Station at 8:14 am. Click here to book your train ticket for the lowest price.

There is an earlier train leaving Paris for Bordeaux at 05:55 am but it is a slower one and you arrive only after 9 am. Hence, not a good choice.

➲ Take the tram or walk to the Center of Bordeaux

Arriving early in Bordeaux leaves you with enough time to take the Tram to the center from the train station Bordeaux Saint-Jean. Don’t worry, it’s a very short ride of 15 Minutes.

You could even walk there in 35 Minutes if you fancy seeing a bit of Bordeaux.

The pickup location of your full-day wine tour is 12 Cours du 30 Juillet. Take the tram Tram C and Tram D and get out at the station Quinconces. The ride costs 1,70€ and you can purchase a ticket at one of the vending machines at the station.

Both tours last in total around 8,5h and you’ll be back in Bordeaux in the late afternoon. Enough time to either visit Bordeaux or to return to Paris right away. However, the last train from Bordeaux to Paris leaves at 8:50 pm.

click here to know more about these full-day wine-tasting activities

#2 Itinerary: Half Day Wine Tasting and Sightseeing in Bordeaux

Take a look at these wonderful half-day wine-tasting events in Bordeaux!

Are you keen to visit Bordeaux but also don’t want to miss the vineyards? Then this itinerary is for you. It combines both: sightseeing in Bordeaux and a half-day trip to the beautiful vineyards of Saint-Émilion.

➲ Leave Paris for Bordeaux in the morning

To make the most of your day in Bordeaux, hop on one of the first train that leaves Paris direction Bordeaux.

The earliest train is at 6:06 am from Montparnasse but as you are not on a schedule, you can also take a train that leaves a bit later. Click here to book your train ticket for the lowest price.

Just don’t arrive too late for not to have too little time to explore Bordeaux.

➲ Explore and Enjoy Bordeaux

After arriving in Bordeaux, spend the morning sightseeing or stroll around. There are many things to do in Bordeaux.  I recommend you head over to the Place de la Bourse, the world’s biggest mirroring pool, and then take a walk through the historical part of Bordeaux. 

The most popular things to do in Bordeaux are:

• #1 Visit the Cité du Vin (get tickets here)
• #2 Stroll through the Quartier Chartrons
• #3 Book a Cruise on the Garonne River

➲Join a Half-Day Tour of St. Emilion

After you spent the first half of your day in Bordeaux sightseeing, it’s time for the wine now.  The most popular tour from Bordeaux is this half-day trip to the St. Emilion region.

It includes transportation from Bordeaux to St.Emilion, a guided tour through the village of St.Emilion, and a wine tasting at a Château. 

The tour leaves at 1:50 pm from the center of Bordeaux and lasts 5 hours. It fits perfectly in your itinerary, and you’ll be back in time to catch the train back to Paris.

Check here if they still have availabilities on your travel dates

If they are sold out, you can also take one of these tours:

Summary: Is Bordeaux worth a visit?

So even though Bordeaux is quite far away from Paris, the wine capital makes nevertheless a spectacular destination for a day trip.

Thanks to the French high-speed train, it takes only 2h to travel to Bordeaux from Paris. On top of this, by booking a tour, you can also easily visit St.Émilion without much preparation.

I did this trip last summer and it was wonderful. I strongly recommend it.

FAQ Paris to Bordeaux Day Trip

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