3 Days in Bordeaux: The Perfect Wine Lover's Itinerary

Three days in Bordeaux gives you enough time to taste across the major appellations, eat extraordinarily well, and understand why this region has defined fine wine for centuries. This itinerary covers the essential Left Bank, Right Bank, and Bordeaux city itself -- without feeling rushed.

Budget estimate: $250-400/day per person (mid-range), including accommodation, meals, tastings, and transport. Luxury travelers should budget $500-800/day.

Best time to do this trip: May-June or September-October for ideal weather and open estates.

Before You Go

• Book winery appointments 2-3 weeks ahead -- classified estates require reservations, especially in Saint-Emilion and the Medoc.
• Rent a car at Bordeaux-Merignac airport or the train station. You need one for Medoc and Sauternes. Saint-Emilion village is walkable, but getting there is not.
• Base yourself in Bordeaux city for flexibility, or split between the city and Saint-Emilion.
• Bring a designated driver or hire one. Local driver services run about EUR 300-400/day and handle all the logistics.

Day 1: Bordeaux City & La Cite du Vin

Morning

Arrive and settle into your hotel in central Bordeaux. Walk the UNESCO-listed old town -- the Place de la Bourse and its water mirror are stunning in morning light. Grab a coffee and croissant at any of the cafes lining Rue Sainte-Catherine.

Head to La Cite du Vin by 10:00 AM. This world-class wine museum takes 2-3 hours to do properly. The permanent collection covers wine history, terroir, and winemaking techniques from every major region on earth. Your ticket includes a tasting on the panoramic 8th-floor belvedere with views over the Garonne.

Cost: EUR 22 per adult.

Afternoon

Walk along the waterfront to the Chartrons district, Bordeaux's historic wine merchant quarter. This is where negociants have bought and shipped Bordeaux wine for 300 years. Visit 2-3 wine shops along Rue Notre-Dame -- staff are knowledgeable and tastings are common.

Lunch at Le Petit Commerce (27 Rue du Parlement Saint-Pierre) for classic Bordeaux seafood -- the oysters from Arcachon are a regional specialty. Budget EUR 25-40 per person.

Evening

Explore the wine bars in the Saint-Pierre quarter. Bar a Vin at the Maison du Vin de Bordeaux (3 Cours du 30 Juillet) sells tastings at estate prices -- a rare chance to try classified growths without appointment hassle. Flights start at EUR 8.

Dinner at Le Chapon Fin for a splurge (tasting menu around EUR 85), or Le Bistrot du Gabriel for excellent value (mains EUR 18-28).

Pro tip: The wine bars in Saint-Pierre serve many classified growths by the glass at half the price you would pay at the estates. Start here to figure out which appellations excite you most before committing to full-day visits.

Day 2: Saint-Emilion (Right Bank)

Morning

Drive 40 minutes east to Saint-Emilion. Park at the lot below the village (follow signs -- the hilltop streets are pedestrian-only) and walk up through the medieval lanes.

Start at Chateau Pavie or Chateau Canon if you have booked ahead -- both offer excellent tours explaining the Right Bank's Merlot-dominant style. Tours typically last 90 minutes and include tasting 2-3 wines. Expect EUR 25-50 per person.

If you could not get classified estate appointments, the Maison du Vin de Saint-Emilion in the village center offers walk-in tastings from dozens of local producers for EUR 3-8 per glass.

Afternoon

Lunch in the village at L'Envers du Decor -- a wine bistro on the main square with a spectacular cellar list and honest regional cooking (EUR 20-35 per person).

After lunch, explore the underground monuments -- the monolithic church carved from solid limestone, the catacombs, and the Hermitage cave. Guided tours depart from the tourist office (EUR 13). This is unlike anything else in wine country.

Walk the vineyard paths surrounding the village in late afternoon. The trail from the village toward Chateau Ausone takes about 30 minutes and gives you sweeping views across the limestone plateau.

Evening

Drive back to Bordeaux (or stay overnight in Saint-Emilion for a more immersive experience). If staying in the village, dinner at Logis de la Cadene -- one Michelin star, with a wine list that reads like a Saint-Emilion encyclopedia. Tasting menu around EUR 75.

Pro tip: Wednesday and Saturday mornings bring a market to Saint-Emilion's main square. Time your visit to coincide and you will find local cheeses, charcuterie, and macarons (a Saint-Emilion specialty) alongside the wine.

Day 3: Medoc (Left Bank)

Morning

Drive north from Bordeaux along the D2 -- the legendary Route des Chateaux. This road threads through Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac, and Saint-Estephe, passing some of the most famous wine estates on earth.

Start at Chateau Margaux if you booked months ahead (free tours, but slots fill fast). Alternatively, Chateau Prieure-Lichine in Margaux accepts walk-ins and offers one of the most educational tours in the Medoc (EUR 15). They explain the 1855 Classification in the actual landscape where it was created.

Continue north to Pauillac, the commune with three of the five First Growths. Stop at the Maison du Tourisme et du Vin de Pauillac on the waterfront for a tasting flight covering the appellation's major styles (EUR 10-20).

Afternoon

Lunch at Cafe Lavinal in Pauillac's Bages village -- a charming complex of wine shops, a bakery, and this excellent bistro. The lamb from the Medoc salt marshes is a regional delicacy (EUR 25-35 per person).

After lunch, visit Chateau Lynch-Bages (Fifth Growth, reservations recommended) or Chateau Pichon Baron (Second Growth, spectacular architecture, EUR 25 tour). Both offer comprehensive visits explaining Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Left Bank winemaking.

If time allows, drive 10 minutes north to Saint-Estephe for a final stop at Chateau Cos d'Estournel -- the pagoda-style architecture alone is worth the detour.

Evening

Return to Bordeaux for your final evening. Cross the Pont de Pierre at sunset for the classic view back toward Place de la Bourse. Dinner at Le Pressoir d'Argent (Gordon Ramsay's two-Michelin-star restaurant at the Grand Hotel, tasting menu EUR 195) for a grand finale, or keep it simple at Chez Dupont (mains EUR 22-30) near the Grand Theatre.

Pro tip: The Medoc is flat and distances between communes are short (10-15 minutes), but it is easy to underestimate how much time winery visits take. Book no more than 3 estate visits in a day to avoid rushing.

Transport Tips

• Bordeaux city: Walk or use the tram. The B line runs to La Cite du Vin.
• Saint-Emilion: 40 minutes by car from Bordeaux. Also reachable by TER train (35 minutes to Saint-Emilion station, then 2 km walk uphill). Car is better for visiting estates outside the village.
• Medoc: Car required. The D2 runs the full length of the peninsula. No useful public transport.
• Parking: Free at most estates. Paid lots in Bordeaux city and Saint-Emilion village (EUR 5-8/day).
• Alternative: Wine tour companies like Bordeaux Wine Trails and Ophorus offer small-group day trips to Medoc (EUR 90-130) and Saint-Emilion (EUR 85-120), including tastings and transport.

Budget Summary

More Bordeaux Wine Travel Guides

• Bordeaux Wine Region Overview
• Saint-Emilion Guide
• Where to Stay in Bordeaux Wine Country
• France Wine Regions

Word Count: ~1,400

Last Updated: January 2026

Author: WineTravelGuides Editorial Team