After a delicious tapas roaming experience in Donostia, we crossed over the Spanish/French border meeting up with our friends in Bordeaux. We stepped our foot in heaven; Cité du Vin, enjoying life with fromage, charcuterie and French gourmet!
What more could we ask for?
J’ adore Bordeaux, this was my 2nd visit and Bordeaux is a very lovely city where everything is on a footstep away. Not like Paris, where you need the metro to go to the other side of the center. I definitely suggest in staying in the city center as it’s more convenient and everything is close for a few days of stay. Nice things to do in Bordeaux:
- Wandering through the historic cobbled streets and around medieval St. Pierre district… yes, bring your flat shoes 🙂
- Absorbing neo-classic architecture at Triangle d’Or (golden triangle), bounded by 3 fine boulevards Cours Clemenceau, Cours de L’intendance and Allées de Tourney.
- Attend a classical concert or opera at the Grand Theatre.
- Palais de la Bourse, famous for its palace reflection on a water pool.
- Walk or run along the riverfront Garonne and Pont-de-Pierre bridge.
- Visit Marché des Capuchins – a bit off track from the center and close to the station. It’s a covered outdoor market with food stands selling fresh daily groceries. There are a few food stands where you can have breakfast or lunch. Slurp down some oysters & white wine on it’s French style.
- Enjoy a glass of wine on a terrace or wine bar.
- Rent a car and take the D2 Route Vins. This route is an hour drive from the city where you can visit many popular vineyards & wine houses. A wine tasting reservation is highly recommended as we ended up not able to get in anywhere.
Bistro du Fromage 
Cent33 
Cent33 
Cent33 
Cent33 
Pont-de-Pierre bridge 
Pont-de-Pierre bridge 
Porte Cailhau 
La Grosse Cloche 
D2 Route Vins 
D2 Route Vins
After Bordeaux we left for Arcachon. I remembered when I landed at Bordeaux airport on my 1st visit, there was a big wall poster of this place. I forgot the city name but definitely remembered the beautiful sand dunes and paragliders on that wallpaper. I googled and finally found the name where I wanted to go.
Did you know that ‘Dune of Pilat aka Grande Dune du Pilat’ is the tallest sand dune in Europe and runs parallel to a beach? It’s located in Arcachon Bay area, on the southwest coast of France, about 60km from Bordeaux. This dune has a length of 2,7km and the height is about 106,6m above sea level (this can vary each year).
I was so excited to be there. Going uphill, puffing and almost out of breath in getting to the top. It wasn’t easy walking uphill on sand that falls down on every step but the view from the top was amazingly gorgeous! We sat and lay down at the top and embraced the breeze, having sea view on one side and a forest on the other side. We didn’t stay long and the men were planning to go back the next day for an early morning run. I had no doubts and wanted to join. Not the running part ofcourse as they are crazy serious runners.
The next morning, we left at 8am. Wearing my running cloths and flip-flops…. I was ready in taking this challenge on my bear feet in running and walking off the entire sand dune stretch. This wonderful moment is unforgettable, in my own bubble enjoying this serene environment with just a few people in having the same thought. There was even a family walking up to the top with a baguette under their arm and had their breakfast when they finally found their spot 🙂
Chez Jejhene 
Running up Dune de Pilat 
Women relaxed uphill 
Morning walk/run 
Social pétanque kick-off 
Learning Pétanque 
Le Pit 
Le Pit
Foodie & Wine places we liked in Bordeaux
- Aux 4 coins du vin – a local favourite wine bar where you tap wine from an enigmatic machine. You use a chargeable card and tap the card to pay for each type of glass you want to taste. They offer a large variety of local wines including high-end wines. You can order charcuterie & cheese plates. Highly recommend in booking a seat if you go after dinner.
- Cent 33 – superlicious gastronomic experience and awarded as Bib Gourmand. It was an unforgettable dinner menu.
- Conseil Interprofessional de Vin de Bordeaux (CIBV) – a governmental organisation (includes a wine school) that represents Bordeaux wines within its region at incredible prices. In addition they offer small deli plates. Sunday’s closed.
- Horace café – very nice charming place offering daily plats. Starter ~€8, main ~€13
- Le Bar Du Boucher – carnivore paradise with a casual vibe and a local’s favorite. Choose your meat at the counter.
- Le Bouchon Bordelaise – non fancy friendly bistro with affordable prices. A lunch plate is from €10.
- Le Boulanger de l’Hôtel de Ville – very delicious small bakery (its not in the hotel) with a few tiny tables where you can eat your croissant or pastry and coffee.
- Le Chien de Pavlov – contemporary bistro ran by native Bordeauxlais with good value menu.
- Suzzi– popular Swedish café for breakfast, brunch or lunch.
- Le Bocal de Tatie Josée – on my list to go for my next visit if I need a good breakfast place.
- La Tupina – on my list to go for my next visit
- Boulangerie Louis Lamour – a bakery to try out on my next visit
- Racines – on my list to go for my next visit
- D2 Route Vins, take a lunch at Le Wine Bar Margeaux – we had an amazing lunch here serving house wine from Chateaux Margeaux for a very good market price.
Foodie places we liked in Arcachon
- Chez Jejhene, in La Teste de Buch – a simple oyster farm offering oysters, snails and pate and one type of housewine.
- Le Cabestan, in Arcachon city center – we had an amazing good dinner here except for the black ink risotto.
- Le Pitt, in Arcachon city center – lovely bistro and nice terrace offering oysters, shrimps, snails, pate & charcuterie.
- Le Patio – fine dining for next visit
How to get from BOD airport to Bordeaux city center?
By public transport, take ‘Liane bus 1’. Ticket can be purchased at Hall B near the bus stop. The ride can take upto 45min-1hr. Hopp off at bus stop ‘Gambetta’ (1 stop before train station St. Jean). Please note getting off and onboarding is not the same spot. Onboarding to the airport, the bus stop is situated on street Judaïque, close to street Château d’Eau.
Bon voyage if you plan your trip to Bordeaux or Arcachon & Enjoy your fabulous moments!
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