2-Day Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion and Arcachon Itinerary for the Perfect Weekend Getaway

Planning a weekend trip to Bordeaux? This 2-day Bordeaux itinerary is perfect if you want to experience the best of the city, go wine-tasting in Saint-Émilion, and breathe in fresh ocean air at Arcachon – all in just 2 days!

Weekend at a Glance

Day 1: Bordeaux City

Rue Saint-James & Grosse Cloche
Place de la Victoire & Rue Sainte-Catherine
Cathédrale Saint-André
Place de la Bourse & Porte Cailhau
Cité du Vin wine museum

Day 2: Day Trip

Explore medieval Saint-Émilion
Wine tasting at a château
Climb the Dune du Pilat
Sunset & dinner in Arcachon

How Many Days in Bordeaux?

This itinerary is designed for 2 full days in Bordeaux and its surroundings. We flew in Friday night and left Monday morning, giving us two full days to explore.

If you have more vacation days, I’d honestly recommend spending at least 3 days in Bordeaux instead, especially during summer. With one extra day, you can enjoy the same itinerary at a more relaxed pace.

Where to Stay in Bordeaux

If you only have a weekend, I highly recommend staying in the Bordeaux city center. The city is compact, walkable, and packed with sights, restaurants, and wine bars.

We stayed at L’Apparthôtel Particulier Bordeaux, perfectly located right next to Cathédrale Saint-André.

For the last night, I suggest booking an accommodation near Arcachon (if you want a seaside vibe) or near Bordeaux Airport if your flight is leaving early in the morning. We stayed at ibis Styles Bordeaux Aéroport, which was super convenient for our 7 a.m. flight.

Hotel in Bordeaux — Courtyard of **L’Apparthôtel Particulier**

How to Get Around Bordeaux and Beyond

On Foot

In Bordeaux, the best way to explore is definitely on foot. The historic center is very compact and every street feels like a postcard.

By Tram

Bordeaux also has an excellent tram system. A 2-hour ticket costs just €1.80. The tram covers the city and even goes to the airport. Just use Google Maps to check the nearest line and schedule.

By Car

For exploring Saint-Émilion and Arcachon, renting a car is the easiest option. Trains exist but are slower and less flexible. We rented with Sixt and we picked up our car at the train station and dropped it off at the airport. We had a great experience.

2-Day Bordeaux Weekend Itinerary

Friday: Arrival in Bordeaux

Arrive in the evening and check into your accommodation. If you’re not too tired, head out for a glass of wine or dinner around Place Saint-Pierre, one of Bordeaux’s liveliest squares.

Saturday: One Day in Bordeaux

Since you only have one full day in Bordeaux city, get started early! But keep in mind—it’s Saturday morning, which means the city will be quiet at first.

9:00 am – Breakfast at Books and Coffee

We stumbled upon this cozy café and instantly loved it. As the name suggests, it’s warm and inviting, with delicious French pastries, coffee, and classic breakfast options.

10:00 am – Explore Bordeaux’s Historic Center

Walk from south to north through the city, stopping at:

Rue Saint-James – charming street with shops and cafés.
Grosse Cloche – Bordeaux’s famous medieval bell tower (literally translates to fat bell 🙂 )
Place de la Victoire – a lively square with monuments.
Rue Sainte-Catherine – THE shopping street in Bordeaux. Shops open around 10 am and the street gets quite busy in the afternoon!
Cathédrale Saint-André – stunning Gothic cathedral.
Place de la Bourse – the city’s iconic square by the Garonne River.
Porte Cailhau – Bordeaux’s former city gate.

Cathédrale Saint-André — **Rue Saint-James**

1:30 pm – Lunch Around Place Saint-Pierre

By now you’ll be hungry, and luckily you’ll be right by Place Saint-Pierre, which is full of restaurants. We ate at Le Grilladin St-Pierre, a classic French bistro.

Salade de Chèvre at Le Grilladin St-Pierre — Salade de Chèvre for lunch!

2:30 pm – More Bordeaux Highlights

Continue north toward:

Place du Parlement – a charming little square.
Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux – the city’s opera house, surrounded by luxury shops in the Triangle d’Or.
Rue Notre Dame – a hipster street in the Chartrons district.
La Cité du Vin – Bordeaux’s world-famous wine museum. You can walk along the river to get there (about 30 minutes).

If you’re not interested in the Cité du Vin, I’d say you can skip the last two steps and just spend the rest of ther afternoon/evening exploring more of the areas you already visited in the morning!

7:30 pm – Dinner Back at Place Saint-Pierre

Yes, we loved this area so much we came back! This time we ate at Le Rajwal, a great Indian restaurant, but you’ll find everything from French bistros to tapas bars.

Sunday: Saint-Émilion & Arcachon Day Trip

Today is all about wine and the seaside – two of the best things about southwest France.

8:30 am – Breakfast & Pick Up Rental Car

Grab breakfast near your rental car pickup point (for us this was at the train station, but there are also rental car pick ups near the Triangle d’Or).

10:00 am – Explore Saint-Émilion

After about 50 minutes of driving you’ll arrive in the medieval town of Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll its cobblestone streets and enjoy the slower pace compared to Bordeaux.

Parking tip: Park near Espace Guadet.
Insider tip: On Sundays, check the market at the tourist office.

St. Émilion town square — Lovely St. Émilion

11:30 am – Wine Tasting at a Château

No visit to Saint-Émilion is complete without a winery tour. We visited Château de Pressac, a gorgeous estate with fantastic wine, but there are many other great options as well depending on your budget and time.

1:30 pm – Lunch in Saint-Émilion

Either eat at your winery (many have excellent restaurants) or head back into town for a local meal with a view. We ate at Amelia Canta, which had good food and an even better location!

3:30 pm – Dune du Pilat

Drive about 1.5 hours to the Dune du Pilat, Europe’s tallest sand dune. Climb to the top for epic ocean views, or even walk down to the beach located on the other side of the dune. Just remember that you’ll have to climb all the way back up through sand! We were visiting in early October, but it was still warm enough for a swim in the ocean – what a fabulous experience!

5:00 pm – Explore Arcachon

End your day in Arcachon, a charming seaside town.

Drive through the “Winter Town” and admire the Belle Époque villas.
Stroll the beach promenade in the “Summer Town“.
Grab dinner with ocean views. We tried Diego Plage because the seafood looked amazing. Don’t miss the chance to taste Arcachon’s famous oysters.

Parking tip: Use Parking Indigo in the center, it’s pricey but very convenient.

9:00 pm – Return to Bordeaux or Stay in Arcachon

If you have an early flight the next day, drive back and stay near the airport. Otherwise, spend the night in Arcachon for a more relaxed end to your trip.

Monday: Departure

Return your rental car and catch your flight. And that’s how you maximize a 2-day Bordeaux weekend trip!!

Final Thoughts for Your Bordeaux Getaway

This 2-day Bordeaux itinerary really squeezes the most out of a weekend: city highlights, world-class wine, and seaside relaxation. Sure, more days would be ideal — but if you’re short on time, this trip is proof you can still experience Bordeaux at its best.

Have you been to Bordeaux or Saint-Émilion? Share your experience in the comments!