Cheap flights to Bordeaux
Set your departure airport and maximum budget: SniperAir tracks prices to Bordeaux and alerts you the moment a deal matching your criteria appears.
Quick summary
Country
France
Continent
Europe
Airport
BOD
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Time zone
UTC+1 (UTC+2 in summer time)
Deals already spotted to Bordeaux
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
Loading examples…
Why track Bordeaux with SniperAir
You do not need to compare prices every day
Choose your departure
Enter your departure airport and your maximum budget for a flight to Bordeaux (BOD).
SniperAir keeps watch
Our systems continuously compare new prices with the real price history of the route. SniperAir monitors prices and alerts you: it does not sell or book tickets.
You receive an alert
As soon as a price matches your criteria, you are notified, without having searched for anything yourself.
Airport and getting into town
An airport to the west, a tram to the centre and Paris in a little over two hours by TGV
Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD)
Bordeaux-Mérignac airport lies west of the city, 15 km from the centre according to Wikivoyage (EN) and 12 km according to Wikivoyage (DE). A tram runs to the centre in about 35 minutes, every 10 minutes or so, according to Wikivoyage (EN); Wikivoyage (DE) says the direct tram link has existed since April 2023, and an express bus to Saint-Jean station is another option. Trains are a real alternative to flying: TGVs run hourly from Paris Montparnasse in just over two hours according to Wikivoyage (EN), and Saint-Jean station, served by trams, is about 4 km from the centre. For visitors arriving from abroad, BOD links the city with major French and European cities according to Wikivoyage (FR).
Distances and times are approximate, from Wikivoyage (EN, FR, DE, ES) and Wikipedia; timetables change, so check them before you travel. We do not quote fares.
Bordeaux is the ninth-largest city in France with 267,991 inhabitants in 2023, according to Wikipedia (EN, FR, ES), and the metropolitan area has 1,426,278 according to Wikipedia (EN). Wikivoyage (EN) also lists coaches from Paris (7 to 8 hours) and from Toulouse (about 3 hours).
Landmarks
Place de la Bourse, the Water Mirror, Pont de Pierre, Saint-André and the Cité du Vin
"Bordeaux, Port of the Moon" has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2007, and Wikivoyage (ES) calls the city "little Paris" for its monumental streets and eighteenth-century mansions. The places below are illustrated; the Grand Théâtre, the Grosse Cloche and Porte Cailhau are described in the text.
Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d'eau
The Place de la Bourse, an eighteenth-century semicircle of honey-coloured stone facing the Garonne, was built between 1730 and 1755 according to Wikipedia (ES). In front of it the Miroir d'eau spreads a shallow sheet of water in which the facades are reflected. The tram passes alongside, and the square is at its best at night when the facades are lit.
The Water Mirror at sunset
As the sun sinks, the Miroir d'eau turns into a mirror of sky and stone and is one of the most photographed spots in the city. Wikivoyage (ES) calls the neighbouring Fountain of the Three Graces the typical postcard of Bordeaux. The well-kept quays make a pleasant walk as far as the Chartrons district.
The Pont de Pierre
Opened in 1822, the Pont de Pierre was the first fixed bridge over the Garonne according to Wikipedia (DE, ES), with arches of brick and stone and a row of lamp standards. The river is about 450 metres wide here according to Wikipedia (FR). It is a good walk across to the right bank for a view of the old centre.
The Pont de Pierre at night
After dark, orange lighting picks out the arches and reflects in the brown water of the Garonne, one of the best views in Bordeaux. The BAT³ river-bus gives another view of the river, according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Saint-André Cathedral
The Gothic Saint-André Cathedral and its separate Pey-Berland tower dominate the historic centre, according to Wikipedia (FR, DE). The bell tower can be climbed according to Wikivoyage (EN), with views over the city, and several museums are nearby according to Wikivoyage (ES). Check opening hours before you go.
The Cité du Vin
The Cité du Vin, opened in June 2016 according to Wikipedia (EN, ES), can be seen from the Garonne, and its curving architecture suggests wine swirling in a glass. The museum presents wine around the world and the Bordeaux vineyards. Opening times and tickets are on the official website.
Grand Théâtre, Grosse Cloche and Porte Cailhau
The Grand Théâtre, by Victor Louis and built between 1773 and 1780 according to Wikipedia (ES), opens with a Corinthian colonnade. The Grosse Cloche and Porte Cailhau are medieval gates of the city: Wikivoyage (DE) lists three historic gates, including Cailhau. The Bassins des Lumières, in a former submarine base, offer immersive projections according to Wikivoyage (DE).
Museums and culture
Cité du Vin, Aquitaine, fine arts and contemporary art
The Cité du Vin and the wine museum
Besides the Cité du Vin, the Musée du Vin et du Négoce tells the story of the wine trade and includes a tasting according to Wikivoyage (EN). Prices differ by source and are not quoted here.
Aquitaine and fine arts
The Musée d'Aquitaine tells the history of the region and the Musée des Beaux-Arts holds paintings. The natural history museum and the museum of decorative arts and design complete the offer according to Wikivoyage (FR).
Contemporary art and the sea
The CAPC is the city's contemporary art museum, with free entry to the permanent exhibition according to Wikivoyage (DE); check this before you go. The Musée Mer Marine covers the maritime history of the city. We do not quote prices.
Food and drink
Canelé, entrecôte, Arcachon oysters and great wines
Canelé and specialities
The canelé is the Bordeaux pastry flavoured with rum and vanilla according to Wikivoyage (DE). Entrecôte bordelaise is served in restaurants that take no reservations, per Wikivoyage (EN). At the Capucins market you can find oysters from the Arcachon basin and, from January to April, lamprey bordelaise.
The wine
Around Bordeaux the vineyards include Saint-Émilion, Pomerol and Fronsac on the right bank, the Médoc to the north and the Graves to the south, according to Wikipedia (FR); Wikipedia (ES) also lists Sauternes, the sweet wines. The reds are blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec.
Fairs and markets
The Capucins market opens early according to Wikivoyage (DE). A big wine fair is held every two years at the Quinconces according to Wikivoyage (ES); Wikivoyage (DE) says the Fête du Vin takes place in even-numbered years.
Getting around
Tram, bus, boat and bike in a flat city
Tram
The tram was reopened in 2004 according to Wikipedia (DE) and covers almost the whole city according to Wikivoyage (ES). Several lines meet at the Quinconces, the main stop; Tram B meets the others there according to Wikivoyage (EN). The last tram leaves at midnight on weekdays and at 1 am at weekends according to Wikivoyage (FR).
Bus, boat and bike
The network also includes buses and a boat on the Garonne. Bike share has almost 200 docking stations and the first half hour is free according to Wikivoyage (EN, DE). The city is flat, which helps cycling according to Wikivoyage (ES).
By car
Bordeaux sits at the crossing of major toll motorways according to Wikivoyage (ES), and traffic jams are frequent at rush hour. In the centre, the tram and walking are enough.
Budget and precautions
A medium-to-high price level for France, varying by district
Price level
Bordeaux sits in the upper range of French cities: hotel prices vary a lot by season and district, and well-known restaurants are expensive. The currency is the euro. We do not publish figures because the sources differ.
Flight or TGV?
SniperAir monitors prices on flights to BOD and compares them with the real history of the route, but it does not sell or book tickets. From Paris, the TGV of a little over two hours is a serious alternative. Toulouse and Biarritz airports may also be worth watching.
Precautions
Wikivoyage (DE) calls Bordeaux very safe, but Wikivoyage (EN) warns of pickpocketing and drink-spiking. Visitors from abroad should check entry requirements for their nationality and their own government's travel advice.
When to go
Mild summers, soft wet winters, between vineyards and ocean
Winter (December to February)
Mild and damp, with highs of around 10 to 11 degrees C in January according to Wikipedia (EN). Snow is rare according to Wikivoyage (FR).
Spring (March to May)
Temperatures climb and the city is pleasant on foot; rain stays frequent, with about 122 rainy days a year according to Wikipedia (EN, FR, ES).
Summer (June to August)
Warm and sunny, with highs close to 27 degrees C in July according to Wikipedia (EN). Wikivoyage (FR) counts an average of 22.5 days above 30 degrees C. The coast is about 50 km away.
Autumn (September to November)
The grape harvest animates the vineyards and temperatures fall; November is the wettest month according to the Wikivoyage (EN) chart, with about 115 mm.
Bordeaux has an oceanic climate according to Wikipedia (FR), with about 2,070 hours of sunshine and 925 mm of rain a year in the Mérignac normals according to Wikipedia (EN, FR, ES). We do not quote the heat record because sources give different values. May to June and September to October are generally the most pleasant months.
By length of stay
What to do in Bordeaux depending on how long you stay
The essentials
Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d'eau, the Pont de Pierre, Saint-André Cathedral and a canelé on a terrace.
Districts and wine
The quays, the Chartrons, the Cité du Vin, the Bassins des Lumières and a market such as the Capucins.
Vineyards and ocean
Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO-listed village according to Wikivoyage (EN), then Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat, about 60 to 70 km away according to Wikipedia (FR).
In pictures
Bordeaux in pictures
You might also like
Similar destinations
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Bordeaux
How do I get from Bordeaux airport to the centre?
The airport (BOD) is west of the city, 12 to 15 km away. A tram reaches the centre in about 35 minutes according to Wikivoyage (EN), and an express bus goes to Saint-Jean station. Timetables change, so check them before you travel.
When is the best time to visit Bordeaux?
Spring (May to June) and early autumn (September to October): mild days, and the grape harvest animates the vineyards. Summer is warm with highs close to 27 degrees C in July.
Is Bordeaux expensive?
Its price level is medium to high for France, varying by season and district. We do not publish figures because the sources differ.
Can I come by TGV from Paris?
Yes. Paris to Bordeaux Saint-Jean takes about 2 hours according to Wikivoyage (FR) and a little over 2 hours according to Wikivoyage (EN).
How do I get around Bordeaux?
On foot in the centre, by tram for longer hops, by bike-share or by boat on the Garonne. A car is not needed in the centre.
What should I eat in Bordeaux?
Canelé, entrecôte bordelaise, Arcachon oysters and of course the wine; the Capucins market and the Cité du Vin are good places to start.
How much does a flight to Bordeaux usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Bordeaux drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Bordeaux as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected.
Ready to head to Bordeaux?
Set your budget and let SniperAir monitor fares for you.
Create my alert