Things to Do in Bordeaux

Overview

Outdoor and Sports Activities

Hiking

Other Activities

Cultural Life and Activities

Festivals and Events

Bars and Nightlife

Bordeaux has a fairly vibrant nightlife. Several districts offer lively options:

• Saint-Pierre District: with its many bars and terrace restaurants, this old central district is particularly lively, especially in summer.

• Saint-Michel: the area around Saint-Michel Cathedral is home to several music bars and more or less alternative venues.

• La Victoire: south of Rue Sainte-Catherine, this is the student nightlife hub, with numerous bars lining the square.

• La Gare/Quai de Paludate: this area (somewhat dreary) is where the nightclubs are.

Shopping and Markets

Shopping

The city has several distinct shopping districts.

The "Golden Triangle", between Allées de Tourny and Cours Clémenceau and de l'Intendance, is Bordeaux's upscale district. Naturally, this is where you'll find major brands and the most luxurious shops.

More mainstream, Rue Sainte-Catherine in the Saint-Pierre district is the city's commercial and tourist heart. It's Bordeaux's longest street (1.3 km), running north to south, and may even be Europe's longest pedestrian street. Every Saturday afternoon, it's packed with people hunting for bargains in its countless shops and stores.

Further north, the Chartrons district is known for its antique dealers.

Finally, Bordeaux has two large shopping centres: Bordeaux-Lac to the north and Rives d'Arcin (in Bègles) to the southeast. There's also the more modest but centrally located Mériadeck shopping centre, with around a hundred shops.

Markets

Bordeaux has around twenty markets, most operating in the morning until 1:00 or 2:00 PM. Among the most "interesting" are:

• Marché des Capucins (Place des Capucins): a colourful and popular fruit and vegetable market, also offering many exotic products. Open every morning except Monday.

• Marché des Chartrons (Quai des Chartrons): a small market in the heart of the Chartrons district, near the hall of the same name, perfect for exploring the area. Open every morning except Monday.

• Evening Market (Allée de Serr): this market is unique as it only operates in the late afternoon. Open from 4:00 to 9:00 PM on Fridays.

• Marché Saint-Michel (Places Canteloup and Meynard): at the foot of the church of the same name. A favourite among locals, it's both an open-air food market and a place for second-hand clothes and antiques. Only on Saturday mornings.