Planning a Trip

Getting There

The local airport, Bordeaux-Mérignac (tel. 05-56-34-50-50 for flight information; www.bordeaux-aeroport.fr), is served by flights from as far away as London, Dublin, Madrid, and Barcelona. It's 15km (9 1/3 miles) west of Bordeaux in Mérignac. Paris is an hour's flight away. A shuttle bus connects the airport with the train station, departing every 45 minutes from 7:45am to 10:45pm (trip time: 40 min.) and costing 7€ one-way. Children ride free. A taxi (tel. 05-56-96-00-34) between the airport and the rail depot costs about 40€.

The railway station, Gare St-Jean, is on the west bank of the river, within a 30-minute walk (or 5-min. taxi ride) of the center of the old town. Some 15 to 25 trains from Paris's Gare Montparnasse (trip time: 3 hr. by TGV) arrive each day. They stop, en route, at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport to pick up additional passengers. The one-way fare is 66€. For train information and schedules, call tel. 36-35 or 08-92-35-35-35.

Bordeaux is easy to reach by car. From Paris, follow A10 south through Orléans, Tours, and Poitiers into Bordeaux (trip time: about 5 hr.). Be aware that the streets of Bordeaux are fraught with hazards: narrow 18th-century alleys, massive traffic jams on the quays beside the Garonne, and simply too many cars and people. Easily available parking within the city's historic core is scarce. Whenever possible, head for one of the blue-and-white P signs that indicate public garages.

Getting Around

Three lines of a new modern tram system -- labeled A, B, and C -- have made traveling around Bordeaux easier than at any time in its history. Service is daily from 5am to 1am, with individual tickets costing 1.40€. A Tickarte costs 4.15€ for 1 hour of travel, 5.05€ for 5 trips, or 10€ for 10 trips.

Once aboard, you must validate your Tickarte, which is sold in tabacs and other outlets. The combined bus and tram system (tel. 05-56-57-88-88; www.infotbc.com) serves both inner Bordeaux and its suburbs, with maps available at the train station. The most central information office is at 9 place Gambetta, open Monday to Friday 8am to 7:30pm and Saturday 9:45am to 12:25pm and 2 to 6pm.

Visitor Information

The Office de Tourisme is at 12 cours du 30-Juillet (tel. 05-56-00-66-00; fax 05-56-00-66-01; www.bordeaux-tourisme.com), with a branch office in the Gare St-Jean (tel. 05-56-91-64-70).