Bordeaux day trip from Biarritz: Small group with lunch and guide

Ten hours in Bordeaux: from medieval towers to the river's mirror square

A small-group day trip from Biarritz to Bordeaux with a local guide, hotel pickup, and air-conditioned transport. The tour moves through the city's medieval heart (Porte Cailhau, Grosse Cloche, the Basilica of Saint-Michel) climbs Pey Berland Tower for panoramas, includes a traditional two-course lunch, and finishes at Place de la Bourse and the Cité du Vin. Groups stay under eight people, and you choose between an English or Spanish-speaking guide at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Girondins Monument10m
2. Porte Cailhau15m
3. Basilica of St. Michael15m
4. Grosse Cloche15m
5. La Cité du Vin45m

Bordeaux small-group day trip

• Travel from Biarritz to Bordeaux
• Visit Place des Quinconces
• See Grand Théâtre and Sculpture Sanna
• Explore Place de la Bourse and Miroir d’Eau
• Walk through Place du Parlement
• Stroll Rue Sainte-Catherine and visit Porte Cailhau
• Enjoy regional lunch
• View Pey Berland Tower and Bordeaux City Hall
• Visit Basilica of Saint Michel interior
• Admire Grosse Cloche tower
• Free time at Cité du Vin Museum
• Return to Biarritz

The experience

The Porte Cailhau opens the day: a 15th-century gateway with a story the guide will unpack as you walk through Rue Sainte-Catherine, one of Bordeaux's most iconic streets. From there, the route moves through Place du Parlement, with its 18th-century facades, and into the heart of the city at Place de la Bourse, where the Miroir d'Eau reflects the riverfront and the Garonne beyond. The Grosse Cloche, a medieval bell tower that has anchored Bordeaux's skyline for centuries, sits nearby. The guide explains why it became a beloved symbol of the city and what its centuries-old bell has witnessed.

Pey Berland Tower gives you the city from above: a vantage point that frames everything you've seen so far and everything still to come. The Basilica of Saint-Michel follows, a 15th-century Gothic structure with stained glass and a bell tower that stood silent for over 400 years before its first bell finally arrived. Lunch happens in a traditional restaurant midway through the day, a two-course menu with dessert. Drinks are available to order and pay for separately. The Grand Théâtre and the Sanna sculpture come next, a work that shifts shape depending on where you stand, creating optical effects the guide will point out. Place des Quinconces and the Monument to the Girondins, surrounded by fountains and sculptures tied to the French Revolution, close the structured part of the tour.

Free time at the Cité du Vin, Bordeaux's wine museum, rounds out the day before the return drive to Biarritz. Entry to the museum is not included, so you choose whether to spend that time inside or exploring the surrounding area. The whole day runs ten hours from pickup to drop-off, with the route built around a small group, never more than eight people, so the pace stays manageable and the guide can answer questions as you move through the city.

What’s included

• Guided tour of Bordeaux with a local guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from Biarritz.
• air-conditioned transport.
• traditional two-course lunch with dessert.
• bottled water.
• free time at the Cité du Vin (museum entry not included).

Options for this experience

2 options

Small group (Spanish)09:00Small-group tour for up to 8 participants, run in a private minivan. The tour is conducted in Spanish and includes pickup.

Small group (English)09:00Small-group tour for up to 8 participants, run in a private minivan. The tour is conducted in English and includes pickup.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (8 to 17 years) · Infant (1 to 7 years)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Local Experts Tours

Is this one for you?Book the English option if you want the tour narrated in English, or the Spanish option for Spanish. Both follow the same route and include the same lunch and stops. Groups stay small, under eight people, so you get the guide's attention without the crowd of a larger tour.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 17 years); Infant (1 to 7 years).

What's the Grosse Cloche and why does the guide spend time there?

The Grosse Cloche is a medieval bell tower that has been central to Bordeaux's identity for centuries. The guide reveals its history and explains why it remains one of the city's most beloved landmarks, with stories tied to the city's past and the bell itself.

Is lunch included, and can I choose what I eat?

Yes, lunch is included: a traditional two-course menu with dessert at a local restaurant. Drinks are available to order and pay for at the restaurant if you want them.

What happens at the Cité du Vin at the end of the day?

You get free time to explore the Cité du Vin, Bordeaux's wine museum, before the drive back to Biarritz. Entry to the museum is not included in the tour price, so it's your choice whether to go inside or spend the time elsewhere nearby.

How does the group size work, and will I be with strangers?

Groups stay under eight people, which keeps the pace comfortable and lets the guide give attention to everyone. You'll be with other travelers, but the small size means it doesn't feel crowded or rushed.

Does the tour operate if the weather is bad?

Yes, the tour operates in all weather conditions. Dress appropriately for rain or cold. The operator does not provide rain clothes or umbrellas, so bring your own if needed.