Bordeaux private tour in a 1973 Citroën DS: UNESCO old town

Ride through Bordeaux's grandest streets in a restored French icon

A private guided tour of Bordeaux's UNESCO-listed old town aboard a 1973 Citroën DS Limousine Convertible, with a live guide in English or French. You pass the Grand Theatre and Place de la Bourse, stop at the 15th-century Porte Cailhau and Grosse Cloche, visit Bordeaux Cathedral and the Hôtel de Ville, cross Pont de Pierre, and drive the riverbanks of the Port of the Moon. The car itself, an elegant convertible from the 1970s, is the defining detail: you see the city from inside one of France's most recognizable vehicles.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each8 stops

1. Grand Theatre5m
2. Place de la Bourse5m
3. Porte Cailhaupassing by
4. Grosse Clochepassing by
5. Bordeaux Cathedral5m
6. Bordeaux Hôtel de Villepassing by
7. Pont de Pierrepassing by
8. Port of the Moonpassing by

Private Bordeaux city tour by vintage car

• Photo stop at Place de la Comédie
• Photo stop at Place de la Bourse
• Pass by Porte Cailhau medieval gate
• Pass by highest spire in South France
• Pass by Grosse Cloche medieval gate
• Photo stop at Bordeaux Cathedral
• Pass by Bordeaux Hôtel de Ville palace
• Pass by Pont de Pierre bridge
• Drive along river banks with views

The experience

The 1973 Citroën DS Limousine Convertible is not a backdrop. It shapes how you move through Bordeaux. The car's low profile and open roof let you see the 18th-century facades of the Grand Theatre and the symmetrical arcades of Place de la Bourse without the frame of a standard window. Your guide drives and narrates in English or French, pointing out the medieval Porte Cailhau (a 15th-century gate) and the Grosse Cloche, a beautiful medieval tower that anchors the old town. The route passes Bordeaux Cathedral, built over three centuries starting in the 11th, and the Hôtel de Ville, an 18th-century palace that faces a broad square.

The itinerary moves through the city's layers: medieval monuments sit next to neoclassical buildings, and the guide steers toward lesser-known spots perfect for photographs. Places locals know but most visitors miss. Pont de Pierre, Bordeaux's oldest bridge built under Napoleon, crosses the Garonne, and the drive along the Port of the Moon (the UNESCO-inscribed riverfront crescent) closes the hour with views across the water. Bottled water is provided onboard.

You choose between a daytime or nighttime departure. Both follow the same route and stops, so the choice is yours based on how the rest of your day in Bordeaux fits. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and the car can accommodate infants in specialized seats or a pram.

What’s included

• Private transportation in the Citroën DS.
• live commentary from your guide in English or French.
• bottled water onboard.

Options for this experience

2 options

By dayGuide in English or French · 9 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 18:00Pickup is included with the daytime option

By nightGuide in English or French · 19:00, 20:00 and 21:00Nighttime option includes pickup

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

Before you book

Lasts 1h, runs Monday to Saturday, 12 start times, from € 110 per person, with a live guide in English and French, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to Friday: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 19:00, 20:00 and 21:00Saturday: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00 and 18:00

Book up to2h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

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 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Bordeaux Classic Cars

Is this one for you?Book the daytime tour if you want to photograph the architectural detail of the 18th-century facades and the medieval gates in clear light. Choose the nighttime departure if you prefer to see the monuments illuminated and experience the city's evening atmosphere. Either way, the convertible car is the same, so pick the hour that fits the rest of your Bordeaux itinerary.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

6 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

What is the Citroën DS and why does it matter for this tour?

The 1973 Citroën DS Limousine Convertible is an iconic French luxury car known for its elegant design and smooth ride. For this tour, the convertible top and open sides let you see Bordeaux's architecture without glass barriers, and the car's distinctive silhouette is itself a piece of French design history. You're not just seeing the city, you're moving through it in a vehicle that belongs to the era of many of the buildings you pass.

Which landmarks do you actually stop at, and which ones do you see from the car?

You stop for photos at Place de la Comédie (the Grand Theatre), Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux Cathedral, and other points the guide chooses based on light and your interests. The Porte Cailhau, Grosse Cloche, Hôtel de Ville and Pont de Pierre are all part of the route. Some are photo stops, others you pass and view from the car. The guide narrates throughout and can adjust stops based on what interests you most.

Is this tour the same if I book the daytime or nighttime option?

Both options follow the same route and visit the same landmarks, so the main difference is the light and atmosphere. Daytime lets you see architectural detail and photograph the facades clearly. Nighttime shows the monuments lit up and the city in a different mood. The choice is yours based on what fits your schedule and how you prefer to experience Bordeaux.

What is the Port of the Moon and what do you see there?

The Port of the Moon is the UNESCO-inscribed crescent of riverfront along the Garonne that gives Bordeaux its distinctive shape when viewed from above. On this tour, you drive along the river banks at the end of the hour, taking in the views across the water and seeing how the city's architecture frames the river.

Can you bring children or someone in a wheelchair?

Yes. The car is wheelchair accessible, and infants and small children can ride in specialized infant seats or a pram. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and public transportation options are available nearby if you need an alternative way to reach the meeting point.