Bordeaux Transport

Despite Bordeaux being a fairly large city, almost all of the notable attractions are in the centre, most of which is zoned as a pedestrian area. Using a car to get around is not the best idea in Bordeaux, as the old 18th century streets are narrow and usually congested to the point of frustration. Many of the city’s areas are ongoing urban renewal projects, which has adds to the general chaos and confusion of driving around. Parking is also a major hassle and existing car parks are expensive. The best way to see the sites of Bordeaux is to use your feet. It’s all the more pleasant, since most of the old city centre is off-limits to vehicles. You can also rent a bike or rollerblades to get around from a small shop called Pierre Qui Roule, situated on the western side of Place Gambetta. The city has an efficient public transportation system, with trams, buses and even ferry boats transporting passengers along the river.   

By train

While the main train lines only serve destinations outside of Bordeaux, the city does have an excellent new tram service, which accesses many of the important areas visited by tourists. There are three lines - A, B and C - which run trams every 10 minutes between stops starting at 05:00 until 01:00. Line A starts at the Meriadeck shopping centre and heads east along the Cours d’Alsace et Lorraine until it crosses the river and continues another 10kms to the suburb of Cenon. Line B begins at the Esplanade des Quinconces and runs south to the Place de la Victorie and then on to the university. Line C links the Esplanade des Quinconces with the train station by way of the riverside. Tickets can be purchased from machines at every tram stop, which should then be stamped once aboard the tram.

By bus

Bordeaux’s bus system is organised around three main station hubs, from where you can catch a bus to every destination in the city. Gare St-Jean (the main railway station) is serviced by buses that run to the city centre, the university and the north of the city. La Place de la Victorie has bus lines running to the city centre, railway station, university and destinations to the north and southwest of the city. La Place Gambetta has bus lines to la Victorie, the railway station and destinations to the west, north and northwest of the city. Tickets can be bought directly on the bus, but they are more expensive and don’t allow any free transfers.

It is better to buy your tickets at one of the TBC agencies, which have kiosks at the main bus stations, or at the tourism offices. There are several ticket options, but for tourists, the best deal is the Bordeaux Decouverte card, which can be purchased at any tourist office and allows unlimited travel for one to six days. Special night buses operate when there are special events at the Grand Theatre or at the stadium. It’s also advisable to avoid using the buses during the peak hours from 08:00 to 10:00 and 16:00 to 19:00, as the buses are packed and the traffic jams slow movement to a crawl. Call CGFTE for more information (tel: +33 05 57 57 88 88).

Another interesting aspect of bus travel in the city is a small ferry crossing. The western and eastern parts of the city are linked by a short cruise along the river on a boat called le bus du fleuve. As it is managed by CGFTE, you can get on the boat with your bus ticket. The bus runs from the southern end of Quay Richelieu to the Place Aristide Briand, which is very near to the Aquitaine Bridge, one of the best sites in Bordeaux.   

Taxis

Taxis are a convenient and practical way to get to all points of the city. However, most of the city centre is zoned for pedestrians, so a taxi can only take you to the perimeter. Taxis are not always metered, so it’s best to settle on a fare before getting into a taxi.

Tourist services

Bordeaux has a wonderful electric bus called la navette du centre-ville. This is the only public transportation allowed on the pedestrian roads on the city centre. There are no designated stops on this bus. When you want to get on board, just wave your hand to the driver and when you want to get off, ask him to stop. 

From the airport

There are shuttle buses that run from the airport to Gare St-Jean train station and Place Gambetta from 05:30 until 22:45 every day. Jet’Bus (tel: +33 05 56 34 50 50) operates shuttles, which depart every 35 minutes during the week and every 45 minutes on weekends. The trip into town takes around 45 minutes. Another shuttle bus service connects the airport to the city’s train station from 07:45 until 22:45 every day. These shuttles depart every 45 minutes from outside the Arrivals area and the trip takes about 40 minutes. 

Taxis are available 24 hours from outside the Arrivals areas of both terminals. Always negotiate the price of your fare before getting into a taxi, as they are not metered. Seven car hire companies also have offices at the airport. It is a quick and easy drive into the city by taking the ring road around Bordeaux, which has several exits leading into the city.