Looking for the best way to visit Bordeaux ?

Bordeaux is a must to visit by bike!

If some cities are ideal for cycling, Bordeaux is definitely one of them. This is the best way to visit Bordeaux !

Ranked sixth in the world for most cyclable city in 2017, and third in France, Bordeaux boasts over 200 kilometers of bike lanes reserved solely for bicycles, and efforts to promote this mode of transportation continue.

Thanks to these developments, the historic city center gives cyclists a place of honour on its cobbled streets, where cars are otherwise gradually disappearing.

Nowadays, it is easy to cross the districts on two wheels in complete safety while being able to easily take in the magnificent 18th century facades and the pretty squares where restaurants, cafés and their terraces all connect.

In short, exploring Bordeaux by bike remains to this day the best way to discover a city that offers the largest urban site classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Indeed, I cannot think of a more fun, happier, or ideal way to cover as much distance as with our good old bicycle.

Whether it’s crossing the heart of the historic center which is inaccessible by car, or crossing the Garonne River to discover the left bank of Bordeaux, the opportunity to admire the exceptional view of the beautifully arranged façades of Bordeaux is much more difficult on foot.

Thanks to Bordeaux Bike Tour you can now stroll around by bike and discover the city’s unusual places, secrets, monuments and districts that form a unique classical and neoclassical architectural heritage.

Why choose us :

A passionate local guide, in love with his city and its history!

Jean-Christophe is not only a lover of Bordeaux, he is also a real local guide who spent most of his childhood in the heart of the Chartrons district, the historical meeting place of the wine merchants.  This district surrounding the famous Rue Notre Dame has since kept the atmosphere of an ancient village, where Brocanteurs and antique shop owners continue to sell old jewels in the once thriving ancient streets.

It is these kind of authentic places that Jean-Christophe will help you discover, places that cannot be missed in the city and which hide their  own little secrets. You will discover in a playful and friendly way the history of Bordeaux over the centuries, from the Roman period to the English period to the present day.

 Comfort, security, smiles and well-being are the key words!

Given that our journey is accomplished with a bike, it is essential to use those which are best adapted to the city, whether in terms of quality, comfort, safety or style, your choice must logically go towards the best quality bikes – so why not use the Arcade brand super comfortable French beach cruiser models which perfectly profiled for the ride in the city?

They are all equipped with baskets, bells and the Nexus system, which offers an easier gear change and is ideal for the city.

Of course, Bordeaux Bike Tour will provide you with a helmet should you desire one, as well as a 70cl stainless steel water bottle that can be filled during the ride.

This ride is yours, and it is an opportunity for everyone to see the most beautiful sites of the city while getting an in depth scoop of its rich history.  We pride ourselves on providing an opportunity for everyone to meet in a friendly family atmosphere, where the rules (apart from those relating to safety) are none other than happiness, exchange, sharing, all done simply and in good taste.

Establishing this sort of environment from the get-go allows the group a feeling of freedom, the possibility to stop often, take pictures together, exchange, and discuss – in short a kind of recreational outing in the heart of a city that resembles a giant postcard!

Bordeaux, its history, its historic districts, its monuments and squares!

Getting to the meeting point for a city tour with Bordeaux Bike Tour is your first step towards discovering the history of Bordeaux, as the charm and authenticity of the Place Raymond Colom is typical of ancient Bordeaux.

Let’s embark on a trip of a little more than two hours with the following program:

Pass by the pretty Place du Palais and its Cailhau gate, crossing the Garonne river by the stone bridge (or Napoleon Bridge for some.) Tiny break on the right bank along the Corajoud promenade to admire the panoramic view on the XVIIIth century structured facades, the Place de la Bourse and the banks of the Garonne. Return to the left bank where we will cross the Saint Michel district and its authentic market before going to the Grosse Cloche, which is the oldest door to the city. We then leave for the heart of Bordeaux, its narrow streets and squares, such as Fernand Lafargue, Camille Julian, Saint Pierre, Parlement and Pey Berlan, where the City Hall and Saint André Cathedral are located. From there, off we go to the “Golden Triangle” where wil will see the Place des Grands Hommes, the Place du Chapelet and the pretty church Notre Dame, the Grand Theatre and Place du Comedie, where you can see the longest pedestrian street in Europe, Rue Saint Catherine.

We then reach Quinconces and the Girondin monument with its two fountains before going through the alleys of the magnificent public garden. We return to the riverfront via the Chartrons district, giving us the opportunity to admire the majestic Jacques Chaban Delmas bridge before going along the quais one last time, seeing the magnificent Place de la Bourse and its breath-taking water mirror.

In total it’s about 12 kilometers of pure happiness with interspersed breaks to enjoy the view, take photos and of course listen to comments about the history, monuments and life in Bordeaux.    

Discovering the Graves vineyards at the gates of the city, The Pape Clément Grand Cru Classé Castle!

This tour will give you the opportunity to visit the vineyards and terroirs in the heart of the Graves vineyards. It is geared towards the more experienced cyclists as the distance to cover is about 25km.

Always starting from the historic center, we will cross the old Bordeaux, its pretty streets and squares, Place du Palais, Saint Pierre, Camille Julian and Pey Berlan. From there we will change scenery with the crossing of the Meriadeck district and its terraces with their typical architecture of the 70s (also a part of the heritage site), a striking contrast with the old Bordeaux.

Once we have crossed the boulevards, we will discover the calm of the residential areas near the Pellegrin Hospital before seeing the magnificent square house, an 18th century mansion that has recently been restored. We will then arrive in the first Graves vineyards before crossing the Burck Park, which offers us a haven of peace and freshness just a few kilometers from the city center.

We then follow the small river Le Peugue (which, fun fact, also runs under our feet in the heart of Bordeaux), before arriving near the pretty Noès mill, the last vestige of an 18th century experimental farm.

Only a few hundred metres more and we arrive at the property of Château Pape Clément, Grand Cru Classé de Graves. Prepare yourself for a visit of about three quarters of an hour of the estate before finishing with a tasting of three wines including one of the prestigious Château Pape Cléments.

At this point it will be time to get back on our bikes for the ride home, our ride will have lasted about 4 to 4 ½ hours.