Train to Bordeaux - connections, tickets and itinerary

• Documents: France is part of the Schengen area, so a valid identity card is sufficient for an EU citizen. A passport is not required.

• Currency: Euro (EUR). Payment cards are widely accepted.

• Best time to go: spring (April-May) and early autumn (September-October) - the daytime temperature is 15-22°C and tourist traffic remains moderate.

• How much to go for: a weekend (2-3 days) is enough for the Old Town, Place de la Bourse, Cité du Vin and the Capuchin Market. Plan 4-5 days to explore the region with trips to the vineyards.

• Practical tip: you'll find the main attractions within a 2km radius of Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station, so get around the centre on foot.

The best choice is April-May or September-October, when daytime temperatures are 15-22°C and tourist traffic remains moderate.

Spring (March–May)

• Daytime temperatures are 13-21°C, so it's easy to plan long walks in the Old Town and along the Garonne River.

• Gardens and parks are in full bloom, including the Jardin Public in the city centre.

• The Capuchin Market operates regularly, and in spring you'll find seasonal produce from the Aquitaine region.

• The vineyards around Bordeaux welcome visitors even before the harvest season, without the summer crowds.

Summer (June–August)

• In July and August, the daytime temperature is 28-30°C, so it's best to plan sightseeing in the morning and evening.

• This is the peak tourist season, so accommodation should be booked in advance.

• In summer, Bordeaux Fête le Vin, a major wine festival held every two years, takes place on the banks of the Garonne.

Autumn (September–October)

• This is grape harvest season, so the vineyards around Saint-Émilion and Médoc invite you to tastings and demonstrations.

• The daytime temperature is 17-22°C and there is less tourist traffic than in summer.

• Accommodation prices are lower than in high season, especially in hotels in the centre.

Winter (November–February)

• Daytime temperatures are 8-10°C and it often rains, so an umbrella and a warmer jacket are useful.

• You can visit the museums and Cité du Vin without queues.

• This is the period with the lowest accommodation prices, good for a city break on a smaller budget.

You will get to Bordeaux with one change, usually in Paris, and finally get off at Bordeaux Saint-Jean station close to the centre.

From Warsaw

• The journey with a change in Paris takes 14-16 hours.

• You change trains at one of the Paris stations and the leg from Paris to Bordeaux takes around 2 hours.

• You can leave early in the morning and arrive in the evening, or choose the overnight option.

• For a city break, plan a minimum of 2-3 days on the ground.

From Wrocław

• From Wrocław you travel with one change in Paris or Frankfurt.

• The journey takes 14-16 hours.

• The leg from Paris to Bordeaux takes around 2 hours.

• Good connections to western European rail hubs make it easy to arrange the changeover.

From Kraków

• The route from Kraków goes via Paris or another hub in Western Europe.

• The journey takes 15-17 hours.

• From Paris to Bordeaux you travel approximately 2 hours.

• An alternative route goes through Germany or Austria and then on through France.

Seat reservation is compulsory on the international leg. You buy your ticket on Europodróże without registering - it is sent to your email and by SMS. 30 minutes before departure you receive an SMS reminder with a link to your ticket, so there's no need to search your inbox. The earlier you buy, the greater the choice of seats and the better the price. If you have a few hours' stopover in Paris, you can plan a short walk around the centre.

For PKP Intercity tickets, refunds are possible up to 20 minutes before departure and exchanges up to 30 minutes before departure. See the refund and exchange policy page for details.

You get around Bordeaux mainly by tram and on foot. From Bordeaux Saint-Jean station, you can reach the Old Town by tram in a few minutes or walk there in around fifteen minutes. A stroll along the Garonne takes you through riverside boulevards lined with 18th-century townhouses.

A single ticket on public transport costs a few euros. For several journeys a day, a daily ticket will be more convenient.

Vcub city bikes also operate in the centre. This is a good option for exploring the riverside boulevards and further districts, as stations are densely distributed throughout the centre.

Taxi and ride-hailing apps are available at the station. They come in handy when leaving with luggage or returning late from dinner.

Where to stay:

• Vieux-Bordeaux and the Place de la Bourse area - you can walk to the main attractions in a few minutes.

• Chartrons or Saint-Michel - a few minutes by tram from the centre, with local restaurants and a quieter atmosphere. Cheaper options than in the city centre.

Old Town (Vieux-Bordeaux)

Listed by UNESCO in 2007, it covers 150 hectares under strict conservation protection. Here you will see 18th-century sandstone townhouses, narrow streets and squares with fountains. The tour takes 2-3 hours. Entrance is free.

Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau

An iconic square with an 18th-century façade and the largest water mirror in the world at 3450 m². The Miroir d'Eau operates from spring to autumn, and in the evening the reflective effect is particularly spectacular. The tour takes 30-45 minutes. Entry is free of charge.

Cité du Vin

A museum dedicated to wine culture from around the world. The building has futuristic architecture and on the top floor there is a panoramic viewing terrace with wine tasting included in the ticket price. The tour takes 2-3 hours. There is an entrance fee and in high season it is advisable to buy your ticket in advance.

Saint-André Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-André)

A Gothic cathedral from the 12th to 15th centuries, listed by UNESCO. Next to it stands the freestanding bell tower of the Tour Pey-Berland, from where you will see a panoramic view of the city. A tour of the cathedral takes 45-60 minutes. Entrance to the cathedral is free.

Basilica Saint-Michel and surroundings

A multicultural neighbourhood with a weekly market in the square in front of the basilica. The basilica tower is 114 metres high and is one of the highest viewpoints in the city. The tour takes 1-1.5 hours.

Capucins Market (Marché des Capucins)

The largest market in Bordeaux, open every morning except Monday. Buy local cheeses, charcuterie, seafood and fresh oysters from the Bassin d'Arcachon here. It's worth coming before midday, when the choice is greatest.

Palais Gallien

Ruins of a Roman amphitheatre from the 2nd century, the only remains of its kind in south-west France. The tour takes about 30 minutes. Entrance is free.

City gates (Porte Cailhau, Porte de la Grosse Cloche)

Medieval defensive gates that you will see on a walk through the Old Town. The Porte Cailhau, dating from the 15th century, stands right on the river and the Grosse Cloche is one of the oldest bell towers in France.

Plan for day 1

Start the morning at the Capuchin Market - breakfast with local products and coffee. From there, walk to the Old Town and Saint-André Cathedral. It will take 2-3 hours to explore this part of the city. In the afternoon, head to Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau. In the evening, enjoy dinner in the Chartrons district, a former wine merchants' quarter now full of bistros and wine bars.

Plan for the weekend (2 days)

You can arrange the first day in the same way as the 1-day plan.

Day 2: Visit the Cité du Vin in the morning - the tour takes 2-3 hours including a tasting on the viewing terrace. In the afternoon, take the regional train to Saint-Émilion, a medieval town surrounded by vineyards and listed by UNESCO. It takes about 45 minutes to get there. In the evening you return to Bordeaux for dinner.

Bordeaux cuisine is based on local produce, seafood from the Atlantic and wines from the surrounding vineyards.

What to eat

Entrecôte à la bordelaise - beef steak in a sauce with shallots, bone marrow and red wine. This is a classic of Bordeaux cuisine, available in most bistros.

Canelé - a small pastry caramelised with vanilla and rum, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. This is a typical Bordeaux culinary souvenir, bought in local patisseries throughout the centre.

Huîtres - oysters from Bassin d'Arcachon, farmed near the city. At the Capuchin Market you'll eat them fresh, with lemon and a glass of white wine.

Wine - Bordeaux is one of the largest wine regions in the world. In restaurants and wine bars you'll find wines from the Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Médoc, Graves and Sauternes appellations. Tastings are organised at the Cité du Vin, among others, but also at the numerous wine bars in the Chartrons district.

Where to eat:

• The Capucins Market (Marché des Capucins) - the best place to have breakfast with local products. Open every morning except Monday. You'll find stalls selling oysters, cheeses, cold meats and fresh bread.

• Chartrons Quarter - the former wine merchants' quarter. Boutique restaurants, wine bars and shops selling local produce operate here. The atmosphere is quieter than in the inner city.

• Rue Sainte-Catherine - the longest shopping street in Europe at around 1.2 km. There are chain shops, local boutiques and cafés. On the side streets you will find smaller restaurants with regional cuisine.

Food budget: lunch in a bistro costs between a dozen and a few tens of zlotys in conversion. Dinner in a restaurant with a glass of local wine costs several tens of zlotys per person.

Souvenirs

• Canelé - from a local pastry shop, a typical culinary souvenir from Bordeaux.

• Wine - a bottle from the Chartrons wine bar; the staff will help you choose a bottle to suit your budget and taste.

• Local produce - from the Capuchin Market, including cheeses and charcuterie from the Aquitaine region.

Below you will find indicative costs for a stay in three budget categories. Amounts are given in PLN according to approximate conversion.

Budget - accommodation in a hostel or cheaper hotel outside the city centre. Eating at the Capuchin Market and in bistros. Visiting free attractions: the Old Town, Place de la Bourse, the cathedral and the city gates. Transport by tram.

Mid-range - three-star hotel in the centre. Restaurants and a wine bar in the evening. Cité du Vin with tasting on the viewing terrace. Transport by tram and city bike.

Comfortable - four-star hotel or boutique hotel in Vieux-Bordeaux. Dinners in restaurants with wine from local appellations. Private excursion to the vineyards of Saint-Émilion. Taxi for longer journeys.

Amounts are indicative and given in PLN according to approximate conversion. Accommodation prices depend on the season - higher in summer and during festivals. All amounts exclude the train fare.