Visit Bordeaux by bike

Bordeaux is a dynamic city, turned towards the future and ecology. It has multiple bike lanes. There are many green areas where you can cycle. The town hall even offers a bicycle rental service: the Vcubs. Bordeaux is criss-crossed with cycle paths, notably through the vineyards. The Vélodyssée, a mythical route for cyclists passes through Bordeaux. Suffice to say that a visit to Bordeaux by bike is a must!

Opening photo: © GoodLuz | AdobeStock

A cycling tour of the coolest neighborhoods of Bordeaux

A bike ride in the city of Bordeaux will allow you to appreciate the atmosphere of its districts and take the time to admire their particular architecture. Here are our favorites:

• The Saint-Michel district, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
• The Darwin eco-district, the green district!
• The Chartrons district, where you can admire works of Street-art.

Around the Bordeaux bridges by bike

The Tour des Ponts is a pleasant 7-kilometre walk along the banks of the Garonne river. Between the Pont de Pierre, the oldest in Bordeaux, and the Pont Chaban Delmas, with its ultra modern design, you will pass by the most important historical monuments of the city, in particular:

• The Pont de Pierre, built by Napoleon
• The Porte de Bourgogne, which has marked the entrance to the city since the 18th century
• The Porte Cailheau, from the 15th century
• The Water Mirror, on the Place de la Bourse
• The National Opera
• …

A heritage rally or a treasure hunt

The heritage rally, like the treasure hunt, are two unusual ways to visit the city with the family. The treasure hunt will be very popular with children. They will have to unearth clues, solve puzzles, and fun characters will guide them through this new kind of treasure hunt! The heritage rally is more suitable for older children. It's a comic book, with puns, that takes you through the most unknown alleys of the city. You can practice this activity, both by bike and on foot.

Cycle paths in the parks and gardens of Bordeaux

There are many green spaces in Bordeaux. They are well distributed, both in the city center and on the outskirts. We have selected 3 of them, for their very different atmosphere:

• The Parc Rivière is a former private garden. It is a romantic and intimate park, around the ruins of a castle.
• Bourran Park is a landscaped green space, with large lawns, dotted with remarkable and old trees.
• The Parc Bordelais is a charming forest of oaks, with bodies of water where ducks and swans paddle.

A nature walk in Bordeaux-Lac

For a change, we offer you a nature outing, without leaving Bordeaux! Only 10 kilometers from the center, Bordeaux-Lac is a very exotic natural site. The forest surrounding the lake is criss-crossed with cycle paths. The lake offers a wide variety of aquatic and nautical activities. But you can also simply relax on its sandy beach, shaded by pine trees. Here is a new face of Bordeaux, in simplicity and naturalness!

The Canal of the Two Seas

The Canal des Deux Mers crosses France from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. In Gironde, it runs along the Garonne. It is bordered by a Greenway, accessible on foot or by bike. Leaving the Médoc vineyard and its wine-growing hillsides, it enters Bordeaux. It is a bucolic and refreshing stroll that you will do on the shady banks of the canal.

The Vélodyssée from Bordeaux to Biarritz

The Vélodyssée is a European cycle route. It crosses the Gironde and can be reached in Bordeaux near Margaux to the west or La Sauve-Majeur to the east. It will take you to Biarritz. On the route, everything is provided for the well-being of cyclists: catering outlets, rentals, accessories and repair shops...

Bordeaux vineyards

Bordeaux is surrounded by different wine regions. Wine tourism is highly developed there and each chateau competes in inventiveness to help you discover its vineyard and appreciate its production. In Bordeaux, we recommend the Château du Payre. It is an old estate, which has a particularity: 5 generations of women have succeeded each other and bring a unique touch of femininity to this wine.

Bordeaux by night

And to finish, we reveal an unusual facet of the city to you, during a nocturnal stroll. At nightfall, the monuments of Bordeaux light up to dazzle you. The banks of the Garonne are particularly resplendent at night. The Water Mirror reflects the Palais de la Bourse. It's of all beauty ! We take you for a last tour in Bordeaux by night!

How to organize your stay without a car in Bordeaux

Cycling is also being an eco-citizen! This ecological alternative is very practical in a city where traffic jams make it difficult to travel by car. To support it, the Maison Écocitoyenne is an educational space dedicated to soft mobility. Among other things, you will find tips, good plans and itineraries.

The Town Hall is also involved in this process. It has set up a self-service bicycle rental system: the Vcub. 1700 bikes equip 153 stations and with nearly 700 kilometers of cycle paths throughout the city, you will find them on almost every street corner! No more excuses, all you have to do is get on your bike.

If you need advice, go to Bordeaux Bike Experience, to rent a bike adapted to your needs.

We hope to have made you want to visit Bordeaux by bike and we wish you great discoveries.

Did you like our article? Find more on our Blog. Follow us on the Guide Bordeaux Gironde Facebook page and on Instagram @guidebordeauxgironde