10 Things to do in Bordeaux with Kids

The South of France is one of the most touristic regions in the world and everyone knows that some of the best things to do in Bordeaux have to do with wine tastings and trips to the nearest wineries.

However, there are also plans that are suitable for families travelling with children of different ages and in this post I will tell you the best entertainment alternatives so that the whole family will feel that their visit to Bordeaux has been a great experience.

Bordeaux is both one of France's most historic cities and the epicentre of one of Europe's most important wine-producing regions. As you can imagine, there is a lot to see, so a great way to take in the best of the city's sights is via a guided tour in a sidecar.

These two-passenger vehicles are a great way to add a fun element to what can be exhausting and challenging for young children. It also allows you to speed up your sightseeing exploration of the most important buildings and monuments on a two-day trip to Bordeaux.

Booking a sidecar tour of Bordeaux is a great way to see places like the Saint André Cathedral or the famous Grosse Cloche gate in a comfortable and fun way.

Details of interest:

• Price: 61 euros per person.
• Duration: 45 minutes.

Another great way to enjoy the beauty of Bordeaux's historic centre in a super fun way for the kids is to book a treasure hunt game around Bordeaux. This way, you will pass by the main monuments and squares of the oldest part of Bordeaux, while solving riddles and challenges that are usually quite entertaining for both adults and children.

The plan is recommended because it is a totally different way to involve children in the tourist exploration of a city and at the same time it is a very economical and healthy experience, as it involves the body, by walking around, and the mind, by solving the riddles.

This is definitely one of the best things to do in Bordeaux during the month of May as the weather is favourable for exploring the city at this time of the year and the crowds of tourists allow you to run around and have fun without having to deal with too many people.

Details of interest:

• Price: 8 euros per person.
• Duration: depends on how long it takes you to discover the riddles.

The Garonne River is one of the most important rivers in Western Europe and both banks are highly recommended for cycling, although the Parc aux Angeliques, on the eastern bank of the river, stands out for its tree-lined nature trails.

Enjoying the excellent trails that this city offers you to cycle along the banks of the Garonne River during the afternoon is such a recommendable plan that it is part of the best things to do in Bordeaux in a one-day visit.

On the other hand, you can also hire a bike tour and take advantage of it to visit the most important places in Bordeaux, such as the City of Wine, Grands Hommes, the Golden Triangle or the Pont de Pierre, among others. This activity is sure to be fun for the kids, and there are child seats available on the bikes for the little ones - no excuses!

The town of Arcachon is an hour's drive from Bordeaux and is known for its seafront location and its proximity to the famous sand dunes, which are part of the Banc d'Arguinque Nature Reserve, making it a must-see destination for those who want to appreciate the beauty of the Atlantic coast of the South of France.

If your trip to Bordeaux is long enough, you should not miss Arcachon Bay, given that it is also part of the best excursions to do from Bordeaux.

The best way to visit Arcachon, especially if you are travelling with your family, is to book a private excursion to Arcachon and the Dune de Pilat from Bordeaux where a private driver and guide will take you to this paradisiacal place and enlighten you on the history and customs of the area, without you having to worry about anything else.

Details of interest:

• Price: around 300 euros.
• Duration: 9 hours.

One of the biggest tourist attractions in the city of Bordeaux is completely free of charge and that is the Miroir d'Eau, or Mi roir d'Eau in English.

It's a shallow reflecting pool right in front of the Garonne River and the famous Place de la Bourse where you can take the best pictures of the buildings surrounding the square while children play freely in the water, which also has some jets that shoot up into the sky in a completely random fashion.

It's a great way to take a break from the summer heat and one of the best things to do in Bordeaux in June and throughout the rest of the summer season.

The Jardin Public is a free public green space in the centre of Bordeaux. It is full of trees, beautifully landscaped and has a non-navigable lake.

Its strategic location makes it the ideal place to take a break from long walks or after visiting sites such as the Bordeaux Museum of Contemporary Art or the famous Place des Quinconces.

Meanwhile, your little ones can run around and have fun in this public park, which also has a puppet theatre in the summer where children's entertainment is often held. It is one of the best things to do in Bordeaux in October and all year round.

The Cap Sciences, located in the attractive and entertaining Bacalan district, is characterised by maintaining a didactic approach that brings the world of applied sciences closer to the little ones.

Moreover, its proximity to the Jacques-Chaban-Delmas Bridge makes this building a recommended plan for the whole family, as this bridge is one of the modern wonders of the city, a must-see for architecture lovers.

Details of interest:

• Price: 9 euros.
• Location: Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux, France.

A couple of kilometres from the historic centre of Bordeaux is the Pessac Zoo, a small reserve with all kinds of animals characterised by a naturalistic approach where the animals have plenty of space to live freely.

Children will have the time of their lives, especially in the areas where they can interact directly with the animals. In addition, there are often special talks and events focused on children, making it definitely one of the best things to do in Bordeaux during the month of July.

Details of interest:

• Price: under 3 years old, free. Between 3 and 11 years old, 13 euros. Over 12 years old, 18 euros.
• Location: 3 Chemin du Transvaal, 33600 Pessac, France.

The Arkose Bourdeaux is a climbing centre designed specifically for families of all ages to enjoy this fun activity.

The site also offers yoga and pilates classes and is generally a place that encourages sport and movement. For this reason, it is an excellent idea to visit during the day or in the afternoon so that your children are sufficiently tired so that you can enjoy the best wine tours in Bordeaux in the evening.

You should also know that many of its facilities are fully covered and, for this reason, it is a good plan for family entertainment during rainy days.

Details of interest:

• Price: adults, 16 euros. Children between 4 and 12 years old, 8 euros.
• Location: Galerie Tatry, 170 Cr du Médoc, 33300 Bordeaux, France.

Museums can also be an entertaining activity for children during your visit to Bordeaux and the Bordeaux museum of natural history is one place you shouldn't miss if you're looking for something suitable for the little ones in the house. This historic jewel of the city is over 200 years old, having been founded shortly after the French Revolution.

The building it occupies and its prime location at one of the entrances to the Jardin Public make it an ideal place to complete your family entertainment plans. In fact, it is one of those must-see places on a three-day visit to Bordeaux. Especially since it is part of the most important cultural institutions of this city.

Details of interest:

• Price: Adults, 8 euros. Children between 6 and 18 years old, 3,5 euros.
• Location: 5 Pl. Bardineau, 33000.