How to Get a Bordeaux CityPass

I spent three days in Bordeaux last autumn doing the math on every city pass, discount card, and combo ticket the tourism office throws at visitors. The Bordeaux CityPass came out ahead — but not by as much as the brochure wants you to believe.

Place de la Bourse reflecting on wet pavement in Bordeaux France
Place de la Bourse after rain — one of the CityPass museums sits right behind that fountain, and you’ll walk past this spot constantly.

Here’s the thing about Bordeaux: it’s a city that rewards people who actually go inside places. The 18th-century facades along the Garonne look spectacular from the outside, sure. But the real payoff is behind the doors — La Cité du Vin, the Musée d’Aquitaine, the Cathedral tower climb, the river cruises at golden hour. The CityPass bundles all of that together, and if you pick the right duration, it saves real money.

Historic Bordeaux street with tram and classic architecture
The tram is your best friend in Bordeaux — and yes, the CityPass covers unlimited rides on all three lines.

But it can also waste your money if you’re the kind of traveller who mostly walks around, eats, and only pops into one or two museums. So let me break it all down.

Elegant historic limestone buildings in Bordeaux under blue sky
Bordeaux earned its UNESCO World Heritage status in 2007 for the largest urban area ever listed — over 1,800 hectares of 18th-century architecture.
Short on time? Here are my top 3 picks:

Best overall: Bordeaux CityPass (2-3 day) — $57. Covers Cite du Vin, 20+ museums, river cruise, unlimited tram. Best value if you’re staying 2+ days.

Best for sightseeing: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus — $29. Covers the main sights fast, good if you only have one day and want orientation.

Best budget option: Bordeaux City Pass via Viator — $62. Same CityPass, sometimes bundled with extras. Compare prices on both platforms before buying.

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What the Bordeaux CityPass Actually Includes

La Cite du Vin museum modern architecture in Bordeaux France
La Cite du Vin alone costs around EUR 22 for adults — that’s nearly half the 48-hour CityPass price right there.

The CityPass comes in 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour versions. Here’s what you get with all three:

Free entry to 20+ museums and attractions:

  • La Cite du Vin (the big one — normally EUR 22)
  • Musee d’Aquitaine (Bordeaux’s main history museum)
  • CAPC Musee d’Art Contemporain
  • Musee des Beaux-Arts
  • Musee des Arts Decoratifs et du Design
  • Tour Pey-Berland (the cathedral bell tower — great views)
  • Basilique Saint-Seurin crypt
  • Centre Jean Moulin (WWII resistance museum)
  • Musee Mer Marine

Transport and tours included:

  • Unlimited public transport (tram + bus network)
  • One guided walking tour of the city centre
  • One Garonne river cruise

Discounts:

  • 10-20% off partner restaurants and wine bars
  • Reduced prices on certain wine tastings and workshops
  • Discounted entry to Bassins de Lumieres (the immersive art space in the former submarine base)
Families enjoying the Miroir d'eau reflecting pool at Place de la Bourse Bordeaux
The Miroir d’eau in front of Place de la Bourse is free to enjoy — no pass needed for this one, but you’ll walk past it on the included walking tour.

Is It Worth It? Let Me Do the Math

This is where most city pass articles get vague. I’m going to be specific.

48-hour CityPass: approximately EUR 45-55 (varies by season)

A realistic 2-day Bordeaux itinerary might include:

Place de la Bourse at sunset with golden light in Bordeaux
Sunset at Place de la Bourse. If you time it right, you can catch this light during the included river cruise.
  • La Cite du Vin: EUR 22
  • Musee d’Aquitaine: EUR 5
  • Tour Pey-Berland: EUR 6
  • CAPC Contemporary Art: EUR 7
  • Garonne river cruise: EUR 10-15
  • Guided walking tour: EUR 12-15
  • 2 days unlimited tram: EUR 9.80 (2 x day passes at EUR 4.90)

Total if bought individually: roughly EUR 72-80

So the 48-hour CityPass saves you around EUR 20-30 if you actually use all of those. That’s genuine savings — not huge, but the convenience factor is real. You skip several ticket queues, and the tram access alone saves hassle.

When it’s NOT worth it:
If you’re only planning to visit Cite du Vin and walk around the old town, the pass loses money. You’d pay EUR 55 for something you could do for EUR 22 + free walking. Only buy the CityPass if you’ll visit at least 3-4 paid attractions plus use the transport.

Panoramic view of Bordeaux waterfront with historic buildings along the Garonne river
Bordeaux’s waterfront stretches for kilometres — the tram runs along most of it, and the CityPass means you can hop on and off without thinking about tickets.

Official CityPass vs Guided Tour Packages

There are two different ways to approach Bordeaux with a pass or package, and they serve different types of visitors.

The CityPass is a self-guided approach. You get access to attractions, transport, and one walking tour, but you plan your own route and pace. Best for independent travellers who want flexibility. You can spend three hours at Cite du Vin if the wine exhibits pull you in, then rush through the Beaux-Arts in 45 minutes before the river cruise. Your call.

Guided tour packages (like the hop-on hop-off bus) are structured. Someone else does the route planning. Better if you’re short on time, want commentary on the architecture, or don’t feel like navigating the tram system. The tradeoff is less flexibility and usually fewer museum entries.

Bordeaux tram passing through city centre with classic French architecture
Bordeaux’s tram system is impressively clean and runs every few minutes on the main lines. Even without a CityPass, a day ticket is only EUR 4.90.

For most visitors staying 2+ days, the CityPass wins. For a quick overnight or single day, the hop-on hop-off gives you better coverage for the time you have.

The Best Bordeaux Tour Passes to Book

1. Bordeaux CityPass — $57

Bordeaux CityPass card for museum and transport access
The CityPass that pays for itself by lunchtime on day one — if you pick the right attractions.

This is the one most Bordeaux visitors should buy. Available in 24, 48, and 72-hour versions, the CityPass is your all-access key to the city’s best museums, unlimited tram rides, a guided walking tour of Bordeaux, and a Garonne river cruise. The 48-hour version hits the sweet spot for most people.

Start at La Cite du Vin on the first morning while you’re fresh (it’s a lot to take in), then work your way through the old town museums over two days. The included transport makes it easy to reach the Bassins de Lumieres submarine base across the river without paying for extra tickets. At $57 for a 48-hour pass, you’ll break even by mid-afternoon on day one if you hit Cite du Vin plus one museum plus the tram.

Read our full review | Book this pass

2. Bordeaux Hop-On Hop-Off Bus — $29

Bordeaux hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour
Good for getting oriented fast, but don’t expect it to replace a proper walking tour through the old town’s backstreets.

If you only have one day in Bordeaux — maybe you’re on a cruise port stop or passing through on a road trip — the hop-on hop-off is a solid option. It hits the major landmarks along a loop route with audio commentary, and at $29 for a full day, it’s hard to argue with the price. The 2-day version exists too for a bit more.

The downside? No museum entries are included (unlike the CityPass), and the bus route sticks to the main roads. You won’t see the little wine bars in Saint-Pierre or the market halls near the Chartrons. But for a quick overview with frequent photo stops, it does the job. Just don’t expect the commentary to go deep on Bordeaux’s fascinating 18th-century history — you’ll want a proper guided walk for that.

Read our full review | Book this tour

3. Bordeaux City Pass (Viator) — $62

Bordeaux City Pass card with museum and attraction access
Same pass, different platform, sometimes different bundling. Worth comparing prices before you commit.

This is essentially the same Bordeaux CityPass product sold through Viator rather than GetYourGuide. The core inclusions are identical — same museums, same transport, same river cruise. So why list it separately? Because the pricing and bundling can differ. Viator sometimes packages it with slight extras or runs promotions that make it cheaper than buying directly.

At $62, it’s a touch more expensive than the GYG version at the time of writing, but prices shift. My advice: check both platforms before buying. Also worth checking the official Bordeaux tourism office website, which occasionally offers the pass at the local EUR price without exchange markup. If you’re planning a full Bordeaux trip, pair this with a wine tour outside the city — the CityPass covers the city, but the surrounding vineyards of Saint-Emilion are a separate day trip worth booking.

Read our full review | Book this pass

When to Visit Bordeaux

Aerial view of Bordeaux modern bridge and Garonne river at sunset
Bordeaux from above at golden hour. The river cruise included with the CityPass runs along this stretch of the Garonne.

Best months: May, June, and September. Warm enough to enjoy the Miroir d’eau and outdoor cafes, not so hot that museum visits feel like an escape plan. The grape harvest happens in September-October, which adds an extra layer to any wine-related visits.

Avoid August if you can. It’s peak tourist season, many Bordelais leave the city, and some smaller museums shorten hours. Temperatures regularly push past 35C, which makes that hop-on hop-off bus feel less appealing when the top deck is an oven.

Winter (November-February) is quiet and hotels are cheaper, but some attractions reduce hours and the river cruise schedule thins out. The CityPass still works, but you’ll get less value from it if half the included experiences are seasonal.

Evening view of Bordeaux riverside with illuminated ferris wheel and boats
Evening along the quays — the ferris wheel appears seasonally, usually summer through early autumn. Not included in the CityPass, but the views from it are solid.

Opening hours to know:
Most museums open 11am-6pm, closed Mondays. La Cite du Vin keeps slightly different hours (usually 10am-7pm, open daily in summer). The guided walking tour included with the CityPass typically departs at 10am or 2pm from the tourism office on Cours du 30 Juillet — book your slot when you pick up the pass.

How to Get Around Bordeaux

Tram passing Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux reflecting on the Miroir d'eau
Line C runs right past Place de la Bourse. With the CityPass, just hop on — no ticket machines, no fumbling for change.

Bordeaux’s tram system has three lines (A, B, C) that cover the city centre and extend to the suburbs. For travelers, Line C is the most useful — it connects the train station (Gare Saint-Jean) to the city centre and runs along the waterfront past Place de la Bourse, the Chartrons, and up to the Bassins de Lumieres.

Without a CityPass: A single tram ticket costs EUR 1.80, valid for one hour with transfers. A day pass is EUR 4.90. If you’re riding the tram 3+ times in a day, the day pass is worth it.

With a CityPass: Unlimited rides on all tram and bus lines. This is one of the sneaky value adds — you stop thinking about transport costs and just hop on whenever your feet get tired. Over 2-3 days of sightseeing, this easily saves EUR 10-15.

Pont de Pierre stone bridge over the Garonne river in Bordeaux on a sunny day
The Pont de Pierre — Napoleon ordered it built with 17 arches, one for each letter in “Napoleon Bonaparte.” You can walk across it in about 10 minutes.

From the airport: The 1+Express shuttle runs every 30-60 minutes to Gare Saint-Jean (about 45 minutes, EUR 8). From there, the tram connects to the city centre in 15 minutes. The CityPass does NOT cover the airport shuttle — only the city tram and bus network.

Walking: Honestly, central Bordeaux is very walkable. The main sights cluster within about 2.5km along the river. But the tram is handy for reaching Cite du Vin (about 20 minutes north of the centre on foot) and Bassins de Lumieres (across the river).

Tips That Will Save You Time

Wine tasting experience in a Bordeaux cellar
The CityPass includes discounts on certain wine tastings, but the really good experiences — the cellar tours, the private estates — are separate bookings.

Pick up the CityPass at the tourism office first thing in the morning. The office on Cours du 30 Juillet opens at 9:30am. Your pass activates on first use, not on purchase — so you can buy it the evening before and start using it the next morning without losing time.

Book the walking tour and river cruise immediately. These have limited spots and specific departure times. The walk is usually at 10am and 2pm; the cruise at various times depending on season. Don’t leave this for day two and find it’s fully booked.

Hit Cite du Vin early or late. It’s the biggest draw on the CityPass, and midday crowds make it harder to enjoy the interactive exhibits. First thing in the morning (10am opening) or after 4pm are your best windows. The tasting room on the top floor — included with entry — has some of the best views in Bordeaux.

The 48-hour pass is the sweet spot. The 24-hour version forces you to rush. The 72-hour version is only worth it if you plan to visit nearly every museum on the list. For most people, 48 hours gives enough time to do Cite du Vin, 2-3 museums, the walking tour, river cruise, and plenty of tram rides.

Chateau Lalande D'Auvion Medoc wine and glass close-up
Medoc wines are some of the most famous in the world, but you’ll need a separate day trip from Bordeaux to visit the chateaux. The CityPass doesn’t cover that.

Don’t bother with the CityPass for a cruise port day. If you’re in Bordeaux for 6-8 hours off a river cruise, you won’t use enough attractions to justify the price. The hop-on hop-off bus or a single Cite du Vin ticket is better value for a quick stop.

Check the official tourism website for seasonal extras. The CityPass occasionally adds temporary inclusions — seasonal exhibits, partner restaurants, or limited-time discounts that aren’t on the standard list.

What You’ll Actually See in Bordeaux

Gothic architecture of Bordeaux Cathedral with visitors at entrance
The Cathedral Saint-Andre is free to enter, but the CityPass gets you into the separate Pey-Berland tower next to it — and the view from up top is one of the best in the city.

Bordeaux reinvented itself in the 18th century when the wine trade was booming and the city’s intendants (royal governors) decided to tear down the medieval walls and build what you see today: those sweeping limestone facades, the grand squares, the theatre. UNESCO gave the entire city centre World Heritage status in 2007, calling it an outstanding example of classical and neoclassical urban architecture.

The Musee d’Aquitaine covers this history in depth, from Roman Burdigala through the English period (Bordeaux was English for 300 years, which is why they exported so much claret to London) to the controversial 18th-century wealth built partly on the slave trade. It’s one of the best regional history museums in France, and it’s on the CityPass.

La Cite du Vin modern architecture with boats on the Garonne river Bordeaux
Cite du Vin from across the water. The building itself is supposed to evoke swirling wine in a glass — which honestly makes more sense when you see it in person.

La Cite du Vin is the headliner. It’s not a museum exactly — more of an immersive experience about wine culture worldwide. The permanent exhibition takes 2-3 hours if you do it properly, and the rooftop tasting at the Belvedere (a glass of wine from a rotating selection) is included with your ticket. On a clear day you can see all the way down the Garonne towards the estuary.

Modern architecture of La Cite du Vin in Bordeaux against dramatic sky
The building cost EUR 81 million and opened in 2016. Love it or hate it architecturally, the exhibits inside are genuinely world-class.

The CAPC (Contemporary Art Museum) sits in a converted 19th-century warehouse in the Chartrons district. The building alone is worth seeing — massive stone columns and raw industrial space. If contemporary art isn’t your thing, the Musee des Beaux-Arts on the other side of town has a solid collection of European painting from the Renaissance through 20th century.

Wine barrels in a traditional Bordeaux winery cellar
Bordeaux’s wine heritage goes back to the Romans, but the real boom came when the Dutch drained the Medoc marshes in the 17th century, creating the terroir that produces some of the world’s most expensive bottles.

Pairing the CityPass with Wine Country

Ripe grapes on the vine in a Bordeaux region vineyard
The vineyards start just 20 minutes from Bordeaux city centre. The CityPass covers the city; for the countryside, book a separate wine tour.

The CityPass handles Bordeaux the city, but the real magic of the region is the wine country surrounding it. If you have 3+ days, dedicate one full day to a wine tour. The most popular option is a half-day trip to Saint-Emilion — the medieval village is gorgeous, and the Grand Cru wineries are right there. It’s about 40 minutes by car or organised tour from Bordeaux.

Use the CityPass for days 1-2 (city museums, walking tour, river cruise), then spend day 3 in the vineyards without the pass. That’s the sequence that gets you the most for your money.

Oak wine barrels in a dimly lit French wine cellar
The cellar visits outside the city are a completely different experience from Cite du Vin — less educational exhibition, more actual winemaker showing you their life’s work.

A Garonne river cruise is also worth booking beyond the one included with the CityPass — the longer evening cruises with wine and caneles serve as a proper Bordeaux dinner experience, and the city looks entirely different from the water at sunset.

Historic Bordeaux building captured during golden sunset light
That golden limestone glow at sunset is what the guidebooks call “the Bordeaux golden hour” — and it really is something else in person.

Planning the Rest of Your Bordeaux Trip

If you’re spending more than a couple of days in the area, our other Bordeaux guides cover the specifics. The Cite du Vin tickets guide goes deep on skip-the-line strategies and what to see inside, which is worth reading before you go. For getting out of the city, our Bordeaux wine tour guide compares all the half-day and full-day options across Medoc, Saint-Emilion, and Graves. The walking tour guide is helpful if you want a guided walk beyond the one included with the CityPass, and the river cruise comparison covers the evening cruises with food and wine that go beyond the basic sightseeing cruise the pass includes. If wine country is your main draw, Saint-Emilion is the obvious day trip, with some of the best Grand Cru estates in the world just 40 minutes from the city.

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