10 Things to do in Bordeaux with Kids
Traveling with children can be a challenge if you have no idea of the plans that exist in the tourist destination you are going to visit. Therefore, I invite you to know the best plans to do with your family in the city of Bordeaux.
La porte de Bourgogne, Bordeaux |©Rémy Jeannette
The south of France is one of the most touristic regions in the whole planet 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 traveling with children of different ages and in this post I tell you about the best entertainment alternatives so that the whole family feels that their visit to Bordeaux has been a great experience.
1. A guided sidecar tour of the best of the city
Bordeaux is one of the cities with the greatest historical heritage in France and, at the same time, the epicenter of one of the most important productive regions in all of Europe. As you can imagine, there is a lot to see, so a good way to tour the best of the city is by sidecar.
These two-passenger vehicles are a great way to add a fun element to what could 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.
2. Participate in a treasure hunt in the center of Bordeaux
Another great way to enjoy the beauty of the historic center of Bordeaux in a super fun way for the kids is to book the Bordeaux treasure hunt game. This way, you will pass through 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 much economical and healthy experience, as it involves the body, by walking around on foot, and the mind, by solving the riddles.
This is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Bordeaux during the month of May because at this time of the year the weather is favorable for walking around the city and the influx of tourists allows 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 the time it takes you to discover the riddles.
3. Bike along the banks of the Garonne River
The Garonne River is one of the most important rivers in Western Europe and both banks are highly recommended to enjoy a bike ride, although the Parc aux Angeliques, on the eastern bank of the river, stands out for its trails full of trees and nature.
Enjoying the excellent trails that this city offers you to pedal with a bicycle 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 single day visit.
On the other hand, you can also hire a bike tour and take advantage 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, in addition, child seats are available on the bikes for the little ones. No excuses!
4. A trip to the dunes of Arcachon
The city of Arcachon is a touristic place located one hour away from Bordeaux and is known for being located right in front of the sea and for its proximity to the famous sand dunes, which are part of the Banc d'Arguinque Natural Reserve, making it a destination not to be missed for those who wish 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, since it is also part of the best excursions to do from Bordeaux.
The best way to visit Arcachon, especially if you are traveling with your family, is by hiring a private excursion to Arcachon and the Dune de Pilat from Bordeaux in which 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.
5. Go play with the water at the Miroir d'Eau
One of the biggest tourist attractions in the city of Bordeaux is completely free and it is the Miroir d'Eau, mirror of water in Spanish.
It is a shallow reflecting pool located 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 with the water, which also has some jets that shoot into the sky in a completely random way.
This is a great way to take a break from the summer heat in this city, and one of the best things to do in Bordeaux during the month of June and throughout the rest of the summer season.
6. Take a leisurely stroll through the entire Jardin Public
The Jardin Public is a free public green space located in the center of Bordeaux that is full of trees, has excellent landscaping and has a non-navigable lake.
Its strategic location makes it the ideal place if you want to take a break from long walks or after visiting sites such as the Museum of Contemporary Art of Bordeaux or the famous Place des Quinconces.
Meanwhile, your children can run around and have fun in this public park, which also has a puppet theater in the summer where children's entertainment is often held. Not surprisingly, it is one of the best things to do in Bordeaux during the month of October, and throughout the year.
7. Organize a visit to the Cap Sciences building
The Cap Sciences, located in the attractive and entertaining neighborhood of Bacalan, is characterized by maintaining a didactic approach that brings the world of applied sciences closer to the little ones.
In addition, 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, unmissable for architecture lovers.
Details of interest:
- Price: 9 euros.
- Location: Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux, France.
8. Spend an afternoon at the Pessac Zoo
A couple of kilometers from the historic center of Bordeaux is the Pessac Zoo, a small reserve with all kinds of animals characterized by a naturalistic approach where 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 usually 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.
9. Bet on sporty fun at Arkose Bordeaux
The Arkose Bourdeaux is a dedicated climbing center designed specifically for families of all ages to enjoy this fun activity.
The site also offers yoga and Pilates classes and, in general, is 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 tired enough for you to enjoy the best wine tours in Bordeaux in the evening.
You also need to 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.
10. Visit the Natural History Museum of Bordeaux
Museums can also be an entertaining activity for children during your visit to Bordeaux and the Bordeaux museum of natural history is a place you should not miss if you are looking for plans that are appropriate for the little ones in the house. This historical jewel of the city is more than 200 years old, having been founded shortly after the French Revolution.
The building it occupies and its privileged 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 within 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.