Bacalan

Bordeaux, France

A modernising riverside district anchored by the Cité du Vin museum, with newer restaurants and bars filling in around it.

Places in Bacalan

Cité du Vin An immersive wine museum shaped like a decanter, overlooking the Garonne in the Bacalan district.

Best time to visit: May, June, and September to October align with harvest season in the surrounding vineyards and comfortable city walking weather. Late September is ideal for combining the city with a wine-region day trip.
Getting around: Bordeaux's tram network is extensive and easy to use; the historic centre, Chartrons, and Gare Saint-Jean are all tram-connected. Bikes are a popular way to reach the river paths.
Currency: Euro (€)
Language: French. English is common in tourism.
Timezone: CET (UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer)
Current trends: Chartrons, once Bordeaux's merchant quarter, has become the city's wine-bar epicentre, with new natural-wine spots continuing to open along Place du Marché des Chartrons.

Vieux Bordeaux — The 18th-century historic centre west of the Garonne, its stone facades restored and its streets dense with restaurants and shops.
Chartrons — The former wine-merchant quarter, now Bordeaux's trendiest wine-bar and antique district.