Car Hire Bordeaux

For drivers, Bordeaux is in a perfect location in the south-west of France. A short drive from the coast, it’s easy to take a day trip to Bayonne or Biarritz (and Spain should you wish), or you can explore the vineyards of Bordeaux, Bergerac and beyond. Like most major French cities, it’s well-connected with an extensive road network that means you can see as much of the country as you’d like.

Throughout France you’ll be driving on the right, overtaking on the left and wearing seatbelts – compulsory for all. Speed limits are in kph/kmh, and range from 50kph in built-up areas to 130kph on motorways. Free parking is difficult to find in Bordeaux, so use your hotel’s facilities, pay to park in the street or use the numerous public car parks. The very centre of Bordeaux is a pedestrian zone, so best to park up and explore the area on foot.

The Garonne River travels through Bordeaux, and there are numerous crossings. If you follow the city’s ring road, the A630, you’ll cross it twice. There are numerous exits on the A630 that will allow you to get out the city and discover nearby France. Peel off south-west on the A63 and you’ll pass through the Landes des Gascognes National Park on your way to Bayonne. Stay on the road and you’ll eventually enter Spain at Hendaye and Irun (perfect for a gastro visit to nearby San Sebastian).

The A62 dives south-east through Agen, famed for its prunes, to Toulouse. The centre and east of France can be reached on the A80, while the A10 stretches north all the way to Orleans and Paris.

Whether you plan on driving north to south, south to north or just staying in Bordeaux, it’s good to know just how easy it is to reach these other gorgeous parts of France.

Bordeaux’s timeless appeal – whether it’s twinkling lights across the classical bridges that span the Garonne River, or the gothic and baroque churches that pepper the city – provides a lot for the visitor to sink their teeth into.

The Golden Triangle

Known locally as the Triangle d’Or, the area surrounded by Cours Clemenceau, Allees de Tourny and Cours de l’Intendance is the beating heart of the town. Beautiful 18^th century facades may give off an air of grandeur, but this is a place that teems with real life.

Restaurants and bars jostle with cultural experiences, such as the Grand Theatre. It’s all highly photogenic and a great place to stop with a coffee and watch Bordeaux go about its business.

Shop in style

Leading north from the Grand Theatre, the Rue Sainte-Catherine is an entirely pedestrianised shopping street stretching over 1km, one of the longest in Europe.

It’s a busy place, popular with both locals and tourists, and encompasses both high street chains and more unique boutiques.

A taste of the high life

As this is wine country, you’d expect grand restaurants as well. There are three high-end choices each with two Michelin stars. Gordon Ramsay’s Le Pressoir d’Argent has a growing reputation and, situated in a grand hotel, is definitely somewhere to dress up for – you’ll need to book, too.

Turbot baked in seaweed, beef tartar with oyster cream and Perigord truffle crème brulee don’t come cheap, but it’s a satisfyingly luxurious experience.

Frederic Vigouroux’s laid-back bistro, Bouchon Bordelais, meanwhile, is a buzzing, affordable but inventive place to get a taste of real France alongside locals. La Tupina on Rue Porte de la Monnaie also comes highly recommended – previously voted the second best bistro in the world. Specialties of the region vie for your attention on most menus – expect to see entrecote grillee, duck confit and dishes cooked ‘a la Bordelaise’. The later usually means with a sauce of bone marrow, wine and shallots. Finish your meal with the small cake the locals call Canele de Bordeaux – so good you’ll want to bring some home.

The old to the new

To get a real sense of how Bordeaux – fully half of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is keeping an eye on the future, you can wander into the renovated docklands to the north of the city, or just pull up a pew near Mama Shelter.

This trendy hotel chain has sparked new life into an old gas company building, with its Philippe Starck design and fashionable bars. Inside it’s a riot of colour and attracts a younger audience that tell you Bordeaux isn’t a city content to rest on its laurels.

A city of history, Bordeaux is also an example of how to make heritage hip. It’s also a great place to start if you’re exploring the south-west of France. Car hire in Bordeaux will send you on your merry way.