Bordeaux to Biarritz Road Trip, Western France

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Bordeaux to Biarritz Itinerary, 6 days

As this road trip begins in Bordeaux, take this opportunity to explore this beautiful city before hitting the road. There is no road trip travel on the first day, but we have included recommendations on what to visit and where to stay.

Day 0 | Arrival in Bordeaux

The first stop of this road trip in Western France is Bordeaux. Bisected by the Garonne River, Bordeaux is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, and one of the most beautiful cities in France.

For your stay in Bordeaux, book three nights at the Yndo Hotel, set in a 19th-century private mansion in the heart of Bordeaux’s historical center.

Click here to book your stay at Yndo Hotel

Day 1 | Bordeaux

On the first day of this trip, visit Bordeaux, world-famous for its wines. The inscription of the historical center and the Port of the Moon on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2007 was the perfect excuse for a total lifting and now the city appears to visitors more seductive than ever.

The historical center has a beautiful collection of 17th-century private mansions. A special mention goes to the Place de la Bourse (former Place Royale), Bordeaux’s most beautiful square, especially when it is illuminated at night. Since 2006, Place de la Bourse is reflected in the world’s biggest water mirror, where kids and adults like to refresh themselves in the summer.

The list of top things to do and see in Bordeaux includes:

• The Port of the Moon (UNESCO perimeter)
• Place de la Bourse
• The Cité du Vin + Wine Tasting
• Garonne River Cuise + Wine Tasting

Day 2 | Day Trip to Saint-Emilion

Saint Emilion is a picturesque medieval town located 45 minutes east of Bordeaux, well known for its excellent wines and magnificent châteaux and vineyards. The village is located on a limestone plateau and the houses and public buildings are mainly built from the extracted stones of this plateau which explains the 200 km of underground galleries.

The streets of Saint Emilion have a unique charm, lined with restaurants and shops selling wine, macaroons, and other gastronomic specialties of the village. You can also visit part of the underground network: chapels, catacombs, and more.

In the afternoon, explore the vineyards and visit one of the châteaux. Château Jean Faure (Jean Fauré, Saint-Emilion) is a good option, producing a Grand Cru Classé on a human scale and certified organic since 2017. The 18th-century chartreuse will immerse you in the world of the great wineries of Saint-Emilion, and you will be able to visit the grounds surrounding the castle, the cellars, and also taste various wines.

TIP: If you plan to bring a few bottles home (who could resist?!), make sure you pack your wine properly so it arrives safely home!

Day 3 | Bordeaux – Mont-de-Marsan

Once you have had your fill of Bordeaux and surrounding vineyards, pack your car and head south to Mont-de-Marsan.

Break your drive with a quick stop at Roquefort (Roquefort des Landes). This small town in the Landes department does not produce the famous cheese (it’s the town with the same name in the Aveyron, Occitanie), but it’s a charming place to visit, perfect for stretching your legs after a 1.5-hour drive.

Ancient bastide from the 9tth century, Roquefort has kept its medieval atmosphere, with its 12th-century fortress church, ramparts, towers, and pretty squares.

GOOD TO KNOW: the bastides in Occitanie (and in this part of France), are a type of new town founded from scratch in the Middle Ages, with a regular layout unique in Europe and a central square with arcaded houses. Behind the bastides, there’s a political project based on the equality of the inhabitants and their autonomy for the administration of the city. Not to be confused with the bastides In Provence, where this term is used for the traditional stone houses.

After visiting Roquefort, drive south to Mont-de-Marsan, where you will spend two nights. For your stay in Mont-de-Marsan, book at Villa Mirasol, a fabulous hotel with a lovely location at the side of the river and surrounded by a botanical garden.

Click here to book your room at Villa Mirasol

Day 4 | Mont-de-Marsan

Day four of this Bordeaux to Biarritz itinerary explores Mont-de-Marsan, the capital of the Landes department. Mont-de-Marsan is a medieval bastide town founded in the 12th century where the rivers Douze and Andou meet. The city’s historical center still keeps its medieval charm and it has interesting buildings, the most famous of which is the massive and crenelated Lacataye Tower. You will also find 12th-century Romanesque fortified houses and a set of shell stone fortifications characteristic of the region.

For hundreds of years, Mont-de-Marsan flourished through trade, shipping Armagnac brandy, and other regional products down the Midouze to the Atlantic Ocean. The riverside is still lined with stone warehouses and quays from this period.

During your stroll around Mont-de-Marsan, don’t miss the botanical garden with its statues en plein-air and La Tourtière (7, Allée Raymond Farbos), a boulangerie selling the local cake – the tourtière – topped with Armagnac. 

Day 5 | Labastide d’Armagnac

From Mont-de-Marsan, let’s make a detour to visit Labastide d’Armagnac. Located 30 km west of Mont-de-Marsan, this small bastide town is a model of its kind, with its central square (Place Royale), its half-timbered arcaded houses, and a magnificent church-fortress. Founded in the 13th century, Labastide d’Armagnac is home to several interesting sites, such as the 17th-century Protestant temple or the Tortoré Café, still working since its opening in 1885.

Two kilometers south of the village stands the little chapel of Our Lady of the Cyclists, a real sanctuary of cycling, with old bicycles and many champions’ vests. Every Pentecost Monday, a mass is celebrated there in honor of all the cyclists on the French roads.

Day 6 | Biarritz

Biarritz is a beautiful and elegant city in the French Basque Country. Bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, Biarritz has regal 19th-century architecture and supreme beaches. Discovered in the 1850s by Emperor Napoleon III and his wife, the couple commissioned an extravagant mansion by the ocean, turning Biarritz into a popular seaside destination for nobility.

Finally, it’s time to enjoy the ocean! The list of best things to do in Biarritz includes:

• Le Rocher de la Vierge
• Grande Plage
• Port des Pêcheurs
• La Côte des Basques
• Biarritz lighthouse
• Les Halles (covered market)
• Hotel du Palais and Casino Municipal
• Surfing

In Biarritz, you can drop off the car and jump on a train back to Bordeaux. If you have some more days available, you can take this French Basque Country road trip that starts from Biarritz and explores the best of this beautiful region.

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