FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Bordeaux

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Bordeaux each year. The main ones are listed below.

On the first of May, it is customary to offer a sprig of lily-of-the-valley to close ones. Many vendors occupy the pavement on that occasion!

Commemorates the Allied victory in Europe that ended World War II on this day in 1945. Various ceremonies are held around town.

Also celebrated internationally as World Music Day, for this festival many free concerts featuring all types of music are held in the streets and at various venues across Bordeaux.

Stretching for over a mile in central Bordeaux, this incredible event brings together 80 designations of origin from the region in a series of pavilions. Also enjoying a programme of concerts and sound and light shows along the banks of the Garonne.

With music, dance, theatre and street arts, this programme of more than 500 events (more than half of which are free), jointly organized by over 200 of the region's towns and cities, is perfect for outings with family members or friends.

This holiday celebrates both the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, the key event marking the beginning of the French Revolution, and the end of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and the aristocracy. In Bordeaux, this anniversary is commemorated each year with a fireworks display over the Garonne River between the Pont de Pierre and the Place de la Bourse. Wonderful!

This celebration, still very popular in Bordeaux, is marked by the faithful with religious ceremonies. Expect fireworks over the Garonne River. The best spot to enjoy them is assuredly on the riverbanks.

The aim of the European Heritage Days is to open up numerous sites and monuments, many of which are normally closed to the public. A great opportunity for a lovely stroll through the city to admire architectural treasures!

On this day, French citizens gather at war memorials to commemorate the signing of the 1918 Armistice officially bringing an end to the First World War.

On the night of December 31^st, the atmosphere is particularly festive on the streets of Bordeaux, with families and friends celebrating the new year.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Bordeaux

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	3/37	10/50	87/3.4	Not the best period to go
February	3/37	12/54	71/2.8	Not the best period to go
March	5/41	15/59	65/2.6	Not the best period to go
April	7/45	17/63	78/3.1	Good period to go
May	11/52	21/70	80/3.1	Good period to go
June	14/57	25/77	62/2.4	Good period to go
July	16/61	27/81	50/2.0	Good period to go
August	16/61	27/81	56/2.2	Good period to go
September	13/55	24/75	84/3.3	Good period to go
October	10/50	20/68	93/3.7	Good period to go
November	6/43	14/57	110/4.3	Not the best period to go
December	4/39	11/52	106/4.2	Not the best period to go

Bordeaux Mérignac Airport

The Bordeaux Mérignac Airport is located in the town of Mérignac, about 10 kilometres (6 miles) west of Bordeaux.

• One single terminal for all flights
• Three arrival/departure halls: A, B and Billi (the low-cost terminal, short for Bordeaux Illico, “Bordeaux straight away”)

• By car
  • Accessible via exit 11b of the Bordeaux ring road.
  • Several car rental companies have counters at the airport, on Level 0 in the connecting wing between halls A and B.
• By shuttle bus
  • A shuttle bus service connects the airport to Bordeaux's Saint-Jean train station in 30 minutes and operates 7 days a week. Buses leave every hour on the hour from the airport (outside hall B, exit 11) between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. Buses leave every hour on the hour from the train station between 6 a.m. (7 a.m. on weekends) and 9 p.m. A one-way ticket costs EUR 8.00 and a round-trip ticket is available for EUR 12.30.
• By bus (Liane 1+)
  • This bus line offers a direct link between Saint-Jean train station and the airport via central Bordeaux and central Mérignac, for EUR 1.70 per person each way.
• By taxi
  • Taxis are available just outside the airport. The fare to Bordeaux is about EUR 40.

• Services: shops, bars and restaurants, valet parking, free Internet access (Wi-Fi), etc.
• Telephone: +33 (0)5 56 34 50 50
• Website: www.bordeaux.aeroport.fr/en

GETTING AROUND Bordeaux

As is the case for most large French cities, public transport is the best way to get around, although using a bicycle is perhaps the most enjoyable!

By bus and tram

Bordeaux's bus and tram network is unique in France:

• Eight municipalities served
• Four tram lines along major thoroughfares
• One shuttle every 15 minutes from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• 80 bus lines throughout the city and its suburbs (operating from 5 a.m. to midnight or 1 a.m. with 3,000 bus stops)
• Mobibus, a service for mobility-impaired passengers
• Four BatCub ferry stations along the Garonne
• EUR 1.70 for a ticket card with a single trip and EUR 13.20 for a ticket card offering 10 trips (each trip covers a travel time of up to 60 minutes on any of Bordeaux's buses, trams or BatCub ferries)

City Pass

In partnership with Bordeaux's tourist office, the public transport authority offers this pass, which combines unlimited access for one person to all mass transit options in the city, with free admission to more than 20 museums over the period covered by the pass.

• EUR 29 (1 day)
• EUR 39 (2 days)
• EUR 46 (3 days)

By bicycle

Bordeaux is an excellent city to explore by bicycle. Many bike parking stations are available. More than 1,700 bikes provided by the VCub bike-sharing network are distributed across 167 stations in Bordeaux. Monthly or annual subscribers can use the network's bikes for free for 20 consecutive hours!

• EUR 1.70 for 24 hours
• EUR 7.70 for 7 days
• EUR 11.00 for 1 month

By car

Rental cars are a good option if you wish to leave the city to explore the region's vineyards.

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Bordeaux, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.

Offers practical information (sightseeing, tours, heritage sites and cultural institutions, nights out on the town, etc.), maps and brochures on the city of Bordeaux and its surrounding area.

• Website: https://www.bordeaux-tourisme.com
• Central Bordeaux tourist office:
  12 cours du 30 juillet 33080 Bordeaux Cedex
  +33 (0)5 56 00 66 00
• Saint-Jean train station tourist office:
  Parvis Louis Armand rue Charles Domercq 33800 Bordeaux
  +33 (0)5 56 91 64 70
• Bordeaux Mérignac airport tourist office:
  Aéroport de Bordeaux 33700 Mérignac
  +33 (0)5 56 34 58 07
• Bordeaux World Heritage Site tourist office:
  2-8 place de la Bourse 33000 Bordeaux
  +33 (0)5 56 48 04 24

Currency and Exchange Rates

French currency is in Euro (EUR).

R$ 1 = € 0,22

€ 1 = R$ 4,55

The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.

Medical information

See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. Bordeaux counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to France. For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address: 38, quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris
• Website: https://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr/
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)

call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

There are no specific food safety risks. French government authorities promote good hygiene practices and put in place strengthened control procedures for sites especially frequented by tourists during the summer months.

Tap water is safe to drink in Bordeaux.

Administrative formalities

Entry requirements for France

As a general rule, a visa is required to enter France. Foreign nationals in the two categories listed below are not required to carry a visa for stays of 90 days or less:

• Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or the Swiss Confederation
• Citizens or nationals of certain foreign countries.For stays of more than 90 days, a long-stay visa is required.

Travellers from all other countries must be in possession of a visa, regardless of the length of their stay. Visa applications must be submitted to the nearest French Embassy or French Consulate in the country of permanent residence well in advance of departure. For further information, visit the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/getting-a-visa/

Useful addresses

Directory of foreign embassies and consulates in France

Contact information for the embassies and consulates of your country is accessible in the directory of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/le-ministere-et-son-reseau/annuaires-des-ambassades-et-consulats-etrangers-en-france

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Bordeaux, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.

Essential phrases

Good to know

+33

+ phone number (without 0)

4 : 00
of time difference with
Sao Paulo

Start of daylight saving time: last Sunday in March
End of daylight saving time: last Sunday in October

BANKS

Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES

Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

220 V / 50 Hz

Tipping
In Bordeaux like elsewhere in France, a service charge is always included in the bill. If you are particularly pleased with the service, you may certainly leave a few extra euros on the table. But this additional tip is neither expected nor necessary.