Summer in Bordeaux is an unforgettable experience! Make it even better by choosing the Bordeaux neighborhood that suits you best for a wonderful summer in the city.
Whether you’re looking for a place to relax after your French classes or to meet up with friends after a cultural outing, Bordeaux has many neighborhoods that are perfect for enjoying the summer and escaping the heat.
Here’s an overview of the best neighborhoods in Bordeaux to enjoy during your summer days while studying at the Alliance Française in Bordeaux.
Les Chartrons is a must-see destination and the best neighborhood in Bordeaux in the summer for history lovers. In fact, this neighborhood was once the center of the wine trade. Today, it is a highly sought-after, ideal spot to relax in Bordeaux. You can stroll through the streets lined with antique shops, art galleries, and lively cafés.
In the summer, take advantage of the cool morning air to go shopping at the market along the banks of the Garonne, where you’ll find local products to sample. After a stroll along the waterfront, stop by a trendy café and enjoy a glass of wine, in the shade of a pergola on the famous Rue Notre Dame or on the Place du Marché.
Just a few minutes from downtown and the Alliance Française, the Saint-Seurin, Jardin Public, and Fondaudège neighborhoods are the perfect places in Bordeaux for a peaceful summer.
The Jardin Public, a true green oasis in the heart of the city, is the perfect place to relax in the shade of the trees or to practice your French outdoors with your friends.
Whether you’re a picnic lover or just want to enjoy the park’s tranquility, this neighborhood offers a peaceful retreat right in the heart of the city. After your walk, why not take shelter from the sun at one of the charming nearby brasseries?
La Bastide, a neighborhood undergoing a revival on the right bank of Bordeaux, it is one of the best places to spend a cool summer day. Once an industrial site, it has successfully reinvented itself through new real estate and cultural projects.
On the hottest days of summer, head there to escape the heat. You can then take a stroll in the shade of the trees, along the quays, and through Parc des Angéliques while admiring the spectacular architecture of the Left Bank. At the end of the day, enjoy the summer evenings at one of the many lively open-air cafés, such as La Guinguette chez Alriq, where you can meet international students from the Alliance Française at a French Apéro evening.
If you’re looking to relax or grab a drink, there’s no better place than Espace Darwin, which is sure to delight creative and curious minds. This renovated former barracks offers a cultural and sports complex featuring bookstores, cafés, shops, skate parks, and ping-pong tables, among other amenities. Finally, the Botanical Garden will take you on a journey through the city among its many plant species.
Les Bassins à Flot, this rapidly changing harbor district is the best place in Bordeaux for boating enthusiasts in the summer. It was shaped by labor struggles and World War II, then fell into disrepair before being revitalized.
Today, you can stroll along the docks, which have welcomed so many ships over the centuries. Let yourself be swept away by the neighborhood’s many cultural attractions. There you’ll find the Musée Mer Marine, the Cité du Vin—with its unique design, which opened in 2016—and the Bassins des Lumières, located in the heart of the former submarine base built during the Occupation. In the evening, Les Bassins comes alive with plenty of lively bars and nightclubs to keep you dancing all summer long.
You can also reach the right bank by crossing the Chaban Delmas Bridge. But be careful not to get stuck—this bridge has a unique feature: the central section of the bridge can be raised to let boats enter the Port of Bordeaux!
You’re now ready to come discover the beautiful city of Bordeaux and choose accommodations in your favorite neighborhood in Bordeaux this summer to enjoy a summer language study program with us.
Join us all summer long for a unique linguistic and cultural adventure! Please contact us by email at contact@alliance-bordeaux.org!
