3 Day Bordeaux Holiday

As a female solo traveler, I am always on the lookout for cities with an amicable atmosphere. In this big world, the choice seems limitless which leads to confusion. When you travel alone, you wish to make the most of your journey. Below is an itinerary for a 3 day Bordeaux holiday!

Enjoy all the best recommendations for a solo trip to Bordeaux. This guide also has the perfect day trip from Bordeaux to St. Emilion!

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Best Tips for a 3 Day Bordeaux Holiday

Bordeaux is a great landing place for a single female traveling. Having experienced both the vivid big top destination life and the enchanting small cities around Europe, I prefer the latter.

When saying small cities in France do not envision isolated villages that may depress an energetic female solo traveler. Think medium-sized, great transport links and not too touristy.  

Alternative 3 Day Holiday Ideas

• Try Verona instead of Florence!

• Instead of Dublin go to Belfast

• Check out Seville instead of Madrid

I have been lucky enough to visit all these cities, and I can strongly recommend it. For now, I want to tell you all about Bordeaux and why it’s one of the best cities in France! 

Transit to Bordeaux for Single Females

If you are arriving by plane to Bordeaux, as I did, you have a couple of options to get to the city center. You have the option of a taxi, which will cost you about 43 euros. Or, you can take the bus to the train. If you want to go this route, the transit time is about an hour, vs the taxi transit time of 30 minutes. 

For the shuttle bus, you take Navette Shuttle 30 Direct and it will take you to Gare de Bordeaux St. Jean. The cost for one way adult ticket is 8 euro. The schedule is here: Schedule

The Bordeaux City Pass is a great option even if you are on just a 3 day Bordeaux holiday. This pass includes transit within Bordeaux city for buses and trams. Also, enjoy free entry to museums, and discount tickets to excursions around Bordeaux.

Going Solo in Bordeaux as an Independent Woman

When traveling alone, I prefer to have somewhat of a loose schedule and not pack it with lots of activities. One of the perks of solo traveling is taking this time to yourself. Here are some suggestions from me that could help you with organizing your time in one of France’s best cities, Bordeaux.

(Disclaimer: Some links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning if you click on the link and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. This is at no extra cost to you and you may even receive a small discount. See disclosure for more information.)

7 Best Bordeaux Sights For Female Adventure-Seekers

• Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d’eau After 20 years of construction, this 18th-century palace is a crowned jewel of Bordeaux. It was built outside the medieval city walls, evidencing the growth of Bordeaux.

• Cathedrale Saint Andre I enjoy visiting a church more than visiting a museum. This is not because I am a religious person, I just find a building more interesting than a bunch of old artifacts. Exploring the cathedral is a lovely way to spend a morning or afternoon in Bordeaux. Don’t forget to check out the tower. An extra tip from A Single Woman Traveling: The wait for tickets can be a bit long, so go early. It’s a tight stairwell, so if you have issues with being in small spaces, you should reconsider.

• Shopping on Rue Sainte Catherine is a wonderful female-friendly activity. Here you will find all the shops of famous brands, as well as some local designers.

• The Girondins Monument is an incredibly beautiful fountain with a towering column erected to honor Girondin revolutionaries.

• Free Walking Tour of Bordeaux– If this is your first time traveling as a single woman, I highly suggest you take the city tour. Not only is it a fantastic way to dive into Bordeaux, but you could also make new friends or merely socialize!

• Quais de Bordeaux Walk The walk is along the Garonne river and has lovely views of Bordeaux.   

• The Grosse Cloche The passage through is open to the public. You will need a guide to show you the dungeons that were used to keep young people who did not respect curfew or public order.

• Bordeaux Wine Trails – Day trips from Bordeaux! For the lady who just loves to have a trip within a trip!

Single Woman Traveling Savings Tip

City Pass for 48 -72 hours cost 39 euros. It includes :

• Unlimited access to tram, bus, river shuttle
• 20 museums and monuments
• 1 guided tour
• Many discounts on cruises, wine tours and more
• Great for day trips from Bordeaux

Best Dining Experience in Bordeaux, France

Dining alone can be intimidating. It used to be something that made me anxious and probably you feel or have felt the same way. Now having traveled on my own for so long, and eaten alone hundreds of times, I love it! The trick is finding the right place that you can feel comfortable being you. For this reason, I suggest that you find female-friendly travel to cities in France!

Top French Cafes for Females in Bordeaux

3 Day Bordeaux Holiday Must Try’s

• La Diplomate is a tea house serving the best tea and most incredible ambiance in all of Bordeaux. I highly recommend spending some time enjoying infused tea and a piece of cake.
• L’Alchimiste is the gourmet coffee drinker’s dream come true. This place is serious about serving a well-crafted cup of coffee.
• Black List Cafe Come hungry to Black List Cafe! They serve up some delicious avocado on toast! Apart from its top location just across the Cathedral, the menu offering is abundant plus some great coffee.

Top Bistros for Solo Females in Bordeaux, France

• Nama is a fantastic choice if dining alone! This restaurant has a mystery menu that will leave you wishing for more! It is a pre-fix style and has options for gluten-free and vegetarian.

• La Belle Epoque I had a wonderful lunch at this friendly bistro close to the river in Bordeaux. It is a French cuisine inspired menu, with very reasonable prices.
• Bar Primi is a wonderful choice if you are in the mood for a little Italian meal! The menu is small and to the point with some classic pasta dishes and antipasti. Located close to the Grosse Cloche.

• Nofa is a creative restaurant serving French and Italian fusion. This place is tiny, so pre-book. The staff is friendly and seems happy to have you as their guest.
• Berthus is classic french cuisine, served in a cozy environment. The service was fantastic, and the prices were perfectly reasonable. You will need a reservation, which can be made online.

Female Friendly Boutique Hotel

If you are a single woman traveling in Bordeaux, you want to choose the right hotel to suit your needs. It’s important to find a hotel that is in a safe central area, that also isn’t going to bankrupt you. I found a wonderful hotel that was not only stylish, centrally located, but it was also affordable.

Rooms with private bathrooms for singles are available. If you are 2 people, you can still stay here, you just need a bigger room.

Finding cost-effective accreditations is one of the factors I chose Bordeaux as one of the best cities in France.

Hotel de Tourny for Single Women Traveling

The perfect 3 day Bordeaux holiday includes staying at the best hotel. Hotel de Tourney is a boutique hotel is located in the city center of Bordeaux. It is walking distance to Monument aux Girondins. My room was modern, sparkling clean and offered free wifi. When returning to Bordeaux, I will make sure to stay at this hotel.

For other top hotels in the area, check out these ones:

• Hotel de Normandie
• Le Boutique Hotel
• Hotel Le Palais Gallien

Day Trips From Bordeaux

I can’t think of any other activity more female-friendly than wine tasting! Even if you have a short 3 day holiday in Bordeaux, there is time for wine tasting! If this interests you, then this is a perfect day trip from Bordeaux.

Luckily, Bordeaux is one of the top locations in Europe for wine tasting. Taking a wine tour is an entertaining way in which to discover the surrounding areas without much of a plan. A great way to see more of the surrounding areas without having to do any of the planning. I chose Bordeaux Wine Trails for my day tour to St. Emilion and I am really happy with this choice!

There were 2 options for tour times, morning and afternoon. I picked the morning tour which starts at 9 am. Women who are early birds could take advantage of the morning vibe of the vineyards. Upon meeting your guide, you also encounter the other wine tour buddies. The group is relatively small up to 10 people which allows for conversations and free-roaming around.

We all rode the van for about 40 minutes to the winery where the tour would start. The drill is as follows – first comes wine theory such as harvesting and production and then comes the practical bit that is drum roll wine tasting.

Following the tasting, you are taken to the town of St Emilion. I can highly recommend visiting this charming village! As a single female, you will feel incredibly safe and homey walking these cobblestone streets alone. 

After about a 45 minute walk around the town on your own, you meet back with the group and head back to Bordeaux. 

More of the Best Cities in France

After your 3 day Bordeaux holiday, it’s time to move on to another French city! The magical town of Toulouse should be on every solo female traveler’s list!

Toulouse is not too far away from Bordeaux, making it the perfect next stop!

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