A Bordeaux itinerary for the city, the chateaux and the coast
Bordeaux the city is elegant and walkable, but most visitors come for the wine regions around it, and many chateaux only open by appointment. This prompt has your todo.is agent plan the city, choose between Saint-Emilion, the Medoc and Sauternes for your taste, and tell you which visits to book first.
The prompt
- Plan a [NUMBER OF DAYS]-day Bordeaux itinerary for [WHO IS TRAVELLING] in [MONTH]. We're travelling [TRANSPORT]. In the city include Place de la Bourse and the Water Mirror, Rue Sainte-Catherine, Saint-Andre Cathedral, the Chartrons quarter and the Cite du Vin. For wine, we like [WINE STYLE]: suggest 3 to 4 chateau visits in [WINE REGIONS], which need booking, and how to get there without driving after tastings. Add [EXTRA] if it fits. Suggest local food (canneles, entrecote bordelaise, Arcachon oysters). Email me a PDF with links and a booking checklist. Don't book anything.
What to change
- [NUMBER OF DAYS]: E.g. "4". One day for the city, plus one per wine region or coast day.
- [WHO IS TRAVELLING]: E.g. "a couple who love red wine", "friends on a 40th birthday trip".
- [MONTH]: E.g. "September". The harvest is roughly September to October; some chateaux limit visits then.
- [TRANSPORT]: E.g. "by train, no car", "with a rental car and a designated driver".
- [WINE STYLE]: E.g. "Merlot-based reds", "big Cabernet blends", "sweet wines", "we're beginners".
- [WINE REGIONS]: E.g. "Saint-Emilion and the Medoc", "Pessac-Leognan", "Sauternes", or "pick for us".
- [EXTRA]: E.g. "the Dune du Pilat and Arcachon oysters", "a cooking class", "a bike ride in the vineyards".
Example result
- Bordeaux in 4 days, a couple who love red wine
- September · by train, no car
- Day 1: The city
- • Morning: Place de la Bourse and the Water Mirror (Miroir d'Eau), the shallow pool that reflects the 18th-century facades. Best early or at dusk.
- • Old town lanes: Porte Cailhau, Grosse Cloche, Saint-Andre Cathedral and the Pey-Berland tower climb.
- • Lunch: a cannele from a bakery, then lunch at the Marche des Capucins.
- • Afternoon: tram to Chartrons for antique shops and wine bars, then the Cite du Vin. The tasting at the top includes a view over the river.
- • Evening: entrecote bordelaise and a glass of Graves.
- Day 2: Saint-Emilion
- • Train to Saint-Emilion (about 35 minutes), a hilltop village and UNESCO-listed vineyard landscape.
- • The underground Monolithic Church (guided tours only), the limestone cellars, macarons from the village.
- • Two chateau visits: one grand cru and one small family estate. Many need an appointment.
- Day 3: Medoc
- • A small-group tour or a driver: the Route des Chateaux through Margaux, Saint-Julien and Pauillac.
- • Big Cabernet-based reds; famous estates often book out weeks ahead.
- Day 4: Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat
- • Train to Arcachon (about 50 minutes), then a bus to the Dune du Pilat, Europe's tallest sand dune.
- • Climb for the view over the bay and the pine forest.
- • Oysters and white wine at a cabin in the oyster villages around the bay.
- Booking checklist
- • Chateau visits: book first, especially in the Medoc.
- • Monolithic Church tour in Saint-Emilion.
- • Cite du Vin timed ticket.
- Good to know
- • Spit or share tastings if you have several in a day.
- • Check opening days and visit rules on official sites before you go.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your days, travellers, month, transport, wine style, regions and extra.
- Paste it on the Today screen in todo.is or send it to your agent on WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Your agent picks chateaux, checks booking rules and emails a PDF with a checklist and links.
- Ask for changes like "swap the Medoc for Sauternes" and make the bookings yourself.
Tips for a better result
- Book chateau visits before anything else. Many top estates only open by appointment and limit group sizes.
- Mix one famous estate with a small family producer each day. The smaller ones often give longer, more personal tours.
- Don't drive after tastings. Ask your agent to compare trains, small-group tours and private drivers.
- During the harvest, ask your agent to check which estates still offer visits. Some pause or limit tours.
Bordeaux itinerary: FAQ
- How many days do you need in Bordeaux? One day covers the city. Three or four days lets you add Saint-Emilion, the Medoc and a day on the coast at Arcachon.
- Can you visit Saint-Emilion without a car? Yes. Trains from Bordeaux take about 35 minutes, and the village is small enough to walk. Some chateaux are a short walk or bike ride away.
- Do I need to book chateau visits in Bordeaux? Usually yes, especially for well-known estates. Some smaller chateaux welcome walk-ins, but booking is safer.
- Can my agent keep track of my wine bookings? Yes. Forward the confirmations and it can put them in one schedule, or add them to Google Calendar if you connect Google.
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