Car hires in Bordeaux: practical information
Where to rent a car in Bordeaux
Bordeaux is the capital of wine in France. Raise your glasses high and often if you've just booked flight tickets from London to Bordeaux! The easiest place to to pick up your cheap car hire in Bordeax is at the airport, located just west of the city. You'll find all the major car hire company names at the airport: Avis, Budget, National, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt and T.T. Service.
If you don't need a rental car in Bordeaux for your entire trip, just hire one out for a day or two to tour the wineries outside the city. The best place in Bordeaux to find the cheapest car rental is near the train station. Sixt, Europcar, Avis and National are all within close proximity to the main station, Gare Saint-Jean.
Parking in Bordeaux: what you should know
Parking can be a nuisance in Bordeaux which is why car hires are only really good for getting out of the city. In the city, you'll find it a hassle to park and expensive as well! If you need to park your rental car in Bordeaux overnight, make sure you book hotels in Bordeaux that offer parking! This you can do easily on liligo.com by refining your search options on the results page.
If you're looking for parking centrally, check out the underground garage at Plce de la Bourse, here you can expect to pay €2.20/hour to a maximum of €16.50/day. Other city car parks will charge similar rates. In general though, Bordeaux has made an effort in recent years to increase parking facilities in the city centre which is great if you've been browsing car hire prices in Bordeaux!
Road trips from Bordeaux: what to do, what to see
- A stone's throw away: Head north to Medoc! This is where some of the most famed wines come from in all of France, not only Bordeaux. Which wineries should you visit first? Chateau Latour (only accepts professionals and serious wine collectors), Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Margaux and Chateau Mouton. That should just about do it in Medoc.
- A little further: To the south you'll find Graves, where some of the country's oldest vineyards can be found. There are two wineries that are noteworthy: Chateau Haut-Brion and Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion. If you head south-east you'll find more wineries producing sweeter dessert wines.
- A proper day-trip: Go west and take a break on the beach! Just 250km away is the Atlantic Ocean, lined by gold sand beaches. Visit Arcachon, a quiet sea-side town which is famous for its oysters! It would be a sin to not order a dozen at a restaurant while you're here.
For more things to do in Bordeaux, check out Mini-guide: Bordeaux.
