13 Things to Do in Bordeaux in July

July is a rather peculiar month, as it is the most touristic time for several cities in the northern hemisphere while it is also the hottest month of the year for this part of the world. For that reason, the best things to do in Bordeaux during this month have a lot to do with enjoying nature and being outdoors to avoid dealing with enclosed spaces under those high temperatures.

I recommend you to read this compilation of plans I have organised for you, as they are activities not to be missed, as they can show you the best of the culture and traditions of July in one of the most interesting and fun cities in the south of France.

I always say that if a city has a river and there are river cruise tours, don't hesitate and sign up. It's the perfect opportunity to get to know the area from another point of view and in a more comfortable way, as you'll still be able to discover the city, but without having to walk.

The Garonne River, one of the largest in Western Europe, is located in Bordeaux, which also has its source in Spain. I recommend you take advantage of the good temperatures in July to take a cruise through Bordeaux on this river while you enjoy the views of the city's iconic monuments such as the Quinconces Square, the Pierre Bridge or the Cité du Vin.

Fancy an original plan for your visit to Bordeaux? Well, in summer, I recommend you sign up for a sidecar tour, one of the most fun ways to discover different parts of the city. What's more, the best thing about these tours is that they usually include a private guide on board, so as well as having fun, you'll also learn lots of interesting facts about Bordeaux.

More information about Bordeaux

• Price: from 62€.
• Duration: approximately one hour.
• Tour venues: Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, Place de la Bourse, Porte de la Grande Campane, historic centre, Place de la Comédie, St Michael's Basilica, among others.

Les Bassins des Lumières is a digital art centre that used to be a former submarine base. Here you will find multimedia exhibitions dedicated to the great masters, a new way of rediscovering art and experiencing it. If you like art, but don't feel like going into a museum again because you're looking for something different, this is definitely the place for you.

The visit won't take you more than an hour and a quarter, but you can go at your own pace, remember that you'll be in the largest digital art centre in the world.

More info

• Price: from 15€.
• Location: Imp. Brown de Colstoun, 33300 Bordeaux, France.
• Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 to 19:00; Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00.

Electronic music is one of the characteristic elements of the European summer. So it's no surprise that a festival like Bordeaux Open Air is one of the most recommended plans for those who want to have a good time enjoying some of the most famous DJs on the French music scene. The opening concert usually takes place in the first week of July in one of the city's public parks, with the Parc aux Angeliques being the most popular due to its favourable location.

Further information

• Price: the concerts are completely free of charge.
• Location: the specific venue for each concert will change, as the idea is to occupy different public places that have the ideal atmosphere for this type of music festival.

Keep in mind that near the squares where this concert takes place there are important monuments and buildings of the city that you can't miss. So if you want to combine both experiences, I recommend you to get the Bordeaux City Sightseeing Pass to take advantage of the discounts. This pass is also recommended if you are visiting Bordeaux for two days or more.

This interesting cultural event consists of a series of dance classes that take place throughout the city. The idea is to bring tourists and locals together to learn about a variety of contemporary genres such as tango, salsa, hip hop, street jazz, zumba and even Bollywood film music.

The activities are led directly by professional dancers from some of Bordeaux' s most prestigious and important dance schools. This is an excellent way to familiarise yourself with the summer traditions of this community and at the same time is something you can combine with a private tour of the city to continue learning about the history of the place.

More information about the tour

• Price: The activity is completely free, as it is a cultural programme funded through the city council.
• Location: Most events are usually held on the river quay in the central district of Bordeaux.
• Exact date: These meetings and classes usually take place from 15 July to the end of the month.

One of the great advantages of Bordeaux is that it is relatively close to the Atlantic coast in the south of France. For this reason, a trip to the beach is a highly recommended plan during a visit in July. Especially if you take into account the high temperatures of the month which invite you to enjoy the sea to cool off.

In particular, I recommend an excursion to Arcachon from Bordeaux, a site famous for its sand dunes which are among the largest in Europe.

Arés is another community within the same bay of Arcachon that you could visit if you are interested in enjoying a bit of the sea and, specifically, Cap Ferret is a safe bet if you like the idea of being in a seaside community that is elegant and exclusive. All of these destinations are part of the best day trips from Bordeaux.

This is one of the biggest rock festivals in the South of France and the programme of events is usually quite diverse. The festival says that its main aim is to share the love of rock, so admission is free for all editions.

The fact that the festival can take place in both suburbs and villages close to Bordeaux makes the event all the more interesting, as it allows you to enjoy those parts of the local landscape that are usually covered on the best Bordeaux wine tours, which is something that could add to your tourist planning if you are interested in seeing the wineries and vineyards of this important wine region.

The world of comics, illustration and photography joins the French interest in poetry. This is happening at a festival that includes a schedule of different exhibitions and concerts by musicians of both local and international fame. The name of this event is Zinefest and it basically consists of a multicultural programme of activities that seek to celebrate all the arts I have mentioned.

You should also bear in mind that this is a festival with a very family-oriented approach and, for this reason, it is one of the best things to do with children in Bordeaux during the month of July.

For more information, see

• Location: the southern suburbs of the city, around the Marché des Douves.
• Date: Every day from the end of June to mid-July. Although it depends directly on the year you visit.
• Price: several of the festival's events are completely free, but others are free of charge.

July is also synonymous with consumption and savings in most French cities, and Bordeaux is no exception to this rule. The summer sales usually take place in the middle of the month, with a huge range of bargains on clothes, shoes, electronics, toys and the like. This means that your trip can end up being a fun shopping spree where you can save some serious cash.

Mériadeck, Galerie Bordelaise and the Bord'eau Village are just a few of the shopping centres you could browse in search of these discounts. However, the historic city centre is also full of shops and if any of them interest you, you're likely to find favourable prices. At least until 20 or 25 July.

In fact, these discounts start in the last week of June, so shopping is also one of the best things to do in Bordeaux during the month of June.

The 14th of July is the most important day for the French as it is the bank holidays known as Bastille Day. The origin of this commemorative date has to do with the French revolution and the proclamation of France as a modern republic, which eventually led to equal rights and conditions for the entire population.

For this reason in Bordeaux on both the 13th and 14th of July all kinds of popular festivities are held and the bars and nightclubs are packed with people. My recommendation is that you spend this day touring the main historical buildings and monuments of the city because each of them will surely have special activities. At the same time, I advise you not to go to bed early, as there will most likely be a fireworks display during the night of the 14th of July.

The streets of Bordeaux city centre are filled with one of the most interesting events of the summer during the penultimate weekend of July. This is the Braderie d'été and is basically a big celebration of street markets where local traders from the south of France take the opportunity to set up stalls selling clothes, shoes and household goods.

The rue Porte Dijeaux, rue Sainte Catherine and rue des Trois Conils are usually the epicentre of this event although other streets are also likely to be included depending on the number of tourists and the number of traders who join in the experience which usually involves at least 250 different stalls.

Plus, the experience is made even more fun because you don't have to be forced to buy. It can therefore be a good way to get a close-up look at the wonders on sale at this type of French antiques market.

If your visit to Bordeaux doesn't manage to coincide with the 14th of July, but you are still interested in the idea of enjoying the summer night in this city, then you should know that the open-air bars are an experience not to be missed during the whole month of July. Especially because the nightlife is more interesting than ever during the summer and because the weather this month makes being outdoors a must for tourists and locals alike.

My recommendation is to visit bars that have terraces or are located along the Garonne's riverside promenades. This is because on both the west and east banks you will find excellent establishments that often keep their doors open until the early hours of the morning.

One of the oldest puppet theatres in France, founded in 1853, is located in Bordeaux under the name of Le Guignol Guérin. Throughout the summer and specifically in July, daily shows are given at around 4pm as an opportunity for local families to entertain their children and, above all, as a major tourist attraction.

It is located within the Parc Bordelais, which is one of the largest and most important public parks in the city and extends over 30 hectares. It has a lake, different play areas and a section with farm animals that you can interact with.

This site and its programme of puppet shows throughout the month of July makes it a must-see during your visit. Especially if you are looking for outdoor activities with a family focus.

July temperatures are the highest of the year in Bordeaux. During the day you may find that it is 30°C during the day, while in the evenings it drops to 20°C and even 18°C if it is particularly cold.

This month is also the busiest of the year as it is the summer season, which is synonymous with international tourism all over the world. It is therefore important to book your tickets to monuments and activities in advance to avoid the risk of being left out.

Prices in Bordeaux are similar or almost identical throughout the summer. At the same time, they are the most expensive when compared to what it costs for a trip in the spring or during the winter and autumn.

Your suitcase for a visit to Bordeaux in July should be packed with sunscreen and comfortable, breathable clothing. In fact, it's a good idea to pack versatile clothing that you can wear in the countryside as well as in town. It is also necessary that you wear comfortable and favourable footwear for walking through the streets of the city centre under the high temperatures of the month.