Is the Cité du Vin worth visiting? Ticket, tasting and how long to allow
4 min read
The short answer
Yes, if you have any interest in how wine is made, sold and talked about, and if you like interactive exhibits more than a classic museum with labels on the wall. The Cité du Vin entry ticket with wine tasting costs €23 per person and is rated 4.6/5 from 4,580 reviews, one of the most reviewed activities in Bordeaux. If you only want a drink and a view, it is not the best use of the money.
What the ticket includes
The booking page lists a direct entry ticket, the permanent exhibition with 18 themed spaces, a digital guide, access to the 8th-floor belvedere and one glass of wine chosen from about 15 wines. The belvedere sits 35 metres up and gives a 360-degree view over the city and the river. The guide is available in eight languages, among them English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Dutch. The ticket is valid on the date you choose, you can enter at any time during opening hours, and the operator, the Cité du Vin itself, lists it as wheelchair accessible.
The building is on the Quai de Bacalan, north of the old town, so it does not fit into a walk through the centre. Bring a passport or ID card, which the page asks for.
How long to allow
The page talks about around three hours in the permanent exhibition, and one traveller review there says the visit ran to three hours even though they had expected one. Keep half a day free to be safe. The official Cité du Vin site gives opening hours of 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day, with longer Saturday hours in some months; it closes at 4:00 PM on 24 December and stays closed on 25 December.
The wine, honestly
The tasting is a single glass at the belvedere, not a tasting session. One reviewer on the booking page writes that it was not worth it and that there was nowhere to sit. Treat the glass as a pleasant ending to the visit. If you want to taste several wines with explanations, a tasting class in the city does that better.
Who it suits
- Wine beginners and curious non-drinkers. The exhibits work through the senses, and one reviewer who does not like wine enjoyed it.
- Rainy days. The exhibition is indoors; see also our overview of museums and indoor activities in Bordeaux.
- Families. One review calls it fun for kids, and the official site lists free entry for children under 6 and a children’s rate for ages 6 to 17, so compare before you buy a ticket for a child.
It suits less well anyone who wants vineyards, cellars or a producer’s own wines: for that you need a Saint-Émilion trip.
Seeing it from the water
A good way to see the building from the outside is on the water: the cruise itineraries pass the Cité du Vin, see our Garonne cruise comparison.
Our recommendation
Book the Cité du Vin ticket with tasting for a rainy afternoon or as your first wine lesson in Bordeaux, and go on a day with nothing else planned. Do not count the glass as your wine tasting.
