Bordeaux campsites for vineyard visits and very much more
Camping near Bordeaux – that can only mean one thing, right? Wine! (And lots of it.) Well, not quite… Bordeaux campsites are actually well placed for a whole host of happenings, to keep you busy for many a day with such things as watersports, château visits, lake swims, adventure parks, golfing rounds, animal park outings – not forgetting the city itself, of course, with all its museums, top-notch restaurants and the like (oh, and the coast’s not far away either).
Along with all those fine wines and fine outings comes a fine collection of campsites near Bordeaux – and a fine variety too, from quiet riverside tent pitches to family-sized caravans to swish treehouses. Which will it be for you? Take a glance at our handy Bordeaux camping guide to pick your ideal place.
Camping around Bordeaux: mixing up city and country
A Bordeaux city break is a splendid idea, but oh, the rural scenery around here – it’s really quite fab, so it would be a proper shame to miss out on that. That’s one of the reasons why we reckon camping near Bordeaux, rather than staying in the city, is such a cracking idea: mix up your city days and your country pursuits and it’s pretty much like getting two holidays for the price of one.
The main dilemma to tackle is to decide what kind of scenic spot you’re going to plump for with your Bordeaux campsite: maybe by a river, next to a lake, surrounded by forest, views over vineyards, within striking distance of the coast… (tough life, right?)
Plonking down close to a main road is worth a consideration too if you’re picking a caravan or motorhome pitch, just nipping in for a quick stopover, or planning to do lots of dashing about while you’re in the area. (Don’t panic about living on top of a motorway – you’d be surprised how quickly you can get into proper quiet countryside once you’re off the main road.)
If you’re not roaming about in a rolling home, take a look at tent pitches and holiday homes of various kinds. Static caravans are spacious and good-value options for family hols, while cosy little cabins are top picks for couples’ breaks. Ever fancied life as a bird? Grab yourself a berth up in the branches for a Bordeaux treehouse break. (Sipping local vino on your deck up in the treetops? Top social media bragging points, surely.)
It’s always worth thinking a bit about facilities too: lots of Bordeaux campsites have outdoor pools, play areas and evening entertainment to boost a family break, but you can also look out for such things as fishing, pétanque and a hot tub if you’re after gentler relaxation times.
Outings and activities for your Bordeaux camping break
Did we mention the wine? Well, Bordeaux (the area, rather than the city itself) is one of the world’s largest producers – so if you’ve even a passing interest in vino, it’s worth planning a bit of pottering around in some of the area’s wineries. Give your quaffing time an educational edge by popping into Bordeaux to visit the Cité du Vin museum, or expand it into a comprehensive tour by adding in stops in Saint-Émilion, Sauternes and Bergerac.
While you’re in Bordeaux city centre, spare some time for a visit to the elegant Palais de la Bourse (with the chance to cool your toes in the Miroir d’Eau pool out front), a culture fix at the contemporary art museum and an hour or two of people-watching from café and restaurant terraces.
Back out in the countryside, earn yourself that evening tipple with a day of outdoorsy activities: golf, horse riding, canoeing and bike rides are all fine ways to get out and about. Or how about a beach day? That might involve heading to Hostens lake for lake swims, aiming for Arcachon’s sandy stretch or scrambling up the Dune du Pilat (Europe’s tallest sand dune, fact fiends).
Strolling around a château is a classic Bordeaux camping hol activity too (seek out the smart buildings of Cadillac, Villandraut, Brède and others for your château fix); if such things aren’t popular with the nippers, aim for the animal parks in Arcachon or Bordeaux or challenge them to tackle the high ropes at one of the area’s adventure parks.
Carrying on to Normandy, Nantes or Nice? Wherever you’re planning to roam, check out all our campsites and holiday parks in France campsites and holiday parks in France.
