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Good to know
- Nearest airport
- Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD)
- To city centre
- 11 km
- Parking in the centre
- Paid zones
- Main roads
- A10, A62, A63, the A630 ring road
- Region
- New Aquitaine
- Population
- 267,991
- City IATA code
- BOD
- Time zone
- Europe/Paris
- Currency
- EUR
- Driving side
- Right-hand traffic
- Rental offices
- 22
- Rental companies
- 6
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Where to pick up a car in Bordeaux
Rental desks by area, with the distance from the city centre.
Bordeaux-Saint-Jean
Offices 7City centre
Offices 3Further from the centre
Offices 12Saint-Jean
Chartrons
Belcier
Saint-Augustin
La Benauge
Terre Sud
Le Tasta
Hourcade
La Forêt
Saige
Beausoleil
Bordeaux by car
Bordeaux grew around a bend of the Garonne that sailors called the Port of the Moon, and the vineyards begin almost as soon as the suburbs end. Reaching the Atlantic dunes or the Médoc estates takes little more than a morning.
Driving in Bordeaux
Bordeaux is reached by A10, A62, A63 and the A630 ring road. Parking in the centre is paid and marked by zone. Driving through the centre is restricted, so most drivers park on the edge.
Arriving by road
The Rocade ring road is often very busy, and the beltway slows to a crawl in rush hours. Only two of the Garonne’s road bridges, the Pont d’Aquitaine and the Pont François Mitterrand, belong to it; the Pont Jacques-Chaban-Delmas, a vertical-lift bridge, carries downtown traffic instead.
From the airport without a car
Tram line A has served Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport since its extension, and Porte de Bourgogne is where tram lines A, C, D, E and F come together, making it the main place to change. Bus 39 also stops at the airport but runs down the western side of the city and goes nowhere near downtown, so riders switch to bus 1 at Dassault.
Popular searches in Bordeaux
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Day trips from Bordeaux
- Arcachon51 km
- Cognac96 km
- Perigueux109 km
Rules of the road in France
- Speed limits
- 50 / 80 / 130 km/h
- Alcohol limit
- 0.5 ‰
- Motorway tolls
- motorway tolls paid at the barrier
- Must carry
- a reflective vest and a warning triangle
What kind of car do you need?
Typical capacity for the category — the exact model is confirmed by the rental company at booking.
Frequently asked questions
France: which side of the road do they drive on?
On the right. Speed limits are posted at the roadside and differ between towns, open roads and motorways.
Which currency will I be charged in?
Prices are usually set in EUR. The rental company sets both the price and the deposit, and shows them before you book.
Can I drive the car into another country?
Often yes within the EU, but never assume it. Crossing a border has to be allowed by the rental company and usually costs extra, so check the terms before you book.
Where do I park in the centre of Bordeaux?
Parking in the centre is paid and marked by zone.
What are the speed limits in France?
50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on open roads, 130 km/h on motorways.
Are the motorways tolled?
Motorways charge at the barrier. Payment is by cash, card or an electronic tag.
Where can I pick up a rental car in Bordeaux?
At Bordeaux-Saint-Jean: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and 1 other company. In the city centre: Sixt and Budget. In Saint-Jean: an independent office. In Chartrons: an independent office. In Belcier: Enterprise. Elsewhere in the city: CarGo, Rent A Car, ADA and 3 independent offices. More rental desks are at Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport.