Bordeaux · vineyards · Atlantic coast
World-famous wine country, Atlantic beaches, estuary landscapes and Bordeaux.
Discover the Gironde
The Gironde is unusually varied: Bordeaux at its centre, celebrated vineyards on both banks, the huge Gironde estuary, pine-backed Atlantic beaches and the oyster villages of Arcachon Bay.
A single holiday can combine Saint-Émilion and Médoc wine country, city days in Bordeaux, market towns, cycling through forests and a completely different coastal landscape around Arcachon.
Independent holiday rentals
Browse independent holiday rentals, cottages, gîtes and other places to stay in the Gironde, then contact owners and managers directly. Holiday House France does not add a guest booking fee.
We are building a collection of independently owned holiday homes across France.
Explore the whole department
Gironde Tourisme divides the department into distinct destinations, and that makes sense on the ground: Bordeaux, the Médoc, Arcachon Bay, Saint-Émilion and Libournais, Entre-deux-Mers, the estuary and southern Gironde all feel markedly different.
City culture, food & riverfront architecture
Bordeaux provides museums, restaurants, markets, monumental architecture and one of France’s most recognisable riverfronts, while also acting as the transport hub for the whole department.
Bordeaux · Pessac · Gradignan · Lormont
UNESCO vineyards, medieval streets & the Dordogne
East of Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion, Libourne, Pomerol and Fronsac sit among globally known vineyards and rolling right-bank landscapes.
Saint-Émilion · Libourne · Pomerol · Fronsac
Grand châteaux, pine forest & Atlantic horizons
The Médoc runs north between the Atlantic and the Gironde estuary, combining famous wine appellations with forest, lakes, small ports and the wild coast towards Le Verdon.
Margaux · Pauillac · Saint-Estèphe · Soulac · Le Verdon
Oysters, beaches, dunes & quieter vineyard country
Arcachon Bay and the Atlantic coast bring a completely different holiday mood, while east and south of Bordeaux the Entre-deux-Mers and southern Gironde offer bastides, vineyards and gentler rural touring.
Arcachon · Cap Ferret · La Teste · Créon · Cadillac · Langon
Towns & villages
These places show the Gironde beyond Bordeaux alone, from UNESCO-listed Saint-Émilion and estuary towns to Arcachon, the Médoc and the quieter south.
The departmental capital and major destination in its own right, with UNESCO-listed urban heritage, museums, markets and a lively food scene.
A medieval wine village surrounded by an internationally famous vineyard landscape recognised by UNESCO.
A seaside town on the sheltered Bassin d’Arcachon, with beaches, seafood, villas and easy access to the Dune du Pilat.
A historic bastide and market town at the meeting of the Isle and Dordogne rivers, at the heart of right-bank wine country.
An estuary town dominated by Vauban’s citadel, with views and ferry connections across the Gironde.
A Médoc wine town on the estuary, surrounded by some of the world’s best-known château estates.
A key stop on the Médoc wine route, set among prestigious vineyards north of Bordeaux.
A relaxed Atlantic resort near the northern tip of the Médoc peninsula, with long sandy beaches.
A large commune encompassing forest, oyster ports and the Dune du Pilat beside Arcachon Bay.
A bastide in the Entre-deux-Mers, useful for cycling and exploring the quieter vineyard country east of Bordeaux.
A small Garonne-side town with château heritage and easy access to Graves and Sauternes country.
A handsome southern Gironde town centred on its cathedral square and traditional market.
Make a holiday of it
Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Médoc, Graves, Sauternes and Entre-deux-Mers give the Gironde extraordinary variety for vineyard visits, château tours and scenic drives through wine landscapes.
The Atlantic coast offers vast beaches and pine forest, Arcachon Bay adds oyster ports and calmer water, while the Gironde estuary brings islands, citadels and working river landscapes.
Bordeaux adds a major city break to a rural holiday, while seafood from the Bassin, wine-country restaurants and markets across the department make food an easy part of exploring.
Travel & getting around
Bordeaux is the main transport hub, with a major international airport, TGV services and motorway links. From there, regional rail reaches Arcachon, Saint-Émilion, the Médoc and southern Gironde.
Public transport makes several headline destinations possible without a car, particularly Bordeaux, Arcachon and Saint-Émilion. A car is still useful for vineyard estates, smaller villages, the estuary and rural holiday homes.
The department is very large, so it is worth choosing a base around the kind of holiday you want rather than assuming every Gironde attraction is a short drive away.
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