10 Best Things to Do with Kids in Bordeaux

Go on a treasure hunt with the kids to explore Bordeaux and its rich architectural heritage in a fun way. There are several different tours available which will allow you to explore the city and enjoy yourself at the same time. Take a stroll through the narrow streets bordered by imposing buildings of dressed stone. Look up in search of an ornamental mascaron sculpture and hone your observation skills to solve puzzles together as a family.

There are several "heritage treasure hunts" with different themes to choose from. Some will transportation you back to the Middle Ages, whereas others concentrate on a specific neighbourhood or take you on a journey through the town in search of symbols of the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. The shortest tours last an hour and are free. Others last up to 2 and a half hours and cost a few euros. Head to the CIAP (Architecture and Heritage Interpretation Center) located at the Place de la Bourse for more information and to pick up the relevant booklets.

Take the kids to the Bordelais Park (Parc Bordelais), where they can let off steam and watch a puppet show. Located in the chic neighbourhood of Caudéran, not far from the city centre on the other side of the Boulevard Wilson, the park is Bordeaux's largest green space. To get there, use the entrance leading from Avenue Carnot to the Rue du Bocage to get a view of its magnificent entrance gate decorated with the city's coat of arms.

This attractive park includes a pond, which is home to ducks, swans and moorhens that splash about in its fish-filled waters, and has secure play neighborhoods, a carousel, a Petit Train and refreshment stalls. There is even a little petting zoo where children can get up close to peacocks, goats, turkeys, pigs or local breed donkeys. It’s the go-to spot in the city for a great day out among nature and animals and where you can watch a Guignol puppet show in France's oldest puppet theater which itself is a real local family tradition.

Explore Bordeaux with your children aboard a peaceful boat ride along the River Garonne. It's not always easy to tour the city on foot with young children, so this is a perfect opportunity to keep both parents and children happy. Parents can enjoy the onboard commentary while the kids enjoy traveling without tiring themselves out.

As Bordeaux was built on the shores of the Garonne, the river is of great importance. It flows through the city centre and offers a superb view of many of Bordeaux's historical monuments. The Garonne is also celebrated during the Fête du Fleuve river festival, which takes place at the end of Spring every odd-numbered year. Hop aboard a riverboat and choose between a 1-hour cruise or a whole day excursion, lunch included. Finally, to keep the older ones happy, why not try a guided river trip by canoe or paddleboard?

Cap Sciences is a museum of discovery and entertainment that offers science-themed exhibitions and workshops, aimed at both younger and older children. Housed in an old warehouse on the Quai de Bacalan, Cap Sciences is one of the recent developments along the banks of the River Garonne and is located almost opposite the Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmat bridge.

It's the perfect place to bring the kids if the weather's bad. There are 2 exhibition rooms, a youth workshop area and, upstairs, the 127° which is geared more toward the over 15s. There's a range of age-based workshops available, which provide a practical and fun learning environment through several regularly updated interactive experiences. The older children can even take advantage of the different resources available to them to bring their projects to life and create objects using the 3D printer or laser cutting machine. It's an outing the whole family will enjoy time and time again.

Darwin Éco-système is a large area that brings together several different leisure activities in the spirit of freedom and creativity. Located at the Quai des Queyries side of the River Garonne, it gives prominence to urban culture with street artists who come to showcase their talent at the Caserne Niel and the indoor skate park. Bring your children along to admire the modern beauty of street art and watch the skateboarders. If they fancy a little skateboarding themselves, day passes are available to buy.

There are also several family-friendly restaurants here, such as l'Epicerie Bio du Magasin Général Darwin, a vast organic grocery store with a unique bric-a-brac-style decor, or les Chantiers de la Garonne, where you can sit with your feet in the sand, with views of the river and across to the city on the other side of the river. Darwin Éco-système is a unique area of Bordeaux, where you can easily spend a whole day with your family.

Bring the kids to the Patinoire de Mériadeck ice rink to try out a little ice skating or ice karting. This Olympic skating rink is located at Cours Maréchal-Juin in the Mériadeck district, close to the bowling alley, and not far from the Mériadeck shopping mall. It’s easily accessible from the town center, served by streetcar line A as well as by several bus routes. If you are coming by automobile, park in the 8 mai 1945 carpark, which is only 100 m away from the ice rink.

You can hire ice skates at the rink, and helmets are available for the younger skaters. During busy periods, remember to bring your own cycle or ski helmets in case stocks are low at the rink. You could try to catch an ice skating show or hockey match featuring the local Bordeaux Boxers team.

The Natural History Musem in Bordeaux (Muséum d’histoire naturelle de Bordeaux) houses fossils and skeletons as well as preserved animals arranged by habitat and continent. The museum is located in the Jardin Public near la Place des Quinconces with another entrance on Place Bardineau. The museum's central theme is the interaction between man and nature and is home to several local and exotic species, which are spread across its 3 floors. There are multimedia terminals positioned throughout the museum and there's also a show available at various times throughout the day in the main gallery. 

Facilitators are also on hand across the museum to answer any questions you may have. On the first floor, the Early Years Museum is a dedicated kids' zone for the under 6s. Finally, the museum hosts regular workshops for children to enable them to discover the museum in a fun way and provides a trail with questions about the various specimens on display.

At Zoo of Bordeaux-Pessac (Parc Zoologique de Bordeaux Pessac), you can marvel at the diversity of flora and fauna on offer. It’s a zoo with a human touch and is perfect for a day out with the children. Admire the grandeur of the big cats or seeing their joy when they meet the red pandas. Meet wallabies in their enclosures and spot lemurs as you make your way through the fun labyrinth. Be sure not to miss animal feeding time, one of the highlights of the zoo, as well as the other scheduled events available, such as the bird show.

Remember to check the board when you arrive for the timetable. You can even become a zookeeper for the day to experience getting up close and personal with the animals and to discover this wonderful job that so many children dream of doing. To get to the zoo, you'll need to head to the nearby commune of Pessac, about a 25-minute drive southwest from Bordeaux.

At Wave Surf Café in the heart of Bordeaux, the surf can come to you if you can't make it to the Atlantic coast for a little surfing. This concept bar invites you to try an indoor wave surfing session in the Residhotel Galerie Tatry, Cours du Médoc, in the lively Chartrons district. Try your hand at surfing or bodyboarding in complete safety on the artificial wave machine before, perhaps, diving into the waters of the Côte d’Argent.

An instructor is on hand to help you ride your first waves in a laid-back atmosphere. If you don't fancy getting wet, you can leave the children to have fun while you go and get a coffee or snack at the bar. It’s a fun-filled activity, suitable for kids above 6 years.

Eco-Citizen House Bordeaux (Maison écocitoyenne Bordeaux) provides information and awareness on sustainable living. It's located at Quai Richelieu, opposite the Cailhau Gate Bordeaux. Its "inhabitants" lead several workshops to help families in their efforts to promote biodiversity, zero waste, sustainable foods and responsible fashion. For example, try your hand at sewing or producing environmentally friendly cosmetics and other household items, as well as making and repairing different objects. 

At Eco-Citizen House Bordeaux they also organize guided walking tours of the city to help the people of Bordeaux gain awareness of the nature that surrounds them. Check the schedule and sign your kids up to a hands-on workshop to discover, or explore in more depth, activities that are good for the planet.