Minibus Hire Across France

Bordeaux Minibus Hire for Vineyard Days

Most people come to Bordeaux for the wine, and the best of it lies just outside the city. With a minibus and a driver, everyone in your group can taste in Saint-Émilion or the Médoc, and nobody has to face the rocade afterwards.

Shaping a tasting day

Margaux, in the Médoc, is about 45 minutes away; Saint-Émilion about the same; Sauternes about 50 minutes; Pauillac about an hour. Bordeaux wine country has six main areas, so pick one or two rather than criss-crossing the map.

Two estates and a long lunch make a comfortable day for most groups. Estates expect visits and tastings to be booked ahead, and a driver who knows the lanes saves time between them.

Sprinter 19-seat minibus, side view
Sprinter 19-seat minibus, side view

Saint-Émilion on foot

The village and its vineyards have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999. Its monolithic church can be seen only on a guided tour, so book a slot. There are two coach parks: Villemaurine, up beside place Bourgeoise, and the Parking de la gare, roughly 1 to 1.5 km below the village. For older relatives, ask for the upper one.

Flying in to Bordeaux

Places your group will love in Bordeaux

  • Saint-Émilion monolithic church — Can be visited only on a guided tour; no self-guided visits
  • Cathédrale Saint-André — Gothic cathedral in the city centre
  • Bassins des Lumières — Digital art centre in a former submarine base; every group visit (20 or more people) must be booked in advance, and a bus space is available nearby
  • Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux — Opera house; guided group visits are arranged through the tourist office
  • Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d'eau — Riverside square and reflecting pool in the UNESCO-listed centre
  • La Cité du Vin — Wine museum on quai de Bacalan; group terms from 20 people, booked through the visitor service

Where groups tend to stay

  • Mérignac airport hotels
  • Bordeaux-Lac (for the Parc des Expositions and the Stade Atlantique)
  • Bacalan / Bassins à flot (for the Cité du Vin)
  • La Bastide (right bank)
  • Gare Saint-Jean / Belcier
  • Mériadeck
  • Saint-Pierre / Place de la Bourse
  • Quinconces / Grand Théâtre / Triangle d'Or

In town

Since 2022 central Bordeaux has had a single coach park, the MetPark at Quinconces with 12 spaces, reached by the allées de Bristol. No driver may park up at a set-down point, so the vehicle drops you and leaves.

Handy set-down points include 8 allées de Tourny for the Grand Théâtre and the Quai du Maroc at the Halles de Bacalan for the Cité du Vin, which offers group terms from 20 people. The Bassins des Lumières needs a booking for any group of 20 people or more.

A gentle low-emission zone

The ZFE inside the rocade runs around the clock but only shuts out vehicles that have no Crit'Air class at all, such as coaches registered before October 2001. It still pays to confirm the sticker in case the rules change.

Your questions, answered

How far is Mérignac airport?

Mérignac is around half an hour and 15 km from the city centre. Its quick drop-off zone turns away anything taller than 3.00 m, which rules out a full-size coach, so your driver will name the meeting point.

Could we add a beach day?

Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat are both about an hour away, a good change of pace after a few days of tasting.

Are the roads out of Bordeaux tolled?

The rocade is free. The A10, A62 and A89 are tolled with free stretches near the city, and the A63 south is free as far as Salles.

More days out you can book with us

Other vehicles with a driver