A week in the Gironde with the family

The city, then the ocean: in one week, the Gironde gives families the best of both worlds. Three days in Bordeaux for the honey-coloured stone, the quays and the museums; four days in Lacanau for the lake, the waves and bike rides. Here is our itinerary, day by day.

Days 1 to 3: Bordeaux

Day 1 · The quays and the Water Mirror

Settle in, then head to the Garonne quays on foot or by tram. The children run through the Water Mirror opposite Place de la Bourse (in fine weather), before a car-free bike or scooter ride along the river.

Day 2 · Science, nature and light

In the morning, Cap Sciences and its interactive exhibitions, or the Muséum de Bordeaux – sciences et nature and the Jardin Public right next door. In the afternoon, the immersive exhibitions of the Bassins des Lumières, in the former submarine base. In the evening, dinner in the Saint-Pierre district.

Day 3 · A day trip of your choice

• The Dune du Pilat and the Arcachon basin (about an hour): the highest sand dune in Europe, then a swim in the calm waters of the basin.
• Saint-Émilion (about 45 minutes): a UNESCO-listed medieval village among the vineyards.

Where to stay: La Maison de Pierre, a stone townhouse for 8 (5 bedrooms), a 10-minute walk from the city centre and 4 minutes from the tram. It is not suitable for babies under 2. More ideas in our guide to Bordeaux with the family.

Drive: Bordeaux → Lacanau (about 1 hour)

Just under an hour's drive through the pines. If you have time, you can detour along the Médoc's great wine route (Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac), visiting the châteaux by appointment.

Days 4 to 7: Lacanau

Day 4 · The lake

Arrive in Le Moutchic, on the lake side. First swim at Moutchic beach, on the lake, lifeguarded in summer: fresh water, no waves, perfect for little ones. End the day on the jetty, by the water.

Day 5 · The ocean

Head to Lacanau-Océan (10 minutes by car, about twenty by bike): swim on a lifeguarded beach, between the flags, and why not a first surfing or bodyboarding lesson at a school for the older ones. See our guide to Lacanau's beaches.

Day 6 · Bikes and paddleboards

A bike ride on the cycle paths through the pine forest, then paddleboarding or kayaking on the lake in the afternoon. Golfers can play a round, 3 minutes from the house.

Day 7 · Lazy day

One last day between the pool, the garden and the lake, before heading home via Bordeaux (Saint-Jean station or Mérignac airport).

Where to stay: La Maison du Lac, a family house for 12 (6 bedrooms, 4 toilets), with a private pool from April to October (unfenced: children must be supervised), 50 metres from the lake. More ideas in our guide to Lacanau with the family.

When to go?

From June to September for swimming: in July and August, expect around 27 °C in the afternoon in Bordeaux and 25 °C in Lacanau, with ocean water around 20 to 22 °C (2015-2024 averages, source Open-Meteo). June and September are quieter and often very pleasant. In spring the itinerary works well too, swapping ocean swims for walks.

Book both houses

Both houses can be booked directly on this site, with 10% off your whole stay compared with Airbnb. Choose your dates in Bordeaux, then in Lacanau: the calendars show availability in real time.

Dates in BordeauxDates in Lacanau

Frequently asked questions