I love traveling with my girls now that they’re older, but we always made an effort to travel and share new places with them. Bordeaux is a great place for food and wine, but it’s also a wonderful place to bring your family with children young…and old! I wanted to include some tips on what to do with your children in Bordeaux and please feel free to reach out with any questions. Google Map links are included, just click on the name of the location to get there! Hot tip? Every closing time you see is when the doors shut and location is closed, so arrive a good 30 minutes before a shop closes. Don’t book the last table if you might run late to the restaurant. If you want to do a museum, arrive much earlier than closing hour.
WHERE TO ESCAPE THE HEAT IN BORDEAUX WITH KIDS?
When the afternoons are hot, kids will love a good splash in the Miroir d’eau (largest water miror in the world, created in 2006)! You’ll see lots of kids splashing, rolling and dancing in the water! Water starts filling up at 10am and is a fun place to escape the heat. It’s only about an inch deep and there can be some misting that occurs in the afternoon. The water does smell chlorinated and don’t be surprised to have furry friends running through the water too! Located on the quai (dock, waterside) in front of Place de la Bourse.
There are so many great ice cream locations in the city – one square has about four different locations to choose from in the once square – Place de la Parlement. There is a fountain to sit on and enjoy your ice cream in the center of the square. If you’re lucky, there will be live musicians or performers there at the same time!
Try one of the pools in Bordeaux, if your hotel doesn’t have one. The Piscine du Grand Parc | Site de la ville de Bordeaux is a good pool for kids. Be sure to have tight fitting speedos for boys and one pieces for girls, some public pools will also require hair caps.
KID FRIENDLY MUSEUMS IN BORDEAUX
The Bassins lumières (art installation in old WWII submarine bunker) is also really interesting visit for children and you can buy tickets in advance. I will say it can be overwhelming at first because you enter a large dark room. Once the images start to play with the music, expect them to chase the images on the floor and dance around! / https://www.bassins-lumieres.com/fr
The Musee d’Aquitaine is one of my favorite museums for history. It follows the history of Bordeaux from Stone Age until today and would be the perfect introduction to the history of this area https://g.co/kgs/pGqSHwk. Really made for older children, say eight and above. There are some activities for kids through out the museum. Not too far away you can also find a pottery painting shop called Terra Moka Peinture sur céramique et atelier de poterie à Bordeaux – TERRA-MOKA which my girls love. Only issue is you’ll need to be in Bordeaux for a while so they have time to fire before you leave (best for couple week stays).
The Museum of Sciences and Nature Accueil | Museum Bordeaux – Sciences et nature is filled with taxidermized animals from all over the world is good for younger children, say from two to seven years old. It’s also located in the Jardin Publique Jardin public | Site de la ville de Bordeaux where there is lots of open space to run, a play ground, and a carousel.
Speaking of carousels, there is one on Avenue Tourney near the Intercontinental. It’s beautiful but hours vary and can be unreliable…so don’t promise a ride until you see it’s open!
ICE SKATING IN BORDEAUX!
We do have an ice skating rink, called a ‘patinoire‘ in French Patinoire Bordeaux : Mériadeck – Axel Vega. It can get really crowded on the weekends but it’s fun, if not a bit ‘retro’. They have a snack bar with sodas and sweets inside. The hours vary so be sure to contact in advance to confirm before showing up.
WHEN TO VISIT BORDEAUX MARKETS WITH KIDS?
If you want to visit the covered market Marche des Capucins http://marchedescapucins.com/ I’d go around 930am on weekends to avoid crowds, which can be overwhelming for kids. I’d suggest going Wednesday-Friday around 10am so there is more space to move around. Closes around 1pm and closed all day on Monday. There is also the Sunday market on the waterfront near the Chartrons which is very family friendly. Some people will even pack a blanket and picnic vLes marchés de Bordeaux | Site de la ville de Bordeaux.
KID FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN BORDEAUX?
My girls are obsessed with karaoke and in the Chartrons you will find BAM Karaoke Box! BAM Karaoke Box – Chartrons will be less expensive the further in advance you book. They have a great selection of songs and also offer food and drinks (snacks like vegetable platters or sweet treats, and more).
3-D experience with Eclipso Bordeaux, near Merideck. Can book in advance. We did the Egypt experience and had a great time! Wouldn’t recommend for those under eight. Can be a little destabilizing but my little adrenaline loving youngest had a blast! Check website for hours / https://eclipso-entertainment.com/bordeaux/ / 19/21 rue Saint Sernin, 33000 Bordeaux
KID FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN BORDEAUX? BOOK IN ADVANCE.
Many restaurants in France will have a kids menu, which is likely to be chicken nuggets and fries or steak hache (like a burger without the bun) and fries. The nicer restaurants sometimes offer kids sized portions, which is my favorite option. Call in advance if this is important.
Many places also offer pasta with ham and cheese, served with ice cream for dessert. Kids in France drink ‘diabolo‘ which can be lemonade (sprite) with grenadine syrup, or a flavoured syrup in water.
If you have infants or smaller children who are too young to eat food in the restaurant, please ask servers before taking food from out of the restaurant out of your bag. It’s most likely no one will mind, but the restaurant will appreciate the courtesy. Try to book a ‘banquette’ table with small children if they don’t have a highchair or ‘chaise haute’.
Frida is a restaurant which has an indoor courtyard so good for feeling safe with small children who want to jump up during a meal! More modern French cuisine, but some solid dishes that more adventurous eaters can appreciate. They are located close to the Grosse Cloche. They also offer babysitting services during brunch on Sunday, request at time of booking. Closed Monday and Tuesday / https://www.frida.fr/ / 27-29 rue Buhan – 33000 Bordeaux
There is Brique House which has board games / foosball but also foods more familiar for Americans/Canadian kiddos. Think pulled pork, fried chicken, and cheeseburgers. Open daily lunch and dinner / https://briquehouse.com/taprooms/backyard-brique-house-4 / 40 Allés D’Orleans,
33000 BORDEAUX
Any ‘bouillon‘ will be a good option for lunch or dinner, with quick service, classic French dishes, and inexpensive. Classics like fish and chips, or an entrecote steak and fries are kid friendly. There is one across from the train station https://www.bouillonsaintjean.fr and one near Place Quinconces. Both offer indoor and outdoor dining.
For tapas style plates in an off-road outdoor dinning space with picnic tables, try the Basque food and drinks at TOPA near the Porte Cailhau. Fun plates of hams and cheeses, plus other pinxtos are fun for kids to try! Closed Sunday-Tuesday, opens at 6pm / TOPA Comptoir Basque / 7 rue du palais de l’ombrière, 33000, Bordeaux
There is a restaurant nearby Bassin Lumière called EffetMer for basic pasta and pizza. While the food isn’t amazing it works, they have an indoor playground my kids love and you get free entrance with your meal on the weekends (also be sure to book in advance and be sure the kidoland (the playground) EFFET MER : Restaurant, Parc Enfant et Soccer à Bordeaux is open same hours you’re there). It’s not cultural of course but if you’re kids need to get energy out…consider it done! / https://www.effetmer-bordeaux.fr/
BEST SHOPS FOR KIDS IN BORDEAUX?
There are too many to list! We do have a Lego store off Rue Saint Catherine Détails du magasin – LEGO® Store Bordeaux Sainte-Catherine, the largest independant book store in France with books in English called MOLLAT Librairie Mollat Bordeaux – Librairie en ligne.
There are lots of classical style toy shops, like Magasin de Jouet Bordeaux – Bonhomme de bois Bordeaux which is not far from Mollat (close to cathedrale Saint Andre). My favorite shop for kids clothes is Cyrillus Boutique Cyrillus Bordeaux: magasin de mode chic & déco à Bordeaux but you can also find great clothes at great prices in big Monoprix shops MONOPRIX – Grand magasin – Bordeaux (33000) (the Target of France!).
For mall style shopping, go to Merideck. There are lots of shops inside the indoor mall, great for a rainy day.
I find giving my kids postcards to write or draw during meals gives me a break and people love getting them at home! If you want to know about local babysitters, don’t hesitate to reach out. On my family tours in Bordeaux, I will be offering the option to add a babysitter during tours starting in 2026 to make sure everyone has the best tour and you can get a break when (and if) you want to do wine tasting! Hope to see you in Bordeaux! x Anne
Email me aquitaineguide@gmail.com or send a WhatsApp message to +33633913790
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