Nouvelle Aquitaine is France's largest region, stretching from the Atlantic coast and Pyrenees mountains in the south to the Loire Valley in the north. It encompasses world-renowned wine regions like Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion, the surf capital of Biarritz, prehistoric wonders at Lascaux, and the dramatic Dune du Pilat. With diverse landscapes, rich gastronomy, and centuries of history, Nouvelle Aquitaine offers an unrivaled travel experience in southwestern France.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Saint-Émilion Wine Village
The world's most romantic wine village, with a UNESCO Heritage medieval center, underground church carved from solid rock, and surrounded by some of the world's finest Merlot vineyards. Spend the morning exploring the medieval streets and underground monuments, then do a château wine tasting in the afternoon.
Highlights: Église Monolithe underground church · Grand Cru Classé wine tasting · Medieval village walk · Macarons d'Amande from Nouts
Dune du Pilat and Arcachon Bay
Combine climbing Europe's tallest sand dune with lunch in Arcachon town and oysters at the port. Take the morning train to Arcachon, eat freshly shucked oysters at the jetty stalls, then take the seasonal bus to the Dune du Pilat for the sunset view over the bay.
Highlights: Dune du Pilat summit (102m) · Arcachon oysters at the port · Bay of Arcachon panorama · Atlantic sunset views
Médoc Wine Route (Pauillac & Margaux)
Drive the legendary D2 Route des Châteaux through the Médoc peninsula past Château Margaux, Château Latour, Château Mouton Rothschild, and Château Lafite Rothschild. Most châteaux require advance booking for tours; some are open for walk-in tastings. Lunch at Café Lavinal in the revitalized village of Bages.
Highlights: Grand Cru Classé château visits · Gironde Estuary views · Café Lavinal lunch · Pauillac and Margaux villages
Sarlat and Dordogne Medieval Villages
Sarlat-la-Canéda is the finest preserved medieval town in southwestern France, with golden limestone buildings and a remarkable Saturday market (foie gras, truffles, duck). Combine with nearby La Roque-Gageac and Château de Beynac for a full Dordogne day.
Highlights: Sarlat medieval center · Sarlat Saturday market · La Roque-Gageac cliff village · Château de Beynac
Biarritz and Basque Coast from Bordeaux
Take the morning train to Bayonne for pintxos and Bayonne ham at the covered market, then catch the bus to Biarritz for the Grande Plage, Rocher de la Vierge, and dinner overlooking the Atlantic. An excellent day that combines Basque culture with ocean scenery.
Highlights: Bayonne pintxos and covered market · Biarritz Grande Plage · Rocher de la Vierge sunset · Atlantic surf watching
Cognac Town and Distillery Visit
The town of Cognac in Charente is home to the world's most famous brandy houses—Hennessy, Martell, Rémy Martin, and Courvoisier. Tours include cellar visits, the aging chai (warehouses), and generous tastings. The historic medieval center and riverside promenade make the town itself worth exploring.
Highlights: Hennessy or Martell distillery tour · Grande Champagne vineyards · Cognac museum in the château · Charente River walk
La Rochelle and Île de Ré
La Rochelle's medieval harbor towers and old port can be explored on foot, then cross the iconic bridge to the Île de Ré—a flat Atlantic island of oyster farms, salt marshes, cycling paths, and the charming village of Ars-en-Ré with its distinctive black-and-white church spire.
Highlights: La Rochelle medieval towers · Île de Ré cycling · Ars-en-Ré village · Atlantic oyster tasting
Lascaux and Périgord Prehistory Valley
Drive to Montignac-Lascaux for the extraordinary Lascaux IV prehistoric art center, then continue to Les Eyzies ('world capital of prehistory') for the National Prehistory Museum and troglodyte villages. The Vézère Valley UNESCO Heritage site is breathtaking.
Highlights: Lascaux IV cave replica · Vézère Valley prehistoric sites · Les Eyzies museum · Troglodyte cliff villages
San Sebastián, Spain (Basque cross-border)
The extraordinary Basque city of San Sebastián (Donostia) in Spain is one of Europe's great gastronomic capitals, with the world's highest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants and the finest pintxos culture. A day crossing into Spain combines two Basque cultures.
Highlights: La Concha beach · Parte Vieja (Old Quarter) pintxos bars · Michelin-star restaurant options · Spanish Basque culture
Pau and Pyrenees Viewpoint
Pau's famous Boulevard des Pyrénées offers the most celebrated mountain panorama in France—100km of Pyrenees peaks from the Pic du Midi d'Ossau to the Pic du Midi de Bigorre viewed from an elegant 19th-century promenade. Visit the birthplace of Henri IV at the château and descend to the Gave de Pau valley.
Highlights: Boulevard des Pyrénées mountain panorama · Château de Pau (Henri IV birthplace) · Jurançon wine tasting · Pic du Midi d'Ossau view
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Under 1hr
Saint-Émilion
by train (35 min)
Arcachon
by train (45 min)
Médoc
by car (45 min)
One Two Hr
Sarlat
by car (2h)
Cognac
by car (1.5h)
La Rochelle
by train (2h)
Pau
by train (2h)
Two Four Hr
Lascaux
by car (1.5h from Bordeaux)
Biarritz
by train (2h)
San Sebastián from Biarritz
30 min
Over 4hr
Consider staying overnight: Pyrenees National Park
Corrèze medieval villages
Atlantic island trips
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized day tours from Bordeaux to wine country (€60-120) and prehistoric sites (€80-120) include transport and guide
- Private
- Private car hire from €250/day with English-speaking driver; ideal for Médoc or Dordogne wine routes
- Public
- SNCF trains serve Arcachon, Saint-Émilion, Cognac area, La Rochelle, Pau, and Bayonne from Bordeaux
- Rental
- Car rental from €30/day at Bordeaux-Mérignac airport; essential for rural Dordogne and Médoc
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Book Lascaux IV tickets 2-4 weeks ahead in summer—timed entry and limited capacity
Saint-Émilion underground church tours must be booked at the tourist office—limited daily capacity
Médoc wine château visits require advance appointment—book directly with châteaux weeks ahead
Take morning trains to avoid afternoon heat in summer; return evening trains are often uncrowded
The Bordeaux City Pass includes the Bordeaux-Saint-Émilion train day pass