Bordeaux Christmas Market 2026: A Winter Wine Weekend

I still think about the hot chocolate at the Bordeaux Christmas Market, which was incredibly thick and rich. The rest of the menu plays to the region’s strengths too, with vin chaud made from local reds and canelés with a caramelised crust. Come hungry, and stay until dark, when the pale stone facades of the old centre are lit up.

Bordeaux Christmas Market 2026

Dates

Status: Confirmed
Bordeaux dates: 27th November to 27th December 2026
Last checked: October 2026

Update: Dates were announced in August. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of changes.

Source: Verified by Ultimate Christmas Markets via Bordeaux Tourism.

Plan Your Visit

Location and Times

Location: Place des Quinconces
Opening times: 11am to 9:30pm
Christmas Day: 11am to 9:30pm

Travel and Accommodation

Recommended tour: This highlights of Bordeaux tour is very popular and has a perfect rating.
Public transport: Lines B, C or D (Quinconces stop).
Parking: Please take public transport to help limit congestion.
Where to stay: Villas Foch is an excellent hotel 7-minutes from the event.

Amenities and Attractions

Admission: Free
Lights: Free projection show on the Grand Théâtre facade.
Tree: Glass Christmas tree on Place Pey-Berland.
Santa: Yes
Ice skating: Allées de Tourny
Reason to visit: Beautiful UNESCO city with great museums and historic squares, world-famous wine capital.

Dietary Options

Vegetarian: Available at every food stand.
Vegan: Some option.
Gluten-free: Limited.
Food specialities: Regional delicacies unique to Bordeaux, including its mulled wine.

Accessibility

Accessible: Yes.
Pet-friendly: Yes, dogs are allowed on a lead.

Convenient Hotels

The area around the Monument aux Girondins is an excellent central location, offering local cafes, shops, and museums. I recommend staying at Villas Foch in this area. It’s a highly rated hotel located near the market stalls and squares.

Recommended Tours

I like this city tour of Bordeaux, as it shows several city highlights through the lens of a local guide. It’s particularly suitable if you’re visiting Bordeaux for the first time. The tour covers iconic landmarks and attractions, including the Place de la Bourse, the Monument aux Girondins, and Bordeaux Cathedral.

You won’t want to miss the region’s incredible food and wine. This highly rated cheese and wine tasting is a great place to discover specialty items.

Read our complete guide to the Christmas markets in France.

Visitor Feedback

What Visitors Loved

• The move to the Quinconces gave the market far more room, and traders and many visitors say the wider aisles make it easier to get around at busy times.
• Families rate the expanded children’s programme, with enough going on to make it an easy evening out with kids.
• Even locals who don’t rate it for shopping say it’s worth a stop for a vin chaud and a wander under the lights.

Common Complaints

• Long-time regulars miss the old home on the Allées de Tourny, and some find the vast esplanade less characterful.
• Hot food prices draw the most grumbles, with several reviewers saying meals cost more than they’re worth.
• Some visitors expected more genuine craft and found too many mass-produced gifts among the chalets.
• Weekends get crowded, especially in the evenings, so locals suggest coming on a weekday.

The Bottom Line

Treat Bordeaux’s market as a place to eat, drink and enjoy the lights rather than a serious gift-shopping stop. Go on a weekday evening, when the aisles are calmer and the chalets are lit.

What to Expect

December is when Bordeaux looks its best after dark. The pale limestone facades of the UNESCO-listed centre are strung with lights, and it’s worth walking between the grand squares once the sun goes down.

More than 100 wooden chalets line the esplanade, with French and international makers selling ornaments, gifts and souvenirs. Children get their own programme, including photos with Santa and a lit carousel opposite the Grand Théâtre.

This being the world’s wine capital, bottles from local estates are among the best things to take home.

Regional Specialties

• Canelés: Bordeaux’s signature pastry, small and fluted, with a caramelised crust and a custard centre flavoured with rum and vanilla.
• Thick Hot Chocolate: Incredibly thick and rich, and unlike the hot chocolate you’ll find anywhere else.
• Mulled Wine (Vin Chaud): Local Bordeaux red heated with cinnamon, cloves and slices of orange peel.
• Oysters: From the nearby Atlantic coast around Arcachon Bay, usually served raw on the half shell with lemon.
• Bûche de Noël: France’s classic Christmas dessert, a rolled sponge filled with cream and coated in chocolate to look like a Yule log.

Food at the Stalls

• Aligot: Mashed potato beaten with melted cheese until it stretches, scooped from giant pans.
• Crêpes and Galettes: Sweet crêpes and savoury galettes, often filled with ham, cheese and egg.
• Grilled Sausages: Local sausages served with sautéed potatoes and other sides.
• Gratin Dauphinois: Thinly sliced potatoes baked in garlic-infused cream.

What to Buy

• Bordeaux Wines: A huge selection from the region’s vineyards, ideal as gifts or to take home.
• Canelé Moulds: Copper moulds for baking Bordeaux’s signature pastries at home.
• Artisanal Chocolates: High-quality chocolate from local chocolatiers.
• French Linens: Good-quality tablecloths, serviettes and tea towels.
• Gourmet Food Hampers: Gift boxes of regional specialities.

Sustainability Tips

• Ride the tram to the market: Lines B, C and D all stop at Quinconces, on the edge of the esplanade, so there’s no need to drive into the centre.
• Cross the river on Le Bato: The TBM river shuttle calls at Quinconces, accepts standard TBM tickets and carries up to 10 bikes per crossing.
• Borrow a V³ bike: Bordeaux’s public bike share has several docking stations a short walk from the chalets, and the flat riverside quays are easy riding.
• Order the vegetarian option: The tourist office says vegetarian dishes are offered on every food stand, which makes the lower-impact choice an easy one.
• Shop at the Darwin Xmas Market: This eco-minded market fills a converted military barracks on the right bank over two December weekends, with around 150 makers, and Le Bato stops nearby at Bastide-Darwin.
• Buy regional produce at the Capucins: Bordeaux’s covered market near Place de la Victoire sells Arcachon oysters and South West produce, and opens every morning except Monday.