Bordeaux, France

• Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne with a UNESCO-listed centre. The old town is flat and compact, with pale limestone facades, wide quays and the Miroir d'Eau, and most sights are within a 30-minute walk of each other. It generally has a calm reputation for a big French city, including for women travelling alone.
• Eating or drinking alone is normal. Wine bars, terraces and market halls are full of people on their own, and staff will seat one person without fuss and explain the wine list if asked. English is understood in the centre and in hotels, but start every interaction with bonjour, since walking into a shop or cafe without it is considered rude.
• The main problems are minor. Pickpockets work around Place de la Bourse, on the tram and at Gare Saint-Jean, and the bars around Place de la Victoire and Saint-Michel can bring drunken groups and catcalling once they close. Violent crime against visitors is uncommon.
• Trams, buses and the river shuttle cover the city, and the old town is easiest on foot. Late at night, stick to busy streets, the night bus or a taxi, and skip the short cuts past the station and through the quieter streets of Saint-Michel and Victoire.

French is the main language. English is understood in hotels, restaurants and shops in the centre, but much less outside the tourist areas. The 112 operators can take calls in English. The 3919 helpline is free, anonymous and open around the clock, with support in several languages.

• Say bonjour when you enter a shop, cafe or restaurant and au revoir when you leave. Leaving it out comes across as rude.
• Lunch is usually 12:00-14:00 and dinner starts around 19:30-20:00. Many restaurants close between services and on Sundays or Mondays, so check opening hours.
• People dress in a stylish but casual way. Shorts and sundresses are fine in summer, but beachwear belongs at the beach. Cover your shoulders and knees in churches.
• Wine is part of everyday life, and ordering a glass at a bar on your own is ordinary. Drinking on public squares and the quays is tolerated in some spots, so check local signs and rules.
• A firm but polite non, merci is the usual way to end unwanted attention. If someone keeps going, step into a shop or cafe and ask the staff for help.

The first hour after landing is when you're tired, carrying everything, and easiest to take advantage of. Three things to sort before you fly:

• Your ride from the airport. A driver who meets you in arrivals, at a price fixed before you fly — no haggling at the taxi rank.

  Book an airport pickup

• Data the moment you land. Maps, ride apps and a way to call for help as soon as you switch your phone on. An eSIM installs at home.

  Get a good eSIM

• The emergency number. General Emergency (police, ambulance, fire): 112. Save it in your phone, not just on this page.

  All emergency contacts

• Most of the centre is walkable. The old town, the quays and Chartrons are linked by flat walking routes, and the riverside path stays busy with walkers and cyclists in the evening.
• The TBM network covers trams, buses and the BatCub river shuttle. Buy a ticket at the stop machine or in the TBM app and validate it when you board. Watch your phone and bag on crowded trams, especially line C and the stops near Place de la Bourse and the station.
• Trams and Lianes buses run until about midnight, later at weekends. A night bus runs on weekend nights, and there is also an on-demand night service. Taxis and ride-hailing apps work reliably and are the better option for getting back from Saint-Michel, Victoire or the station area.
• Bordeaux has a lot of bike lanes and a public bike share. Use a good lock and don't leave bags in the basket.
• If you're planning day trips outside the city, consider renting a car.

Explore Bordeaux with local guides and curated experiences.