Getting Around

Bicycle Hire

La Maison du Vélo, 69 cours Pasteur (tel: (05) 5633 7375), rents out good bicycles for the day or longer.

Public Transport

The Communauté Urbaine de Bordeaux (CUB) (tel: (05) 5757 8888; www.infotbc.com) runs an efficient network of buses (95 lines) that join up with the three lines of the tramway, connecting the city centre with the surrounding area of Bordeaux from 0500-0100. The tramway also connects with the car parks outside the centre, to avoid traffic jams and parking fares. A Tickarte (valid for 1 or 7 days) allows free travel on the network and access to the car parks outside the centre.

Taxis

There are 24-hour taxi ranks at the railway station, on place Gambetta and in key locations all over Bordeaux, including the Grand Théâtre and the Hôtel de Ville. Reputable taxi companies in Bordeaux include Allo Taxis Girondins (tel: (05) 5699 2841) and Aquitaine Taxi Radio (tel: (05) 5686 8030).

Velo Taxis (taxi bikes) are also available Monday to Saturday year round in the city centre only. Contact Cyclopolitain (tel: (05) 5623 0038; http://bordeaux.cyclopolitain.com) or Cycloville (tel: (06) 6937 9965; www.cycloville.com) for more information.

Car Hire

The surroundings of Bordeaux, with some of the world's best vineyards, excellent beaches and gorgeous countryside, are perfect to explore by car. Car hire agencies with offices at the airport and/or the train station include: Avis (tel: 0820 611 674; www.avis.fr), Budget (tel: (05) 5647 8422; www.budget.fr), Europcar (tel: 0825 004 246; www.europcar.fr), Hertz (tel: (05) 5759 0595; www.hertz.fr) and Sixt (tel: (05) 5692 0835; www.sixt.com).

If you'd rather not drive, Les Taxis Touristiques Bordelais (tel: (06) 2488 2209; www.bordeaux-excursions.com) offer tours to two of the best known vineyards in the area, Médoc and Saint Emilion.