This guide explains which Bordeaux transport mode solves each visitor journey. It is separate from the step-by-step ticket page, which covers purchase, validation and current fares.
Older four-line summaries are obsolete. Current TBM material uses tram lines A through F, with Line F linking the airport, central stops and Gare Saint-Jean.
Planning the full trip? Compare durations, districts and current logistics in the Bordeaux itinerary planner.
Walk Inside the Historic Core
Turn this guide into a personal route with our free Bordeaux itinerary planner.
Saint-Michel, Pey-Berland, Saint-Pierre, Place de la Bourse and Quinconces form a largely walkable sequence. Cobbles, heat and distance still matter. Use a tram for a deliberate transfer rather than boarding for every central stop.
Read the Six Tram Lines
Use the current TBM map for lines A, B, C, D, E and F. Line B serves Cité du Vin. C, D and F serve Gare Saint-Jean on current maps. Line F connects the airport and station through central Bordeaux. Works can change through-routing, so avoid memorizing old branches.
Use Buses for Gaps and Direct Routes
Buses and high-service Lianes reach areas away from tram rails. A direct bus can outperform a two-transfer tram route. After 22:00, eligible routes offer requested drop-off between stops when the driver judges it safe; this is not a pickup-anywhere service.
Treat Le Bato as Transport
TBM tickets include Le Bato, the river shuttle, subject to the chosen ticket rules. It is different from a narrated sightseeing cruise. Current seasonal service and pontoon patterns require a live check; use it when the route helps, not merely for a short boat ride.
Airport, Bikes and Accessibility
Line F currently provides a direct airport–station path in about 45 minutes under normal service. V3 bikes suit confident riders but require docking and traffic awareness. Low-floor vehicles help, yet lifts, stop surfaces and the final street must be checked door to door.
How to Use This Guide on the Day
Treat every time, fare and opening pattern as a planning input rather than a guarantee. Recheck the controlling official page on the evening before the visit and again before leaving. Save the exact entrance, ticket barcode and one same-area alternative offline. Free access can still change for worship, weather, maintenance, capacity, events or public safety.
Allow more time than a routing app's fastest estimate. Bordeaux is relatively flat in the center, but cobbles, long north-south distances, river crossings, station exits and museum interiors affect real effort. Travelers who require step-free access should verify each platform, lift, street, threshold and toilet separately; an accessible venue does not make the whole route accessible.
Keep one element flexible around every fixed booking. A square, café, public garden, riverbank or exterior can shorten or disappear if the previous stop runs late. If a closure occurs, replace the unavailable stop inside the same district before crossing the city. This protects later reservations and keeps one disruption from consuming the day.
Plan with Live Information
This guide was checked against first-party information on August 5, 2026. Bordeaux transport, attraction access, prices, weather, works, worship, exhibitions and event controls can change after publication. Reopen the official source that controls your date before paying, departing or relying on an accessible route. A reservation manages one part of the visit; it does not remove security, guarantee every space or protect a connection scheduled without buffer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tram lines does Bordeaux have in 2026?
Current TBM information shows six lines, A through F.
Which tram goes to Cité du Vin?
Tram B serves the La Cité du Vin stop, about a two-minute walk from the museum.
Which tram goes to Bordeaux airport?
Current Line F connects the airport with central Bordeaux and Gare Saint-Jean.
Is Le Bato included in TBM tickets?
Yes. TBM says its tickets include Le Bato travel, subject to the ticket's validity and required validation.