You can travel from Bordeaux to Saint-Émilion by regional train, seasonal coach, car or bike, or on a half-day tour run by the Bordeaux tourist office.
The short answer
Take the TER from Bordeaux Saint-Jean to Saint-Émilion station on line 33 (Bordeaux–Sarlat). About 16 trains run each day, the fastest journey takes 29 minutes, and tickets start at €9.50 ($10).
The station is about 1.5 km south of the village, a walk of about 20 minutes. By car, allow around 35 minutes from Bordeaux, depending on traffic.
Your options
| Option | From | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| TER line 33 | Bordeaux Saint-Jean | 29 min fastest | From €9.50 ($10) |
| Coach line 4617 | Bordeaux Quinconces (Orléans stop) | Leaves 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. | €2.50 ($3) single, €4.50 ($5) round trip |
| Car | Bordeaux | About 35 min | Paid parking €2 ($2) an hour |
| Tourist office half-day tour | 12 Cours du 30 Juillet, Bordeaux | 5 hours | From €55 ($59) |
| Bike | Bordeaux | — | — |
TER train
Saint-Émilion station is on the TER Bordeaux–Sarlat line. The first train leaves Bordeaux at 5:50 a.m. and the last at 9:34 p.m. Coming back, the first train leaves Saint-Émilion at 6:11 a.m. and the last at 8:50 p.m.
To reach Bordeaux Saint-Jean from the city center, take tram line C. A TBM single ticket costs €1.90 ($2) and is valid for one hour.
Saint-Émilion has no TGV station. The nearest are Bordeaux Saint-Jean and Libourne, 7 km from Saint-Émilion. If you come from Paris, the direct TGV to Bordeaux takes 2 hours 4 minutes; the Paris to Bordeaux by train page covers that leg.
From the station to the village
The walk takes about 20 minutes. Sidewalks cover only part of the access road, and the path up to the village slopes.
Other ways up:
- Tuk-Tuk des Cordeliers: a transfer at €5 ($5) per person, between 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- eDog electric scooters: shared scooters booked in the eDog app, subject to availability.
- Taxi or private driver: book in advance.
Regional coach
Transports en Nouvelle-Aquitaine runs line 4617 every day, operated by Citram Aquitaine. Coaches leave Bordeaux Quinconces (Orléans stop) at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., call at Arveyres and Libourne Gare Routière, and reach Saint-Émilion (Bourg stop) at 10:05 a.m., 12:05 p.m. and 2:05 p.m.
Return coaches leave Saint-Émilion at 12:10 p.m., 4:10 p.m. and 6:10 p.m. and reach Bordeaux Quinconces at 1:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. In high season, the stop is about 100 meters on foot from the village center.
A single ticket costs €2.50 ($3) and is valid for 2 hours. A round-trip ticket costs €4.50 ($5) and is valid for the day, and a 10-trip carnet costs €20 ($22). Tickets are sold online and in the Modalis app. Trams B, C and D stop at Quinconces.
By car
From Bordeaux, the N89 runs to Libourne, and the A89 Libourne exit is 12 km from Saint-Émilion.
Free parking is in the lot behind the gendarmerie, at Espace Guadet and at the station parking lot. Paid parking around the collegiate church, at the top of the village, and on Place Bouqueyre, at the bottom, costs €2 ($2) an hour from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., for 5 hours maximum. Pay with the PayByPhone or FlowBird apps.
Tourist office half-day tour
The Bordeaux Metropole Tourist Office organizes a 5-hour coach tour to Saint-Émilion from €55 ($59) per person. It leaves at 1:30 p.m. from the tourist office at 12 Cours du 30 Juillet and returns at 6:30 p.m. Arrive 15 minutes early.
The tour includes a professional guide, a walk through the village, entry to the underground church and a visit and tasting at one château in Saint-Émilion or Fronsac. It runs in French and English, and children under 5 aren't admitted.
By bike
Cycle routes from Bordeaux run via Lormont, Vayres and Libourne, or via Latresne, Créon and Branne. Use marked roads and hiking trails.
Before you go
- The current line 4617 timetable runs from August 29 to November 1, 2026, then from April 10 to June 25, 2027. Outside high season, the bus stops at Libourne, 7 km away, and you continue by taxi.
- Reservations are compulsory at the estates on the Saint-Émilion tourist office's château-of-the-day list, which shows between 2 and 4 estates open for tastings each day.
- Book the underground monument tour online ahead of time. It lasts about 45 minutes to 1 hour, and places are limited.
- Vehicles over 2 meters wide or over 6 metric tons can't drive through Saint-Émilion.
- Free parking spaces are limited. Arrive early in busy periods.
- If you drive and plan to taste, spit as you go or choose a designated driver.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Bordeaux to Saint-Émilion?
The fastest TER from Bordeaux Saint-Jean to Saint-Émilion takes 29 minutes, on the Bordeaux–Sarlat line. About 16 trains run each day, from 5:50 a.m. to 9:34 p.m., and tickets start at €9.50 ($10).
Can I walk from Saint-Émilion station to the village?
Yes. The station is about 1.5 km south of the village, a walk of about 20 minutes on a sloping path with sidewalks on only part of the road. The Tuk-Tuk des Cordeliers transfer costs €5 ($5) per person.
Is there a bus from Bordeaux to Saint-Émilion?
Regional coach line 4617 leaves Bordeaux Quinconces daily at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on its seasonal timetable, which runs to November 1, 2026 and restarts April 10, 2027. A single ticket costs €2.50 ($3).
Where do I park in Saint-Émilion?
Free lots are behind the gendarmerie, at Espace Guadet and at the station. Paid parking near the collegiate church and on Place Bouqueyre costs €2 ($2) an hour, for 5 hours maximum, payable with PayByPhone or FlowBird.
