Getting from Bordeaux to the Médoc and the six Haut-Médoc communes of Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Moulis-en-Médoc and Listrac-Médoc works by car, TER train, regional coach or the tourist office's half-day tour.
The short answer
By car, Margaux is about 45 minutes from Bordeaux on the D2, and Pauillac is 50 minutes on the D2 or the D1215. Without a car, the TER reaches Margaux in about 42 minutes and Pauillac in 1 hour 4 minutes at fastest, with 12 trains a day to Pauillac.
Médoc château visits are by reservation unless the château clearly announces visits without an appointment.
Your options
| Option | From | To | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car on the D2 | Bordeaux ring road, exit 7 or 8 | Margaux | About 45 min | — |
| Car on the D2 or D1215 | Bordeaux ring road, exit 7 or 8 | Pauillac | 50 min | — |
| TER train | Bordeaux Saint-Jean | Margaux | 42 min fastest | — |
| TER train | Bordeaux Saint-Jean | Pauillac | 1h04 fastest | — |
| Coach line 424 | Bordeaux | Pauillac | About 1h30 | €2.50 ($3) single |
| Tourist office half-day tour | Bordeaux tourist office | Two Médoc châteaux | 5 hours | €55 ($59) |
By car
From the Bordeaux ring road (A630), leave at exit 7 or 8 and take the D2 toward Blanquefort, Macau and Margaux. The D2 is the Route des Châteaux: the Médoc wine route follows it for about a hundred kilometers, from Blanquefort to Saint-Vivien-de-Médoc near the Pointe de Grave.
Pauillac is 50 km from Bordeaux, 50 minutes by car on the D2 or the D1215.
Ferries also cross the Gironde to the Médoc, from Blaye to Lamarque and from Royan to Le Verdon-sur-Mer.
By TER train
The TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine line 42, Bordeaux – Le Verdon-sur-Mer, crosses the whole Médoc from Bordeaux Saint-Jean. It stops at Margaux, Moulis-Listrac and Pauillac.
The fastest train to Margaux takes about 42 minutes, with stops such as Blanquefort, Ludon and Macau on the way. For the Margaux area, the tourist office advises Margaux Cantenac station. Taxis and rental cars are available on request.
Pauillac has 12 trains a day from Bordeaux, and the fastest takes 1 hour 4 minutes. Pauillac station is at 2 bis Place de Verdun and opens Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and from 8:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and public holidays.
By regional coach
Regional coach line 424 (formerly 705) runs from Bordeaux to Pauillac, with stops at Cussac-Fort-Médoc and Saint-Julien-Beychevelle. The trip takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Line 422 runs between Lesparre and Bordeaux.
A single ticket costs €2.50 ($3) and is valid for 2 hours. A round-trip ticket valid for the day costs €4.50 ($5). Buy tickets online or in the Modalis app.
The tourist office's half-day tour
The Bordeaux Metropolitan Tourist Office runs the Châteaux & Terroirs half-day coach tour, which goes to the Médoc on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It leaves the tourist office at 12 Cours du 30 Juillet at 1:30 p.m. and returns about 6:30 p.m.
The tour costs €55 ($59) per person and includes two château visits with two wines tasted at each, with a guide in French and English. Each participant needs an e-ticket, and children under 5 aren't accepted.
On foot and by bike from Pauillac
The Maison du Tourisme et du Vin at La Verrerie in Pauillac houses the Médoc-Vignoble tourist office. It books visits to its partner châteaux and provides a map of the Grand Cru châteaux.
La Randonnée des Châteaux starts there, with loops of 8 and 14 km on foot or by bike. The 14 km loop takes about 4 hours and passes Château Pontet-Canet, Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Pédesclaux, with a viewpoint over Lafite Rothschild. The tourist office lists bike rental in Pauillac, and from Pauillac you can cycle along the estuary to Saint-Estèphe.
Château visits
- Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac: the "Lynch-Bages from the inside" tour lasts 1 hour 30 minutes, costs €25 ($27) per person and runs Monday to Saturday. Book online.
- Château Duhart-Milon, Pauillac: in the village, near the docks, open Monday to Friday all year. The 30-minute Guided Tasting costs €20 ($22) and needs no reservation, subject to availability. The 1-hour Discovery Tour at €30 ($32) and the Experience Tour of 1 hour 30 minutes at €40 ($43) are by reservation.
- Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac: private tours of about two to two and a half hours with a tasting, for eight people at most, Monday to Friday.
- Château Margaux: cellar visits by appointment only, Monday to Friday. Tasting is only for professionals.
- Château Angludet, Cantenac: tasting tours at €25 ($27), €40 ($43) and €50 ($54). From April 1 to October 31 it opens daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the rest of the year Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Château Prieuré-Lichine, Cantenac: on the D2 at 34 avenue de la Vème République, with prices from €12 to €35 ($13–38).
Before you go
- Some estates are booked up for several days ahead. Book each château visit as early as possible.
- Château Margaux and Château Mouton Rothschild close on public holidays and stop visits during the harvest. Château Margaux also closes in August.
- Book Château Mouton Rothschild at least two months in advance.
- If you drive and plan to taste, spit as you go or choose a designated driver.
For the train from Paris, see Paris to Bordeaux by train. For the wider region, see the Bordeaux wine region.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Bordeaux to the Médoc?
Margaux is about 45 minutes from Bordeaux on the D2, and Pauillac is 50 minutes on the D2 or the D1215. Leave the Bordeaux ring road at exit 7 or 8. Pauillac is 50 km from Bordeaux.
Can I get to the Médoc châteaux by train from Bordeaux?
Yes. The TER Bordeaux – Le Verdon-sur-Mer line runs from Bordeaux Saint-Jean and stops at Margaux, Moulis-Listrac and Pauillac. The fastest train reaches Margaux in about 42 minutes and Pauillac in 1 hour 4 minutes.
Is there a bus from Bordeaux to Pauillac?
Regional coach line 424, formerly 705, runs from Bordeaux to Pauillac in about 1 hour 30 minutes, with stops at Cussac-Fort-Médoc and Saint-Julien-Beychevelle. A single ticket costs €2.50 ($3) and is valid for 2 hours.
Does the Bordeaux tourist office run tours to the Médoc?
Yes. Its Châteaux & Terroirs half-day coach tour goes to the Médoc on Tuesdays and Saturdays, leaving the tourist office at 1:30 p.m. It costs €55 ($59) per person and includes two château visits with tastings.
