Bordeaux

Getting to Bordeaux

Bordeaux is easily accessed from many parts of the world making it an enticing destination to learn French in France. An increasing number of cities have direct flights to Bordeaux-Mérignac International Airport with low cost and regular airlines. There are also direct, high-speed TGV trains which run regularly from central Paris and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport to Bordeaux. France's extensive motorway system also makes driving to Bordeaux easy and direct from all over France and northern Spain.

Travelling to Bordeaux by Air

Bordeaux airport is in Mérignac, 10km west of the city centre. Receiving more than 200 flights per week from regional, national and international carriers, there are many direct flights to Bordeaux, making it a popular destination for French language students.

NEWS FROM THE SKY ! NEW FLIGHT CONNECTIONS TO BORDEAUX FOR 2009

• Flights from Oslo to Bordeaux: NORWEGIAN AIR will soon be launching a flight connecting Oslo to Bordeaux.
• Flights from Stockholm to Bordeaux: like in 2008, NORWEGIAN AIR will continue to operate a flight between Stockholm and Bordeaux.
• Flights from Geneva to Bordeaux: BABOO airlines will continue to operate a fight from Geneva to Bordeaux. Flights from Liverpool to Bordeaux: in June 2009 EASYJET will launch a flight connecting Liverpool (UK) to Bordeaux and will operate a flight from Bordeaux to Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg.
• Flight from Rome to Bordeaux: AIR FRANCE, via Alitalia, will double the number of flights between Rome and Bordeaux.

Full information on direct flights to Bordeaux

• Direct flights from The United Kingdom and The Republic of Ireland to Bordeaux:
  • Birmingham (bmi baby)
  • Bristol (easyJet)
  • Dublin (Aer Lingus)
  • London Gatwick (British Airways)
  • London Luton (easyJet)
  • Manchester (bmi baby)
  • Southampton (Flybe)
• Direct flights from Belgium to Bordeaux:
  • Brussels (Air France)
• Direct flights from Germany to Bordeaux:
  • Frankfurt (Lufthansa)
  • Cologne (Germanwings)
• Direct flights from Italy to Bordeaux:
  • Bologna (MyAir)
  • Milan (MyAir)
  • Rome (Air France)
  • Venice (MyAir)
• Direct flights from Portugal to Bordeaux:
  • Lisbon (Air France)
  • Porto (Air France)
• Direct flights from Spain to Bordeaux:
  • Barcelona (Air France)
  • Madrid (Iberia)
• Direct flights from Switzerland to Bordeaux:
  • Basel (Air France)
  • Geneva (easyJet, Air France)
• Direct flights from Sweden to Bordeaux:
  • Stockholm (FlyNordic)
• Direct flights from Africa to Bordeaux:
  • Abidjan (Air Ivoire)
  • Algiers (Air Algerie)
  • Casablanca (Royal Air Maroc)
  • Marrakech (Atlas Blue)
  • Tunis (Tunis Air, Air France)
• Direct flights to Bordeaux within France:
  • Brest (Airlinair)
  • Clermont-Ferrand (Air France)
  • Lille (Air France)
  • Lyon (easyJet, Air France)
  • Marseille (Air France)
  • Montpellier (Air France)
  • Nantes (Air France)
  • Nice (Air France)
  • Paris Charles de Gaulle (Air France)
  • Paris Orly (Air France)
  • Rennes (Airlinair)
  • Strasbourg (Air France)

Full information on direct flights to Bergerac

Alternatively there are direct flights with low cost airlines from other major cities to Bergerac Roumanières Airport which is just 87 km from Bordeaux. To get to the French school in Bordeaux from the town of Bergerac (a five minute taxi journey from the airport), you can hire a car or catch a train to Bordeaux’s Gare St-Jean which takes approximately one hour.

• Direct flights from The United Kingdom and The Republic of Ireland to Bergerac:
  • Belfast (Flybe)
  • Birmingham (Flybe)
  • Bristol (Flybe, Ryanair)
  • Edinburgh (Flybe)
  • Exeter (Flybe)
  • Leeds Bradford (Flybe)
  • Liverpool (Ryanair)
  • London Gatwick (Flybe)
  • London Stansted (Ryanair)
  • Nottingham East Midlands (Ryanair)
  • Southampton (Flybe)
• Direct flights from Belgium to Bergerac:
  • Brussels (Ryanair)
• Direct flights from The Netherlands to Bergerac:
  • Amsterdam (Transavia)

Travelling to Bordeaux by Train

The main railway station in Bordeaux is Gare St-Jean, located about 3km from Bordeaux city centre, which has between 230 and 260 trains arriving daily. Of these, 25 are the high speed TGV train from Paris which takes just 3 hours. You have a choice of boarding the train from Paris Montparnasse or if you have just flown into France there is a railway station at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle International Airport with direct TGV trains to Bordeaux. The TGV Atlantique also stops in Libourne, Arcachon, Bayonne, Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Hendaye and Irun (Spain). Trains also arrive in Bordeaux from Nantes, Poitiers, La Rochelle and Toulouse.

Arrival in Bordeaux

Students staying with host families will be met by a member of the family at the airport or train station. Please provide details concerning your arrival in Bordeaux at least 2 weeks in advance. Students staying in an apartment or hotel must make their way to their chosen accommodation either by bus or taxi.

Arrival by train

If you are being met at the train station, follow the signs to the POINT-RENCONTRE (meeting point), which is situated on the lower level and look out for someone holding a sign with your name on it. For those not being met, the bus (nos. 1, 7 and 8) and tram stop outside the station and go directly to the city centre - cost 1.15€ There are also taxis which cost approximately 15€ to go to the city centre.

Arrival at the airport

If you are being met at the airport, please look out for someone holding a sign with your name on it. For those not being met, there is a shuttle-bus service just outside the airport that takes you to the city centre, departing every 30 minutes. Cost: around 6€. Taxis cost between 30€ and 50€ depending on the time you arrive and the time it takes to go into the city.

Emergencies

In the event of an emergency outside office hours, contact BLS at the following emergency number : +33 (0)6 99 42 56 15