FAQ
Everything you might want to know about your next visit to the Cité du Vin!
Prepare your visit to Cité du Vin
General Information
How long does it take to visit the permanent exhibition?
The Permanent Exhibition is very rich in content - prepare your visit and don’t get caught out!
- Short of time? Personalise your visit by specifying the time you have available in the visit companion which will be given to you at the entrance to the Permanent Exhibition
- Plenty of time to spare? The average visit to the Permanent Exhibition takes between 2 and 3 hours, to discover the 19 areas at your own pace.
- An absolute fan? Spend a whole day here! The Permanent Exhibition has up to 6 hours of content, so there is never a dull moment!
Don’t forget! Whatever the length of your visit, set some time aside to go the Belvedere (8th floor) and taste a glass of wine while admiring a panoramic view of Bordeaux, included in your ticket.
Do I have to buy a ticket in advance to visit the permanent exhibition?
You do not have to buy a ticket in advance to visit the permanent exhibition. However, booking a ticket online will give you direct access to the permanent tour entrance on the second floor without having to queue at the ticket office.
If you do not yet know what day you will be visiting, you can choose the permanent exhibition + belvedere open ticket. This undated ticket is valid for a year from the purchase date: very practical if you want to give a ticket to the Cité du Vin as a gift, allowing the recipient to choose when they come to visit!
Can I bring children to La Cité du Vin?
Yes! Contrary to what you might expect, the Cité du Vin is also a great place to visit with children, whether the permanent exhibition or for a family workshop. They will learn plenty of new things, often linked to their school curriculum!
A 'juniors' themed tour, designed to offer a fun way for children aged 7 to 12 to visit the permanent exhibition is available as a free leaflet from the exhibition entrance, or you can download it here. Please also ask our reception staff to program your child’s Travel Companion in ‘junior’ mode.
Is there a special rate for families?
Yes, our ticket office offers a family pack:
- 2 adults + 2 children (aged 6-17) €54.00
- Additional child €6.00
- Under 6s FREE
Please note: The family pack and child tickets can be purchased online. Remember to bring proof of your children’s age with you when you arrive at the entrance to the permanent exhibition.
We also offer other reduced rates:
- ADULT REDUCED RATE – Solo and duo season ticket holder, disabled people, student, French or European job seeker, Bordeaux Métropole Youth Card holder (or for an adult companion if the holder is under the age of sixteen), subscription TBM holder, Senior citizen's pass Bordeaux holder, Mollat card holder.
- CHILD REDUCED RATE – disabled children
- CHILD RATE – young people aged 6 to 17
Can I bring my pet to the Cité du Vin?
Unfortunately pets are not permitted at the Cité du Vin, with the exception of guide dogs or service dogs.
Are tickets named?
No, tickets to visit the Cité du Vin are not named.
Someone has given me a La Cité du Vin gift card, how do I use it?
Lucky you! Depending on how much is on the card, you can use it once or several times at the Cité du Vin ticket office or shop, to buy things like:
- Permanent exhibition + belvedere tickets
- Adult, family and children’s workshops
- Guided tours
- Events and shows
- Season tickets
- Items from the Cité du Vin shop
NB: The card is valid for 12 months from the purchase date.
It cannot be used online (for purchasing e-tickets). It cannot be used in the Le 7 panoramic restaurant, or in the Latitude20 wine cellar, brasserie wine bar or snack café.
Is there food available inside the Cité du Vin?
Yes, food is available from three different venues, depending on your budget and how much time you have.
On the ground floor, with a lovely terrace overlooking the gardens where you can sit when the weather is good, you will find:
- The Latitude20 snack café, open from 10 a.m. for quick meals, snacks or just a coffee
- The Latitude20 Brasserie wine bar, is a convivial and cosy venue perfect for enjoying food from all over the world in the heart of Bordeaux, paired with a selection of gourmet wines. It is open from 10 a.m.
The seventh floor is home to Le 7 restaurant, with its unique panoramic views of Bordeaux and the Port of the Moon. It offers a menu that changes with the seasons, using local produce to create cuisine with flavours from all over the world. And the wine list includes more than 500 bottles!
Is there a car park reserved for visitors to La Cité du Vin?
No, there is no car park reserved for visitors to La Cité du Vin. However, there are some spaces reserved for people with reduced mobility and numerous public car parks near to La Cité du Vin:
- - There also spaces reserved for people with reduced mobility at the entrance to La Cité du Vin. The PMR car park is open 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., for access outside of these hours please contact the security control room on 05 56 04 96 54.
- Paid Interparking car park opposite La Cité du Vin, entrance on Rue de Gironde. Open daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.: five-hour stay costs €5.50. Remember to book a space!
- Paid car park at Hangar 19 (Quai de Bacalan)
Are there wheelchairs available?
Yes, there are wheelchairs available to borrow from reception. La Cité du Vin is accessible to disabled visitors and takes their needs into account. On 22 March 2017, La Cité du Vin was awarded the French State Tourism and Disability accreditation for the four different disability families: hearing, mental, physical and visual.
Which direction should you go when visiting the La Cité du Vin permanent exhibition?
Any direction! Visitors are free to visit the 18 different spaces in the order they wish and at their own pace, according to their interests, their level of knowledge, and the time they have available. If one area is too full, feel free to go and explore another part of the exhibition then come back later!
However, if you would prefer to be guided through the permanent exhibition, our teams have designed four different themed visits to suit you:
- 'Feast your eyes’: discover all of the most impressive attractions of the permanent exhibition in one hour. (with seating available in each area)
- 'Juniors’ visit: for children aged 7 to 12 who want to learn whilst having fun.
What payment methods do you accept at the Cité du Vin itself?
The Cité du Vin’s counters can accept the following payment methods:
- Bank card
- Cash
- Holiday vouchers
Can I bring a picnic or lunch with me?
You can have a picnic outside, in the gardens of the Cité du Vin, a perfect place to wander and relax, and open to all free of charge (during the Cité du Vin’s opening hours).
Can I visit with a buggy? Is there storage for buggies?
There is no storage for buggies (or for scooters, skateboards or other devices on wheels, none of which are permitted inside the Cité du Vin). However, the permanent exhibition is spacious and can easily be visited with a (single) buggy.
Does the Cité du Vin have a cloakroom or luggage storage service?
Yes, we offer a storage services for small bags under 90 x 40 x 52 cm in size. However, suitcases are not permitted, nor are scooters or skateboards. Bicycles can be left suitably attached to one of the spaces reserved for this purpose on the La Cité du Vin forecourt.
Can I visit the Cité du Vin if I have limited mobility or trouble walking?
If you find it difficult to stand, we recommend following the 'Feast your eyes’ route through the permanent exhibition. It focuses on areas where you can sit down to enjoy the show!
In addition, you may borrow a wheelchair from La Cité du Vin’s reception and use it to visit the permanent exhibition.
Can I buy the wines tasted on the Belvedere or in the wine culture workshops?
The wines tasted are carefully selected by our 50 partners to showcase their country or wine region. Our tastings see more than 3000 different wines presented throughout the year.
As you can imagine, it would be impossible to stock this quantity of wines. The Latitude 20 wine cellar offers a selection of 800 bottles, and you will definitely be able to find a wine from the same region of the world that will remind you of your tasting experience.
How can I buy a reduced rate ticket?
Reduced rate tickets can only be bought on site, at the Cité du Vin’s ticket office, and are subject to proof of identity.
We offer several reduced rates tickets:
- ADULT REDUCED RATE – Solo and duo season ticket holder, disabled people, student, French or European job seeker, Bordeaux Métropole Youth Card holder (or for an adult companion if the holder is under the age of sixteen), subscription TBM holder, Senior citizen's pass Bordeaux holder, Mollat card holder.
- CHILD REDUCED RATE – disabled children and Bordeaux Métropole Youth Card holder
- CHILD RATE – young people aged 6 to 17
Is there a group rate and how can I book group tickets?
Yes, a group rate is available for groups of 20 or more people.
To book your tickets, contact us on +33 (0)05 56 16 20 20 or by email at resagroup@fondationccv.org
What are the advantages of the Annual Pass?
This Annual Pass grants admission to the Permanent exhibition, Belvedere (5 tastings per year, one per day maximum) and at the temporary exhibitions for a duration of 12 months from the date the document is edited, as often as you wish.
Advantages of the Annual Pass:
- 30% off the events, workshops and guided tours tickets (available on place or online) ;
- Advantageous rates for those accompanying you: 10% off the Permanent exhibition + Belvedere ticket, the Temporary exhibition ticket and the Combined Permanent exhibition + Belvedere + Temporary exhibition ticket (maximum 4 people accompanying you) ;
- Advantages in the shops and restaurants of the Cité du Vin: 10% off all purchases at the Cité du Vin gift shop (except books); 5% off Latitude20 entire offer: Wine cellar (excluding the website), Brasserie, Snack ; 10% off Latitude20 events (excluding prestige dinners) (offer not combinable with other promotions in progress); 1 glass of wine offered to the Annual Pass owner during his first booking at Le 7 Restaurant ;
- Reduced rates in the museums of Bordeaux: Musée des Beaux-Arts, CAPC, Musée des Arts décoratifs et du Design, Base sous-marine, Musée d'Aquitaine and Museum Bordeaux.
- Access to priority ticket-office for your purchases and for the purchases by people accompanying you on presentation of the Annual pass.
Are some visitors free of charge?
Free admission to the permanent exhibition and the sensory tasting journey, Via Sensoria, is offered, at the Cité du Vin reception desk and on presentation of the corresponding receipts:
- Holders of a valid ICOM card
- Journalists on presentation of their press card
- Tour guides on presentation of their guide card
- People receiving RSA (social security), on presentation of their CAF payment certificate
- Accompanying persons with disabilities, if their card specifies "Need of accompaniment" or disability of more than 50%.
- Children under 6 years of age
What days are the Cité du Vin closed? Is the Cité du Vin open on public holidays?
The Cité du Vin is open every day of the year, including public holidays, with the exception of 25 December and some days in January, when the museum is closed for maintenance.
Is the audio guide included in the admission price?
Yes, the admission price for the permanent exhibition includes the Cite du Vin’s digital audio guide, which is available in 8 languages (French, English, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, Chinese and Portuguese). We also offer a version especially for children (with a fun, child-friendly tour).
Do I need to book in advance to go to a tasting workshop?
To guarantee you get a space at our tasting workshops, we recommend that you book in advance for the day you plan to visit to the Cité du Vin. However, if a workshop still has spaces available, you can buy a ticket on the day.
Don’t forget! To make sure our visitors get the best experience possible, all workshops begin on time and latecomers will not be admitted.
Can we access the Belvedere without visiting the rest of the Cité du Vin?
You can only access the Belvedere with an admission ticket for the permanent exhibition (unless you are a Cité du Vin annual pass holder, in which case you can visit the Belvedere as often as you like!).
At an incredible height of 35 metres, and on the 8th floor of the Cité du Vin, the Belvedere gives visitors a unique panoramic view over Bordeaux and is an important part of the permanent exhibition. Here you can enjoy a glass of wine of your choice from a selection of wine regions from across the world.
Can I change the date or time of my time-stamped ticket?
To request a change of time or date on your time-stamped ticket, please contact the Cité du Vin reception desk by telephone on 05 56 16 20 20.
Is there a baby changing or breastfeeding area?
A baby-changing area is available on the ground floor of the Cité du Vin. You can also breast-feed your child there. Other areas of the Cité du Vin, such as the Reading Room, provide a quiet and comfortable place to breastfeed.