France’s Atlantic half tells a generous story—Bordeaux, shaped by the Garonne and centuries of wine commerce, and the Pays de la Loire, where the Loire River fans into marshes, beaches, and cities with a creative pulse. In one week you’ll trace trade routes and vineyard lanes, taste Grand Cru and Muscadet, and cycle riverside paths that locals adore.

Bordeaux’s medieval spine and graceful 18th‑century facades reveal a city that prospered on wine, wood, and wool. Today, it pairs UNESCO‑listed elegance with natural wine bars, markets, and a quayside made for bikes. The Pays de la Loire centers on Nantes—historic capital of Brittany turned art‑forward hub—plus coastal Guérande and La Baule, and vineyard villages shaped by the Sèvre and Maine.

Practical notes: This itinerary is built around trains and bikes, ideal for a midrange budget (50/100). For flights to or within Europe, compare on Omio (flights); for trains and buses between cities use Omio (trains) and Omio (buses). If you’re flying long‑haul into Europe, also check Kiwi.com for global options.

Bordeaux

Nicknamed “La Belle Endormie” (the Sleeping Beauty), Bordeaux woke up brilliantly—pedestrian boulevards, a bike‑friendly riverfront, and a food scene that ranges from market oyster counters to neo‑bistros. Its wine story is legendary: Left Bank (Médoc) cabernet power, Right Bank (Saint‑Émilion) merlot silk, and Graves’ mineral whites.

Top draws include the mirror‑smooth Miroir d’Eau, the Gothic Pey‑Berland tower by the cathedral, the Chartrons antique quarter, and an easy tram grid that lets you roam cheaply. Foodie moments: canelés with caramelized crusts, oysters at Marché des Capucins, and evenings in intimate wine bars.

• Stay (midrange + spa and value picks):
  • Spa splurge in vines: Les Sources de Caudalie (Vinothérapie pools, easy access to Pessac‑Léognan estates).
  • Central and wallet‑friendly: Hôtel de la Presse (steps from Sainte‑Catherine shopping street).
  • Quiet with parking: Novotel Bordeaux Lac (lake walks, tram into center).
  • Browse more stays: Hotels.com: Bordeaux or local apartments on VRBO: Bordeaux.
• Arrival options: Fly into BOD (or via Paris) with Omio (flights). From Paris, TGV to Bordeaux St‑Jean takes ~2h05–2h15 (from ~€35–€75) via Omio (trains).

Day 1 — Arrival, riverside ramble, and first sips

Afternoon: Arrive in Bordeaux St‑Jean and drop bags. Shake out your legs with a riverside walk from the Pont de Pierre to the Miroir d’Eau—sunset reflections of Place de la Bourse are magic. Coffee pick‑me‑up at SIP Coffee Bar or L’Alchimiste, both local roasters.

Evening: Warm‑up dinner at La Brasserie Bordelaise (hearty duck magret, great Bordeaux by the glass) or Le Petit Commerce for seafood platters. Nightcap at Symbiose, a speakeasy‑style cocktail bar with seasonal infusions, or taste two pours at the CIVB Bar à Vin near the Bourse.

Day 2 — Old town, markets, and a guided cultural deep‑dive

Morning: Grab fresh canelés at La Toque Cuivrée, then head to the cathedral and climb Tour Pey‑Berland for city views. Wander Rue Sainte‑Catherine (car‑free) into the medieval Saint‑Pierre quarter.

Afternoon: Lunch at Marché des Capucins: order a plate of Arcachon oysters and a glass of crisp Entre‑Deux‑Mers at Chez Jean‑Mi, then graze Basque pintxos nearby. Join a top‑rated city walk to weave history and architecture into what you’re seeing:

The Most Complete and Best Rated Tour of Bordeaux

Evening: Dinner at Le Bouchon Bordelais (seasonal, local producers) or Garopapilles if you’re up for a Michelin‑star splurge. Post‑dinner, sip natural wines at La Ligne Rouge or explore the Chartrons riverfront.

Day 3 — Saint‑Émilion by e‑bike: vineyards, châteaux, and lunch (day tour)

Spend the day pedaling vine lanes with guided tastings and a proper countryside lunch—ideal for wine lovers who also want time outdoors:

Saint-Emilion Electric Bike Day Tour with Wine Tastings & Lunch

Expect two château visits (often one family‑run, one Grand Cru), generous pours of merlot‑led blends, and a guided stroll of UNESCO‑listed Saint‑Émilion. Back in Bordeaux, keep dinner casual: L’Entrecôte for the cult walnut‑salad‑steak‑frites formula, or Aux Quatre Coins du Vin to build your own by‑the‑glass tasting flight.

Day 4 — Spa morning and Médoc reds

Morning: Ease into the day at a vineyard spa: book the Vinothérapie circuit (sauna, barrel bath, grape‑polyphenol treatments) at Les Sources de Caudalie. Prefer city time? Rent bikes on the quays and pedal up to the Bassins à Flot for industrial‑chic photos and lunch at a waterside bistro.

Afternoon: Chase cabernet structure on a small‑group Médoc tasting:

Medoc or Saint Emilion Wine Tasting and Chateau from Bordeaux

Evening: Dinner in the lively Saint‑Michel area—try Santosha for budget‑friendly Southeast Asian comfort or Restaurant Melodie for a classic three‑course menu. Night stroll past the Grosse Cloche gate.

Nantes (Pays de la Loire)

Nantes turns heritage into play. The 15th‑century Château des Ducs de Bretagne now hosts a superb city museum; the green “Voyage à Nantes” line on the pavement strings together art and surprises; and a 12‑meter mechanical elephant from Machines de l’Île trumpets along the shipyards, waving kids and adults aboard.

Food is flavorful and accessible: butter‑rich pastries, galettes from neighboring Brittany, and crisp Muscadet to pair with shellfish. It’s also a springboard to the Atlantic—Guérande’s salt marshes and La Baule’s beach—or the Sèvre valley for vineyard cycling.

• Stay: Browse central options (Bouffay, Graslin, or Île de Nantes) on Hotels.com: Nantes or apartment stays on VRBO: Nantes.
• Getting there from Bordeaux (assume a morning departure): Direct and 1‑change trains take ~4h–4h30 (from ~€30–€60) to Nantes via Omio (trains). Buses can be ~6h+ and cheaper via Omio (buses).

Day 5 — Travel to Nantes, castles, passages, and a Belle‑Époque brasserie

Morning: Train to Nantes. Drop bags and grab a buttery kouign‑amann or choux at Maison Grimaud.

Afternoon: Tour the Château des Ducs de Bretagne (ramparts walk and city museum), then amble the Passage Pommeraye—an 1840s shopping arcade with ironwork and marble stairs. Cross to Île de Nantes to meet the mechanical elephant and Carrousel des Mondes Marins at Machines de l’Île.

Evening: Dinner at La Cigale, a Belle‑Époque jewel (tilework and mirrors), for seafood platters or galettes; or book Pickles for seasonal bistronomy. Drinks at Le Lieu Unique (former LU biscuit factory turned arts center) or a local pint at Les Brassés craft brewery.

Day 6 — Coast day trip: Guérande salt marshes and La Baule beach

Morning: TER train to La Baule or Le Croisic (~1h15–1h30; from ~€12–€20 via Omio (trains)), then bus/taxi to the Guérande marshlands. Book a guided salt‑marsh visit (Terre de Sel) to learn how fleur de sel is raked by hand. Walk the medieval ramparts of Guérande and pop into a salicornia or caramel au beurre salé shop.

Afternoon: Picnic on La Baule’s wide crescent beach or lunch seaside—think grilled sardines or moules‑frites. Stretch your legs along the Côte Sauvage path toward Le Pouliguen for Atlantic views and sea air; bikers can rent cycles near the station and follow dedicated seaside lanes.

Evening: Return to Nantes. Dinner at Les Chants d’Avril (market‑driven menus) or L’Atlantide 1874 for a one‑star splurge overlooking the Loire. Nightcap at a natural‑wine bar like La Contrescarpe or a late café crème on Place Graslin.

Day 7 — Loire à Vélo taste of Muscadet, markets, and departure

Morning: Browse Marché de Talensac (cheese from Vendée, shellfish, strawberries in season) and grab coffee at Café Penché. If time allows, rent bikes and follow the Loire à Vélo south to Trentemoult’s colorful fishermen’s houses (10–20 minutes by bike + Navibus) or continue along the Sèvre to Vertou for riverside paths.

Afternoon: Quick bistro lunch on Île de Nantes—Le 1 for river views or O’Deck’s terrace—then collect bags and head to the station or airport. For onward travel, compare Omio (flights) and Omio (trains); long‑haul flyers can also check Kiwi.com.

Extra foodie and wine experiences in Bordeaux (aligning with your interests)

• Bordeaux Old Town Food and Wine Tour

  

  Taste canelés, charcuterie, and regional cheeses while learning how terroir shapes Bordeaux styles—perfect for “living like a local.”

• Bordeaux, guided tour with a local in a small group

  

  Compact, insightful, and budget‑friendly—great context before vineyard days.

Daily dining cheat sheet (handy picks)

• Bordeaux breakfasts/coffee: La Toque Cuivrée (canelés), Café Piha, L’Alchimiste.
• Bordeaux lunches: Marché des Capucins (Chez Jean‑Mi oysters), Le Petit Commerce (seafood), Santosha (budget Asian).
• Bordeaux dinners: La Brasserie Bordelaise, Le Bouchon Bordelais, Garopapilles (splurge).
• Nantes breakfasts/coffee: Maison Grimaud (choux), Café Penché, Le Lieu Unique café.
• Nantes lunches: Heb‑Ken (galettes), Talensac market stands, riverside Le 1 on Île de Nantes.
• Nantes dinners: La Cigale (historic), Pickles (seasonal), Les Chants d’Avril or L’Atlantide 1874 (special night).

Practical tips

• Transit: Bordeaux TBM and Nantes TAN trams are inexpensive and frequent; buy 10‑trip packs for savings. Both cities are flat and bike‑friendly.
• Wine touring: Châteaux require reservations; guided tours (above) remove the logistics and often include tastings you’d struggle to arrange solo.
• Budgeting: Aim €12–€18 for lunch menus, €22–€40 for dinner (food only). Save with market lunches and splurge selectively on a spa treatment or special tasting.
• Seasonality: Guérande salt harvest peaks summer; Saint‑Émilion e‑bike tours run April–October. Book shoulder‑season for fewer crowds.

Summary: In a week you’ll taste Bordeaux’s Left and Right Bank wines, cycle Saint‑Émilion lanes, sink into a vineyard spa, then pivot to Nantes for creative city life, coastline walks, and Loire à Vélo. It’s a balanced, midrange itinerary that blends history, food, biking, wine, and local color—memories poured one glass and one pedal at a time.