Last Updated on: 23rd January 2025, 11:06 am

St Emilion is a very popular and easy-to-do day trip from Bordeaux. This small town, famous for its superb wines, is in the Aquitaine region of France (Nouvelle-Acquitaine), approximately 47 kilometres, or 28 miles from Bordeaux. 

It’s only half an hour away by train from Bordeaux, and with limited time you could easily visit Saint-Emilion in half a day. 

In fact, many wine tours departing from Bordeaux will include a stop in Saint-Emilion.

But you know what’s better than a day trip to St Emilion? Spending the night there. 

Once the day trippers have left, the gorgeous village is even more idyllic, and the town has some wonderful restaurants. 

I spent two nights there. It was my birthday, so I had the perfect excuse to spoil myself and spend time in an enchanting French village, eating the best food and enjoying the finest wine. 

How To Visit The Wineries Around Saint-Émilion 

You can easily walk to wineries in the small town of Saint-Emilion and the nearby areas. Most wineries are within a ten-minute walk.

The winery owners and staff usually speak English, so reaching out to them is easy. Alternatively, you can book visits through Rue des Vignerons if you prefer a hassle-free option.

But maybe like me, you have no idea which winery to visit.

To assist you, the tourist office in Saint Emilion provides a daily list of two to four chateaux open for visits. This lets you discover lesser-known wine chateaux without much planning. You can find the daily list of wine chateaux here.

Or Take A Ride On The Petit Train 

If you don’t fancy walking but still want to do a little exploring and some wine tasting, you can take the tourist train. It takes you along the ramparts and through the vineyards with their impressive châteaux -all designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

During your ride, you can choose to stop at Château Rochebelle. There, you’ll get to explore their 18th-century monolithic cellars, all beautifully lit up to enhance the experience. And the chance to sample their exceptional Grand Cru Classé wine.

Complete Visit (1 hour and 20 minutes): Includes the train ride, a visit to Château Rochebelle, and a wine tasting.

• Adults: €14.50
• Children (3 to 18 years old): €6.50
• Free for children under three years
  
  

What To Do In Saint Emilion That Doesn’t Involve Drinking Wine 

Don’t worry; there’s plenty to do in Saint-Emilion that doesn’t involve drinking wine. 

Visit the Largest Monolithic Church in Europe 

St. Emilion boasts Europe’s largest underground church, a 12th-century Monolithic church carved entirely from a single stone. The church’s enormity, requiring the excavation of 15,000 m³ of stone, becomes apparent once you step inside, despite its unassuming façade.

To explore the church, you have to join a guided tour organized by the tourist office. The tour includes the church and offers access to the catacombs, an opportunity to sit on a fertility chair in the original Saint Emilion cave (reportedly linked to numerous births) and admire the artwork in the 14th-century Chapelle de la Trinité. Photography is not permitted.

English tours are available twice daily. Note that tour timings may vary based on the season. Refer to the official tourist office website for further information. The tour costs 15 euros. 

The Bell Tower of the Monolithic Church

The monolithic church may be underground, but its tall bell tower stands out and can be seen from anywhere in the town. The tower has an interesting mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles for those into architecture. You can climb the 196 steps of the bell tower for a great view of Saint Emilion.  

La Tour du Roy

The King’s Keep, a renowned military monument in Gironde from the 13th century, is positioned within the walls of Saint-Emilion. The tower stands on a rocky outcrop, surrounded by natural caves and quarries used since medieval times. 

It reaches a height of 32m, and you can climb its 118 steps to get to the rooftop and enjoy unbeatable views of Saint Emilion’s vineyards. Open daily from 1:45 pm to 5 pm; entry costs 2 euros.

The Collegiate Church and Cloisters 

 The Collegiate church is a beautiful old church in the upper town area of Sainte Emilion. Built between the 12th and 15th centuries, it’s an interesting mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles. You can visit it by yourself; no tour is needed for this one. 

Les Cordeliers Cloister 

You can enjoy more than just red wine in Saint Emilion. They also make a sparkling wine called Cremant de Bordeaux, produced in an old cloister. Even if you’re not a fan of bubbly wine, a visit to the Cordeliers cloister is worthwhile. Built by the Franciscan brothers in the 14th century, they lived, prayed, and tended a garden here. 

Though most of it was destroyed during the French Revolution, private owners later bought the site. In the 19th century, they started making and storing sparkling wine in underground galleries. While you can freely explore the cloisters, garden and shopping area, consider taking a tour if you want to taste the sparkling wine.

Wander The Streets Of Saint Emilion

As well as seeing all the main sights, allow yourself plenty of time to simply wander the streets and soak in the atmosphere. Note that some roads are rather steep between the upper and lower areas of Saint Emilion; handrails have been installed to help visitors move up and down the lanes. 

Try the Macarons

When you imagine French macarons, you probably think of a bunch of soft-coloured cookies in a pale green Ladurée box – at least, that’s what I do. The macarons in Saint Émilion are made using similar ingredients: almonds, egg whites, and sugar. But here, there is no fancy wrapping; the treats are sold on sturdy white paper, but they taste pretty good. However, they are not quite as delicious as the ones I tried on my Paris food tour. 

Enjoy a Walk in the Countryside 

There are several lovely walks from Saint-Emilion. You can pick up or download a brochure from the tourist board or just follow the signposted hikes around the village. I enjoyed a lovely picturesque eight kilometres walk. 

It’s hard to get lost because it’s always easy to spot Saint-Émilion’s tall bell tower. 

Recommended Restaurants For Dinner In Saint Emilion 

There are many highly-rated restaurants in Saint Emilion, and I recommend making reservations in advance. You can make reservations online here.

I can highly recommend Le Table 38 and Lard et Bouchon.

 

How To Get To Saint Emilion From Bordeaux 

By Train

Take a train from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion, head to station Bordeaux Gare Saint Jean and catch a regional train to Saint Emilion.

The train schedule is here. You can buy tickets online or at a machine at the station.

It takes approximately 30-35 minutes to get there by train. Trains run roughly every one to two hours.

Once you arrive at Saint-Emilion, walking will take approximately 20 – 30 minutes to the town centre.

Or you can pre-book transport from the station to the town with Ecoexcursions on (+33)7.49.77.76.72. The shuttle costs 4€ per person or take a tuk-tuk shuttle by Les Cordeliers on (+33)6.40.83.62.60. The shuttle costs 5€ per seat.

No taxis were waiting outside the station when I visited. 

By Taxi

A one-way ride from Bordeaux to Saint Émilion can cost you 50-70 euros.

By Car

You can rent a car, but parking is limited in Saint Emilion. 

With a Wine Tour

If you aren’t going to spend the night in Saint Emilion but are interested in wine tastings, visiting the town on a wine tour is a great option. You can do a one-day tour where you see two to three wineries and stop at Saint Emilion for lunch or even a short four to five hour tour.  

Get Your Guide has a good selection of wine tours to Saint Emilion.

Where to Stay in Saint Emilion

For accommodation ideas, check here. I stayed at Les Chambres d’Ovaline, a lovely B&B just a few minutes walk from the centre of Saint Emilion. The rooms are beautifully designed, and you can enjoy breakfast in their cute garden. It’s also much more affordable than the other hotels in Saint Emilion. Book a room here. 

The View From The Loo!

I really enjoyed my time in Saint-Émilion and would 100% recommend staying the night if time permits. 

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