Day Trips from Bordeaux?

St-Emilion is a popular destination. While the southern end of town is quite touristy, the farther uphill you walk through the medieval hilly center, the fewer other visitors you'll see. St-Emilioin does have train service from Bordeaux, but the station is well south of the town. As of 2019 there was one of those fake tourist "trains" running from the station up to the top of the town. It cost 4 euros, I think.

Perigueux is larger (pop. about 30,000) and not so overtly touristy.

You'll find the Bordeaux tourist office website has loads of info that might help answer your questions about what to see and do, visiting châteaux and vineyards and other day trips:

https://www.bordeaux-tourism.co.uk/

Arcachon is a popular day trip from Bordeaux and it's a lovely oceanside town and from there you can visit the Dune du Pilat. It's a 50 minute train journey from Bordeaux. See sncf-connect.com for train info:

https://www.arcachon.com/en/

Here's a map of the train network in that area so you can see potential places to visit accessible by train:

https://mmt.vsct.fr/sites/default/files/swt/CNAQ/2022-12/RNA-Carte%20Reseau%20TER-A3-NewCodification-161222HD.pdf

Saint-André-de-Cubzac is a delightful town 12 or 15 miles north of Bordeaux. We stayed there for a week 20 years ago. Among other things, it’s where oceanographer Jacques Cousteau grew up, and his family burial plot is in its cemetery.

I really appreciate you all for your informative suggestions and thank Rick Steves travel forum to able travelers from all over the world to connect!

Good list of options here. We’re doing Arachannand the dune next month by train from Bordeaux
https://www.lostinbordeaux.com/10-day-trips-from-bordeaux-by-train/

There is so much to do outside of Bordeaux! However, the time of year makes a difference. Arcachon is a really quaint beach town as is Cap Ferret (you can take a foot ferry from Arcachon over to Cap Ferret). In Arcachon (at the train station) you can rent bikes and ride all over the area, even to the Dune de Pilat (which is pretty incredible to see!) If you are visiting in the summer, Arcachon and really the whole coast will be crowded with 'local' French tourists. Others have said Saint-Émilion, which is a lovely town. If you want to wine taste, you need to make reservations ahead of time. It's not like in the US where you can typically stop by to see if there is space when the winery is open. For this reason, I recommend those doing day trips take a wine tour (There are bike tours, van tours, walking tours, etc.) Saint-Émillion is pretty busy late spring through early fall so be prepared for crowds. It is a beautiful town, though, and certainly worth anyone's time. You will want to make sure you also keep a couple days to explore Bordeaux. It's such a beautiful city! And if you are there on a Sunday there is a huge market all along the river walk.

Gollllly Bill, I must be the only one who found Bordeaux so great I wouldn't leave it even if a team of wild horses tried to drag me. Especially with only four days. Arrival day.. second day, get to see half of Bordeaux! if you can, third day, try to see second half of Bordeaux, and forth day is departure day. Stay in the city, it is rich.
wayne iNWI