We will be spending 2 days in Saint Emilion and would then like to drive to a train station outside of Bordeaux, park our car, and take a train into downtown. Does anyone know of any train stations outside the city? We really do not want to drive in Bordeaux. Thanks.
Posted by
France Southwest
2230 posts
There are 28 parkings outside Bordeaux (Relay Parks) in connection with the tram & bus lines to go into town.
Everything is explained here:
Posted by
Paris
7278 posts
There is a train station just outside Saint Émilion, if you want to minimize driving. Trains are quite frequent on weekdays, a bit less at the weekend if I remember correctly.
Posted by
23 posts
The train station is in the city. Parking there may not help your cause. You could try parking just outside the downtown, maybe at the Meriadeck shopping centre.
Other option is take the train from Saint-Emilion to the Bordeaux Saint Jean. You could than take a streetcar into the city.
Posted by
Seattle, WA & Bordeaux, France
303 posts
As JoLui mentioned there are several Parc-Relais in the outskirts of the city. You can buy a Relais ticket (BEFORE you arrive at the car park as you will need the ticket to enter). The ticket entitles you parking and a tram ride to/from the city for up to 7 people on the one ticket. You buy the tickets at one of the tram kiosks. It’s all explained in the link JoLui sent. The trams drop you off right in the center of town and are easy to use. Conversely you could hop on the train in to Bordeaux from St. Émilion. You may still want to buy tram tickets as the station is a good walk in to the center of town.
We have done both options many times. The train ride is relaxing and parking the car at the station is easy but it is more expensive. The Parc-Relais is easy as well but you would have to seive 30(ish) mins there and back (depending on which park you choose). FWIW we typically use the parking Buttinière from the St. Émilion area. Very convenient.