Bordeaux vs Strasbourg

Bordeaux or Strasbourg? Both compared across the three travel tiers — budget, mid-range and luxury — for daily costs, hotels, food, things to do and the practical stuff that actually decides which one you should visit.

Bordeaux

France · Europe

France's wine capital rebuilt itself in pale limestone in the eighteenth century, and much of the city, the Port of the Moon, is a World Heritage Site. The quays that were warehouses are now a riverside promenade with a reflecting pool in front of the Place de la Bourse, the Cité du Vin stands at their northern end, and the châteaux of Saint-Émilion and the Médoc are an hour away.

Strasbourg

France · Europe

The capital of Alsace is built on an island in the river Ill, around a pink sandstone cathedral and the half-timbered canals of Petite France. French and German by turns, it is the seat of the European Parliament and holds one of Europe's oldest Christmas markets, running since 1570.

Daily cost per tier (USD)

Tier	Bordeaux	Strasbourg
Budget	$45–$80	$45–$80
Mid-range	$130–$230	$130–$230
Luxury	$400–$800	$380–$750

At a glance

	Bordeaux	Strasbourg
Country	France	France
Currency	EUR	EUR
Language	French	French, Alsatian
Best months	May–June and September–October; late September is the harvest in the vineyards. July and August are warm and lively, though some restaurants close for part of August.	May–June and September for mild weather and terraces on the Ill; late November to Christmas Eve for the Christmas market, when hotels fill months ahead.
Climate	Oceanic: warm summers (highs of 27–28°C, with heatwaves past 35°C) and mild, damp winters (highs around 10°C). Rain falls all year, most of it from October to January.	Semi-continental: warm summers with highs of 24–26°C and occasional heatwaves, cold winters with frost at night. Rain is modest and spread through the year, heaviest May to August.
Visa	Schengen area — visa-free for 90 days for UK, US, Canadian and Australian passports; ETIAS pre-authorisation applies from its rollout.	Schengen area — visa-free for 90 days for UK, US, Canadian and Australian passports; ETIAS pre-authorisation applies from its rollout.
Safety	Safe overall. Pickpockets work the trams and the crowds on rue Sainte-Catherine, and the streets around Saint-Jean station are rougher late at night.	Safe. Pickpockets work the Christmas market crowds, the cathedral square and the trams; keep bags closed and phones off café tables.
Tipping	Service is included in French bills. Round up or leave a euro or two in a café, and 5–10% in a restaurant for good service.	Service is included in French bills. Round up or leave 5–10% at a winstub if service was good; nothing is expected at a bar counter or a bakery.
Metro	Yes	Yes