Bordeaux

Where to stay

Budget travelers cluster around Place de la Victoire and the Saint-Michel quarter, both a short walk to the old town and well-served by tram lines A and C. The Bastide neighborhood on the right bank across the Garonne runs noticeably cheaper on accommodation, and the Darwin Ecosystem complex there has weekend markets and cheap eats that the old-town streets don't.

Getting around

• Buy a TBM day pass (a few euros) on your first morning. Tram lines A, B, and C connect everything from the Cité du Vin to the Capucins market, so you won't need taxis.
• Eat lunch at Marché des Capucins on any morning except Monday. Counter stalls sell oysters with a glass of Entre-Deux-Mers for a few euros, which is less than half what the brasseries near Place de la Bourse charge.
• Avoid wine lists at restaurants on and around the Quais. Wine bars on Rue du Pas Saint-Georges and Rue Camille Sauvageau pour the same regional appellations for a few euros a glass.

When to go

November through February is the easiest time to find a bed without booking far ahead. July and August fill up fast, and June can be especially tight when the Bordeaux Fête le Vin takes over the waterfront, though it doesn't run every year, so check the dates.