Bordeaux has one of the most praised tram systems in France: modern, frequent and so well integrated into the city's grand boulevards that the network feels designed for the place rather than bolted onto it. Four tram lines cross the city in different directions, supplemented by electric buses and the Vcub bikeshare — together making Bordeaux straightforward to navigate without a car.
The TBM Tram Network: Lines A, B, C and D
The tram network is run by TBM (Transports Bordeaux Métropole) and operates four main lines, each colour-coded and covering a different axis of the metropolitan area. The system uses a distinctive ground-level power supply (APS) in the historic centre, where overhead wires would spoil the heritage streetscape — current is supplied through a third rail embedded in the road surface, which is only live when a tram is directly above it.
Line A (Mériadeck – Floirac La Souys) is the busiest, running through the heart of the city along Cours de la Marne and connecting the Mérignac area in the west with the suburbs east of the Garonne. It serves the central stops of Place de la Victoire and the pivotal interchange at Quinconces.
Line B (Claveau – Pessac Centre) runs from the university campus area in the south-west through the city centre and out to the northern suburbs via the Bassins à Flot district, now a hub of bars, warehouses and cultural venues.
Line C (Gare Saint-Jean – Les Aubiers) is the airport connection line (with a bus extension) and also serves the main railway station, Gare Saint-Jean, along with the busy riverside quays and the Chartrons neighbourhood.
Line D (Bruges – Canéjan) crosses the network on a north-west to south-east axis, intersecting the other three lines at key interchange points and extending out to suburban communes.
All four lines run from around 5:00 to midnight on weekdays, with reduced but still reasonable service on weekends and public holidays. Frequency on central sections is typically every 5–7 minutes during peak hours.
City Buses and the BHNS Network
TBM buses cover the gaps between tram lines and reach the outer suburbs and rural communes of the Bordeaux Métropole. The BHNS (Bus à Haut Niveau de Service) routes are high-frequency arterial buses that behave like surface trams — dedicated lanes, modern vehicles and frequent departures — filling in between the four tram lines.
The central city is compact enough that buses are mainly useful for cross-city journeys that don't follow a tram line, or for reaching the outer wine-producing communes such as Mérignac, Gradignan and Talence.
Getting to and from Bordeaux Airport
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD) is around 10 km west of the city centre. The main connection is the 30 Lianes bus, which links the airport with the tram stop at Mériadeck (Line A) in around 30 minutes depending on traffic. From Mériadeck, trams run into the centre and across the city.
There is also a direct shuttle bus service to the central Gare Saint-Jean railway station, which avoids requiring a tram interchange and is convenient if you are continuing by train. Taxis and ride-hailing services are available outside the terminal. The journey to the centre typically takes 20–40 minutes depending on traffic.
Tickets and Passes
TBM tickets cover all modes — trams, buses and the BHNS routes — within the network area. You validate once and may transfer freely for 60 minutes on the same ticket.
- Single ticket: valid for 60 minutes from validation, with transfers.
- 10-trip carnet: a booklet of tickets at a discounted rate compared with singles — the most practical option for a short stay.
- 24-hour and 48-hour passes: unlimited travel for the period — good value if you are making frequent journeys over one or two days.
- Weekly pass: available for longer stays.
Buy tickets from machines at tram stops, from TBM authorised agents (tabacs and some shops), or via the TBM mobile app. Validate on boarding by touching the ticket to the yellow reader on the tram or bus. Keep the ticket until the end of your journey — inspectors board regularly on all lines.
Vcub Bikeshare
Bordeaux's bikeshare scheme, Vcub, has over 1,800 bikes at more than 170 docking stations across the city. It integrates with the TBM ticket system — a TBM travel card also gives access to Vcub — and is a genuinely useful way to cover the flat quayside and inner-city distances between tram stops.
Short trips (under 30 minutes) are cheap or free with the right subscription. The riverside Quai des Chartrons, the Jardin Public and the Cité du Vin are all pleasant cycling routes from the centre.
Cycling and walking in Bordeaux
Bordeaux is unusually cycle-friendly for a French city of its size. A long continuous cycle path runs along both banks of the Garonne, and the central streets have good provision for cyclists. The UNESCO-listed centre is partly pedestrianised, and the distance from the station to the riverside is walkable in about 15 minutes.
The city recently made its tram-adjacent streets much more pedestrian-friendly, and the central Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau areas are best explored on foot.
Tips for getting around Bordeaux
- Quinconces is the main interchange hub — all four tram lines pass nearby, making cross-city journeys easy.
- Gare Saint-Jean (Line C) connects trams directly to TGV high-speed trains to Paris, with journey times around 2 hours.
- The 60-minute transfer window on tickets means you can chain a tram with a short bus leg without paying twice.
- Night buses operate on weekends and some public holidays, but services are sparse — plan your evening accordingly.
- The APS ground-level power system is invisible when the tram has passed — perfectly safe for pedestrians.
Frequently asked questions
How many tram lines does Bordeaux have?
Bordeaux has four tram lines — A, B, C and D — operated by TBM. They cover the main axes of the metropolitan area and interconnect at several central hubs, particularly near Quinconces and Gare Saint-Jean.
Is there a tram to Bordeaux Airport?
Not directly. The closest connection is a bus (the 30 Lianes) linking the airport to the Mériadeck tram stop on Line A. From there, trams run across the city. A direct airport shuttle bus also runs to Gare Saint-Jean.
How long is a TBM ticket valid?
A single TBM ticket is valid for 60 minutes from the moment of first validation and allows unlimited transfers between trams and buses within that window.
Can I use TBM tickets on the Vcub bikeshare?
Yes, if you hold a TBM travel card (weekly, monthly or longer subscriptions), Vcub access is included. Day-pass and single tickets do not automatically cover bikeshare — check the current bundled options on the TBM website.
Sources and further reading:
- TBM (Transports Bordeaux Métropole) — official timetables, route maps and tickets at infotbm.com
- Vcub bikeshare — docking stations and subscription options via vcub.fr
- Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport — ground transport connections at bordeaux.aeroport.fr
- For city-to-city travel from Bordeaux, see the routes section of Viamo.