Local Tip
Central Bordeaux has four bureaux de change on the tourist office's list, run by Fidso Change and Monex Exchange. Fidso charges a flat €3.50 per transaction and asks for a passport or ID card.
Where to change money in Bordeaux
Before handing over pounds, ask each bureau for the total in euros, so that Fidso's fixed fee and each firm's rate are compared fairly.
- Fidso Change Intendance, 11 cours de l'Intendance A first-floor office near the Grand Théâtre, open Monday to Saturday (until 17:00 on Mondays). Currency ordered online is ready by noon on the next business day.
- Fidso Change Rousseau, 22 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau Listed by the tourist office as Fidso Change Tourny, by Place des Grands Hommes in the Golden Triangle; open Monday to Saturday, 10:00-12:30 and 13:30-18:30.
- Monex Exchange (Gambetta and Victor Hugo) Branches at 29 rue du Docteur Nancel Pénard and 31 cours Victor Hugo; online listings disagree on opening times, so check before a special trip.
Changing money at the airport
Most flights at Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD) use Hall A; Air France uses Hall B, and low-cost airlines such as easyJet use billi. Global Exchange runs the bureau de change; take ID or a passport, or book online first. Its location is unclear: the airport places it in the public departures area between Halls A and B, while Global Exchange says it is airside at the duty-free exit, with hours set by flights. For euros on arrival, use one of the seven Euronet ATMs across the terminals.
ATMs and cards in Bordeaux
The tourist office says Bordeaux's banks open Monday to Saturday and their cash machines run 24 hours a day. If a French ATM or a café's card reader asks whether to charge you in pounds or euros, pick euros: MoneySavingExpert says the conversion done at the till is often worse than your card's own. It also notes that a machine's owner may add a charge even when your card is fee-free abroad.
Paying for transport in Bordeaux
Tram line F has linked the airport with Hôtel de Ville (about 35 minutes, according to the airport) and Gare Saint-Jean since 6 December 2025. A single ticket is €1.90; a ten-trip card is €15.70, with a rise to €16.10 proposed from 1 January 2027. Buy at the airport's Relay newsagent, from machines at the tram stop or by the Hall B bus stop, or in the TBM app, paying by bank card; app tickets are validated by holding your phone to the reader each time you board. The airport puts a taxi from outside Hall A to the centre at about €35 by day and €45 at night, depending on traffic.
Good to know
- Service-Public.fr says a French trader who refuses euro cash risks a €150 fine, though they may decline foreign currency, damaged notes, more than 50 coins for one payment, or cash they cannot give change for.
- France limits cash payments to businesses to €1,000 for residents. If your tax home is abroad, you can pay up to €15,000 in cash for personal spending where the seller is bound by anti-money-laundering rules, and up to €10,000 otherwise.
Key Areas in Bordeaux
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Exchange bureaux, banks and cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap. The map loads only when you ask for it.
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Bordeaux travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Bordeaux?
Compare the four central bureaux on the tourist office's list: Fidso Change on cours de l'Intendance and rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Monex Exchange on rue du Docteur Nancel Pénard and cours Victor Hugo. Or use a bank ATM in the centre.
Is the currency exchange at Bordeaux airport before or after security?
It isn't clear. The airport lists Global Exchange in the public area between Hall A and Hall B, while Global Exchange places its counter airside by the duty-free exit. If you need euros on arrival, the seven Euronet ATMs are the safer bet.
Can I pay for the tram from Bordeaux airport by card?
Yes. The TBM app sells line F tickets, €1.90 for a single journey, and takes bank cards, so you can reach the centre without euros. The airport's Relay newsagent and ticket machines sell them too.
Checked September 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: Bordeaux Tourism & Conventions · Fidso Change · Bordeaux Airport · TBM · Service-Public.fr · MoneySavingExpert
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