Holiday houses & apartments in Aquitaine

Charming Holiday Home in the Aquitaine Region of France

Aquitaine, on the Atlantic Ocean and the border with Spain, is a traditional region in southwest France. The area is popular for its coastline, where you'll find great beaches and fantastic surf spot. Young French workers tend to make their way on holiday to dynamic destinations like glamorous, coastal Biarritz and historic, bustling Bordeaux. The area is also a paradise for wine lovers, with Bordeaux as well as Saint-Emilion wines produced at wineries throughout the region. Whether you are travelling with friends, your family, or perhaps your pup, there are suitable holiday homes all around Aquitaine to plan a lovely, suitable vacation.

A diverse array of entertainment in Aquitaine

Depending where you've chosen a TUI Villas holiday home in Aquitaine, once you've settled in, it's time to make your way into wine country, explore the region's architecture, or best of all, hit the beach.

Take a wine tour through Bordeaux

The area of Bordeaux is known the world over for its wine. Despite its relatively small size compared to other famous wine regions, Bordeaux is home to over 8500 producers. Thanks to a fairly flat terrain and excellent network of cycle paths, young and fit travellers might consider planning a bicycle trip to visit the region's wineries. If you are staying at an Aquitaine holiday apartment right in the city of Bordeaux, the famous commune of Saint-Emilion, where numerous excellent and Grand Cru wines are produced, is about a 45min drive away. You can also learn about wine culture at The City of Wine, a newly opened, acclaimed wine museum in Bordeaux's city centre.

Discover the history of the region through its marvellous architecture

The region has a rich history which one can learn more about through the architecture of its larger cities, such as Bordeaux. Once called 'the sleeping beauty', Bordeaux's splendid 18th century city centre limestone buildings have been thoroughly restored in the last decades. The city was even named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007. Other cities worth visiting in the region are Bayonne, Biarritz, and the Roman heritage city of Périgeux, home to a stunning cathedral. One of the easiest way to explore these destinations is to reserve an Aquitaine holiday apartment there through TUI Villas, which offers numerous accommodations right in the region's various town and city centres.

Go surfing on Aquitaine's Atlantic coast

Biarritz and its surroundings are known worldwide for dreamy beaches and international surfing competitions. Biarritz is considered to be the epicentre of surf in Europe, a sport that is now fully part of the Pays Basque’s culture. The coast, however, is not only a dream destination for experienced surfers but also ideal for beginners to learn. This is an especially great town to make like a local and stay at an Aquitaine holiday home.

Visit Dune du Pilat, a sand giant

If you think you’ve seen sand dunes, think again and go discover Europe's tallest sand dune, not far from Bordeaux and Lacanau! The Dune du Pilat is often compared to a monster of sand, gaining territory on the nearby pine forest and slowly moving towards the cities. The sand dune offers spectacular views for those braving the hike to reach the top, which is 110 metres above sea level. Add a bit of fun to your visit and slide down the dune on a piece of cardboard or in a rented bobsled. There are plenty of family activities to do here, as well as places to grab a bite. Families are recommended to ditch the stroller and use a baby carrier instead. Just a few minutes' drive up the coast, you can hit the beach at Pyla sur Mer in summer. The area in general is an ideal spot to let a holiday home in Aquitaine in warm weather.

Canoe in the Dordogne river

The Dordogne river is surrounded by multiple fortresses, such as Beynac and Castelnaud, as well as charming villages. Stay in a holiday home in Aquitaine along the river banks, ask your TUI Villa host for their best canoe rental company, and enjoy the ride and a bit of exercise. The Dordogne is typically calm enough for families to enjoy this activity together. Even better, the Dordogne's limestone river banks are home to caves such as the famous Vézère, where some of the oldest artworks known to mankind in the world can be admired.

Popular destinations in Aquitaine

When in Aquitaine, make sure to visit Dordogne, home to both wineries and historic castles. Built along the river banks of the Dordogne, holidays homes here tend to be extremely charming, nested on top of cliffs.

The Gironde department is home to the famous city of Bordeaux, Bordeaux wine country, and among other destinations, the coastal resort town of Arcachon. The latter is where you can find some of the finest oysters in France.

Nearby the Gironde is the coastline department Landes and its beautiful beaches and great surf spots.

Travelling to Aquitaine from England

Bordeaux is less than a two hour flight from London, with several flights available per day. A road trip from the capital to Bordeaux and Aquitaine will take you about 10 hours, taking the A10. A train trip is feasible as well, with the Eurostar to Paris and then onward from there via the high-speed TGV. With Bordeaux as your final destination, there are several connections that make it possible to arrive in Aquitaine from London by train in a mere five hours.

Best time to visit Aquitaine

The climate in Aquitaine is oceanic, with a warm summer and a mild but windy winter. The region is agreeable to visit all year long, however, beach lovers will prefer a summer break. To witness the harvest of vines and the wine making process, visit the region during the autumn. The region of Aquitaine is one hour ahead of England.

Neighbouring holiday regions Aquitaine

• Gironde
• Landes
• Southern Atlantic coast
• Arcachon Bay
• Bordeaux and the surrounding area
• Coast of Aquitaine
• Côte d’Argent
• Graves
• Étang de Lacanau
• Cap Ferret