Bordeaux eSIM
In Bordeaux you connect to Orange or SFR, whichever is performing better where you are standing. The typical speed across the country is 71 Mbps. Your data starts working the moment you land, before you reach the immigration hall.
- Networks
- Orange and SFR
- Typical speed in France
- 71 Mbps typical, 19 Mbps at busy times
- 5G
- yes, non standalone
- Throttle
- None on metered plans
- Tethering
- Allowed on every plan
Plans that cover Bordeaux
| Data | Validity | Price per GB | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | Never expires | $5.89 | $5.89 | |
| 3 GB | Never expires | $2.96 | $8.89 | |
| 5 GBMost travellers | Never expires | $2.18 | $10.89 | |
| 10 GB | Never expires | $1.59 | $15.89 | |
| 20 GB | Never expires | $1.19 | $23.89 | |
| 50 GB | Never expires | $0.94 | $46.89 |
How France compares across Europe
- Regional typical speed
- 71 Mbps
- Upstream networks
- 2, Orange, SFR
- 5G
- Yes, non standalone
- Next fastest nearby
- Bulgaria, 72 Mbps
- Next slowest nearby
- Croatia, 71 Mbps
- Cities with their own page
- 4: Paris, Nice, Lyon, Bordeaux
Landing at Bordeaux Merignac Airport (BOD)
- Airport
- BOD / LFBD
- Distance
- 12 km from the centre of Bordeaux
- Wifi on arrival
- Free wifi in the terminalThe airport's own connectivity page says you fill in the Bordeaux Airport HotSpot form and then get 3 hours of free access. It does not describe an email confirmation or an SMS code.
Getting into Bordeaux
- Tram line F from the airport to Gare Saint-Jean via Hotel de Ville, running since 6 December 2025 (BOD), about 45 minutes
- Transports Bordeaux Metropole bus route 1+ to the city centre (BOD)
- 30'Direct shuttle to Bordeaux Saint-Jean railway station (BOD)
Worth knowing about Bordeaux
- Bordeaux has no metro. Its six tram lines cover 77.5 km and 130 stops, and the tramway only opened on 21 December 2003.
- In the city centre the trams draw power from a segmented rail in the ground, the Alstom APS system, so there are no overhead wires above the historic streets.
- The tram only reached the airport on 29 April 2023, on a five kilometre extension from Quatre Chemins.
- Bordeaux airport lends out portable batteries free from six Plug'Heur kiosks, two in Hall A, two in Hall B and two in the billi terminal.
- A TBM m-ticket needs a live connection. The app validates by Bluetooth at the reader, and TBM requires location services plus a 3G, 4G or 5G data connection, so mobile data is the ticket itself.
- With a TBM m-ticket you validate on every tram, bus and BAT3 boat you board, including connections. Inspectors ask for the QR code the app generates, so keep the phone charged.
- Bordeaux Metropole's free "Wifi pour tous" network is live at 21 sites in Bordeaux, including pools, libraries and public squares. Access is through a single portal with no complex sign-up, and solar-powered benches also charge phones.
- Since 6 December 2025 tram line F runs from the airport to Gare Saint-Jean via the city centre and Pellegrin hospital. It takes 35 minutes to Hotel de Ville and 45 minutes to Saint-Jean.
- The airport's line F stop is in front of the express car park near Hall B. Trams run until 1am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with tickets from machines beside the Hall B bus stop or in the TBM app.
- From 16 September Bordeaux airport closed the indoor route between Halls A and B on both the departures and arrivals levels, so passengers now change halls by an outdoor path.
- Paying by bank card on board a TBM bus works only on Lianes 1 and 9. A ticket is valid for one hour across the network, connections included.
- Le Bato, the TBM river shuttle, crosses the Garonne at three points between Bordeaux, Begles and Lormont. It accepts all TBM tickets and passes, and tickets are also sold on board.
- TBM's Le Velo bike share has more than 2,000 classic and electric bikes at over 180 stations, available 24 hours a day. Anyone over 15 can unlock one at a station terminal or through the app without subscribing.
- Bordeaux has the largest pedestrian area in France, so much of the historic centre is easiest on foot.
- The Bordeaux CityPass, sold by the tourist office with TBM, combines unlimited tram, bus and river shuttle travel with entry to the Cite du Vin before noon and more than 20 museums and sights.