The red-stone bridge consists of 17 spans–the exact number of letters in the name Napoléon Bonaparte–lined with elegant iron light posts. Each of the bridge’s pillars is capped by a medallion to honor both the emperor and Bordeaux’s coat of arms. While plenty of bicycle and walking tours will take you across or near the bridge, you’ll get the best photo ops if you sign up for a Garonne River cruise.
The bridge is easy to reach by public transportation. Tram Route A will get you to the bridge (stop at either Porte de Bourgogne or Stalingrad). Routes C and D will get you pretty close (just get down at St. Michel, an eight-minute walk away.)
The bridge can be visited any time of day, though you might find sunset the most atmospheric. Bordeaux weather tends to be at its most pleasant in the spring and summer, although August can get hot and crowded.
Just north of the bridge sits the Port of the Moon, one of the most interesting places to go for a stroll. Here you'll find plenty of shops and arts and cultural attractions, and it's a great place to sit on a terrace for a glass of wine or a cup of coffee as you watch passersby.