4 Days in Beaune – The Perfect Burgundy Itinerary
Beaune is one of my favorite places in France… and I say that having traveled this country extensively. It’s a city that delivers on every level, whether you are there for the wine, the food, the history, the hospitality, or simply the beauty of waking up surrounded by some of the most celebrated vineyards in the world. I arrived not entirely sure what to expect… and left knowing I would definitely be coming back. This guide covers four days in and around Beaune – every experience, restaurant, tasting, and tour I personally recommend.
Why Beaune?
I have traveled a lot of France at this point, and Beaune is one of my favorite places in the entire country. The wine is extraordinary – while Dijon is the capital of the Burgundy region – Beaune is the undisputed capital of the Burgundy vineyards and here you’re surrounded by some of the most celebrated and UNESCO-listed plots of land in the world. But it’s not just the wine… it’s the people who make it, the centuries of tradition behind every glass, the food, the culture, the list goes on!
How to Get to Beaune
Getting to Beaune is easy and straightforward. From Paris, you can take the TGV train from Paris Gare de l’Est or Gare de Lyon to Dijon (which is about 1.5 hours) and then transfer to a regional train from Dijon to Beaune which takes about 20 minutes. When booking your ticket, make sure to enter your departure as “Paris” and your arrival as “Beaune”. In total, the fastest train rides are under three hours; just make sure to book in advance for the best prices!
One thing worth mentioning – if you plan to only explore Beaune, you won’t need a car as the old town is completely walkable. However, if you plan to explore the vineyard routes and visit domains outside of the city – which I’d highly recommend – you will need a car or a driver. Check out my guide to renting a car in Burgundy here.
Day 1 in Beaune – Arrival, Learning, & Exploring Beaune
Cité des Climats et Vins de Bourgogne
When you arrive in Beaune, and before you do any wine tastings, I highly recommend heading to Cité des Climats et Vins de Bourgogne to learn about the winemaking process in Burgundy. This is an immersive museum dedicated entirely to the vineyards of Burgundy. You can spend an hour or two here learning about the wines, and they also have a restaurant on site – Les Accords – if you’re hungry and want to grab lunch before heading into Beaune.
Learn About Wine at Sensation Vin
After learning about the wines of Burgundy, head into the city of Beaune for a structured wine tasting at Sensation Vin. Sensation Vin is specifically designed to teach you how to use your senses when drinking wine. It’s good for beginners or for people who want to dive deeper into the world of wine, and it’s the perfect experience before visiting your first winery.
Wine Tasting at Domaine Albert Morot
After learning about wine tasting at Sensation Vin, make the 10-15 minute walk from Beaune’s historic center to Domaine Albert Morot – one of the most respected estates in Beaune – for your first wine tasting. Founded in 1820 and now under the direction of winemaker Pierre-Jean Villa, the domaine has eight hectares of organically certified vineyards across the region. Here your tasting experience is private and fully accompanied by an estate expert.
Dinner – Le Clos du Cèdre
For your first night in Beaune, head to the incredibly beautiful, Michelin star restaurant – Le Clos du Cèdre. Not only is the interior stunning, but the food was out of this world, and the wine list was one of the most impressive lists I’ve seen. Just make sure to save room for the cheese course!
Day 2 – Wine Tasting in Côte de Beaune
Wine Tasting at Château de Meursault
Start your morning wine tasting at Château de Meursault – one of the most beautiful wine estates in the Côte de Beaune and an essential visit for anyone who wants to learn about Burgundy wine. Impressively, the cellars under the château date back to the 12th, 14th, and 16th centuries and contain hundreds of thousands of bottles of wine. Here you can wine taste with or without a reservation.
Lunch – Château la Commaraine or Hostellerie de Levernois
For lunch, there are two restaurants I’d recommend – Le Clos or Bistrot du Bord de l’Eau. Of the two, Le Clos is more elegant and in a vineyard setting, while Bistrot du Bord de l’Eau is more laidback, in a garden setting facing the water. Either way, you can’t go wrong.
Wine Tasting at Château de la Crée
For your second wine tasting of the day, I recommend Château de la Crée in Santenay. This estate was originally founded in 1431, and in 2015 the estate was purchased by a couple who are founders of another wine estate in Oregon.
Here, you can have multiple different types of experiences from a standard cellar tasting to riding electric bikes through the vineyards. The setting is beautiful and I’d highly recommend booking a tasting or experience here.
Wine Tasting at Olivier Leflaive
End your afternoon at Olivier Leflaive in the prestigious village of Puligny-Montrachet in the heart of Côte de Beaune. Olivier Leflaive is one of the pioneers of wine tourism in Burgundy and the Leflaive family has been making wine here since the 18th-century.
There are several ways to experience wine tasting here depending on what you’re looking for. You could choose a classic vineyard tour that will take you through the UNESCO-listed Climats of Puligny-Montrachet with a knowledgeable sommelier who explains terroir and classification followed by a cellar visit. Or you can go on their Wine Bike – an electric-assisted bike tour through the vineyards while tasting wine in the middle of the vines. For something more relaxed, you can also choose to wine taste at the hotel bar. Whatever you choose, just make sure to book well in advance!
Dinner – Bistro de l’Hôtel
The Bistro de l’Hôtel is the signature restaurant of the 5* L’Hôtel in Beaune. Here, the cooking is traditional French bistro focused on seasonal, market-driven, and built around sharing. Their famous dish is the Bresse chicken, carved tableside, and the Crêpes Suzette flambéed at the table for dessert. Both which I’d highly recommend!
Day 3 – Cheeses & Wines of Burgundy
The Burgundy Cheese Experience
The Burgundy Cheese Experience run by Hanna Shaps, a French-American cheese specialist, is one of the most unique and informative tours I’ve ever done. Hanna has been able to curate immersive encounters connecting visitors with the region’s finest cheeses, artisans, and traditions. On this tour, you’ll follow her through fromageries, the markets, and end at Maison Billy to pair the wines and cheeses that you’ve collected together.
Hôtel-Dieu des Hospices de Beaune
Walk off your cheese and wine at Hôtel-Dieu – the most iconic building in all of Beaune. It was built in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin as a charitable hospital for the poor, and it operated as a working hospital until 1971. The Hôtel-Dieu is also famous for the annual Hospices de Beaune wine auction held every November, where wine from the Hospices’ own vineyards are sold to benefit the local hospital. It’s one of the most prestigious charity wine auctions in the world! And my favorite thing about it is that a female winemaker – Ludivine Griveau is at the helm of it all. She’s been the manager at Domaine des Hospices de Beaune since 2015, and last year, the wine that was auctioned off raised enough money to purchase a robot for the hospital.
Dinner – Sushi Kai
I know what you’re thinking… “Sushi? In Beaune?” But I have to say, Sushi Kai exceeded my expectations. If you’re tired of French food, and need a reminder that Beaune’s dining scene goes well beyond the traditional Burgundian bistro, Sushi Kai is an excellent choice.
Day 4 – Departure
Make the most of your final morning in Beaune before heading home. If your departure falls on a Saturday, make sure to check out the weekly market in the town center. Here you’ll find local producers, incredible cheeses, charcuterie, fresh produce… the list goes on!
And for your final stop, one last wine experience at Maison Billy. Maison Billy is not only a place to purchase wine, but they also have tailor-made tasting workshops (and can even come to your hotel for tastings)! It’s a great last stop for a final wine tasting and to pick up any wine that you want to take home with you.
Tours Worth Taking in Beaune
Beaune and the surrounding vineyards are best experienced with someone who knows the area. If you don’t want to rent a car or you would rather let a local plan your day, these are the two tours I’d recommend.
my french tour
My French Tour takes you through the vineyards in a vintage 2CV or Estafette van with a local guide who knows the region. You have multiple different tour options to choose from, and you can even customize the type of tour you want.
BOURGOGNE AVENTURE
For something very different, Bourgogne Aventure offers tours of Burgundy in a vintage Morgan two-seater convertible – accompanied by your guide in their own Morgan – across country roads, vineyard routes, and picturesque villages of the region. All tours can be customizable.
Where to Stay in Beaune
Beaune has one of the best hotel scenes of anywhere in France, and the options range from intimate B&Bs above the vineyards to 5-star hotels and countryside escapes. Here is what I would recommend depending on what kind of trip you are planning.
For a 5* Stay in the Heart of Beaune – Hostellerie Cèdre & Spa
Set behind an elegant façade topped by a centuries-old cedar tree, Hostellerie Cèdre is the perfect place to base yourself if you’re wanting to be in the city of Beaune. There are 40 rooms and suites, a Nuxe spa, and a Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Clos du Cèdre.
For a 5* Countryside Escape – Hostellerie de Levernois
If you want to wake up completely surrounded by nature, Hostellerie de Levernois is where you want to stay. The property sits in a 7-hectare park on the banks of the River Bouzaise. The 18th-century villa has 39 rooms spread across three buildings, a Michelin-starred restaurant, a Sisley Spa, and a swimming pool.
For a Stay With a Side of Wine Tourism – Olivier Leflaive Hôtel
Olivier Leflaive is a legendary winemaker in Burgundy and has opened a hotel to help visitors experience the world of wine. The Olivier Leflaive Hôtel is a 17th-century old building overlooking the village square in Puligny-Montrachet. At that hotel you’ll find two restaurants, a wine bar, and direct access to the all the wine tourism experiences the domaine offers – tastings, vineyards tours, the Wine Bike – all from your own hotel.
For a 5* Stay in Beaune – L’Hôtel de Beaune
For another 5* stay in Beaune, I suggest L’Hôtel de Beaune. The building is a former 17th-century wine merchant’s residence that’s been transformed into an elegant property with 11 rooms and 7 suites. There’s also an incredible restaurant on site and a bar for evening drinks.
For Families – La Terre d’Or
Sitting above the vineyards on the edge of a pine forest you’ll find La Terre d’Or, a beautiful B&B with accommodations ideal for families. Here you can choose from three different houses, and gain access to the natural grotto with a jacuzzi beneath the house. The owners, Vincent and Sylvie, welcome guests like friends and can organize wine tastings and activities on site.
Along with La Terre d’Or, you also have Clos de la Belle Châtelaine – a vineyard and orchard where you can do a wine tasting, join a truffle workshop, or go on a gourmet walk of the vineyards and orchard. Clos de la Belle Châtelaine is run by the father of the man who owns La Terre d’Or making this another great option for families visiting Beaune.
For Large Groups – Château Albert Morot
For groups of up to 20 people, Château Albert Morot is a great option that not many people know about. A fully renovated mansion just 15-minutes walk from Beaune, sitting within the grounds of the historic Albert Morot estate that was founded in 1820. Here there are 10 ensuite bedrooms, shared living spaces, a private home cinema, and exclusive access to private wine tastings and cellar tours led by renowned winemaker Pierre-Jean Villa.
For a 5* Vineyard Experience – Château de la Commaraine
Château de la Commaraine is a 5* hotel with 37 rooms and suites overlooking the vineyards in Pommard. The hotel has two restaurants, a spa, a pool overlooking the vines, and more. It’s one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever seen.
And not only does Château de la Commaraine have the hotel, but they are also associated with a wine house/winery – Manoir des Parcellaires de Saulx in Meursault – a 10-minute drive from the hotel. (You don’t need to be staying at the hotel in order to enjoy a wine tasting here. You can book your tasting experience here).
For more hotels throughout Burgundy, check out…
Practical Tips for Visiting Beaune in Burgundy
Here are some tips that I have to make your trip to Beaune seamless!
- Book everything in advance – restaurants, tastings, tours, etc
- Rent a car or hire a driver for the days you spend in the vineyards
- The Hospices de Beaune wine auction takes place every November making Beaune an incredibly fun place to visit at this time
- The cellar caves can be cooler so consider packing a sweater
- In my opinion, the best times to visit Burgundy are in May and September (read my complete guide to the Best Time to Visit France for more information by region)
Beaune is one of those rare destinations that has something genuinely incredible to offer every kind of traveler. Whether you are here for the wine, the food, the centuries of history, or simply the pleasure of driving through vineyard routes at golden hour… Beaune won’t let you down. Four days felt full but not nearly long enough. And as far as I’m concerned, that’s the best sign. If you want help planning your own Beaune trip – the tastings, the restaurants, the hotels, the experiences – I would love to help you put it together.
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