The vibrant courtyard of Hotel Dieu (Hospices de Beaune) on a beautiful day, in Beaune, France.

January 21, 2026

10 Best Things to Do in Burgundy for Wine Lovers

Interim Travel Design Manager

Burgundy isn’t a region that shows off. It rewards patience, curiosity and a willingness to slow down. For wine lovers, this is part of the appeal.

Here, some of the world’s most sought-after Pinot Noir and Chardonnay come from tiny vineyard plots you could walk across in minutes, yet each has its own name, history and personality. Beyond the vineyards, Burgundy offers a rich mix of food, culture, awe-inspiring accommodation and beautiful landscapes.

If you’re planning a trip in 2026 and want experiences that feel genuinely rooted in the region, these are the best things to do in Burgundy for wine lovers, blending well-known highlights with insider insight.

Our 10 Favourite Things to Do in Burgundy

1. Tour Renowned Cellars Like Maison Joseph Drouhin

One of the most atmospheric ways to begin your Burgundy journey is underground. In the centre of Beaune, Maison Joseph Drouhin offers cellar tours that feel both intimate and deeply educational.

The family has been making wine since the late 19th century, and their cellars stretch beneath the town in a maze of medieval tunnels.

SmoothRed tip: tastings usually include wines from several appellations, making this an ideal introduction to Burgundy’s remarkable complexity when time is limited, from the great whites of Puligny‑Montrachet and Corton‑Charlemagne to the refined Pinot Noirs of Volnay and Vosne‑Romanée.

2. Cycle Along La Voie des Vignes

Cycling La Voie des Vignes is one of the most immersive things to do in Burgundy, especially if you want to see the vineyards up close without rushing. This dedicated cycling route winds between Beaune and Santenay, passing through famous villages like Pommard, Volnay and Meursault.

What makes this experience special isn’t speed but detail. You’ll notice subtle changes in soil, slope and exposure that help explain why Burgundy wines are so site-specific.

SmoothRed tip: stop at village cafés rather than larger tasting rooms mid-ride. A simple espresso or glass of aligoté among locals often tells you more about daily life than a formal visit.

3. Enjoy a Night Among the Vines on an Exclusive Vineyard Escape

Staying on a vineyard transforms how you experience Burgundy. Instead of driving from tasting to tasting, you settle into the rhythm of the place. Many estates offer just a handful of rooms, which means hosts are often the winemakers themselves.

SmoothRed tip: ask what’s happening in the vineyard during your stay. In quieter months, you might be invited to taste from the barrel or join a cellar visit that isn’t advertised publicly.

Waking up to mist drifting across the vines or sharing a home-cooked meal with a producer is one of the most memorable things to do in Burgundy for wine lovers.

4. Wander Through the Stalls of Beaune’s Saturday Market

Beaune’s Saturday market is where Burgundy feels most alive. Locals arrive early, baskets in hand, to shop for the week ahead. You’ll find seasonal fruit, regional cheeses like Époisses, fresh bread and plenty of conversation.

SmoothRed tip: look for stalls selling gougères, the local cheese puffs traditionally served with wine. They make an ideal picnic snack if you’re heading out to the vineyards later.

Visiting the market helps you understand how food and wine are woven into everyday life here, not reserved for special occasions.

5. See the Colourful and Iconic Hospices de Beaune

The Hospices de Beaune is Burgundy’s most recognisable landmark, and it’s worth taking time to explore properly. Built in the 15th century as a charitable hospital, it’s famous for its patterned tile roof and beautifully preserved interiors.

SmoothRed tip: many visitors rush through the main hall, but the quieter courtyards and upper rooms offer deeper insight into medieval medicine and philanthropy.

The Hospices’ annual wine auction, held every November, still funds healthcare today, making this one of the most meaningful cultural things to do in Burgundy.

6. Learn to Make Regional Dishes Like Beef Bourguignon in a Cooking Course

Burgundy’s cuisine is designed to complement its wines, and a cooking class brings that relationship to life. Many courses begin with a market visit before moving into the kitchen to prepare classics such as boeuf bourguignon or œufs en meurette.

SmoothRed tip: choose a class that includes wine pairings with each dish. Understanding why certain sauces suit Pinot Noir or why Chardonnay works with creamy textures adds a new layer to your tastings later in the trip.

For food-focused travellers, this is one of the most satisfying things to do in Burgundy.

7. Sample Cassis Liqueur, a Local Speciality

Cassis, a blackcurrant liqueur, plays a small but important role in Burgundy’s drinking culture. It’s traditionally mixed with white wine to create a Kir, often served as an aperitif before meals.

SmoothRed tip: try cassis neat as well as in a Kir. Artisanal producers use fruit grown nearby, and the flavour can be far more intense and complex than you might expect. It’s a simple experience, but it adds local colour to a wine-led itinerary.

8. Visit the Fallot Mustard Mill in Beaune

Burgundy’s food heritage goes beyond wine, and the Fallot Mustard Mill offers a fascinating glimpse into another regional speciality. Still family-run, Fallot uses traditional stone grinding methods that preserve flavour and texture.

SmoothRed tip: don’t skip the tasting room. Sampling mustard flavoured with blackcurrant or tarragon alongside classic Dijon shows how versatile it can be. This visit is especially welcome if you want to balance tastings with something hands-on and unexpected.

9. Delve into Wine-Making at the Cité des Climats et Vins de Bourgogne

Burgundy wine can feel intimidating, and the Cité des Climats et Vins de Bourgogne is designed to make it accessible. Through interactive displays, it explains how geology, history and human decisions shape each vineyard.

SmoothRed tip: head to the tasting area after exploring the exhibitions. With the context fresh in your mind, you’ll notice details in the wines that might otherwise pass you by. It’s one of the most useful things to do in Burgundy if you want your tastings to feel more informed.

10. Take to the Waterways on a Luxury Canal Cruise

Seeing Burgundy from the water offers a completely different perspective. Canal cruises glide past vineyards, towpaths and sleepy villages, creating a sense of calm that’s hard to replicate by road.

SmoothRed tip: look for cruises that include visits to small, family-run domaines rather than big-name producers.

These stops often feel more personal and relaxed, with time to talk through wines without crowds. For travellers who value comfort and slow travel, this is one of the most indulgent things to do in the Burgundy region.

Where to go in Burgundy

Burgundy boasts some of France’s most picturesque countryside, punctuated by dinky medieval villages and sprawling mustard fields, while the region’s towns and cities are hubs of Renaissance and Gothic architecture.

From charming villages and bustling food markets to wine museums and world-class vineyards, there are plenty of places to add to your Burgundy bucket list. Here’s where we recommend going, based on your interests.

For wine lovers

Beaune: Widely considered to be the wine capital of Burgundy, Beaune packs a punch for a pint-sized town. Its influence on the wine world has been (and continues to be) immense, with some of Burgundy’s most prestigious vineyards in the surrounding villages. The town itself is encircled by medieval ramparts and many historic négociant (wine merchant) houses and cellars are situated here.

Côte d’Or: Burgundy’s historic heart stretching from Dijon to Maranges, the Côte d’Or is world-renowned for producing some of the world’s most prestigious and expensive Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. The region is divided into two sub-regions:

Côte de Nuits: Home to 24 of Burgundy’s 33 Grand Cru vineyards and legendary appellations, including Gevrey-Chambertin, Vosne-Romanée and Vougeot.
Côte de Beaune: Plays host to villages like Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, which produce some of the world’s most sought-after white wines. Beaune is also located in this sub-region.
Drive along the Route des Grands Crus or cycle the Voie des Vignes path to visit multiple villages.

Côte Chalonnaise: If you’re familiar with Burgundy’s wines and have visited the region before, the Côte Chalonnaise is a great area to explore next. Discover hidden gems and sample excellent value wines of Premier Cru quality.

For foodies

Dijon: As Burgundy’s undisputed culinary capital, Dijon is a must-visit for any avid foodie, especially if you’re partial to the city’s namesake mustard.

Visit the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin, which brings together food and wine exhibitions, workshops and restaurants in one place.
Wander through Les Halles market for a taste of regional specialities; Dijon’s famous mustard, gougères (savory choux pastries) and pain d’épices (spiced bread).
Tour the historic centre, with its historic half-timbered houses and the grand Palais des Ducs et des États de Bourgogne.
For panoramic views of the city, climb the Tour Philippe le Bon.

For history buffs

The whole region is heaven for history lovers, with its Gothic architecture and historic landmarks. A few of our favourite historic highlights include:

Cluny: Once the centre of an influential monastic order, the town grew up around the Benedictine Abbey of Cluny – the largest church in Christendom during the Middle Ages. While much was dismantled during the French Revolution, you can visit what remains and learn about its past at the Musée d’Art et d’Archéologie.

Noyers-Sur-Serein: A real-life history book, the remarkably well-preserved medieval village is all cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and 13th-century fortifications. For sweeping views of the surrounding countryside and tiled rooftops, climb to the former château that overlooks the village (take care when climbing, as the path is steep).

For active adventures

Parc Naturel Régional du Morvan: Comprising forests, lakes and rolling hills, this vast park covers 3220sq km in the heart of Burgundy. Head here for hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, swimming and paddleboarding. For easy access to the visitor centre and best hiking routes, you can stay near the rural commune of Saint-Brisson.

For riverside charm

Chablis: Tucked in the Serein River valley, Chablis is a quaint wine-focused town, which is well worth a visit. Its world-renowned for its mineral-driven whites, thanks to Chardonnay growing here on distinctive Kimmeridgian limestone soils.

Auxerre: Nestled on the banks of the Yonne River, Auxerre is another charming base for Chablis wine tastings. The evenings see locals gathering along the river banks for apéritifs by the water.

Overview of the Best Places to Visit in Burgundy

City/Town/Region	Best known for	Things to do
Dijon	The capital of Burgundy, renowned for its famous mustard, as well as its food markets and wine culture	Follow the Owl's Trail for a walking tour of the city, browse local markets and sample renowned Burgundy wines
Beaune	Burgundy's historic wine capital, famed for its underground wine cellars and the Hôtel-Dieu des Hospices de Beaune with its geometric tiled roof	Wander the Old Town and ramparts, visit the wine cellars and tour the Cité des Climats et Vins de Bourgogne to learn more about Burgundy wine
Auxerre	Scenic quays along the Yonne River, its medieval Old Town and grand Gothic architecture, including Cathédrale Saint-Étienne	Visit the nearby vineyards of Chablis, sample local delicacies and cycle along the Canal du Nivernais
Chablis	Renowned for crisp, mineral-driven white wines and world-class wine-producing heritage	Sample plenty of Chablis wine, marvel at 12th and 13th-century architecture and stroll through sweeping vineyards
Vézelay	Picturesque, UNESCO-protected hilltop village, crowned by the 11th-century Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine	Visit the Basilica, wander around the medieval ramparts and take a sunrise or sunset hot-air balloon ride for a bird's eye view
Cluny	The Benedictine Abbey of Cluny and its remarkable history as the centre of an influential monastic order	Tour the Abbey's remaining structures, cycle the Voie Verte through the nearby countryside and climb the 15th-century Tour des Fromages for panoramic views
Route des Grands Crus	France's oldest wine route, stretching 60km through the Côte-d'Or region, from Dijon to Santenay. The route passes through 37 picturesque villages and Beaune	The path is marked by distinctive brown road signs, decorated with white grapes. Explore the route by car or bicycle
Châteauneuf-en-Auxois	A well-preserved medieval village, perched on a hill above the Auxois plains and the Canal de Bourgogne	Tour the Château de Châteauneuf, cycle or walk along the canal and dine alfresco among the village's historic stone houses
Flavigny-sur-Ozerain	Storybook village, renowned for its ancient stone architecture and the abbey where Les Anis de Flavigny aniseed sweets are produced	Tour the historic former abbey where the candies are produced, stroll the well-preserved fortifications and shop at local craft boutiques
Côte de Beaune	The southern part of the Côte d'Or, where Burgundy's greatest white wines are produced, along with some very fine reds	Taste white Burgundies from places like Pulingy-Montrachet, Chassange Montrachet and Mersault
Côte de Nuits	Legendary red wine territory, running north from Beaune to Dijon	Visit iconic vineyards like the Romanée-Conti and Clos de Vougeot
Côte Chalonnaise and the Mâconnais	Known for producing somewhat less expensive reds and whites, which are still excellent	Sample wines from appellations and villages such as Bouzeron, Rully, Pouilly-Fuissé and Mâcon-Villages

Plan Your Bespoke Burgundy Escape

From private cellar visits to vineyard stays and slow, food-led experiences, we’ll craft a bespoke Burgundy itinerary built entirely around your interests. Get in touch to start planning your tailored wine journey.

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FAQs about things to do in Burgundy

What is the most beautiful village in Burgundy?

Burgundy is home to some of France’s most enchanting wine-producing villages, so determining which is the most beautiful village in Burgundy is no easy task. Some standout storybook villages include:

Châteauneuf-en-Auxois: Listed as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France, this fairy-tale village is home to a spectacularly preserved medieval castle.
Vézelay: Charming cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses and views of the rolling Morvan hills characterise this UNESCO-designated hilltop village.
Noyers-sur-Serein: A member of the Plus Beaux Villages de France, Noyers is another storybook gem, with cobbled streets and well-preserved architecture.

What is the best season to visit Burgundy?

For wine enthusiasts, the best season to visit Burgundy is autumn. The grape harvest (vendange) begins in September, so wineries will be buzzing with activity, as the vineyards turn vivid hues of gold and red. Some winery visits will require advance booking, since this is their busiest period in terms of wine production.

In general, spring (April to June) is the best time to visit Burgundy. The weather is ideal for outdoor activities and winemakers have more time to host in-depth tours and tastings. Summer is peak season, so expect more crowds, warmer weather and annual festivals, such as the Festival International d’Opéra Baroque in Beaune. Some smaller wine producers may close for the summer holidays.

While winter brings cooler climes, this is the quietest time to visit and the season lends itself to cozy cellar tours. However, it’s worth noting that some tourist attractions may operate on reduced hours or close for the season.

What are the best areas of Burgundy?

The best areas of Burgundy to visit vary depending on your interests, with different places appealing for different pursuits. For world-class wine tasting, consider the prestigious wine regions of Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits and Chablis. Côte Chalonnaise and the Mâconnais are also well worth visiting for more afforable fine wines. For stunning architecture and local gastronomy, Dijon, Auxerre and Beaune are must-visits, while history buffs will love the medieval villages of Vézelay and Châteauneuf-en-Auxois.

Our Travel Designers know the region inside out and can advise on the best areas of Burgundy to visit based on your interests.

How long to spend in Burgundy?

Deciding how long to spend in Burgundy depends on how in-depth you would like your trip to be. For first-time visitors, we recommend spending 3 to 5 days in Burgundy. This allows time to explore the main cities and towns, as well as visit world-class vineyards. For wine enthusiasts looking to really get under the skin of the region, our Travel Designers can plan an itinerary which spans a week (or longer!).

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