Highlights
- Explore Dijon's UNESCO-listed Old Town by bike
- Taste your way around Beaune, Burgundy's "culinary capital"
- Hunt for truffles and cook up a traditional Burgundian meal
- Sip your way through the rolling wine estates of Beaujolais
- Treat your senses to a guided tour around Lyon's renowned Les Halles market
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Paris, Explore Medieval Sainte-Chapelle, Notre-Dame & Conciergerie | Paris |
| Day 2 | Train to Dijon, Discover the City of 100 Steeples via Bike | Dijon |
| Day 3 | Train to Beaune, Truffle Hunting Experience | Beaune |
| Day 4 | Beaune Highlights & Burgundy Wine Tour | Beaune |
| Day 5 | Cooking Class in Beaune, Free Afternoon | Beaune |
| Day 6 | Train to Lyon, Afternoon Food Tour | Lyon |
| Day 7 | Beaujolais Wine Tasting & Medieval Pérouges | Lyon |
| Day 8 | Les Halles Market Tour, Train to Paris | Paris |
| Day 9 | Free Morning in Paris, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Paris, Explore Medieval Sainte-Chapelle, Notre-Dame & Conciergerie
Welcome to France! Your flight lands in Paris, otherwise known as the "City of Light." This thriving capital blends far-reaching history with modern vibes, featuring ancient architecture alongside chic cafés, world-class museums, and high-end shopping. Upon arrival, you'll be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel, where you can rest and refresh before meeting your guide for a tour through some of the city's most important landmarks.
Start at Notre-Dame Cathedral, where you'll learn about the birth of Gothic art as you hear about the painstaking rebuilding process, and visit Sainte-Chapelle, a 13th-century royal chapel with golden arches inside and more than 1,000 stained glass windows. You'll also see the Conciergerie, Paris' first royal palace. Turned into a prison during the French Revolution, this was the place where Marie Antoinette and thousands of others spent their final days.
Day 2: Train to Dijon, Discover the City of 100 Steeples via Bike
This morning, transfer to the station and board a high-speed train for the 1.5-hour journey southeast to Dijon, capital of the Burgundy region. With a pedestrianized (and UNESCO-listed) Old Town full of historic half-timbered buildings and Renaissance palaces, this is one of France's most appealing cities and the perfect gateway into the region's renowned wine country.
Get settled at your hotel, then it's time to see more of the city via a privately guided bike tour. Make your way deep into the Old Town, where you'll meet your guides and head out along Dijon's cobbled streets. Cruise by the elegant Renaissance structures and Burgundian tile roofs, and learn why Dijon is referred to as the "City of 100 Steeples" as you pass the many churches. See sites such as the monumental Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne, the 14th-century Chartreuse de Champmol, and the Gothic spires of the Church of Notre-Dame before returning to your hotel for the evening.
Day 3: Train to Beaune, Truffle Hunting Experience
Continue deeper into Burgundy this morning as you transfer to the station and catch a quick 20-minute train south to Beaune. This storybook walled town is the official wine capital of Burgundy, with a treasure trove of well-preserved examples of Burgundian architecture, charming honey-colored houses, and cobbled streets—all surrounded by over a mile of medieval ramparts. Needless to say, the historic Old Town is a delight to explore.
Your first order of business upon arrival is that most quintessential of European foodie adventures: a truffle hunt. Transfer outside of town to the countryside, where for two hours, you'll witness a demonstration by a local expert and their dogs on how to sniff out Burgundy's prized truffles. These local fungi are highly valuable due to their scarcity and growth in only a few specific areas, and Burgundy truffles in particular have a distinct flavor that adds a whole new dimension of complexity to dishes. Of course, the tour includes a tasting. Afterward, you'll return to town.
Day 4: Beaune Highlights & Burgundy Wine Tour
It's time to experience the best of Beaune! Leave after breakfast on a full-day highlights tour, beginning in the Old Town at its most famous landmark, the Hospices de Beaune. Known for its flamboyant Gothic architecture and distinctive glazed-tile roof, this 15th-century almshouse and hospital is now a museum showcasing local history and art. Next, stop by some of the town's many wine cellars and tasting rooms that date back to the 12th century, when Beaune was already a hub of wine production. Today, they're great places to sample Burgundy's famous wines, particularly its chardonnays and pinot noirs.
The wine theme continues as you embark on a trip to the countryside. After stopping for a convivial lunch in a charming village, you'll visit the region's famous vineyards at a family-run wine estate. During a tour, you'll learn the secrets of Burgundy's terroir, which benefits from microclimates created by hills and valleys. This, combined with diverse soil types and meticulous winemaking practices emphasizing minimal intervention, is why this region produces some of the world's best reds and whites. You'll experience these deep flavors for yourself during a tasting, before returning to town.
Day 5: Cooking Class in Beaune, Free Afternoon
You've tasted the fruits of Burgundy's terroir on a wine tour; now it's time to dive deep into the region's cuisine. If it's a weekend, you'll hop over to Beaune's farmers market to pick up the requisite ingredients and fresh seasonal produce to use in today's cooking workshop. If it's a weekday, then you'll head straight to the kitchen to meet your local chef/instructor and start cooking a full Burgundian menu of four courses. Your meal should be ready around lunchtime, and you can sit down to enjoy your creations as your instructor matches your meal with some great Burgundy wines and offers tips about pairing.
The remainder of the day is free for you to explore Beaune at your own pace. You could learn more about the region's distinctive terroir and wine-growing methods with a visit to the interactive Cité des Climats et Vins de Bourgogne, or follow a walking route around the town's medieval ramparts. Stop by the family-owned La Moutarderie Fallot, where you can see how they've produced the finest mustard since 1840 and pick your favorite at the tasting bar, or step into the world of cassis (blackcurrant) at Le Cassissium to sample the velvety richness of blackcurrant liqueurs, brandies, and syrups.
Day 6: Train to Lyon, Afternoon Food Tour
Transfer to the station in the morning for the two-hour train ride south to Lyon, France's third most populous city and the capital of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Banked by the Saône and Rhône rivers, the compact city center features traboules (hidden passageways), a UNESCO-listed Old Town, and a wealth of gorgeous architecture. More even than its scenic beauty, Lyon is famous for being the gastronomic capital of France—no small feat in a country with legendary cuisine.
After checking into your hotel, you'll discover this culinary heritage one bite at a time on a delicious food tour. This half-day walk is as much a journey into the city's culture as its cuisine. You'll wander cobbled streets in Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon), marvel at colorful murals, and visit workshops where local artisans ply their trade. During the walk, you'll stop to try Lyonnaise cuisine, which might include regional classics like quenelles (dumplings), salade Lyonnaise (salad with bacon and vinaigrette), and coq au vin (chicken braised in red wine). Added treats include local ice cream, beer, chocolate pie, and other tasty surprises.
Day 7: Beaujolais Wine Tasting & Medieval Pérouges
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Meet your driver/guide in the morning for a tour of Beaujolais, a famous wine region just north of Lyon. Often compared to Tuscany, this beautiful countryside is known for its rolling green hills blanketed in flourishing vineyards and dotted with the distinctive Pierres Dorées (villages constructed from the area's distinctive honey-colored stone). During the tour, your guide will offer insight into the region's history and what makes its terroir particularly suited for winemaking. You'll glean more insight into the area's viticulture scene when you meet with a local winemaker who will lead you on a delicious tasting tour.
Continue the adventure with a visit to Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne, in the adjacent Bresse region. With its historic timber houses and medieval/Renaissance heritage, this charming village is a great place to stop for lunch (try its famous poultry dishes). If you're here on a Saturday, you can browse the stalls of the local market, which dates to the 11th century. Later, take the scenic road to the nearby Dombes region, with its green plateaus and 1,000 lakes. Here, you'll stop in Pérouges, ranked among the prettiest villages in France. Enjoy some free time exploring the village's cobbled streets before transferring back to Lyon.
Day 8: Les Halles Market Tour, Train to Paris
Rise and shine! Wake early and beat the crowds to Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse. Commonly known as Les Halles, this famous indoor food market has a rich history dating back to 1859. Over the years, it's undergone various transformations, most notably in 2006 when it was renamed after legendary French chef Paul Bocuse. During a guided visit, you'll browse a wide range of fresh, local, and gourmet products, including fresh produce, meats, cheeses, seafood, pastries, and more. It's a haven for food lovers and chefs alike.
Afterward, it's time to transfer to the station to catch the two-hour train back to Paris. After checking in at your hotel, celebrate the final evening of your trip with dinner at a recommended restaurant. You could order a perfect steak frites at a timeless café or try a trendy bistronomy spot, where up-and-coming chefs serve haute cuisine in a fun and approachable way. Think fusion flavors and reinvented French classics paired with expertly mixed craft cocktails or natural wines. Walk your meal off along the resplendent Seine, or stroll the Champs-Élysées de Mars under the twinkle of the Eiffel Tower.
Day 9: Free Morning in Paris, Depart
It's your final morning in Paris. Depending on your departure time, you could spend the morning seeing more of the city, perhaps stretching your legs with a stroll on the romantic Seine between the Musée d'Orsay and the Pont d'Alma. For something a little different, visit the Grande Mosque de Paris and sip mint tea on a patio amid wisteria bushes and intricate tile mosaics. If it's drizzling outside, head underground to the Catacombs and explore Paris' ancient underbelly. When the time comes, meet your driver and transfer to the airport to catch your flight. Safe travels!
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