Beaune, France Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, Eat & Drink

If you’re into hearty French food and fabulous wine, then you’re going to love Beaune, France.

Situated in the heart of Burgundy’s Côte d’Or, Beaune is the perfect base for exploring some of the world’s most prestigious vineyards and wine villages.

But when you’re not out wine tasting, this ridiculously charming town has plenty more to offer…

Inside Beaune’s medieval ramparts, you’ll find the spectacular Hôtel-Dieu (Hospices de Beaune), a bustling Saturday market worth planning your entire trip around, centuries-old wine cellars, quaint town squares, mustard shops, and the coziest Burgundian bistros.

I’ve been to Beaune twice now. After my recent trip – which involved cellar tours, e-biking through the vineyards along the Route des Grands Crus, long lunches, mustard-tasting, lots of Époisses cheese (merci beaucoup!), and some of the most delicious wines I’ve ever tasted – Beaune has officially become my favorite town in France.

In this Beaune travel guide, I’m sharing the best things to do in Beaune, the Beaune wine tours you cannot skip, my favorite restaurants, the best hotels, and my exact 3-day Beaune itinerary.

Ready to sip your way through the wine capital of Burgundy? Santé!

Beaune is a small and incredibly charming walled town that’s perfect for exploring on foot. 

Within the old ramparts, cobblestone streets wind between honey-colored stone buildings, quaint little squares, historic wine domaines, and the iconic Hôtel-Dieu. As you wander, cozy Burgundian bistros, mustard boutiques, and little wine bars tempt you at every turn.

Here are the best things to do in Beaune, France. Starting with wine, of course!

1. Go on a Burgundy Wine Day Trip

Wine is the main reason we all want to visit Beaune, so taking a full-day wine tour – like this Burgundy Grand Crus Route Day Tour – is a must-do. 

Beaune sits right in the heart of Burgundy’s legendary Côte d’Or wine region, so it’s the perfect base for exploring the vineyards and cellars along the Route des Grands Crus.

This famous wine road connects 37 celebrated villages, including Santenay, Meursault, Pommard, Vougeot, and Nuits-Saint-Georges.

The Côte d’Or itself is split into two distinct wine regions: 

• The Côte de Beaune: Home to famous wine villages like Meursault and Pommard, and especially celebrated for its world-class Chardonnay.
• The Côte de Nuits: Where you’ll find some of Burgundy’s most prestigious Pinot Noirs.

My Favorite Burgundy Wine Tours

If you’re new to Burgundy wine (and even if you’re not!), I highly recommend spending a day exploring with an expert guide.

Burgundy’s wine classifications, appellations, and terroir are famously complex. Having a knowledgeable guide to explain what you’re tasting (and to drive you everywhere!) makes the experience so much better.

Here are the three best wine tours from Beaune:

• Burgundy Grand Crus Route Day Tour: This was my favorite wine tour from Beaune! We visited three cellars across the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. We tasted an incredible lineup of 25 wines (way more than was advertised!), including Bourgogne, Village, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru wines. We also stopped for lunch in a wine village along the way.
• Burgundy Bike Tour with Wine Tasting: This tour is so much fun! Cycle along the Route des Grands Crus through stunning Côte de Beaune vineyards and charming wine villages. Stop at two wineries, plus enjoy a beautiful three-course lunch – with more wine! We upgraded to e-bikes and loved it.
• Best of Burgundy Full-Day Private Tour: This splurge-worthy option covers both the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. Across three winery visits, you’ll taste up to 20 Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines, plus have a gourmet lunch at a wine estate.

MADDY’S TIP: Dedicate at least one full day of your Beaune itinerary to exploring Burgundy wine country. We spent two days tasting along the Route des Grands Crus, exploring both the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, and I’d happily do it over (and over) again.

READ MORE: Best Wine Tours from Beaune, Burgundy (My 3 Favorites!)

2. Visit the Hôtel-Dieu (Hospices de Beaune)

If you only have time for one non-wine-related activity in Beaune, make it the Hôtel-Dieu (Hospices de Beaune). You really can’t miss it. 

Founded in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor to the Duke of Burgundy, and his wife, Guigone de Salins, this charitable hospital for the poor operated until the 1970s. 

The Hôtel-Dieu is instantly recognizable for its colorful glazed-tile roofs and beautiful Gothic architecture. I could stare at that courtyard all day!

Inside, you’ll explore the remarkably preserved hospital rooms, including the enormous Salle des Pôvres (Room of the Poor), which once housed up to 30 beds, and the old pharmacy, with its wooden cabinets still filled with glass vials, earthenware pots, and medicinal ingredients.

You’ll also see The Last Judgment, a spectacular 15th-century polyptych masterpiece by Rogier van der Weyden. 

The visit also explains the Hôtel-Dieu’s connection to the famous Hospices de Beaune wine estate, built through centuries of vineyard donations to the hospital. Today, the estate owns prestigious vineyards across Burgundy, with its wines sold at the world-famous Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction every November.

MADDY’S TIP: We visited about 1.5 hours before closing. The timing was perfect – we had enough to meander slowly, and barely anyone was there.

3. Shop Beaune’s Saturday Market

The Marché de Beaune is probably my favorite French market yet. 

You know those markets that have become so touristy that locals don’t dare go anymore? The Beaune Market is not that – and thank goodness! During our mid-April visit, it was buzzing with Burgundians.

Held every Saturday from 8 AM to roughly 1 PM, this sprawling market features around 180 vendors, taking over the indoor Halle de Beaune, the charming Place de la Halle, and spilling onto neighboring streets.

The colorful stalls here overflow with fresh fruits and heirloom vegetables (the white asparagus, oh my goodness), alongside the artisanal cheese and meat stalls of dreams. Local bakeries, spice merchants, olive and nut vendors, and other specialty producers are sprinkled in between.

Beyond our wine tours, the Beaune Market was the highlight of our Burgundy trip. If you’re a foodie, it’s worth rearranging your itinerary to make sure your Beaune trip falls on a Saturday.

In summer, there’s also a flea market in Place Carnot, where you can browse antiques, paintings, vintage decor, and other bric-à-brac.

MADDY’S TIP: We bought a fresh baguette, cheeses, olives, and other goodies for a picnic near the pond in Parc de la Bouzaize. If it’s a lovely day, you should do the same!

4. Tour La Moutarderie Fallot

If you love mustard as much as I do, don’t miss La Moutarderie Edmond Fallot. This family-run mustard mill has been producing Dijon mustard in Beaune since 1840.

There, you can browse their vast collection of mustards – and try as many as you dare. Some are so spicy, it feels like your nostrils are on fire.

We tried 20 or so kinds and couldn’t resist buying three super-gourmet jars to bring home: mustard with cacao beans; mustard with hazelnut flowers and Bourbon vanilla (wildly delicious!); and mustard with Ethiopian coffee.

If you want to learn more about Burgundy’s famous condiment, there are two guided tours:

• Découvertes Tour: This tour focuses on the history of mustard, taking you through the old mill, where you’ll see the original equipment, learn how mustard is made, and even make your own mustard. It finishes up with a mustard tasting at the mustard bar. There’s a tour most days at 11:30 AM.
• Sensations Fortes Tour: This option takes you through the modern factory, following the mustard-making process from the storage silos and milling room all the way through to bottling. There’s a tour most days at 1:30 PM.

MADDY’S TIP: Book a few days ahead on the La Moutarderie Edmond Fallot website for a tour, or just walk in to do your own free tasting!

5. Walk the Beaune Ramparts

In between wines, follow this walking route along Beaune’s historic ramparts, a 1.2-mile (2-kilometer) loop surrounding the old town.

Parts of these medieval fortifications date back to the 14th century, and the peaceful route passes historic towers, bastions, gardens, and old city gates.

6. Go Wine Tasting in Beaune

You don’t have to venture into the vineyards to taste incredible Burgundy wine. Beaune is packed with cavistes, wine bars, domaines, and historic cellars, offering everything from casual glasses of Pinot Noir to guided Grand Cru tastings.

Here are a few options to check out:

• Joseph Drouhin: The Signature Cellar and Tasting Tour here top of my list for next time! By appointment, you can explore 2.5 acres of some of Beaune’s oldest cellars before tasting eight prestigious Joseph Drouhin wines, including two Grand Crus. This is one of Burgundy’s most renowned domaines – their vineyards are cultivated organically and biodynamically
• Domaine Loubet-Dewailly: We stumbled upon this little tasting room near the Basilique Notre-Dame and loved sitting in the garden with a couple glasses of Pinot Noir. You can order by the glass, or opt for an affordable four-wine tasting, alongside cheese and charcuterie.
• Tasting of Burgundy Wines at Solstice Beaune: Head into this boutique hotel’s century-old cellars for a sommelier-led tasting of six Burgundy wines, with options ranging from regional appellations all the way up to Grand Crus.
• Best of Burgundy Tasting at Millesimes A La Carte: Book a private tasting with a sommelier who’ll select seven Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines from more than 200 Burgundy cuvées.

And those are just a few! You’ll find wine-tasting opportunities all over Beaune as you wander around town.

MADDY’S NOTE: Planning a wine-focused trip through France? Check out my guide to taking a Champagne day trip from Paris too!

7. Visit the Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune

As you wander Beaune’s old town, pop inside the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Beaune, one of Burgundy’s last great Romanesque churches. Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, the basilica features later Gothic and Renaissance add-ons, beautiful stained glass, and a 12th-century Black Madonna.

But the real highlight is the collection of five 15th-century tapestries depicting the life of the Virgin Mary. They’re incredibly well-preserved and free to see, though access is limited to certain afternoons from April through October.

8. Bike the Route des Grands Crus

One of my favorite ways to experience Burgundy wine country is by bike. Dedicated Route des Grands Crus cycling routes lead straight from Beaune into the beautiful Côte de Beaune vineyards.

You can easily rent a bicycle or e-bike in town, then spend the day cycling between charming villages like Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, and Santenay.

Along the way, you can picnic among the vineyards, linger over lunch, stop for a few wine tastings, or even do a full-on winery and cellar tour. 

I’ve biked along the Route des Grands Crus independently in the past, and most recently, I went on this Burgundy Bike Tour with Wine Tasting.

The guided tour makes the logistics easier since your winery visits and lunch are already planned out. But going independently is also fabulous! I just recommend booking your tastings ahead, rather than winging it like we did!

Best Restaurants in Beaune

For such a small town, Beaune has an incredible food scene. Expect cozy little bistros, chic, fine-dining restaurants, extensive wine lists, escargots, hearty classics like boeuf bourguignon, coq au vin, and oeufs en meurette, and lots of Époisses de Bourgogne (the region’s famously pungent cheese).

We ate very well in Beaune. Here are my favorite restaurants in Beaune so far. 

MADDY’S NOTE: Heading to Paris before or after Burgundy? Check out my guide to the best places to eat in Paris for my favorite restaurants, cafés, bakeries, and more.

Rebond

This tiny restaurant was my favorite of the trip.

Rebond serves fresh, modern French cuisine rooted in Burgundian tradition, with a short menu that changes seasonally. They also put a huge emphasis on offering excellent wines at refreshingly reasonable prices.

My husband and I sat outside for a two-course lunch and a bottle of Domaine Rapet’s ‘En Bully’ Pinot Noir – a vibrant 2022 vintage from a high-altitude Côte de Beaune vineyard.

We started with escargots in parsley-garlic butter and a rustic pork terrine (so good!). For mains, we had oeufs parfaits en meurette (poached eggs with pork, mushrooms, and red wine sauce) and conchiglioni pasta with duck confit, beetroot, Parmesan, and hazelnuts. And everything was as delicious as it sounds. 

This was the perfect relaxed, wine-splashed lunch to kick off our trip to Beaune. I highly recommend it!

La Table de Guigone

For traditional Burgundian food with a little modern, creative touch, head to La Table de Guigone, right in the heart of Beaune.

We ended up here with a couple from our Burgundy Grand Crus Route Day Tour and shared a beautiful bottle of Côte de Beaune Pinot Noir – as if we hadn’t already had enough!

Cacey and I ordered the escargots with mushrooms and Époisses cream; the most perfect eggs with asparagus, grilled bacon, and local goat cheese cream; and a perfectly cooked beef filet with Époisses potato gratin. For dessert, we shared an indulgent Valrhôna chocolate lava cake with hazelnuts and almonds.

This little place was cozy, relaxed, and oh so very Burgundy. The service was lovely as well.

Le P’tit Paradis

Tucked away on a Beaune backstreet, Le P’tit Paradis is a small, charming restaurant serving refined, seasonal French cuisine alongside a Burgundy-heavy wine list.

We went for the three-course menu, starting with a deeply savory Provençal-style pistou with beef. I ordered the duck breast with creamy mashed potatoes and the most luscious Époisses sauce that I’ll never stop dreaming about. Cacey’s baked cod with vegetables, chorizo, and whiskey-prawn sauce was equally divine.

But our desserts stole the whole show. They were visually stunning – and tasted even better. The P’tit Paradis signature was a cloud of vanilla and white chocolate mousse atop sponge cake and blackcurrant jelly… Heaven. 

This was a dinner we won’t soon forget.

Biz’tro “Chic & Gourmand”

Biz’tro “Chic & Gourmand” is yet another modern French restaurant, but its menu features a distinctly international twist. 

Here, we went with a two-course menu, jumping straight into mains. My lamb chop and kofta with artichoke, onion confit, and white sauce was easily the standout; Cacey’s salmon with potatoes, pak choi, and lobster emulsion was good, but not really notable.

For dessert, we shared a chocolate-and-sour-cherry tart and a simple but fabulous creation of poached rhubarb with strawberries, Chantilly cream, and caramelized pastry.

MADDY’S NOTE: Looking for more ideas? La Table du Square and Caves Madeleine are both on my list for next time! If you’re after a full-on fine-dining experience, then the one-Michelin-star Clos du Cèdre is the place to book.

Best Specialty Cafés in Beaune

Need a break from all that wine? These were my two favorite spots for specialty coffee in Beaune:

• Catherine & Raisin: A little coffee shop and bakery serving specialty coffee alongside gorgeous homemade cakes, banana bread, and cinnamon rolls. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday.
• Samedi Cafe: If you’re visiting the Beaune Market on Saturday morning, don’t miss this tiny coffee stand inside Les Halles! They roast their own beans and make seriously fantastic specialty coffee – exactly what you need while browsing the market!

Best Hotels in Beaune

For the full Burgundy wine-and-food experience, I recommend staying right in Beaune’s historic center. That way, you can walk to restaurants, wine bars, tastings, and the main sights. You can also easily walk to the meeting points for your wine day trips – no car needed! 

Here are my top picks for where to stay in Beaune:

• L’Hôtel de Beaune: This is where I’d splurge next time! This intimate five-star hotel combines historic Burgundian character with serious luxury, a Michelin-recommended bistro, an American-style cocktail bar, and an incredible wine cellar. It’s the perfect place to land after long, wine-soaked days exploring Burgundy.
• Hôtel Le Cep: A romantic five-star hotel that’s spread across historic Burgundian buildings and courtyards, with a major spa and an unbeatable location in the old town.
• La Maison de Maurice: This is where we stayed! Our suite – with its exposed beams and cozy, vintage furnishings – was charming, spacious, and perfectly located in the historic center. It’s a great choice if you want more space and an apartment-style stay rather than a traditional hotel.
• Maison 1896: This stylish 16-room boutique hotel in a beautifully restored 1896 building is just steps from the Hôtel-Dieu. It’s modern and design-forward, but still full of historic character.

How to Get to Beaune

As the heart of Burgundy wine country, Beaune is well-connected by train, with fast routes from cities like Paris, Dijon, and Lyon.

After spending two nights in Dijon, my husband and I took the 18-minute train to Beaune. From Beaune station, it’s a 15-minute walk to the Place de la Halle, the heart of town. 

We don’t travel light, so we called an Uber on arrival to take us (and all of our luggage!) to our hotel, La Maison de Maurice.

How to Get Around Beaune & Burgundy

The historic heart of Beaune is very walkable. You can get from one end of the old town to the other in roughly 15 minutes, so you don’t need a car for sightseeing.

I considered renting a car for our travels around Burgundy. But with all the wine-drinking we’d planned to do, I decided against it. We relied on the train to get to Beaune, and I booked wine tours that included transportation. Both the Burgundy Grand Crus Route Day Tour I took (and highly recommend!) and this Best of Burgundy Full-Day Private Tour include a driver.

But if you want to explore Burgundy extensively and independently, consider renting a car. You could even stay at a wine estate or château in the countryside, like Prosper Maufoux – Château de Saint-Aubin or Château de Melin, where you can wake up among the vines and savor a quieter, more immersive Burgundy experience. This is the website I use to find great deals on rental cars in France!

There are also plenty of taxis and Ubers available between Beaune and the surrounding wine villages like Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard, and Meursault. Quick regional trains and buses are also available to some nearby villages.

My 3-Day Beaune Itinerary

Want a quick snapshot of my recent 3-day Beaune itinerary? It was pretty perfect, if you ask me!

Day 1: Explore Beaune

• Arrive by train
• Stroll around Beaune and walk the ramparts
• Lunch at Rebond
• Tour La Moutarderie Fallot (or just do a free tasting)
• Stop by the Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune
• Go for a short tour or tasting at a local cave or domaine
• Visit the Hôtel-Dieu (Hospices de Beaune) about 1.5 hours before closing
• Dinner at Le P’tit Paradis

Day 2: Burgundy Wine Country

• Get coffee at Catherine & Raisin
• Spend the day on this Burgundy Grand Crus Route Day Tour
• Dinner at La Table de Guigone

Day 3: Saturday Market + Bike the Vineyards

• Explore the Saturday market at 8 AM
• Grab coffee at Samedi Cafe inside Les Halles
• Go on this Burgundy Bike Tour with Wine Tasting
• Dinner at Biz’tro “Chic & Gourmand”

Beaune, France: Travel FAQs