--- title: "Burgundy Wine Tour from Lyon: Beaune, Routes and Tips" description: "A Burgundy wine tour from Lyon: Beaune and the Côte de Nuits in a day or two nights, tasting etiquette, the climats, when to go, from our team near Lyon." url: "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/burgundy-wine-tour-from-lyon" image: "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/_astro/01M5J4124P815E5D87234M44WR.CjDd4kmm_1RH1Lp.jpg" --- 1. [Home](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/) 2. [Travel insights](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) 3. Burgundy Wine Tour from Lyon: Day Trip or Two Nights in Beaune [Travel insights](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) # Burgundy Wine Tour from Lyon: Day Trip or Two Nights in Beaune A Burgundy wine tour from Lyon: Beaune and the Côte de Nuits in a day or two nights, tasting etiquette, the climats, when to go, from our team near Lyon. By [Lucas Gebhardt](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/lucas-gebhardt), Founder & CEO · Published on October 22, 2026 · 6 min read ![Paris 2](/_astro/01M5J4124P815E5D87234M44WR.CjDd4kmm_H52tR.webp) A Burgundy wine tour from Lyon is easy to plan and hard to fit into one day. Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy, is about **165 km (100 miles) north of Lyon, around 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours by car**. A day trip with a private driver covers Beaune and one of the two great slopes, the Côte de Beaune or the Côte de Nuits. To taste both properly, sleep **two nights in Beaune**. And if you only have half a day, the Mâconnais and the Beaujolais are much closer. Our offices are in Villefranche-sur-Saône, between Lyon and Burgundy, and this drive up the Saône valley is one we know by heart. Here is how we plan it. ## Burgundy's wine areas, from Lyon northward | Area | From Lyon by car | Known for | As a day trip from Lyon | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Beaujolais | 30 to 45 min | Gamay, the ten crus, golden-stone villages | Easy | | Mâconnais | about 1 h | Chardonnay: Pouilly-Fuissé, Saint-Véran, Viré-Clessé | Easy | | Côte Chalonnaise | about 1 h 30 | Mercurey, Rully, Givry, Bouzeron | Good | | Côte de Beaune | about 1 h 45 to 2 h | Great whites (Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet), Pommard, Volnay, Corton | Possible, a full day | | Côte de Nuits | about 2 h to 2 h 15 | Great reds: Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges | Long; better from Beaune | | Chablis | about 3 h 15 | Mineral Chardonnay | No; combine with Paris instead | The Beaujolais, just north of Lyon, is technically its own wine region with its own grape, Gamay. We cover it in [is Lyon worth visiting](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/is-lyon-worth-visiting), and it pairs naturally with a Burgundy trip. ## What makes Burgundy different: the climats In Burgundy, a wine is named after the exact piece of ground it comes from. These plots, called **climats**, have been mapped and named for centuries. In 2015, the **Climats of Burgundy**, around 1,247 of them along the slopes from Dijon to the Maranges south of Beaune, together with the historic centers of Dijon and Beaune, were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The quality ladder is simple once you see it on the ground: - **Regional wines** (Bourgogne) from the flat land toward the Saône; - **Village wines** named after a village, such as Meursault or Gevrey-Chambertin; - **Premier crus**, specific climats on better slopes, named on the label; - **Grand crus**, the very best mid-slope climats, such as Montrachet, Corton, Clos de Vougeot or Chambertin, where a single name is the whole appellation. Driving along the Route des Grands Crus, the wall-enclosed vineyards, stone crosses and village names you have read on wine lists for years appear one after another, a few minutes apart. ## A day trip from Lyon: our usual plan With a private driver, this is the day we build most often: | Time | Plan | | --- | --- | | 8:00 am | Leave Lyon on the A6 | | 10:00 am | Beaune: the Hôtel-Dieu of the Hospices de Beaune, the 1443 charity hospital with its glazed tile roof | | 11:30 am | Tasting at a family domaine in Pommard, Volnay or Meursault | | 1:00 pm | Lunch in Beaune or a village restaurant in the vines | | 2:45 pm | Route des Grands Crus north: Corton hill, Nuits-Saint-Georges, the Château du Clos de Vougeot | | 4:30 pm | Second tasting in Gevrey-Chambertin or Chambolle-Musigny | | 5:30 pm | Drive back | | 7:30 to 8:00 pm | Back in Lyon | It is a long and rich day. Two tastings is the maximum we schedule: after that, the wines start to blur, however good they are. If you want a calmer day, keep it to the Côte de Beaune and spend the afternoon walking Beaune. ### Why a driver rather than a rental car France's legal blood alcohol limit is 0.5 g/L, lower than in most US states, and a Burgundy tasting involves a dozen wines. Even when you spit, a driver lets everyone enjoy the day and saves you looking for parking in villages built for carts. Our drivers also know which domaines welcome visitors and which do not. ## Two nights in Beaune: the trip we recommend Beaune is a walled town with cobbled streets, a ring of ramparts, good restaurants and wine shops everywhere. As a base, it puts both côtes within twenty to forty minutes. - **Day 1:** leave Lyon in the morning, stopping in the Mâconnais at the Rock of Solutré and a Pouilly-Fuissé tasting. Afternoon at the Hospices de Beaune and the Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, the wine interpretation center that also has sites in Chablis and Mâcon. Dinner in Beaune. - **Day 2:** the Côte de Beaune whites in the morning (Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet), lunch in the vines, and an afternoon in the red villages of Pommard and Volnay, or a cooking class. - **Day 3:** the Côte de Nuits: Clos de Vougeot, a tasting in Gevrey-Chambertin, then Dijon for its ducal palace and mustard before the train or the drive home. Our [Luxury France Honeymoon in 14 Days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/luxury-honeymoon-trip-from-paris-to-provence), from €9,999 (about $11,500) per person, includes a Burgundy chapter between Paris, the Alps and Provence, and our [10-day France itineraries](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/countries/france/10-days) can add Beaune between Paris and Lyon. ## How tastings work in Burgundy - **Most domaines are small family estates.** Visits are by appointment, often with the winemaker, and some do not receive visitors at all, including the most famous names of the Côte de Nuits. The legendary Romanée-Conti vineyard can be seen from the road, by its stone cross, but not visited. - **The large houses in Beaune** (the négociants) have cellars under the town and run tastings with more regular hours. They are a good introduction before a family domaine. - **Fees are normal.** Expect to pay for a tasting at most houses; some domaines waive it if you buy. - **Language:** many younger winemakers speak English, but not all. Our guides translate and explain the vintage and the climat. - **Buying:** domaines sell at the cellar door. For shipping cases to North America, check customs allowances and duties before you buy; we can arrange shipping through specialized carriers. - **Avoid the harvest weeks,** usually mid-September to early October, when winemakers are in the vines and many domaines close to visitors. ## When to go - **May, June and September** are our favorite months: long days, green vines, and domaines with time to talk. - **The third weekend of November** brings the Trois Glorieuses and the Hospices de Beaune charity wine auction, run by Sotheby's since 2021, on the third Sunday of November (November 15 in 2026). Beaune is full and festive; book a year ahead. - **Late January** has the Saint-Vincent Tournante, a winegrowers' festival held in a different village each year. - **Winter** is quiet and intimate, with fireside tastings, but some restaurants close for holidays. The same weeks in the Beaujolais are just as rewarding: Beaujolais Nouveau is released on the third Thursday of November. ## Burgundy for travelers with reduced mobility Beaune's old town is flat and largely pedestrian, and the courtyard of the Hôtel-Dieu is on one level. Cellars are the challenge: many are reached by steep stone stairs. We choose houses with ground-floor tasting rooms and use vehicles with a ramp or lift for travelers who need one. ## Beyond Burgundy If wine is the thread of your trip, see how Burgundy fits with Lyon, Belgium and Italy in our [food lover's guide to Europe](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/why-food-lovers-should-travel-through-belgium-france-and-italy), or look at our [Cognac Getaway in 6 Days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/wine-getaway-to-cognac) and the rest of our [food and wine trips](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/trips/food-and-wine). Our [trip cost calculator](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/tools/europe-trip-cost-calculator) gives a first idea of the budget. Tell us which wines you love and how many days you have, and our team, based between Lyon and Burgundy, will design a [Burgundy wine tour from Lyon](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/plan-your-trip) with the right domaines for you. More guides: [Places and regions](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/topics/regions) ## Related destinations - [France](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/countries/france) ## Contents Written by ### [Lucas Gebhardt](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/lucas-gebhardt) Founder & CEO · Based in Villefranche-sur-Saône Founder of Mobee International, wine and golf enthusiast, designs trips that show France the way the French live it. [More about Lucas](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/lucas-gebhardt) ## Trips for this guide - [![Luxury honeymoon trip from Paris to Provence](/_astro/01M5J4124PCV0X28RGDBW365YT.lZhWvtW-_Z16PGzJ.webp)**Luxury France Honeymoon in 14 Days: Paris, Burgundy, Alps & Provence**From €9,999 · 14 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/luxury-honeymoon-trip-from-paris-to-provence) - [![Wine Getaway to Cognac](/_astro/01M5J4124MAGX84KA6Y71NCFTD.TtHMYKx5_Z2eTFfx.webp)**Cognac Getaway in 6 Days: Distilleries, Vineyards & Bordeaux Blending**From €1,999 · 6 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/wine-getaway-to-cognac) - [![7 days in Nice: Accessible trip](/_astro/01M5J4124VQF6QPD0VP4QXAAY3.BlXaBIyU_ZsWT3U.webp)**Accessible French Riviera in 8 Days: Nice, Monaco, Eze & Grasse**From €1,499 · 8 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/7-days-in-nice-accessible-trip-with-4) When you’re ready, we’re ready ## Let us help you plan a trip that feels right Tell us what you’re dreaming about: dates, pace, who you’re traveling with, and what would make it special. A real person will get back to you with thoughtful ideas, not a generic pitch. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can you do a Burgundy wine tour as a day trip from Lyon? Yes, with a private driver. Beaune is about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours from Lyon by car, which leaves time for the Hospices de Beaune, two tastings and lunch in the vineyards. One day covers one slope well, either the Côte de Beaune or the Côte de Nuits. To see both, stay two nights in Beaune. ### How far is Beaune from Lyon? About 165 km (100 miles) by road, around 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours on the A6 motorway depending on traffic. Regional trains also link Lyon to Beaune, but you will need a driver or guide once there, because the domaines are spread across villages without practical public transport between them. ### What is the difference between the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune? The Côte de Nuits, in the north between Dijon and Nuits-Saint-Georges, is almost entirely red Pinot Noir and holds most of Burgundy's red grand crus, such as Chambertin and Clos de Vougeot. The Côte de Beaune, to the south, makes great reds in Pommard and Volnay but is best known for white wines from Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet. ### Do you need appointments for wine tastings in Burgundy? For family domaines, yes, almost always, and some do not receive visitors at all. The large négociant houses in Beaune have more regular tasting hours and are easier to visit without notice. We book domaines in advance, matched to the wines you like, and pair each visit with a guide who can translate. ## Plan this trip Day by day, with prices. Each one is reshaped around you. [All itineraries](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages) ![Luxury honeymoon trip from Paris to Provence](/_astro/01M5J4124PCV0X28RGDBW365YT.lZhWvtW-_Z1S6tR9.webp) 14 days / 13 nights ### [Luxury France Honeymoon in 14 Days: Paris, Burgundy, Alps & Provence](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/luxury-honeymoon-trip-from-paris-to-provence) Thirteen nights in 5-star hotels from Paris to Aix: a Seine cruise, Dior and Place Vendôme, the Grands Crus of Burgundy, a helicopter over Mont Blanc, Lavaux, lavender by 2CV, the Camargue and a chef's class. Private guide daily. From **€9,999** per person ![Wine Getaway to Cognac](/_astro/01M5J4124MAGX84KA6Y71NCFTD.TtHMYKx5_241FgY.webp) 6 days / 5 nights ### [Cognac Getaway in 6 Days: Distilleries, Vineyards & Bordeaux Blending](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/wine-getaway-to-cognac) Five nights in one hotel in Cognac, 4-star or the 5-star Chais Monnet: a masterclass, an e-bike ride to a family distillery, a Bordeaux blending workshop, a cooking class, lunch at Rémy Martin and the Hennessy cooperage. From **€1,999** per person ![7 days in Nice: Accessible trip](/_astro/01M5J4124VQF6QPD0VP4QXAAY3.BlXaBIyU_Z1fdGlk.webp) 8 days / 7 nights ### [Accessible French Riviera in 8 Days: Nice, Monaco, Eze & Grasse](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/7-days-in-nice-accessible-trip-with-4) Seven nights in an accessible room at the Hotel West End 4-star on the Promenade des Anglais, adapted transfers throughout: Nice by bus, a perfume workshop in Grasse, a cruise to Monaco, the Matisse Museum, Eze and a beach day. From **€1,499** per person ## More to read [All articles](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) ![Loire castles, France Family Trip in 7 Days: Normandy, Loire Castles & Disneyland](/_astro/01M5J4124HPS13JHD0TJWGYNH9.D4Sfgxon_210Nz1.webp) France ### [France in April: Gardens Reopen, Châteaux Wake Up and Spring Holidays](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/france-in-april) France in April 2027: Giverny and the Loire gardens reopen, Versailles fountains return, school holidays by zone, and real spring temperatures by region. ![Mont Blanc](/_astro/01M5J4124PJGJ1ZWHTFTNNKE4Z.Brsvdr41_1CBvWn.webp) France ### [France in March: Early Spring in the South, Late Snow in the Alps](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/france-in-march) France in March 2027: spring in Provence and Nice, late skiing, Easter on March 28, equinox tides at Mont-Saint-Michel, and real temperatures by region. ![Seine](/_astro/01M5J4124PDJYTRJDZMP92H6QZ.COs7phuX_1IBbyt.webp) Europe ### [Anniversary Trip to Europe: Ideas by Style, Pacing, Surprises and Budgets](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/anniversary-trip-europe) Anniversary trip to Europe ideas from our designers: romantic cities, the Alps, the Riviera or wine country, with pacing, surprises and real 2026 budgets. Tailor-made, from France ## Let us help you plan a trip that feels right Tell us what you’re dreaming about: dates, pace, who you’re traveling with, and what would make it special. A real person will get back to you with thoughtful ideas, not a generic pitch. 1. 1Share your dates and wishes 2. 2Get a priced itinerary within 48 hours 3. 3Refine it together, then travel 9 travel designers in Lyon and Nice reply to every request themselves. ★★★★★ > “A wonderful travel partner” Carol W., Seattle, WA · 4.8/5 on 273 reviews - [US+1 607 354 8896](tel:+16073548896) - [Europe+33 4 26 30 36 82](tel:+33426303682) - [contact@mobeeinternational.com](mailto:contact@mobeeinternational.com) Two minutes, three steps. 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