9 Top Things to See and Do in Burgundy
Wine, history, markets, and quiet countryside – all in one region
If you’re planning a trip between Paris and Switzerland or just looking for a deeper taste of France beyond the big cities, Burgundy (la Bourgogne) is a fantastic stop.
With world-famous wine towns like Beaune and charming villages tucked among vineyards, it’s a region where you can go slow, eat well, and discover something new every day.
Here are nine things to do that show off Burgundy at its best.
1. Wander the Old Town of Beaune
Beaune is the wine capital of Burgundy and a great place to base yourself. The historic center is walkable, with cobbled lanes, tiled roofs, and wine shops on nearly every street.
The star sight is the Hôtel-Dieu, a medieval hospital with colorful glazed tiles and a rare 15th-century altarpiece.
The old town also has walkable ramparts and a handful of casual wine bars where you can try local bottles without needing a reservation or a wine vocabulary.
2. Visit the Hospices de Beaune
The Hospices de Beaune (Hôtel-Dieu) was founded in 1443 as a charity hospital and is now a museum known for its colorful roof and rare 15th-century altarpiece by Rogier van der Weyden.
Inside, you’ll see preserved sickrooms, a historic pharmacy, and the tools used to treat patients.
It also hosts Burgundy’s most famous wine auction every November, a major event for winemakers and collectors.
3. Go Wine Tasting at a Domaine
The Côte d’Or is the backbone of Burgundy’s wine culture. Tasting here doesn’t require deep knowledge, just curiosity.
Beaune is the easiest starting point, with producers like Joseph Drouhin offering guided tastings in English. Villages like Meursault, Pommard, and Nuits-Saint-Georges have tasting rooms you can walk into, or you can book ahead for more structured visits.
Bigger houses like Albert Bichot take reservations online, while cooperatives and village wine shops let you sample bottles from multiple small producers.
If you’re interested in whites, consider a side trip to Chablis or the Côte Chalonnaise for a less-traveled experience.
4. Bike Through the Côte d’Or
The Voie des Vignes is a quiet bike route that runs through the vineyards of the Côte d’Or, connecting towns like Beaune, Pommard, and Santenay.
It’s mostly flat and well-marked, with old stone walls, small churches, and vineyard workers out in the fields.
You’ll pass through wine villages without traffic or tour buses, just everyday life and open countryside.
Rentals are easy to find in Beaune, and even a two-hour ride is enough to see a different side of the region.
5. Eat and Drink Like a Local
Forget fancy tasting rooms, many of the best bottles are on restaurant menus, sold at prices you won’t see back home. Even mid-range spots have extensive wine lists featuring rare vintages at friendly prices.
Klima in Puligny-Montrachet, inside the Leflaive hotel, is a standout for food and wine by the glass.
If you’re there on a weekend, the Saturday market in Beaune is a local favorite. Grab cheese, fruit, and a bottle, and picnic among the vines.
6. Discover Dijon’s Ducal Past
Dijon isn’t only about mustard. The Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts, one of France’s oldest museums.
Inside are tombs of the dukes, Flemish masterpieces, and curious relics like suits of armor and ceremonial weapons. It’s worth spending a few hours there to understand just how powerful Burgundy once was.
7. Visit Clos de Vougeot
This chateau in the heart of wine country started as a Cistercian wine press and became one of the region’s most important landmarks.
Today it’s not a tasting room but a historical site showing the deep connection between wine, monastic life, and feudal power.
It’s right off the Route des Grands Crus and makes a good cultural stop on a wine-focused day.
8. Cruise the Canal de Bourgogne
For a change of pace, head to Canal de Bourgogne, which stretches over 240 km through quiet countryside, forests, and farmland.
You can rent bikes or take a slow boat ride past locks and stone villages like Montbard and Pouilly-en-Auxois. It’s peaceful and scenic, with very few tourists, ideal if you want to see Burgundy beyond the vineyards.
Some sections also offer walking paths right along the water.
9. Visit the Vineyards of Côte Chalonnaise
South of Beaune and less talked about than the Côte de Nuits or Côte de Beaune, the Côte Chalonnaise is dotted with working wine villages like Mercurey, Rully, and Givry.
The wines are more affordable, the pace is slower, and the landscape still delivers rows of vines and scenic hilltop views.
It’s also easier to get tastings without a reservation, especially at local cooperatives or in-town tasting rooms. A half-day drive through the area is an easy detour that often surprises visitors.