Beaune is a small, walled town of medieval streets, hidden courtyards, and underground cellars - sitting at the very heart of Burgundy’s wine world.
Navigating Burgundy felt like stepping into a secret society of wine - mysterious at first, but increasingly fascinating and rewarding the deeper we went.
Burgundy produces some of the world’s most coveted Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and Beaune is perfectly positioned between the prestigious red wines of the Côte de Nuits and the celebrated white wines of the Côte de Beaune.
If you’re coming to Beaune for wine, this guide is for you. We list 12 unique things to do in Beaune that balance tastings with long lunches, cycling through vineyards, and time to simply enjoy the historic centre.
12 Unique Things to Do in Beaune, France
1. Learn about Burgundy's complex wine region with a local guide
What makes Burgundy so fascinating (and so confusing) is how fragmented it is. A single vineyard slope can be divided into dozens of tiny plots, sometimes just a few rows of vines.
Only about 10% of vineyards are Premier Cru, and just 1% are Grand Cru, meaning value and prestige can change within metres.
Many Burgundy wines have become status symbols. Labels like Romanée-Conti are so exclusive that even if you have the money, you may never be able to buy a bottle - access often comes down to connections and reputation.
Because the region is so complex, we recommend booking a wine tour with a local guide at the beginning of your stay. Viator offers highly rated tours to choose from.It's a great way to get a proper introduction to Burgundy’s geography, classifications, and why two vineyards metres apart can produce wines with wildly different prices.
2. Land a cellar visit with a local winemaker
You may be surprised to hear that most wineries around Beaune are closed to the public.
Unlike regions like Tuscany or Napa, you can’t book tastings online or drop in. Instead, you have to email wineries directly and see who might be open to hosting you.
When it works out, it’s incredibly rewarding. Our visit with a winemaker felt less like a formal tasting and more like being welcomed into someone’s home.
We tasted wines together from tiny vineyard parcels, and talked through family history and the choices that shape each bottle. Suddenly, Burgundy’s complexity made sense.
After tasting several wines (including a Grand Cru and two Premier Crus), we ended up taking a case and a magnum home.
It was without question our favourite experience.
🍇 Top Tip: If this experience is at the top of your list, avoid travelling to Beaune during harvest. Winemakers are very busy at that time, and tastings/cellar visits are much harder to secure.
3. Stay at a 14th-century estate tucked away in the historic centre
Despite being so central, it feels quiet and private, with luxurious rooms filled with character and period details.
We kept drifting back to the courtyard in the afternoons with a charcuterie spread and a bottle we’d picked up earlier that day.
The whole stay felt relaxed, personal, and very much part of Beaune, rather than a place designed just for visitors.
The owners are closely connected to the local food and wine scene, which adds another layer to staying here - and leads directly to our next recommendation.
🛏️ Browse more stays in Beaune4. Dine at Caves Madeleine, a local hotspot
Caves Madeleine is a restaurant we kept hearing about from locals.
Tucked just outside Beaune’s centre, it’s a cozy, welcoming spot serving contemporary French dishes that follow the seasons. It's also recommended by the Michelin guide.
The wine list is a big part of the appeal, built around close relationships with local producers.
If you’re staying at Le Clos Sainte Marguerite, the owners can often help secure a reservation here since they also own the restaurant.
Just be sure to ask early - tables book out quickly.
5. Discover Meursault’s signature style of Chardonnay
Just south of Beaune, Meursault is one of Burgundy’s most charming wine villages and a must-visit for Chardonnay lovers.
Mersault wines are rich yet balanced, with nutty, buttery notes, hints of citrus, and a mineral edge.
The village is relaxed, with stone houses, quiet streets, and a few outdoor cafes.
We enjoyed sampling a range of wines at La Maison des Vins, where Coravin machines make it easy to try multiple bottles without overthinking it.
6. Bike to a vineyard lunch at Clos du Moulin aux Moines
Lunch at Clos du Moulin aux Moines was a highlight of our time in Burgundy. Founded in 962 by monks, it’s one of the region’s oldest wine estates.
From April to mid-October, the courtyard hosts a seasonal pop-up restaurant. We lingered over a long lunch with vineyard views, delicious slow-cooked ribs, and a refreshing glass of white wine.
🚲 Top Tip: Rent bikes to get here from Beaune. Burgundy is a fantastic wine region for biking - cycling routes are flat, scenic and well maintained, winding through vineyards and quiet villages.
We rented e-bikes from Bourgogne Randonnées.
7. Book a wine tour at the prestigious Joseph Drouhin
Touring Joseph Drouhin was one of our favourite experiences in Beaune.
Founded in 1880, Drouhin is one of Burgundy’s most respected wine houses - and one of the few prestigious producers that welcomes visitors through bookable, online reservations.
The tour takes you through ancient cellar tunnels beneath Beaune, followed by a tasting that includes Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines.
It’s a rare chance to try high-level Burgundy in an approachable setting, and we walked away with a much deeper understanding of the region.
Book your reservation online in advance.
🍷 Top Tip: A wine suitcase is incredibly handy for trips like this. We always bring our VinGardeValise when travelling to wine regions - it fits 12 bottles and makes getting wine home safely much less stressful.8. Enjoy a glass of wine beside Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune
We enjoyed stopping for a glass in the garden at Caveau de Dégustation Vins de Bourgogne du Domaine Loubet-Dewailly, tucked right beside Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune.
It’s an easy place to pop into while wandering around Beaune.
9. Dine outdoors and people-watch in Beaune's historic centre
The historic centre is made for outdoor dining and people-watching.
Beaune attracts a steady flow of visitors, especially during the warmer months and harvest season, so dinner reservations are important if you want a good table.
Bistrot Rosette ended up being our favourite restaurant in central Beaune for both the atmosphere and the food, serving fresh Burgundian dishes with a modern touch.
10. Explore Burgundy’s most historic wine site
Visiting Château du Clos de Vougeot helps put Burgundy’s vineyard logic into context.
Built in the 12th century by Cistercian monks, it sits right in the middle of the Côte de Nuits, surrounded by some of the region’s most prized Grand Cru plots.
Walking through the cellars and grounds, you learn how early monks carefully worked and documented individual plots of land, shaping how Burgundy thinks about vineyards and value today.
You can either book a self-guided tour, guided-tour or tasting experience at the chateau. It's a short 25 minute drive from Beaune.
11. Shop in Beaune's historic centre
In Beaune's compact centre, you'll find lots of shops selling things from wine accessories to specialty kitchen goods.
If you're in the city on a Saturday, don't miss the market at Halles de Beaune.
Our favourite store was Athenaeum, a specialist wine bookshop that’s also great for high-quality kitchenware and fun wine-related finds.
We picked up detailed Burgundy wine maps there, along with "wine socks" that slip over bottles so you can play blind-tasting games.
And don't leave without picking up Dijon mustard from one of the artisan food shops - you’re only about 45 minutes from Dijon, after all!
12. Book a tasting at La Grande Cave de Vougeot
La Grande Cave de Vougeot was one of the most educational tastings we did in Burgundy. If you want clarity without intimidation, this is a great stop.
Housed in a historic building near Clos de Vougeot, it’s an excellent place to learn about Burgundy’s appellations and classifications side by side.
Tastings typically range around €22–28, depending on the selection, and are thoughtfully guided. You can easily book your experience online.
🍷 Top Tip: combine a tasting at Le Grande Cave de Vougeot with a tour at Clos de Vougeot Castle. They are just a 2 minute drive from each other.
We hope you enjoyed these 12 fun things to do in Beaune!
Get started on booking your trip to France
- 🛏️ Accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- 🚗 Car rental: see DiscoverCars to compare car rental prices across different companies.
- 🛫 Book your flight: use Skyscanner to compare flights across different airlines (we recommend booking direct with the airline however).
Don't forget about travel insurance
👩⚕️ For affordable travel insurance: go with SafetyWing - it's budget-friendly and you can even buy it while abroad, but note the max medical coverage is $250,000 USD. 🏥 For comprehensive travel insurance: go with World Nomads - it's more expensive, but the max emergency medical coverage is $5-10 million, depending on the plan.Don't miss our other France travel guides:
- 11 Unique Things to Do in Jura, France
- 7 Day Paris and Provence Itinerary
- 4 Day Provence Itinerary
- 7 Most Charming Luberon Villages to Visit
- How to Spend 1 Day in Paris
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