Lyon is where most Rhône river cruises begin, and the Saône north of it carries ships into Burgundy. Together they are the gourmet half of the trip.
Lyon
Lyon grew up where two rivers meet: the broad Rhône and the gentler Saône. Its old quarter, Vieux Lyon, is a UNESCO-listed maze of Renaissance houses linked by covered passageways called traboules, once used by silk workers to carry cloth. Above it rises Fourvière hill, with a Roman theater and the white basilica that looks down on the city. Below, the bouchons serve the hearty Lyonnais cooking that made the city famous.
- Many itineraries overnight in Lyon or start with a full day there.
- Food walks and market visits are popular optional excursions.
- The funicular climbs Fourvière if you prefer not to walk the hill.
The Saône Into Burgundy
North of Lyon the Saône winds through quiet farmland and wine villages. From Chalon-sur-Saône, coaches go to Beaune, where the fifteenth-century Hospices de Beaune, with its patterned glazed-tile roof, was founded as a hospital for the poor. The surrounding Côte d’Or is home to some of the most sought-after vineyards in the world. Tournus has a remarkable Romanesque abbey church, and from Mâcon you can visit the remains of the once-vast abbey of Cluny.
This northern stretch is quieter than Provence and often less crowded. If Burgundy is your priority, ask for an itinerary that spends two days on the Saône rather than one. Barge cruises go deeper into Burgundy’s canals; Waterways Cruising explains the difference.
Pairing Lyon With Paris
Lyon is about two hours from Paris by high-speed train, so a few nights in Paris before or after a Rhône cruise is easy to arrange. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise can quote the cruise and suggest how to add Paris. For more on French rivers, including the Seine and Bordeaux, see France River Cruises.
Eating Your Way Through Lyon and Burgundy
Food is the thread that ties this half of the trip together. In Lyon, the covered market named after the chef Paul Bocuse gathers cheese makers, butchers and pastry shops under one roof, and a bouchon lunch of sausages, quenelles and local wine is almost a rite of passage. In Burgundy the menu turns to escargots, beef simmered in red wine and the mustard of Dijon, washed down with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the slopes you passed that morning.
- Ask whether your ship offers a regional dinner or a chef-led market visit in Lyon.
- Tasting rooms in Beaune are walkable from the center; a guide helps you decode the village and vineyard names.
- If you have dietary needs, tell the line well before sailing; kitchens on river ships are small but accommodating.
Start in Lyon, Taste Burgundy
Ask for a Rhône itinerary with more time in Lyon and on the Saône, and our team at Mister Cruise will price the options for you at no charge.
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