Flavours of Burgundy Festive Delights river cruise from Dijon to Lyon, 26 November 2026 (7 nights)

Dijon is a remarkable French city with a fascinating history to uncover, boasting a wealth of attractions and impressive landmarks, an incredible UNESCO-registered city centre, several intriguing museums, and an unmissable culinary landscape. With the region home to the Dukes of Burgundy throughout the 11th century to the 15th century, Dijon became a wealthy centre of art and science; this prosperity is reflected in the city’s impressive structures, such as the Gothic-style Palace of the Dukes and Estates of Burgundy, and its variety of architectural styles from the last several centuries. You’ll also find an impressive culinary landscape here, with Dijon hosting an International and Gastronomic Fair each autumn. Drawing in over 500 exhibitors and hundreds of thousands of visitors, this is one of the most important fairs in France, making Dijon a fantastic place to sample fine French cuisine and a variety of delicious foods from around the world. Beyond this, you’ll also find an impressive selection of museums here; from the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, one of the nation’s oldest museums, to Musée Magnin, which houses roughly 2,000 works of art collected by Maurice and Jeannie Magnin throughout the 19th century, there’s a lot to learn about French history and culture here. A unique destination overflowing with character and fantastic opportunities, visiting Dijon is always enjoyable, and you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy when you disembark here.

A quaint commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France with stunning riverside scenery and a relaxed atmosphere, Seurre is a sensational stop on any river cruise along the Saône. With scenic hiking routes a stone’s throw away and several excellent places to tuck into some traditional French cuisine, this destination invites you to immerse yourself in the quiet comfort of small-town life, savouring the countryside sights surrounding you and indulging in freshly-prepared food with friends and family. You’ll also uncover some fascinating historical sites here, with an interesting local history to explore. And, if Seurre doesn’t suit you, you’re not far from neighbouring destinations like Beaune, Dijon, and Chalon-sur-Saône.

Chalon-sur-Saône is a fascinating city on the Saône River, and somewhere you’ll want to ensure you have as much time as possible to explore during your river cruise. Once a bustling port that proved vital to the local wine industry, this city is actually the birthplace of modern photography and home to (quite possibly) the world’s first internal combustion engine, thanks to resident inventor Nicéphore Niépce. Two modern technological innovations that undoubtedly changed the world in the 19th century, Niépce’s work affords Chalon-sur-Saône a fascinating history of interesting modernism alongside the city’s remarkable medieval landmarks and stunning untouched landscapes. With this city also boasting an incredible culinary landscape and being an ideal place to sample the region’s wines, there really is something for everyone to enjoy in Chalon-sur-Saône.

A charming commune on the right bank of the Saône, Tournus is an idyllic tourist hotspot where you can immerse yourself in a relaxed atmosphere, indulge in Michelin-star cuisine, and admire the vibrant vineyard-covered countryside surrounding the town. Despite inviting you to embrace small-town life, there’s nothing minor about this destination. Much of the commune is dominated by the towering Abbey of St-Philibert de Tournus, a Romanesque church that dates back to the early 11th century. However, the rest of Tournus boasts equally intriguing architecture. Colourful building facades with flat roofs and narrow streets give this French commune a distinctly Mediterranean feel, making this destination even more interesting than it might seem.

An idyllic gateway into southern Burgundy, Mâcon is one river cruise destination where life is always good, and a variety of incredible shore experiences await. Stretching along the banks of the Saône River, and bordered by the vineyard-covered slopes of the stunning Mâconnais mountains, the sights you’ll see in Mâcon are second-to-none – whether you’re venturing further afield to a nearby vantage point, or simply soaking up the sunshine with a stroll along the riverfront. While you’re here, you’ll also find a variety of well-tended parks and scenic cycling routes to take advantage of; as a town, Mâcon takes its leisure very seriously. Beyond this, though, there’s much more to uncover. This charming river cruise destination is also home to a variety of interesting museums and art galleries, all of which are worth exploring, and a fantastic blend of Renaissance, Romanesque, and Gothic architecture throughout. Even the streets without a noteworthy landmark are worth taking some time to admire in Mâcon. In addition to the incredible authentic cuisine found throughout the town, Mâcon is also a fantastic place for wine-tasting, with the region best-known for producing wines using the Chardonnay grape. Somewhere with an addictive laid-back atmosphere, and enough variety that every type of traveller will find something to enjoy when they arrive, Mâcon is a memorable river cruise destination you won’t want to miss out on spending some time visiting.

Lyon is a charming French city bursting with incredible cultural experiences, indulgent culinary adventures, intriguing history to uncover, and a real abundance of things to explore and enjoy. Surrounding the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, it’s an idyllic river cruise destination if you’re looking to stroll along scenic riverside promenades; and, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to spend some time soaking up the relaxed atmosphere of waterside cafes and restaurants too, if that’s what you’re looking for. A city often described as the ‘French Capital of Gastronomy’, delectable French cuisine is found everywhere; with an abundance of culinary specialties to indulge in throughout the city, even the most adventurous of foodies will find something to satisfy their appetites here. However, Lyon is so much more than just a food capital of France. You’ll also find a wide variety of museums to visit in Lyon, with everything from regional natural history and the French Resistance to film and contemporary artwork explored throughout this city. So, whatever your interests, you’re bound to find somewhere interesting to explore when you visit. Although, there are just as many impressive sites outside the museums in Lyon as there are interesting exhibits within them; sensational landmarks like Place Bellacour, Basilique Saint-Bonaventure de Lyon, and Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste are just a few highlights among the variety of medieval, Renaissance, and modern landmarks you’ll find throughout Lyon. You’ll even find an ancient Roman amphitheatre here, too – an impressive reminder that this city’s history stretches back over two millennia. Ultimately, Lyon is a river cruise destination where there’s something for everyone to enjoy; so, however you choose to spend your time here, you’re in for a rewarding experience you won’t soon forget.