Food & Wines of France

Itinerary

2 Nights – Lyon
2 Nights – Paris
3 Nights – Bordeaux (including  trip to Saint-Émilion)

Option Extension: Extend Paris by 1 night to visit Champagne

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✈️ UK to Lyon 2 nights:  Flying into Lyon, at the top of your list will be to head to the UNESCO-listed Vieux Lyon. It’s full of winding cobbled streets, colourful Renaissance buildings, and pretty squares.  This area is packed with traditional bouchons and atmospheric restaurants serving classic Lyonnaise cuisine. These small, often no-frills restaurants serve rich, comforting local dishes such as quenelles and salade lyonnaise with many celebrating the recipes of Lyon’s legendary female chefs, the Mères Lyonnaises.  Other great areas for food lovers include Croix-Rousse, just north of Vieux Lyon, with its steep, cobbled streets and famous bakery Partisan Boulanger for out-of-this-world croissants. Presqu’île (between the Rhône and Saône rivers) is also a great choice and offers a selection of historic brasseries, modern bistros, and Michelin-starred restaurants.  Also head to Halles Paul Bocuse, a huge indoor market in Part-Dieu where locals and chefs shop for everything from cheese and charcuterie to fresh oysters, pastries, chocolate and Lyonnaise favourites. The market also features wine bars and cafes where you can sample the specialities on site.

To work off some of the food, take a stroll along the river, wander round the impressive Lyon Cathedral (Saint-Jean Baptiste) or hop on the funicular to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière for great views over the city.

🚆 Lyon to Paris (2 or 3 nights with optional extension to Champagne):  You’ll take the 2-hour train trip to Paris, where iconic sights such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and the Arc de Triomphe are just part of what makes the city so special. With everything from bustling markets to buzzing brasseries, fine-dining restaurants, and sprawling food halls, the city is a food lover’s dream. Start your foodie wander along Rue Montorgueil, where you’ll find an abundance of boulangeries, cheese shops, and patisseries – perfect for a picnic. For something classic, head to the Latin Quarter for crêpes or explore patisseries dotted across the city for tartes, macarons and beautifully crafted pastries that look too good to eat. For classic French cuisine, including steak frites, duck confit, and coq au vin, head to the bistros of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. For gourmet shopping, visit the food halls such as La Grande Épicerie or Galeries Lafayette Gourmet. And for a taste of modern Paris, explore the 11th arrondissement’s inventive restaurants. Of course, experiencing the Parisian cafe culture is essential. So sit back, enjoy a coffee, and watch the world go by.

If you have time, you could stay an extra night in Paris and take a day trip to the Champagne region.   You can easily reach Reims or Épernay by train, where you’ll find big-name Champagne houses including Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon, and Taittinger.  Take a tour through the underground chalk cellars where the bottles are aged and learn how Champagne is made. If you prefer something a bit more low-key, head to one of the smaller, family-run producers in one of the nearby villages.

🚆Paris to Bordeaux (3 nights): Your final train journey will take you southwest to Bordeaux, a city that’s just as famous for its architecture as it is for its wine. Bordeaux’s wines are dominated by Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc grapes, known for producing red, velvety wines.  The region also has some excellent crisp whites made from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.

In the city centre, you’ll find plenty of ways to taste the local wines via the numerous wine bars and cavistes. Many places offer tastings and pairing dinners, and if the timing is right, you can enjoy various wine festivals that showcase Bordeaux’s wine culture. At any time of year though, a must-visit is La Cité du Vin. It’s a stunning modern museum dedicated to wine culture and history. Here, you can taste and learn about wines from around the world and enjoy panoramic views over the Garonne River from the rooftop terrace. Other highlights in the city include the elegant Place de la Bourse with its iconic water mirror, and the impressive Saint-André Cathedral.

Bordeaux is ideally placed to take a day trip to Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage village about 40 minutes away.  Known for its rich, Merlot-based wines, visit a Grand Cru Classé estate for a tour and tasting where you’ll explore the sunny vineyards and the cellars where the wine matures.

Bordeaux to UK: Time to head back to the UK, full of France’s finest food and wine.