Rhône River Cruise: Lyon to Provence
Burgundy vineyards, Lyon’s kitchens and the light of Provence on one unhurried river.
Get Free Rhône Cruise QuotesFrom Lyon’s Kitchens to the Light of Provence
A Rhône river cruise follows one of France’s great journeys south: out of Lyon, the country’s food capital, through the vineyard slopes of the northern Rhône, past Roman Vienne and the hill towns of the Ardèche, and into Provence, where Avignon’s papal palace and Arles’s Roman arena wait under a brighter sky.
This site is devoted to that route and its northern partner, the Saône through Burgundy. You will find the ports in river order, a closer look at Provence ashore, an honest explanation of how high and low water affect a river tamed by dams and locks, and a guide to which line suits which traveler. For a wider view of every European river, visit European Riverboat Cruises; for France as a whole, France River Cruises.
What makes the Rhône different
- A managed river. A chain of dams and large locks, run by the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône, turns a once-wild river into a navigable waterway.
- Two climates in one week. Burgundy’s green hills give way to olive trees, cypresses and the mistral wind of Provence.
- Roman France. Vienne, Orange, Arles and the Pont du Gard make this the best river for ancient history in Western Europe.
- Food and wine every day. Few routes put so many celebrated vineyards within a short coach ride of the ship.
Plan Your Rhône River Cruise
Provence River Cruise
Avignon, Arles, the Pont du Gard, the Camargue and the lavender season.
Provence ashore →
Water Levels
Floods, droughts, lock maintenance and the mistral — what can change a Rhône sailing.
How the river behaves →
Best Rhône Cruise
Line styles compared, plus the itinerary details that matter most here.
Compare lines →The Shape of a Rhône Week
A classic Rhône river cruise lasts about a week. Many itineraries begin with a day or two north of Lyon on the Saône, for Burgundy wine country and the medieval hospital at Beaune. The ship then turns south, passing Lyon and sailing down the Rhône valley, where the river cuts between granite hills planted with Syrah. The last days are in Provence: Viviers, Avignon and Arles, with excursions to the Pont du Gard, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Les Baux or the Camargue.
| Day type | Typical place | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Burgundy | Chalon-sur-Saône, Mâcon, Tournus | Beaune, wine villages, Romanesque abbeys |
| Big city | Lyon | Old town, Fourvière hill, food tours |
| Northern Rhône | Vienne, Tournon / Tain-l’Hermitage | Roman temple, Hermitage vineyards, chocolate |
| Gateway to the gorges | Viviers | Small cathedral town, Ardèche excursions |
| Provence | Avignon, Arles | Palais des Papes, Roman arena, Van Gogh sites |
Every port is listed in order on our Rhône river cruise map page.
Is the Rhône Right for You?
Choose the Rhône if you love food, wine, Roman history and the colors of southern France, and if you are happy to trade the Rhine’s castles for markets and vineyards. The walking is mostly in compact old towns, though Avignon’s streets and the climb to Fourvière in Lyon are uneven in places.
Prefer something smaller and slower? A hotel barge on the Burgundy canals covers some of the same countryside at walking pace; Waterways Cruising explains how barges differ. For wine-themed routes on other rivers, see Wine River Cruises.
Who Is Behind This Site
Europe Riverboat Cruises is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
Tell us whether Provence, Burgundy or Lyon is the heart of your trip, and our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will compare the Rhône and Saône sailings for you. Meet Mister Cruise →
Hear first about new Rhône itineraries and offers through the Mister Cruise newsletter. Browse all river cruises in the Official River Cruise Directory, ocean cruises in the Official Cruise Directory, and every kind of trip in the Official Travel Directory.
Rhône River Cruise Questions
Where does a Rhône river cruise start?
Almost always in Lyon, where the Rhône and the Saône meet. Some itineraries sail round trip from Lyon; others run one way between Lyon and Avignon or Arles, or combine the river with Paris by high-speed train.
Do Rhône cruises also sail the Saône?
Many do. The Saône runs north from Lyon into Burgundy, and a typical week mixes a day or two on the Saône (Mâcon, Tournus, Chalon-sur-Saône for Beaune) with the southbound Rhône to Provence.
What is the best time for a Rhône river cruise?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for walking tours. Lavender usually peaks from late June into July, when Provence is hot. The grape harvest in the Rhône and Burgundy vineyards falls in late summer and early autumn.
Is a Rhône river cruise good for food lovers?
It may be the best river in Europe for it: Lyon’s bouchons, Burgundy wines, Côtes du Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Provençal markets and chocolate at Tain-l’Hermitage.
Get Your Rhône River Cruise Quote
Share your dates and favorite stops — Avignon, Arles, Beaune, Lyon. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will compare Rhône itineraries and send free quotes.
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