River Saône

The perfect choices for watersports and cruising alike.

The river Saône has its source in the Vosges at Vioménil, and joins the wider river Rhône at Lyon having travelled 473 km.

Map of the waterways

Canal and river map for River Saône

Luxury hotel barges

2 hotel barge cruises

Save 20%
Finesse barge cruise

Finesse

Canal du Centre
8 guests
★★★★★★
Grand Victoria barge cruise

Grand Victoria

River Saône
6 guests
★★★★★★

Half-board barges

La Vie en Rose barge cruise

La Vie en Rose

Burgundy
6 guests
★★★★

Self-drive boats in the River Saône region

Nicols

Nicols operate 16 different types of self-drive rental boats in this region.
Here is a random selection.

Last-minutes available
Last-minute
N1310 rental boat

N1310

12 guests
5 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
From 1995€/week
Last-minute
N OCTO Fly C rental boat

N OCTO Fly C

10 guests
4 adults
4 children
4 cabins
4 bathrooms
★★★★★★
From 3742€/week
Last-minute
N QUATTRO S rental boat

N QUATTRO S

6 guests
2 adults
2 children
2 cabins
1 bathroom
★★★★
From 2059€/week
Last-minute
N PRIMO rental boat

N PRIMO

4 guests
1 cabin
1 bathroom
★★★
From 998€/week

The price shown is based on a 7-day cruise and indicates the lowest starting price, and excluding any special offer or discount.

Locaboat

Locaboat operate 14 different types of self-drive rental boats in this region.
Here is a random selection.

Last-minutes available
May sale
P1165 FB rental boat

P1165 FB

7 guests
2 adults
3 children
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
From 1750€/week
May sale
Penichette Evolution rental boat

Penichette Evolution

4 guests
4 adults
2 cabins
1 bathroom
★★★★
From 1645€/week
May sale
P1260R rental boat

P1260R

10 guests
6 adults
2 children
5 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
From 1785€/week
May sale
P1180 FB rental boat

P1180 FB

7 guests
6 adults
1 child
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 2310€/week

The price shown is based on a 7-day cruise and indicates the lowest starting price, and excluding any special offer or discount.

Le Boat

Le Boat operate 28 different types of self-drive rental boats in this region.
Here is a random selection.

Last-minutes available
Save up to 50%
Countess rental boat

Countess

6 guests
4 adults
2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Budget rating
From 1279€/week
Save up to 30%
Horizon 5 rental boat

Horizon 5

12 guests
5 cabins
5 bathrooms
Premium rating
From 2599€/week
Save up to 50%
Crusader rental boat

Crusader

6 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Budget rating
From 1139€/week
Save up to 30%
Horizon 2 rental boat

Horizon 2

5 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Premium rating
From 1499€/week

The price shown is based on a 7-day cruise and indicates the lowest starting price, and excluding any special offer or discount.

France Passion Plaisance

France Passion Plaisance operate 11 different types of self-drive rental boats in this region.
Here is a random selection.

Last-minutes available
Last-minute
Tarpon 42 rental boat

Tarpon 42

12 guests
4 adults
2 children
7 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
From 1780€/week
Last-minute
La Peniche F rental boat

La Peniche F

12 guests
12 adults
6 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★
From 2405€/week
Last-minute
Linssen Vlet 1030 rental boat

Linssen Vlet 1030

8 guests
2 cabins
1 bathroom
★★★
From 1218€/week
Last-minute
Tarpon 32 rental boat

Tarpon 32

8 guests
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
From 1421€/week

The price shown is based on a 7-day cruise and indicates the lowest starting price, and excluding any special offer or discount.

Small ships

2 small ship cruises

Burgundy & Provence
Burgundy & Provence
Grand France
Grand France

River Saône cruise and boating information

River Saône

We offer a variety of cruises on the river Saône, so, whether you wish to cruise for one week or two, for just a few hours per day or up to 7 hours, we are sure to have a route to suit you.

The river takes you on a beautiful journey past craggy cliffs through a rolling landscape of valleys, forests and vineyards. Quaint medieval villages and Roman towns will delight the historians, and of course, all will appreciate the fine wines and gastronomy of the region.

Fishing is a popular sport here, and the river is well-stocked. Canoeing, jet skiing and snorkelling are all possible too.

Vineyards are close by and heading southwards from Dijon with the Côte de Beaune,  then the Côte de Nuits, the Côte Chalonnaise, the Mâconnaise and then arriving at the Beaujolais vineyards before arriving at Lyon.

Places to visit near the rivers and canals

  • Fontaine de Confracourt near Pont-sur-Saône
  • Château de Talmay near Pontailler-sur-Saône
  • Beaune and the Hospices
  • Abbaye Notre-Dame de Citeaux
  • The market of Louhans
  • Chateau de Corcelles near Belleville

Heading downstream on the River Saône

  • The old streets of Verdun-sur-le-Doubs
  • Chalon-sur-Saône with the Nicéphore Niépce photography museum and old half-timbered houses.
  • Abbaye Saint-Philibert in Tournus
  • Museum Ursulines, Maison du Bois, the arches of the Pont Saint-Laurent, and the old streets in the Saint Vincent quarter.
  • Hotel de Ville in Belleville-en-Beaujolais
  • Château de Fléchères Fareins
  • Automobile Museum of Henri-Malartre in Rochetaillée-sur-Saône
  • Highlights of Lyon
    • Montée des Chazeaux
    • Montée du Garillan
    • Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière
    • Musée des Arts de la Marionnette
    • Rue Saint-Jean
    • Place des Jacobins
    • Musée d'Histoire de Lyon
    • Place Bellecour

On the Doubs and the Canal Rhône au Rhin

  • Citadelle de Besançon and its museums, the old streets of the town centre.
  • The town of Dole, the birthplace of Louis Pasteur, the Hospice, and the old streets on the river bank.

And restaurants along the waterways

  • Château de Vauchoux at Vauchox near Port-sur-Saône
  • La Chaumière at Dole on the River Doubs
  • L'Amaryllis at Chalon-sur-Saône
  • L'Écrin de Yohann Chapuis and Aux Terrasses in Tournus
  • Le Rasin in Pont-de-Vaux
  • Pierre in Mâcon
  • Gaulin at Mâcon
  • Georges Blanc at Vonnas near Macon (*** Michelin)
  • Restaurant Paul Bocuse, Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or near Lyon (** Michelin)
  • Auberge de l'Ile de Barbe in Lyon
  • There are 8 one star Michelin rated restaurants in the city of Lyon

Information, history and details of the waterways in this region

The Saône   The Doubs   The Seille