From Paris: How to Spend One Day in Dijon

The capital of the Burgundy region, Dijon is a lively, beautiful, and interesting city located just 200-miles southeast of Paris.  When I was researching the best places to visit on a day trip from Paris, Dijon caught my eye due to its medieval architecture and quite frankly, the fact that it’s the birthplace of mustard really interested me.  Intrigued, I booked a ticket and I was off to explore Dijon!  In this post, I will share with you how to get to Dijon from Paris, the best things to do in Dijon, what tours I recommend, plus exactly how I would spend one day in Dijon.

 

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Brief History of Dijon

Dijon is a city known for its rich history, culinary traditions, and, of course, mustard!  Once the capital of the powerful Duchy of Burgundy – one of the successors of the ancient Kingdom of the Burgundians in the 9th-century – Dijon flourished in the medieval period, leaving behind stunning Gothic and Renaissance architecture that gives the city its historic charm.  Today, it’s a paradise for food and wine lovers, offering everything from local Burgundian wines to signature dishes like coq au vin and boeuf bourguignon.  The city’s charming streets, lined with half-timbered houses and grand palaces, make it feel like a step back in time.  Yet, with its bustling markets and vibrant arts scene Dijon manages to feel fresh and modern.

 

How to Travel from Paris to Dijon

In my opinion, one of the draws of visiting Dijon is the fact that it’s located near Paris and incredibly easy to get to, even if you only have one day.  If you only plan to spend one day in Dijon, my top recommendation would be to take the train – they depart from Paris throughout the day so plan to leave in the early morning and return in the late evening.  If you have more than one day to spend in Dijon, I would recommend renting a car and driving so that you can further explore the region of Burgundy.

 

Traveling from Paris to Dijon by Train

For a day trip to Dijon, my first recommendation would be to take the train from Paris.  You can leave early in the morning and return late in the evening giving you a full day to explore.  For reference, when I visited, I left Paris at 0700 and arrived to Dijon at 0830; I then departed from Dijon at 1720 and arrived back to Paris at 2030.  When searching for trains, you’ll notice that some get you to your destination faster (the fastest is an hour and a half), while other trains make more stops making the journey longer (around three hours).

When searching for trains, I prefer to use Omio.  Know that typically, tickets can only be booked about a month before departure, but trains depart several times throughout the day so you should not have trouble getting a ticket.  Also, the longer you wait to book – the more expensive your trip will be.  To save money, I recommend planning ahead!

 

BOOK YOUR TRAIN TO DIJON HERE!

 

Traveling from Paris to Dijon by Car

You do not need a car when you’re in Dijon, but if you’re interested in visiting wineries or the greater Burgundy region, renting a car would be my top choice.  Please know, that it does take longer to drive from Paris to Dijon (versus taking the train), so you might want to consider overnighting in Dijon or extended your trip to be longer than one day.  The drive is around 3.5 hours.

When renting a car, I prefer to use Discover Cars so I can filter through different options and compare prices across all rental companies.

 

 

 

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Best Things to See & Do in Dijon

While there aren’t *so* many things to do in Dijon, below you’ll find my top recommendations for visiting the city.  The great thing is, most museums in Dijon are free of charge, so even if you have a slight interest in something, I would say visiting is worth it since it won’t cost you money.

• Tour Philippe de Bon – This tower offers views over Dijon and the €6 it costs to reach the top if well worth it.  Know that you have to book tickets and a time slot ahead of time (this can be done at the tourist office), and there is not an elevator so you will be walking 300+ steps to the top.
• Musee des Beaux-Arts – This is a fine arts museum with great paintings and sculptures.  Entrance is free.
• Musee de la Vie Bourguignonne – This museum showcases life in Burgundy throughout the years.  There aren’t English translations, but the museum is free to enter.
• Place de la Liberation – This is a beautiful square to sit in and enjoy a drink; although I would not recommend eating here.
• La Moutarderie Fallot – This is a mustard shop where you’ll have a chance to taste different mustards.
• Cite Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin – This is a place where you can go to learn about French cuisine (there are three different displays showcasing mealtime in France, restaurant culture in France, and to learn about cooking), wine taste, and eat.  It’s a fun and interactive place if you’re interested in learning more about gastronomy.

 

Best Tours in Dijon

When I travel, I love to sign up for local tours so that I can better understand where I’m visiting and meet a local along the way.  Here are the tours in Dijon that I would recommend…

• Cheese and Wine Pairing Session
• Chardonnay Masterclass
• Burgundy Wines Masterclass
• Pinot Noir Masterclass
• 2-hr Private Guided Tour of Dijon
• 1-hr Tour – Dijon with a Local

 

Sample Itinerary:  One Day in Dijon

If you’re spending one day in Dijon, this is exactly how I would do it!

• Arrival to Dijon
• Walk to tourist office to book tickets for Tour Philippe de Bon (try to book tickets about 1.5 hours before your train departs)
• Grab a croissant/pain au chocolat at Aux Delices de la Chouette (if you’re interested in sitting down for a full breakfast, I recommend Morning Glory Cafe)
• Walk the quaint streets and prioritize visiting Musee des Beaux-Arts and/or Musee de la Vie Bourguignonne
• Head to Cite Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin to check out the displays and do a wine tasting
• Eat lunch at Restaurant Chez Leon
• Enjoy a Kir in one of the outdoor squares (a Kir is a French cocktail made of crème de cassis topped up with white wine; cassis comes from Burgundy)
• Head to La Moutarderie Fallot to taste mustard and purchase a souvenir
• Depart Dijon

If you’re planning on spending the night, this is how I would spend your evening…

• Grab cocktails at Monsieur Moutarde or L’Archipel
• Make dinner reservations at Saison or La Table des Climats

 

Best Time to Visit Dijon

The best time to visit Dijon, France, is in spring (April-June) and early fall (September-October), when the weather is mild, and outdoor markets come to life.  These shoulder seasons allow for exploring Dijon’s historic architecture, wine trails, and culinary scene with fewer tourists.  Summer (July-August) brings warmer weather but also more crowds, while winter (December-February) is quieter, with cooler temperatures and holiday charm.

I visited Dijon in late October and experienced incredible weather and not so many people.  I would highly recommend visiting at this time.

 

Where to Stay in Dijon

If you decide to spend the night in Dijon, I would highly recommend staying at Mama Shelter – a beautifully designed hotel in the medieval center of Dijon.  Mama Shelter has a great breakfast buffet, beautiful bar and restaurant, comfortable rooms, and there is even a cinema room and karaoke room!

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN DIJON HERE!

 

FAQ

Q:  “Is Dijon worth visiting?”

• A:  I would say that yes, Dijon is worth visiting!  The reason I enjoyed it so much was that it’s much quieter than Paris, so it was a nice escape from such a busy city.  Plus Dijon is beautiful and has a great gastronomy scene.  My only complaint about the city is that there isn’t so much to do.  But again, walking around Dijon is a treat in itself.

Q:  “How long do you need in Dijon?”

• A:  To see the highlights of Dijon, you only need one day.  However, if you like to “slow” travel, I would recommend spending the night so you can have two full days in Dijon.  This will allow you to further explore the culinary scene and spend more time casually walking around.  If you’re interested in exploring Burgundy in-depth, I would recommend spending at least 3-4 days in the region.  This gives you time to spend the night in Dijon, visit some of the vineyards, and spend the night in the town of Beaune too.

Q:  “What is Dijon famous for?”

• A:  Dijon, France is famous for its rich history and culinary scene, notably as the birthplace of Dijon mustard.  This historic city boasts a beautifully preserved medieval and Renaissance core, with charming half-timbered houses and grand palaces like the Palais des Ducs, which tells tales of its past as the capital of the Dukes of Burgundy.  Dijon also serves as a gateway to the renowned Burgundy wine region, making it a haven for wine enthusiasts.

 

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I hope this one day in Dijon itinerary helps guide your travels and inspires you to visit the heart of Burgundy!  If you have any questions about Dijon or how to travel between Dijon and Paris, let me know in a comment below!

 

If you’re interested in other trips that are easy to make from Paris, don’t miss…

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• Is Bordeaux Worth Visiting?  A Complete Bordeaux Travel Guide

 

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For more information on things to see and do in Dijon, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinfrance” or under my highlights for “France 3”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “France” highlight

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