MClasberg

I've read several posts/topics that debate whether to use Dijon or Beaune as a base for Burgundy, would the following work just as well if we have 5 nights to get the most out of both cities?

Day 9 - Paris - Beaune
Day 10 - Beaune
Day 11 - Beaune - Dijon
Day 12 - Dijon
Day 13 - Dijon
Day 14 - Dijon - Venice (O/Night train?)

Thanks,
Megan

Rastaguytoday

Dijon in itself is not a big town per se. Not a lot to see in the town.

I think you'd probably be better off in Beaune.

MmePerdu

I agree that Beaune is the more pleasant of the 2 by far. Which is not to say that I don't like Dijon, I do. But Beaune is a place where you can walk everywhere and really get a feel for the place. If you spend 3 or 4 of the 5 nights there or even all 5 I don't think you'll be sorry. It's a short ride back to Dijon to get your train.

AlessandraZoe

I liked Dijon a lot and it's actually more populated than Beaune and has some very interesting historical aspects, but Beaune has more wine tasting opportunities per square inch.

By train, they are no more than an hour apart (I think even less), so you shouldn't worry about the order--backtracking to Dijon to catch the Thello to Venice would take very little of your time.

We did a lot of our wine-tasting visits by bike from Beaune. There's a clearly marked "wine trail" marked by big signs with grapes throughout that make it easy. Not that many hills, either.

Another thing you could do is use the local trains to do the rounds. Here's a pretty good summary of what you could do:
http://goeurope.about.com/od/burgund...y-by-train.htm.

StuDudley

Dijon is our second favorite large city in France (after Paris). Fantastic architecture, pedestrian streets, "events", shops, restaurants.

Beaune is much smaller, and it is in our "top 5" medium sized cities in France.

Populaton:
Aix en Provence 142,500
Avignon 92,500
Dijon 151,500
Rennes 209,500
Rouen 108,000
Beaune 21,750

Stu Dudley

Christina

I liked your first plan and completely disagree that Beaune has more to do than Dijon. I really cannot even comprehend such a statement. there is hardly anything to do in Beaune except a bunch of tourists walking around looking in expensive wine shops. There is one thing of interest there that I recall, an old historic hospital.

But this is really simply factual, all you have to do is look at tourism websites or a guidebook and see what there is to do in Dijon vs. Beaune.

Of course Dijon is more populated than Beaune, Beaune is very small. I've been to both and wouldn't want to stay in Beaune more than a couple days at most.

iris1745

Well, we loved Beaune. But you certainly have some diverse opinions.

A little help. www.burgundy-tourism.com and www.burgundytoday.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaune http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dijon

MmePerdu

Preferences are such a subjective thing that I always wonder when someone insists that their opinion is the only correct one. Numbers of "things to do" are one thing and atmosphere quite another. "Simply factual" is an interesting way to express something so intangible.

I admit to a preference to small towns over cities. For a city Dijon is very nice and I enjoyed my time there. But I liked Beaune more. If you like to "do" then Dijon might be the place. If you like to "be", as I do, then I recommend Beaune.

MaineGG

Will you have a car, and do you plan to use it to tour away from your base? If so, it will be easier to do that from Beaune which is very small and compact. From our apartment there in the center of town, we were a three-minute walk to our parking garage just inside the wall, then no more than five minutes to the countryside outside town. We went to Dijon by train and were glad we had not driven there as it was much busier and more congested.

If you don't have a car, then I agree that Dijon might offer more as a base than Beaune, depending on your interests. It's very easy to visit Beaune from Dijon by train.

cigalechanta

I haven't been to Dijon but spent two enjoyable days in the wonderful old walled city of Beaune. There's a wonderful
market on Saturdays, and a small one on Wednesdays.
The Hospices de Beaune is the architectual highlight.
This astonishingly picturesque structure was built in 1443.
It's a half Gothic, half Flemish hospital for the poor.
The roof is amazing. The famous wine auction is held here in November. There are alot of beautiful mansions in the center of town. You must taste the snails and a Cassis.

frogoutofwater

I have stayed in both. I think Beaune will give you a better base to explore deeper into Burgundy (especially if you're interested in wine), while Dijon might be a better base if you want to explore the northern part of Burgundy and southern edges of the Champagne region.

If you want to stay near (not in Beaune), you might consider either the Hostellerie de Levernois (expensive) or Le Parc de l'Hostellerie (budget hotel next door). The former is part of the Relais & Chateaux chain and is an option if you want to splurge. My husband and I decided instead to spend much less to stay at Le Parc and then spend the money we saved on accommodation on a fabulous meal at the Hostellerie.

Also, if you are driving to Burgundy from Paris, I would highly recommend a stopover in Troyes, a lovely town with a medieval feeling in the southern end of the Champagne region. There is an amazing museum (focusing on tools and artisans) there, and it's well-placed as a stopping point in the way from Paris.

LarryJ

Dijon is much bigger than Beaune and there is much more there to see and do. Old town is really great. Lots of history there, great architecture better choice of restaurants etc. With all that said I am a cyclist and so I have based myself at Beaune more often than Dijon. Cycling from Beaune to Santenay through the vineyards and wine villages is one of my favorite ways to spend a few days several times a year.

michele_d

We enjoyed our stay in Beaune very much. Found it to be a great base for exploring the surrounding vineyards.