I've read the older threads about the city (one of which I started several years ago) and I realize your "best" may not end up being ours. But, we've decided to forego Paris (for a change) during our trip this July for a couple of days in Dijon since we have never visited.

We will arrive by rail from Zurich on a Sunday and leave by rail for a connection in Paris to the Eurostar to London on a Wednesday morning. This gives us a couple of days to explore and we've already made a hotel reservation (yes, I do know about the well-reviewed Fodorite-owned apartment).

Have read about the "Owl" tour and we have decided not to rent a car so will use public transport and our feet.

I know there are several memorable churches and I need to research museums, etc.

But would appreciate any suggestions for other sights/activities that you particularly enjoyed and thanks in advance.

For me, the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy was the high point. It includes a free museum, with really wonderful tombs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip...e_le_Hardi.jpg

There is also a very interesting archaeological museum not far from there.

Very near the Owl's Trail is the Eiffel-designed iron and glass covered market, Les Halles. Large, light, open and airy, it's a beautiful and functional building. The only day there will be a market during your stay is Tuesday.

http://www.thegoodlifefrance.com/dij...ets-in-france/

https://www.google.com/search?q=les+...w=1280&bih=685

We just had one full day in Dijon and I'd love to get back to spend more time there. Enjoy your visit.

One day in Dijon may be enough (as it is for most similar sized French cities IME) - but you can easily take trains to the wine trains between Dijon and Beaune and to lovely Beaune itself - towns like Nuits-St-Georges - one of the more famous wine towns where vast vineyards come right up to the town - Dijon is of course known for mustard though I think they may not make it there anymore?

Nuits-St-Georges:

https://www.google.com/search?q=nuit...w=1920&bih=955

Personally I'd base in one of those lovely wine towns and day trip the short distance into Dijon- I have not been to Dijon for a while but have been to many such sized cities - like Orleans - my 2nd home at times in France - and these places can be dead as door nails at night or on Sundays when most stores must close by law.

Pal, thank you but for various purposes I have decided to stay closer to the train station from which we will leave for Paris.

Well if you get bored after the first day there are easy day trips by train to be had - especially if into wine and winery visits.

Cheers - not staying at Cocofromdijon's?

Keep in tune with possible rail strikes at the sncf.com web site - have not been any TMK lately but was a spate of them not long ago - but they are usually announced in advance.

Good luck in Dijon and yes Dijon does give a hoot! I'll be interested in your trip report on Dijon - though I've been there twice it was long ago and on a bicycling trip but I think as French cities go it is one of the better ones - will again be interested in your take from a veteran traveler's point of view.

Following as our honeymoon will stop here this summer!

Welcome to Dijon Dukey The Owl's Trail is definitely a must do in such a short time, so you will see and read about most of the interesting sites (like the Dukes palace and the market already mentioned). Here is what it looks like http://tinyurl.com/gnkl73r.

You'll be staying West of the trail and not far from Darcy garden which is step 1.
If you have some time left, go to the botanical garden South of the station where you may also find the natural history museum and the planetarium (also in the brochure).

If you want a bit more of nature, you may also follow the river Ouche near Dijon port, to go to Kir lake not named after the drink but from our previous mayor canon Kir who built the lake in 1964 and gave his name to his favorite drink.http://www.dijon.fr/parks-and-garden...ac-kir!2-2151/

Along with Kir lake, La Colombière park is one of the Dijonnais' favourite places on week ends. http://www.dijon.fr/parks-and-garden...mbiere!2-2153/

I'm sure you won't want to leave!

Coco cherie! I camped in Dijon once near a lake west (?) of the train station - could it have been Kir lake? Is that camping still there?

Merci beaucoup!

Coco, thank you for your very kind words.

Salut! Oui, it is still there and called "Camping du lac Kir" very closed to Moses Well.
I know you prefer Beaune over Dijon but if you'd give it another visit you would see how much Dijon has changed in a good way. Renovated places like Place Darcy (with the new tramway) the Fine Arts museum, more pedestrian streets, the main street rue de la Liberté is all yours, no noisy buses anymore.

I found those articles I'd like to share http://www.thegoodlifefrance.com/bes...ijon-burgundy/
http://www.thegoodlifefrance.com/dis...ijon-burgundy/

<i> Dijon: The Best/Most Memorable In Your Opinion
Posted by: Dukey1 on Feb 4, 16 at 1:07pm</i>

My best of Dijon is the Maison Maille mustard shop a short walk from the gare.
http://www.maille.com/en_US/boutiques?sid=dijon

Dijon is at the top of my France bucket list - next time I stay in Orleans I plan a day trip by TGV to Dijon - even Orleans is all gussied up - French cities are becoming much better than not long ago it seems.

Seems like Dukey will have no problem filling the time.

And I love tramways - another reason to visit - well enough of my verbal diarrhea - Salut and best wishes.

Oh one last Q for coco cherie - there are no mustard plants in Dijon, oui? Q - where is Moutarde Dijonnais make nowadays -near town and are there any mustard factory tours?

Merci

I loved the fine arts museum in Dijon. Small, quirky, intimate, enjoyable..

http://mba.dijon.fr/musee

I would go back to Dijon for many reasons, but especially for that museum!

I enjoyed several days in Dijon, but can't recommend anything special that wouldn't be listed in the typical tourism places (like museums).

I don't understand how Dijon is going to be so boring that one should stay in Beaune or some small wine village instead. As if Beaune is a real lively place or would have all kinds of nightlife. Talk about boring, that would be it. There is more to life than shopping, anyway, and shops are closed all over France on Sundays, including in big cities.

The Musee de Beaux Arts is very good, it is same building as the palace, as I recall. But I especially liked the Musée de la Vie Bourguignonne, a museum dedicated to local history and everyday life (including costume, furniture, etc). I always like those ethnographic museums, though, as they are something you can't get anywhere else and help you learn about an area. It's in an old monastery , as I recall, and just a short walk south of the city center.

I was only suggesting scenarios IF the OP found one day enough for Dijon - did not mean to say they could not find enough to do in two full days but some may - depends on your interests. More possibilities and opinions given the better.

I am appreciative of everyone's suggestions/recommendations and they will help us plan our short stay. Thanks very much.

Bookmarking