Major city · France
Dijon
Give Dijon 2 nights: one full day for the owl walk, the Ducal Palace and Les Halles, plus a half-day wine or Beaune run. Skip it as a day trip from Paris.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot, busy), late Dec
- Airport
- DIJ
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
- France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
- France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
- France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
Dijon is the capital of the Côte-d'Or and the old seat of the Dukes of Burgundy, 1 h 40 min from Paris by TGV. The centre is compact, largely pedestrian and intact, so two nights cover the landmarks, the free museums and the market, with a third night only if you add wine country or Beaune. It is a food and wine town more than a monument town, and it works well as a base for the Côte-d'Or.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Dijon, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR, €).France-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.France-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise.France-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.France-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.France-wide
- SafetyDijon is a calm, walkable city and violent crime against visitors is rare.
- RestroomsParis has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1 (≈ US$1–2).France-wide
- Emergency numbers112 European emergency number · 15 ambulance (samu) · 17 police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany national museums close on Monday (Orsay, Versailles, Rodin) or Tuesday (Louvre, Pompidou's temporary sites).France-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportDIJ Dijon-Bourgogne Airport (No commercial flights; general aviation only.
- Getting aroundWalk: the centre is small, pedestrian and flat, and the owl markers guide a self-guided loop.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at a café€1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
- Sit-down mealDinner, mid-range, per person€25–45 (≈ US$30–55)
- Street or quick mealBaguette sandwich€4–7 (≈ US$5–9)
- Metro or bus rideDivia single tram or bus ticket€1.40 (≈ US$2) (check)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (most Dijon museums)Free
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person€28 (≈ US$35)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, 2- or 3-star, a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
- High-end bedDouble room, 2- or 3-star, a night, per room€220 (≈ US$300)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €60 (≈ US$70) · Mid €110 (≈ US$130) · High €220 (≈ US$300)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- DIJ Dijon-Bourgogne Airport (No commercial flights; general aviation only. Most travellers arrive via Paris CDG or Lyon and continue by TGV.)
Weather and climate
Dijon: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
5°C41°F
0°C32°F
11 rd
Feb
7°C45°F
0°C32°F
10 rd
Mar
12°C54°F
3°C37°F
10 rd
Apr
15°C59°F
5°C41°F
10 rd
May
20°C68°F
9°C48°F
11 rd
Jun
24°C75°F
12°C54°F
9 rd
Jul
27°C81°F
15°C59°F
8 rd
Aug
27°C81°F
15°C59°F
8 rd
Sep
22°C72°F
11°C52°F
9 rd
Oct
16°C61°F
8°C46°F
10 rd
Nov
9°C48°F
3°C37°F
11 rd
Dec
6°C43°F
1°C34°F
11 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walk: the centre is small, pedestrian and flat, and the owl markers guide a self-guided loop. Tram and bus (Divia) cover the station, the Toison d'Or mall and the edges; buy a 24-hour ticket if you take three or more rides. Bikes (DiviaVélodi stands, or a rental from La Bécane à Jules) are the fast way to reach the Well of Moses and the Coulée verte. Driving in the centre is restricted: park at a P+R and switch to tram.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Beaune
goDoor to door: About 45 min
TER or TGV from Dijon-Ville, about 20–25 min
Hôtel-Dieu and the wine cellars; easy half-day, or a full day with a vineyard stop.
Semur-en-Auxois
goDoor to door: About 1 h 15 min
TER from Dijon-Ville, about 45–55 min, then walk uphill
Medieval town over the Armançon; a quiet half-day.
Châtillon-sur-Seine
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
TER from Dijon-Ville, about 1 h, then a local bus or taxi
The Trésor de Vix and the museum justify the run; check the bus link before you commit.
Saulieu
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 15 min
Car or coach via the A6, about 1 h
Morvan gateway and a food stop; awkward without a car.
Époisses
skipDoor to door: About 1 h
Car, about 1 h; no useful train
Village and cheese name only; not worth the trip unless you are driving past.
Aiserey
skipDoor to door: About 40 min
TER from Dijon-Ville, about 20 min
Plain Plain of the Saône village; no reason to go as a visitor.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Around Place Darcy and the station
Closest to Dijon-Ville station and the tram; best for a short stay with bags.
Old centre (Place de la Libération, rue de la Liberté)
Walk to the palace, Les Halles and the owl walk; quiet at night, few cars.
North of the centre (Toison d'Or side)
Cheaper chain hotels on tram T2, about 12 min from the centre; only if you have a car or want parking.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €55–85 (≈ US$65–100) excl. bed
- Mid
- €90–150 (≈ US$110–180) excl. bed
- High
- €160 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, 2- or 3-star1 × 2 nights × €120 | €240 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × €110 | €440 |
| TGV Paris Gare de Lyon → Dijon-Ville, one way2 × €50 · check | €100 |
| Divia 24-hour ticket2 × €4 · check | €8 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €10 | €20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €81 |
| Trip total≈ €222 per person per day, bed included | €889≈ US$1,100 |
2026 estimate in euros; travel to Dijon and wine purchases excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee at a café | €1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Baguette sandwich | €4–7 (≈ US$5–9) |
| Prix fixe lunch menu | €15–25 (≈ US$18–30) |
| Dinner, mid-range, per person | €25–45 (≈ US$30–55) |
| Glass of Burgundy wine | €5–9 (≈ US$6–11) |
| Divia single tram or bus ticket | €1.40 (≈ US$2) (check) |
| Museum entry (most Dijon museums) | Free |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Dijon mustard is mostly not made in Dijon any more; the Maille boutique on rue de la Chouette is the reliable tasting stop.
- The Well of Moses sits on hospital grounds outside the centre: check access hours before walking out.
- Most museums are free but close on Tuesdays and on French public holidays.
- Restaurant kitchens in the centre often stop serving by 21:30; book or eat earlier.Restaurant kitchens in the centre often stop serving by 9:30 PM; book or eat earlier.
- The station-area orientation maps are rotated with west at the top: check before you set off.
Emergency numbers
- European emergency number
- 112
- Ambulance (SAMU)
- 15
- Police
- 17
- Fire
- 18
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
DijonDijon
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- European emergency number112
- Ambulance (SAMU)15
- Police17
- Fire18
Embassy
No US or UK embassy in Dijon; consulates-general are in Lyon, embassies in Paris. For a lost passport, contact your embassy in Paris first.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- TGV Paris Gare de Lyon → Dijon-Ville: about 1 h 40 min; fares vary, book ahead (check)
- TER Paris Bercy → Dijon-Ville: about 3 h; fixed fare about €36 (≈ US$45) adult, €18 (≈ US$25) under 26 (check)
- Tram or bus, single ride: €1.40 (≈ US$2), plus €0.30 (≈ under US$1) for a reloadable card (check)
- Divia 24-hour ticket: €4.20 (≈ US$5) (check)
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH)
- Je voudrais celui-ci — I would like this one (zhuh voo-DREH suh-lwee SEE)
- Parlez-vous anglais ? — Do you speak English? (par-lay VOO ahn-GLEH)
- Où est la gare ? — Where is the station? (oo eh la GAR)
Tipping: service is included by law; round up or leave 5–10% for good service. Emergency numbers work from any phone, including mobiles without a French SIM.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Dijon. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (hot, busy), late Dec · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for DIJ and the Paris CDG rail link: last TGV departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Place Darcy and the station, the old centre, Les Halles and rue de la Liberté, the Coulée verte and the Well of Moses.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Palais des Ducs, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Philippe le Bon tower, Les Halles) and eat pages with last orders.
- Wine-country fixtures: Beaune and the Route des Grands Crus, with a designated-driver or train option.