The charming city of Dijon is a great place to stay and explore the nearby regions. It offers easy access to several charming medieval towns, UNESCO-listed sites and world-famous vineyards. You’ll find below a list of day trips from Dijon I prepared for my trip to Burgundy.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to tick them all off my list, but I still included all my research on the list as it may help you select your favourite day trips from Dijon. The numbers refer to the map at the end of the article.
Cities worth visiting near Dijon
I won’t mention Paris on that list as it’s obviously a must-see when visiting France. Many visitors actually come to Dijon as a day trip from Paris. From Dijon, you can easily access other French cities as a day trip:
1. Lyon
Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a beautiful city with a rich history and cultural heritage. It’s France’s second biggest city after Paris, and a major cultural and culinary destination. Visitors can explore the city’s museums, art galleries, and historic buildings, including the stunning Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière and the historic Old Town. Make sure you select carefully where to eat in Lyon: it’s famous for being the capital of gastronomy, and it has many Michelin-starred restaurants.
How to get there from Dijon: Lyon is about two hours south of Dijon by car or train.
2. Besançon
About the same size as Dijon, Besançon is a vibrant city with a rich history and cultural heritage. Visitors can explore the city’s museums, art galleries, and historic buildings, including the impressive Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A day trip to Besancon from Dijon is an opportunity to experience a different atmosphere by visiting a different region of France, Franche-Comté, close to the Jura mountains.
How to get there from Dijon: Besançon is about an hour and 10 minutes east of Dijon by car or train.
3. Chalon-sur-Saône
Smaller than Dijon but nonetheless a charming city of 50,000 inhabitants, Chalon-sur-Saône has a rich cultural heritage and a bustling city centre. It is full of medieval and Renaissance-era buildings, charming narrow streets, and quaint squares. The city is surrounded by vineyards, and the Saône River gives it a very special charm.
How to get there from Dijon: Chalon-sur-Saône is about 50 minutes south of Dijon by car or 40 minutes by train.
4. Auxerre
Auxerre is a charming city of about 30,000 inhabitants on the banks of the Yonne river, famous for its historic buildings and beautiful scenery. It’s famous for its stunning gothic cathedral, beautiful medieval streets, and wine.
How to get there from Dijon: Auxerre is about an hour and 40 minutes west of Dijon by car or by train.
5. Macon
Approximately the same size as Auxerre, Macon is the perfect spot to discover the famous wines of the Mâconnais region, such as Pouilly-Fuissé or Saint-Véran. Mâcon is also home to a beautiful historic centre, featuring lovely pedestrian streets lined with shops, restaurants, and cafés, as well as impressive sites like the Cathedral of Saint Vincent and the old Saint-Pierre church.
How to get there from Dijon: Macon is approximately one hour and 20 minutes by train or by car south of Dijon.
6. Montbéliard
Slightly smaller than Macon and Auxerre, Montbéliard is a must-see if you’re visiting the region at the end of the year as it is very famous for its Christmas markets. One of the town’s highlights is the Château de Montbéliard, which dates back to the medieval period and offers stunning views of the surrounding area. Visitors can also explore the Église Saint-Maimboeuf, a beautiful church with Gothic-style architecture. For those interested in art, the Musée du Château des Ducs de Württemberg is home to an impressive collection of paintings and sculptures. The town is also famous for the smoked Montbéliard sausage that has been made since the 14th century.
How to get there from Dijon: Montbéliard is approximately two hours east of Dijon by car, close to the border with Switzerland.
Wine destinations just outside Dijon
All the cities mentioned above are excellent wine destinations. However, the following day trips from Dijon are particularly wine-focused.
7. Beaune
Beaune is one of the most popular day trips from Dijon. Some tourists even hesitate between visiting Dijon or Beaune when in Burgundy. It’s mostly famous for the Hospices de Beaune, an impressive 15th-century hospital complex with a colourful roof. You’ll also find a Dijon mustard factory in Beaune. Many visitors head out to the surrounding vineyards on the Côte d’Or or Côte de Beaune to sample some of Burgundy’s finest wines at local wineries, such as Pommard*. Alternatively, you’ll find caves in town that offer wine tasting too.
How to get there from Dijon: Beaune is about 40 minutes south of Dijon by car or 30 minutes by train.
8. Côte de Nuits
The Côte de Nuits area is known for producing some of the finest red wines in the world, especially Pinot Noir. You can start your visit in the village of Gevrey-Chambertin, which is home to several renowned wineries, before heading to the nearby town of Nuits-Saint-Georges. There, you can visit the Cassissium museum and learn about the history of blackcurrant liqueur. The region also offers plenty of opportunities for scenic walks and bike rides through the vineyards*.
How to get there from Dijon: Nuits-Saint-Georges is about 30 minutes south of Dijon by car or by train.
9. Chablis
Chablis is a beautiful village known for its world-famous white wine made from Chardonnay grapes. Visitors can tour the vineyards to learn about the region’s unique soil and winemaking techniques before tasting the wines. Don’t miss the chance to explore the town’s historic centre with its beautiful 12th-century church and picturesque streets along the river.
How to get there from Dijon: Chablis is about an hour and a half west of Dijon by car.
Medieval villages and castles close to Dijon
All these medieval villages and castles are not far from Dijon, and you won’t need the entire day to visit them. So when building your day trip away from Dijon, I recommend selecting multiple places or stopping there on your way to one of the bigger cities listed above.
10. Châteauneuf-en-Auxois
Châteauneuf-en-Auxois is a picturesque hilltop village with a well-preserved castle. You can explore the castle and the charming streets of the village and go for a lovely stroll in the countryside to get beautiful views of the village.
How to get there from Dijon: Châteauneuf-en-Auxois is approximately 40 minutes west of Dijon by car.
11. Semur-en-Auxois
Semur-en-Auxois is a charming medieval town with a well-preserved historic centre and town’s fortifications and a beautiful riverside setting.
How to get there from Dijon: Semur-en-Auxois is about an hour west of Dijon by car.
12. Noyers-sur-Serein
Noyers-sur-Serein is known for its well-preserved half-timbered houses and narrow streets. You enter the village via Porte de la Ville, a 14th-century gate that used to be part of the town’s fortifications. It makes you feel like you stepped back in time. It’s lovely to walk around the town’s fortification along the river.
How to get there from Dijon: Noyer is about one hour and a half west of Dijon by car and can be a lovely spot on your way to Chablis and Auxerre.
Day trips to religious sites near Dijon
13. Vezelay Abbey
Vezelay is a beautiful medieval village famous for its Benedictine and Cluniac monastery and church, Vezelay Abbey, which was built between 1120 and 1150 and is one of the starting points of the famous pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Visitors can explore the charming streets of the village and tour the Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, a UNESCO World Heritage site with stunning architecture and important religious relics.
How to get there from Dijon: Vezelay is about an hour and a half west of Dijon by car.
14. Pontigny Abbey
Pontigny Abbey is a magnificent Cistercian abbey with a rich history dating back to the 12th century. Visitors can admire the architecture of the abbey and find out about its history. The abbey is a stopping point on one of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela.
How to get there from Dijon: Pontigny Abbey is about an hour and 50 minutes west of Dijon by car.
15. Fontenay Abbey
Fontenay Abbey is a stunning Cistercian abbey with a rich history dating back to the 12th century. It’s the oldest preserved Cistercian abbey in the world. It’s also home to the paper mill of the Montgolfier brothers, the aviation pioneers who invented the hot air balloon. Visitors can explore the beautiful architecture and grounds of the abbey and learn about its fascinating past.
The village of Montbard is next door. While it’s not the most impressive one in the region, it’s still rather charming and worth the short detour.
How to get there from Dijon: Fontenay Abbey is about an hour and 10 minutes northwest of Dijon by car.
16. Cluny Abbey
Cluny Abbey* was once one of the largest and most influential monasteries in Europe. It had an important role as a centre of religious and cultural activity during the medieval period. The Museum of Art and Archaeology houses a collection of artifacts from the Abbey’s history, and the village of Cluny* is lovely to visit too.
How to get there from Dijon: Cluny Abbey is approximately one hour and a half south of Dijon by car.
Day trip to connect with nature near Dijon
17. Morvan Regional Nature Park
Morvan Regional Nature Park is a beautiful destination near Dijon for nature lovers and those seeking a peaceful escape. Hiking is undoubtedly one of the best ways to explore the park’s beauty, and with more than 2,500 kilometres of marked trails including easy strolls and more challenging hikes, you should find one that suits you. If walking isn’t your thing, the park also has over 1,000 kilometres of cycling routes, catering to casual cyclists and mountain biking enthusiasts alike. Renting a bike to explore the scenic countryside and small villages is an excellent way to discover the park’s gems.
In addition to the outdoor activities, a day trip to Morvan Regional Nature Park is also an opportunity to visit picturesque villages such as Autun (18), a Roman town dating back to the 1st century known for its rich history and well-preserved monuments, and Saulieu (19), a charming village in the heart of the park.
How to get there from Dijon: Morvan Regional Nature Park is approximately 50 minutes southwest of Dijon by car.
What do you think are the best day trips from Dijon? Share your experience in the comments below!
Day trips from Dijon on a map
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