Dijon packs more history per square kilometre than most French cities its size. The entire 97-hectare historic centre earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2015, and the 22-stop Owl’s Trail gives you a self-guided route through 800 years of Burgundian architecture. This guide covers the essential attractions with practical details: opening hours, ticket prices, and what to actually expect at each site. For a full neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood breakdown, see the best neighborhoods in Dijon guide.
Things to Do in Dijon: Historic Landmarks and Museums
Palais des Ducs de Bourgogne (Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy)
The former seat of the Dukes of Burgundy now houses the Musee des Beaux-Arts, one of France’s finest art museums outside Paris. The museum collection spans from Egyptian antiquities to 20th-century works, with particular strength in medieval Burgundian sculpture and the tombs of Philip the Bold and John the Fearless. Entry is free for the permanent collection; temporary exhibitions cost 5 to 8 euros. Open Wednesday to Monday, 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM (May to October) and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (November to April). Closed Tuesdays. The Tour Philippe le Bon (Philip the Good Tower) offers a 316-step climb for panoramic city views at a separate ticket of 5 euros. Allow 2 to 3 hours.
Eglise Notre-Dame de Dijon
This 13th-century Gothic church on Rue de la Chouette is famous for two things: the Jacquemart clock (a 14th-century automaton brought from Flanders in 1383) and the tiny owl carving (chouette) on its north wall. Touching the owl with your left hand while making a wish is a Dijon tradition that has worn the stone smooth over centuries. Entry is free. Open daily 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM but closes during mass. The facade’s 51 gargoyles are best photographed in morning light.
Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne
A Burgundian Romanesque cathedral built over the tomb of Saint Benignus, a 2nd-century martyr. The crypt (the oldest part, dating to the 6th century) is the highlight: a circular chamber with remnants of the original basilica. The cathedral itself was largely rebuilt in the 13th and 14th centuries. Free entry. Open daily 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The crypt visits are self-guided; English information panels are available. Located on Rue du Dr Maret, a 5-minute walk from Darcy Garden.
Musée de la Vie Bourguignonne
Housed in the 17th-century Convent of the Bernardines, this museum reconstructs everyday Burgundian life from the 19th and early 20th centuries: reconstructed shop interiors, traditional costumes, and a collection of Dijon mustard jars spanning 150 years. Free entry. Open Wednesday to Monday, 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 6:00 PM. Closed Tuesdays. The adjacent Musée d’Art Sacre (Sacred Art Museum) is included in the same visit. Allow 1.5 hours for both. The museum is at 17 Rue Sainte-Anne in the historic centre.
Things to Do in Dijon: Outdoor Attractions and Walks
Le Parcours de la Chouette (Owl’s Trail)
The Owl’s Trail is Dijon’s official self-guided walking route, marked by 22 bronze owl plaques embedded in the pavement. The full circuit covers about 3.5km through the historic centre and takes roughly 2 hours at a leisurely pace, longer if you stop at each site. Pick up a free map at the Dijon Tourist Office (11 Rue des Forges, open Monday to Saturday 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM) or download the official Owl’s Trail app for iOS and Android. Key stops include Place Francois Rude, the half-timbered houses on Rue Verrerie, and the Maison Milliere. The trail is flat and wheelchair-accessible except for a few cobblestone sections.
Jardin Darcy (Darcy Garden)
Dijon’s central park, designed in 1880 by Felix Vionnois, sits at the top of Rue de la Liberte near the train station. The neoclassical white-stone fountain of the same name is the focal point. It is a compact 1.2-hectare park with mature plane trees, seasonal flower beds, and a small children’s playground. The park benches fill up with locals at lunch hour on sunny days. Open 24 hours, free entry. The carousel operates weekends and school holidays, 2 euros per ride. A good 20-minute rest stop between the train station and the old town.
Lac Kir (Kir Lake)
An artificial 37-hectare lake 3km west of the city centre, created in 1964 and named after Canon Felix Kir (the Dijon mayor who gave his name to the Kir cocktail). The lake has a sandy beach (free entry, open June to September, lifeguard on duty 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM), pedal boat rentals (8 euros per 30 minutes), and a 2.5km walking/cycling path around the perimeter. Water quality is tested weekly during the summer season. Reach it by Divia bus line 12 from Place Darcy (15 minutes, 1.50 euros) or a 35-minute walk from the centre. The guinguette (open-air cafe) serves drinks and snacks from May to September.
Place de la Libération
Dijon’s main square is a neoclassical semicircle designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart in the 1680s, facing the Palais des Ducs. The square was pedestrianised in 2006 and now features five fountain jets that children run through in summer. Cafes line the arcaded eastern side; expect 4 to 5 euros for an espresso, 8 to 10 euros for a glass of local wine. The Christmas market fills the square with 60 chalets from late November through December 24. The tourist office is a 2-minute walk north on Rue des Forges. Free Wi-Fi is available in the square via the Dijon WiFi network.
Things to Do in Dijon: Food, Wine and Markets
Les Halles de Dijon (Covered Market)
Gustave Eiffel designed the iron-frame structure of this covered market in 1875, and it remains the city’s food hub. Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with a smaller Sunday morning session. About 40 vendors sell Burgundian cheeses (Epoisses, Citeaux), fresh produce, charcuterie, and regional wines by the glass at stand-up counters. The Saturday market is the busiest, arriving by 9:00 AM gets you the best selection. Try the gougeres (cheese puffs) from Boulangerie des Halles for 1.50 euros. The market sits on Rue Odebert, a 3-minute walk from Place de la Liberation.
Moutarderie Fallot (Fallot Mustard Mill)
Dijon mustard is essentially a brand (not a protected designation), and Fallot is the last independent family-run mustard mill still operating in Burgundy, in nearby Beaune (45km south). The Dijon location at 16 Rue de la Chouette is a boutique shop with a small tasting counter where you can sample 15 mustard varieties: tarragon, blackcurrant, cassis, green peppercorn, and more. Free tasting. Jars cost 5 to 8 euros. The full Fallot factory tour is in Beaune (entry 12 euros, book online at fallot.com). Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Route des Grands Crus (Wine Route)
The Cote de Nuits wine region starts just south of Dijon and runs 30km through vineyards producing some of the world’s most expensive Pinot Noir: Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanee, and Nuits-Saint-Georges. Rent a bike from La Bicyclette Dijonnaise (20 Rue de l’Hopital, 15 euros/day, reserve ahead in summer) or take the Divia bus line 114 from Dijon to Gevrey-Chambertin (30 minutes, 1.50 euros). Many domaines require advance booking for tastings: call or email 24 to 48 hours ahead. English-language guided wine tours start at 65 euros per person for a half-day. The Burgundy Wine School (Ecole des Vins de Bourgogne) on Rue du Chateau offers 2-hour tasting workshops from 35 euros.
For transport details, the Dijon travel tips and FAQ guide covers bus routes, taxi numbers, and TGV connections.
