Dijon in 2 Days: Palaces, Markets and Old Streets

Start at the covered market for produce, cheese and Burgundy’s everyday food culture. On a weekend, put this on Saturday morning; the surrounding streets lead straight into the old centre.

Explore the palace courtyards and Place de la Libération as one stop. The fine arts museum occupies part of this complex, so the next card continues the same visit rather than adding another palace tour.

The ducal tombs are a highlight of the museum, alongside a wide collection of paintings and sculpture. Make this the main indoor visit of the day, with the palace architecture as its setting.

The tower gives you a view over the old town’s tiled roofs. Book its guided ascent as a separate addition to the palace visit if a panorama appeals to you.

Look at the rows of gargoyles on the façade, then walk along the side of the church to find Dijon’s small owl carving. The lanes around it are among the best parts of the old-town walk.

Finish the central circuit in this small square of timber-framed houses and café terraces. It is a pleasant pause after the palace and church visits, close to the main shopping streets.

Start the second day with the church’s elaborate Renaissance façade on the eastern side of the centre. From here, walk southwest through the old streets towards the Museum of Burgundian Life.

This museum follows daily life in Burgundy through household objects, clothing and recreated shops. It gives the trip a useful change from ducal history and grand paintings.

Visit the cathedral on the walk west towards the Arquebuse gardens. The adjoining archaeology museum is an optional substitute if ancient and medieval objects interest you more than another church interior.

Spend the afternoon’s outdoor stretch among the botanical collections and trees. The natural history museum is within the same grounds, making it an easy addition in wet weather or on a family trip.

Choose the natural history displays within the Arquebuse gardens for biodiversity and the history of life. This is an optional indoor part of the garden visit, not another trip across Dijon.

An intimate art collection in a historic townhouse near the ducal palace. Use it as an alternative to a longer fine arts museum visit if you prefer domestic interiors and smaller galleries.

A focused stop on the Dijon-born sculptor François Rude, housed in the former church of Saint-Étienne. It pairs well with nearby Saint-Michel at the start of the second day.

The archaeology museum occupies part of the former Saint-Bénigne abbey. Add it beside the cathedral for objects from Burgundy’s ancient and medieval past, replacing another museum if you want a slower day.