All our hotels in Dijon

Like many French cities, the fortunes of Dijon have waxed and waned down the centuries. It was at its most powerful in the 13th and 14th centuries, when it flourished as a great centre of learning under the patronage of the mighty Burgundy dukes. The advent of the railways brought in a new prosperity from the 1850s onwards, and today a Dijon tour throws up reminders of its past, from the rich architectural heritage to food festivals and art exhibitions, and looks to the future with its status as a hub of communications and business conventions. Whatever your reason for a visit – perhaps a lovely weekend escape in Dijon, a wine-tasting break or a flying visit to a conference – you're sure to find the right accommodation among our choice of Dijon hotels near the city centre.

Any weekend in Dijon should start in the delightful Old Town, a medieval labyrinth of leafy cobbled squares and alleys with upmarket delis, indie boutiques and buzzing bistros tucked into half-timbered townhouses. With the stately Palais des Ducs et des États de Bourgogne at its heart on the imposing, fountain-filled Place de la Libération, all this medieval beauty is watched over by the Gothic-style Cathédrale St-Bénigne de Dijon, gargoyles encrusting the façade of Notre-Dame church, and the ornate, Renaissance-era twin spires of Saint Michael Church. Another of the area's biggest draws is Dijon's soaring 19th-century, wrought-iron Les Halles Gourmandes food hall – a visit is a must for its ranks of stalls piled high with speciality Dijon mustards, spicy pain d'épices gingerbread, Burgundy wines and bottles of crème de Cassis blackcurrant liqueur. To see more of the Old Town, the self-guided DijonOwlTrail tour takes in many of these sights as well as other magnificent places including the Hôtel de Vogüéand its the multi-coloured tiled roof, and the landmark Tour Philippe le Bon, looking for all the world like it belongs in a Tuscan town – climb 316 steps up the tower for views over the city. Not to mention the ornate mansions lining rue des Forges, now home to charming Dijon stores selling local delicacies.

You can easily spend a couple of days in Dijon's museums: in fact, the Musée des Beaux-Arts deserves a day to itself, as it houses tombs of the dukes of Burgundy as well as offering a romp through French painting along with an impressive collection of African and Oriental decorative arts. The cute and rather retro dioramas in the Museum of Burgundian Life – housed in a former Cistercian monastery – showcase the lifestyle of Dijon residents from two centuries ago, and the work of 19th-century Dijon sculptor extraordinaire François Rude is highlighted in the the Musée Rude, nestled into the transept of St-Étienne Church. Elsewhere in the city you can find collections of antique furniture at Musée Magnin in a fine 17th-century mansion, and prehistoric local finds in the Musée Archeologique. For a complete change of subject matter, you can learn about one of Dijon's biggest obsessions – Burgundy wine – at the futuristic, glass L'Imaginarium, just a short drive away in Nuit-Saint-Georges. Here, you'll find displays related to wine production, tastings of full-bodied red vintages and an interactive exhibit showcasing the making of the region's other speciality: sparkling crémant wines. If it's time for some fresh air after all that culture, take a leisurely stroll along the Ouche River or Burgundy Canal, where multicoloured barges moor up around the Île aux Canards. The Jardin Darcy is another lovely spot, dotted with 19th-century follies and home to a much-loved local symbol – the giant sculpture of a polar bear. Another sunny-day option is to pick up a gourmet picnic of baguette, smoked jambon persillé (ham, garlic and parsley terrine) and strong, regional Époisses cheese from Les Halles food market to enjoy an al fresco feast amid colourful rose beds in the Jardin Botanique de l'Arquebuse. And of course, Dijon is a contemporary cultural centre too, with regular performances at the grand Opéra de Dijonby the renowned Orchestre Dijon Bourgogne – our hotel concierges may be able to book tickets for you.

There is no doubt about it – Dijon is one of the gastronomic capitals of France. Its rural hinterlands produce Charolais beef and Bresse chicken, and the city is home to classic Burgundian dishes like bœuf bourguignon, coq au vin and garlicky snails – and of course Dijon mustard. You can sample this hearty fare in cosy brasseries in the warren of Old Town alleys, or treat yourself to fine dining in Michelin-starred restaurants overseen by celebrity chefs. This gourmet feasting is complemented by lively nightlife backed by students from the University of Burgundy, with open-air cafés and bars crowding leafy Place Émile Zola. Dijon's gourmet reputation is cemented by food festivals like the annual International and Gastronomic Fair in November, and its place on the world stage further sealed by the opening of the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin in May 2022; this eco-friendly venue offers a melange of dining and wine-tasting opportunities.

Wine and gastronomy combine in Dijon as the city heads up one of the world's most famous wine regions. It's a joy to go wine tasting in Dijon city – in fact you can't walk very far without hitting another wine bar tucked into a historic cellar – but don't forget that the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Burgundy wineries at castles near Dijon, France, are open for guided tours. Follow the 60-kilometre Route des Grands Crus to visit Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune vineyards in 38 pretty villages for tasting sessions, or buy straight from producers of revered varieties like Vosne Romanée, Chambertin and Clos de Vougeot.

Thanks to its position at the heart of France's autoroute network, Dijon is a burgeoning business destination, with major conference venues including Dijon Congrexpo. If you're travelling to the city for work, we recommend Dijon hotels near the motorways and Dijon Sud hotels, or book city-centre accommodation with coworking space and meeting facilities. Among our Dijon, France, city-centre offerings, we also have apart-hotels for longer stays and budget options if you're here on a fleeting visit. For weekend breaks with a loved one, book a stylish room at our 5-star boutique hotel, with a gastronomic restaurant, fitness rooms and a spa. Family stays are catered for as well, in Dijon hotels with breakfast included in their rates or swimming pools for the kids.

Dijon-Longvic Airport operates flights between Dijon, Bordeaux and Toulouse in the summer, but most international flights to Dijon, France, arrive in Geneva or Lyon. There's also a regular rail service from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, and TGV high-speed trains running from Paris to Gare de Dijon-Ville in roughly 1.5 hours. There are car-rental facilities in Dijon, but the city has a comprehensive public-transport system, with 2 Dijon Métropole tram lines plus a bus network run by Divia. Both interconnect with a free shuttle bus that runs Monday to Saturday, making navigating this bite-sized city a breeze for visitors – and the historic Old Town is an absolute pleasure to explore on foot.