Dijon With Kids: Best Things to Do as a Family in Burgundy
If you’re planning a family trip through Burgundy, don’t make the mistake we almost did: treating Dijon as nothing more than a convenient overnight stop.
For years, Dijon was simply a place I travelled to for work. I knew it for meetings, factory visits, train stations, and business dinners—not exactly the ingredients of an unforgettable family holiday.
It wasn’t until we extended one of those work trips into a slower family adventure that I saw the city differently.
Instead of feeling like another historic city to tick off, Dijon turned out to be one of the easiest places we’ve explored with kids. We spent our days following bronze owls through medieval streets, lingering in bustling markets, picnicking in shady parks, and wandering beautiful little lanes with no real destination in mind.
That’s what I loved most about Dijon with kids.
It never felt like a city that demanded an itinerary. It simply invited us to slow down.
If your family enjoys authentic places, great food, beautiful architecture, and travel that leaves room for curiosity rather than rushing between attractions, I think you’ll love Dijon as much as we did.
Why Visit Dijon With Kids?
Before our Burgundy family trip, I assumed Beaune would steal our hearts and Dijon would simply be the practical city stop.
Instead, the two complemented each other perfectly.
Beaune feels intimate and vineyard-focused. Dijon feels more vibrant, with elegant architecture, lively markets, hidden courtyards, and enough parks and open squares that exploring with children never felt stressful.
It also helps that the historic centre is wonderfully walkable. We rarely needed more than a pastry stop and a playground break to reset everyone’s energy before wandering a little further.
Best Things to Do in Dijon With Kids
1. Follow the Owl Trail
If I had to recommend one thing to do in Dijon with kids, it would be the Owl Trail.
The Parcours de la Chouette (Owl Trail) is a self-guided walking route through the historic center marked by small bronze owl symbols set into the pavement.
Within minutes our kids had completely forgotten we were “sightseeing”.
And with this simple idea – Dijon turned a city tour into an engaging treasure hunt.
While the kids were racing ahead, scanning the cobbles for the next bronze owl, Meanwhile, you naturally pass some of Dijon’s most important sights at a slower pace: medieval lanes, grand churches, hidden courtyards, market streets, and the palace district.
The owl itself is one of Dijon’s city symbol and unofficial talisman. You’ll also find a small and worn carved owl on the wall of Notre-Dame church half way through the tour.
The carving sits about six feet off the ground on an otherwise unremarkable corner of the church, and as the tradition goes, if you touch him with your left hand and make a wish, your wish will come true.
We always appreciate family activities that feel enjoyable for everyone rather than something designed only for children.
This is one of them.
2. Wander the Old Town
One of the things I loved most about Dijon is that it rewards wandering.
Leave the map in your pocket for a while and simply follow whichever little street catches your eye.
One minute you’re squeezing through a narrow medieval lane, the next you’re standing in a sunlit square filled with café terraces.
Look up and you’ll spot crooked timber-framed houses, carved stone faces peering from old façades, hidden courtyards behind heavy wooden doors, and church towers rising above the rooftops.
Our kids often noticed details we completely missed. Gargoyles became a favourite game. We’d suddenly hear, “There’s another dragon!” and everyone would stop looking upwards instead.
That’s the kind of sightseeing I enjoy most with children. They naturally slow you down enough to notice the small details adults often walk straight past.
3. Spend Time at Place de la Libération
This grand open semicircular square is one of the best places in Dijon to pause for a while.
It sits in front of the Palace of the Dukes and Estates of Burgundy, the political heart of historic Dijon. Today the palace complex contains government buildings, the art museum, and one of the city’s most striking facades.
For adults, it’s architecturally impressive.
For children, it’s simply a place with room to move. The square also features a fun fountain installation that you can run through and splash around on a warm day.
When you’re traveling with children, open space matters. After narrower streets and more careful walking, it helps to reach somewhere everyone can breathe a bit.
It’s the perfect place to sit down, have a snack, admire the buildings, or simply let the kids move around before continuing.
4. Visit Les Halles Market and Have a Picnic
We almost always end up at local markets when we travel because they’re where a place feels most alive.
Les Halles quickly became one of our favourite stops in Dijon. The market buzzes with local life rather than tourists, and our kids loved pointing at vegetables they’d never seen, choosing pastries, and helping decide what should go into our picnic.
Instead of sitting through another restaurant lunch, we packed a baguette, local cheese, strawberries, and pastries before heading to one of Dijon’s parks.
Honestly, some of our favourite travel lunches happen on a picnic blanket.
5. Take a Break in Jardin Darcy
Every family city trip improves with green space. I’ve become a big believer in building parks into city itineraries.
Jardin Darcy is an easy place to pause. The park is named after engineer Henry Darcy, who modernized Dijon’s water supply in the 19th century.
Near the entrance, there’s a fun white polar bear sculpture by François Pompon—an artist from Burgundy whose animal sculptures became famous for their clean, elegant lines.
In the park, you’ll also find great playground structures for younger and older kids to explore.
Cultural Things to Do in Dijon With Kids
7. Visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts
Located inside the old ducal palace, Dijon’s Fine Arts Museum is one of the oldest museums in France.
Because the museum is FREE, it completely changes the experience. There’s no pressure to “get your money’s worth.”
We wandered through a few galleries, admired the magnificent tombs of the Dukes of Burgundy, and left again when the kids had had enough.
Dijon makes culture accessible, easy and let’s you tailor it to your families preferences!
Top TIP: Buy a ticket to climb the tower at the Dijon Tourist Office for superb city views!
8. Try Dijon Mustard
Yes, it’s the obvious thing to do—but sometimes touristy things are worth doing.
Here’s a quick confession: I don’t even like mustard.
And I still thought this was fun. Mustard being tapped like a draft beer into sample bowls is next level artisan pride.
Older kids may enjoy tasting different versions. Younger children may mainly enjoy rows of jars and dramatic reactions when adults try the stronger ones.
Both count as cultural experiences.
If you are ready to go all-in on the mustard experience – let the mustard-maker of Burgundy’s last great family mustard factory invite you to spill his family recipe and make your very own mustard. You’ll need to reserve this experience in advance.
Step Beyond the Historic Center
Once you’ve wandered the historic centre, don’t rush back to your hotel.
One of the things I appreciated most about Dijon was how quickly it shifts from grand architecture to everyday local life. Just beyond the old town you’ll find leafy parks, canals, and quiet green spaces where local families spend their weekends.
We ended up loving this side of Dijon just as much as the famous sights.
9. Walk Along the Canal de Bourgogne
After a busy morning in the old town, the Canal de Bourgogne felt like taking a deep breath.
Within fifteen minutes, the medieval streets give way to tree-lined paths, moored boats, and cyclists gliding quietly alongside the water. It is one of those places where nobody is in a hurry.
If you’re travelling with younger children, this is also a great place to let them walk more independently. The paths are flat, there’s plenty of space, and it offers a completely different perspective on Dijon than the historic centre.
10. Escape to Parc de la Colombière
We almost always build green space into city days with our kids, and Parc de la Colombière was exactly the reset we needed.
This elegant historic park feels enormous after the narrow medieval streets. Children have room to run, locals walk their dogs beneath centuries-old trees, and suddenly Dijon feels less like a city and more like somewhere people genuinely live.
It isn’t a must-see attraction.
That’s precisely why I loved it.
11. Cool Off at Lac Kir
This was one of the biggest surprises of our time in Dijon.
Just a few minutes from the city centre, Lac Kir feels almost like a little holiday within your holiday.
Families swim, children build sandcastles on the small beach, people paddleboard across the lake, and everyone seems to be enjoying the slower pace.
On a hot summer afternoon, I honestly can’t think of a better place to spend a few hours.
If we’d had another day in Dijon, this is exactly where we would have come back.
Bring snacks, let the kids play, and enjoy a more local side of Dijon.
How to Taste Dijon Like a Local
One of the reasons we loved Dijon with kids so much was that meals never felt like something we squeezed between sightseeing.
In Dijon, meals are part of the experience.
Instead of searching for the “best-rated” restaurants, we wandered until something caught our eye—a busy terrace filled with locals, a tiny crêperie tucked down a side street, or a bakery with a queue stretching onto the pavement. More often than not, those spontaneous choices became our favourite meals.
We also loved building lunches around the market. Picking up a still-warm baguette, a wedge of local cheese, ripe strawberries, and something sweet from a nearby bakery before heading to a shady park became one of our favourite family rituals.
If there’s one piece of advice I’d give for eating in Dijon, it’s this: don’t overplan. Leave room for curiosity. Some of our best meals happened because we followed our noses rather than our Google Maps.
Five Things You Shouldn’t Leave Dijon Without Trying
Breakfast from a Local Boulangerie
Skip the hotel buffet at least once.
Walk into the first neighbourhood bakery that smells irresistible, order croissants, pains au chocolat, or a flaky chausson aux pommes, and enjoy breakfast on a park bench while the city slowly wakes up.
It’s one of the simplest—and most French—ways to start the day.
Our tip: Go before 9 a.m. for the best selection.
2. Burgundy Cheese (Especially Époisses)
Even if you’re travelling with picky eaters, make time for a proper cheese stop.
Époisses is Burgundy’s most famous cheese and definitely an acquired taste (let’s just say you’ll smell it before you see it!). If that’s a little too adventurous, ask for Comté, Délice de Bourgogne, or Chaource instead—they’re wonderfully creamy and much more approachable for kids.
Buying a few cheeses from Les Halles market and turning them into a picnic lunch became one of our favourite ways to experience Burgundy.
3. Dijon Mustard—Yes, Even If You Think You Don’t Like Mustard
As mentioned above, I am not a mustard lover, and I still loved visiting a traditional mustard boutique.
Watching mustard being freshly dispensed from stoneware jars, sampling different flavours, and learning why Dijon became synonymous with mustard made me appreciate it in a completely different way. The honey and walnut varieties were a surprise favourite, even for the kids.
Tip: Book time with the mustard maker of Burgundy’s last great family mustard factory, the Maison Edmond FALLOT, founded in 1840 – you’ll get treated to an exceptional Mustard making workshop.
4. Burgundy Specialties (With Kid-Friendly Alternatives)
Burgundy’s cuisine is wonderfully hearty and rooted in local traditions.
If you’re curious to try regional classics, look out for:
- Boeuf Bourguignon – slow-cooked beef in red wine
- Œufs en Meurette – poached eggs in a rich red wine sauce
- Jambon Persillé – ham in parsley jelly
- Escargots de Bourgogne – Burgundy’s famous snails (our kids were far more excited to try these than we expected!)
Travelling with younger children? Most bistros also serve simple steak, roast chicken, fries, or crêpes, so everyone leaves happy.
5. Build Your Own Burgundy Picnic
If there’s one experience I’d repeat in a heartbeat, it’s this one.
Visit Les Halles market or a neighbourhood deli and pick up whatever looks good: fresh baguettes, local cheeses, ripe fruit, saucisson, pastries, and a bottle of local apple juice (or Burgundy wine for the grown-ups). Then find a shady spot in Jardin Darcy, Parc de la Colombière, or along the Canal de Bourgogne.
Some of our favourite travel memories aren’t from restaurants at all—they’re from simple picnics where lunch stretched into an afternoon of playing, people-watching, and enjoying the slower pace of Burgundy.
Where We Loved Eating in Dijon with Kids
In Dijon, family-friendly options are everywhere. Think bakery breakfasts, relaxed market lunches, casual crêperies, cafés with outdoor seating where children can watch the world go by, or a simple picnic dinner with good bread and local treats.
A few easy regional foods to try with kids include gougères (light cheese puffs that many children love), pain d’épices (Burgundy’s famous spiced bread), buttery pastries, and of course a fresh baguette with cheese.
Sweet bakery stops are only part of the story. For the regional dishes Burgundy is truly known for — from comforting family meals to memorable local specialties — explore our full guide to the best foods to try in Burgundy with kids.
Rather than chasing a list of “must-visit” restaurants, here are a few places we’d happily return to:
A neighbourhood boulangerie for breakfast or an afternoon goûter (the beloved French after-school snack), because no day in Dijon is complete without a pastry.We loved Aux délices de la chouette in the city center for it’s central location and the perfect stop on the owl trail.
A traditional crêperie after following the Owl Trail—quick, relaxed, and almost guaranteed to please every member of the family: La Crepitante
A classic Burgundian bistro on a picture perfect plaza, to try regional dishes like boeuf bourguignon, while the kids tuck into simpler French favourites: Le Epicerie et Cie
Les Halles market for assembling the perfect picnic with fresh local ingredients. The market is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Dijon or Beaune With Kids?
If I had to choose only one with younger children, I’d probably pick Beaune.
It’s smaller, surrounded by vineyards, and naturally slower.
But if you have three or four days in Burgundy, don’t choose.
Stay in both.
Together they tell the story of Burgundy far better than either could on its own.
Final Thoughts on Dijon With Kids
Before this trip, Dijon simply wasn’t on my list of family destinations. We usually don’t spend much time in the cities but are more drawn to the outdoors and less crowded destinations.
Funnily, Dijon proofed me wrong. The city is absolutely livable and lovable.
It’s also the city where our kids still talk about hunting for bronze owls, spotting gargoyles high above the rooftops, and choosing pastries from little bakeries before wandering off again with no particular plan.
That’s probably the best way to experience Dijon.
If you’re exploring Burgundy with kids, I’d absolutely give Dijon at least a night or two.
It might not be the destination everyone talks about.
But it quietly became one of our family’s favourite places in Burgundy.
