DIJON FAQ`S
Dijon`s small passenger airport is around four miles from the city. It mainly serves small planes from and to Bordeaux, Toulouse and Nantes, operated by Eastern Airways.
From Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport there are TGV high-speed train services from the railway station which is adjacent to Terminal 2 (station name: Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV or Paris Aéroport Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle when booking online) to Dijon Ville station. The journey time for the direct TGV train is around 2 hours. Alternatively, take bus number 4 operated by Le Bus Direct (one-way ticket: about €17 as of 2017) from the airport to Paris Gare de Lyon from which there are frequent TGV trains to Dijon.
The Dijon Train Station (Gare de Dijon-Ville) is only about ¾ of a mile, a 15 minute walk to the town center. Many conveniences can be found around the station including many hotels just minutes away from this Dijon from here.There is a taxi stand at the train station as well to offer direct transfers to your hotel. To reserve in advance, contact Taxis Dijon: www.taxis-dijon.fr; tel 03-08-41-41-12.
How do I call/hail a taxi?There is a taxi rank at the train station. To reserve in advance, contact Taxis Dijon: www.taxis-dijon.fr; (tel) 03-08-41-41-12.
Is Dijon a walking city?Walking is a great way to explore the city and offers the best way to discover the hidden gems. There is a self-guided walk in the city, called `Parcours de la chouette`, shown by owl arrows and numbered owl plates in the ground. There are 22 stops showing interesting points of interest. The book with the description of stops is available at the tourist office for about €3.50. Also, many streets and squares downtown are reserved for pedestrians only.
How do I get around Dijon using public transportation?Dijon has a good network of buses and trams, although the city is easy to get around on foot. The public transport is serviced by Divia. Tickets cost about €1.30 (plus about 30 cents for a reloadable card, €3.90 for a 24 hour ticket, €6.85 for a 48 hour ticket, and €8.80 for a 72 hour ticket; prices estimated as of 2017.
Divia`s bus lines run every 3 to 10 minutes during the day 6:00 am to midnight from Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes after 9:00 pm and on Sunday morning.
Divia`s modern tram system has two lines, the T1 and T2. The four most helpful stops for travelers are served by both lines: Gare (train station), plus Darcy, Godrans and République stations along the northwestern edge of the Old Town.
For more information on buses and trams visit: www.divia.fr
The city also offers the Diviaciti, a free, frequent shuttle bus for visitors that connects many of the downtown destinations in a loop, along with several parking areas. But be aware that the shuttle is only a minibus and is often congested with locals.
Traffic is limited in the center of the city, so you will probably want to park your car for the duration of your visit, except to access the Well of Moses, which is on the outskirts of the city. All city-center parking is metered. There`s a free car park at place Suquet, just south of the police station.
How do I get around by bike?If you plan to get outside of the downtown area it is often easier and faster to use a bike. There are lots of cycle paths and the streets are bike-friendly. Velodi ( www.velodi.net ; tel. +33-800-200-305) offers self-service and drop-off points all around town including Forges-Notre Dame by the tourist office and place Ste-Bénigneamongst the 40 locations around town.
Promenade de l`Ouche (or Coulée verte) is a walking and cycling trail which starts near the Hospital (rue du Faubourg Raines, 10 minutes walk from city center) and follows the Ouche river to the Kir lake, which offers cycling around the lake.
Dijon is not a city with a high crime rate. Beware of pickpockets, mostly on crowded buses and on the pedestrian streets. Do not leave any luggage out of view as it might disappear. If you`re taking the bus with a backpack, it`s better putting it between your feet than keeping it on your back.
Can I pay/tip in US dollars?The currency used in Dijon is the euro (€), US dollars are not accepted. You can get euros at different banks opened from Monday to Saturday and automatic cash points opened 24 hours a day. ATMs are widespread throughout the city.
We recommend that you exchange a small amount of cash prior to your trip, enough for a cab ride or basic spending on arrival. It is also useful to remind your bank and credit card company that you will be traveling to make sure your cards will work while in France. We recommend you record all your credit card numbers, as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or stolen.
Under the euro system, there are seven notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. Notes are the same for all countries. There are eight coins: 1 and 2 euros, plus 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents.
Dijon, like elsewhere in France, a service charge is always included in the bill. If you are particularly pleased with the service, you may certainly leave a few extra euros on the table. But this additional tip is neither expected nor necessary.
For more information about tipping visit: Tipping in France
Dijon has a mild humid temperate climate with warm summers and no real dry season. The summer months of June, July and August have nice weather with good average temperatures but can get hot and muggy. Typically, August can be a bit cooler than July. On average, summer heat dissipates quickly by October. Fall is the best time to go to Dijon, if only for the wine harvest events that take place here. On average the coolest month is December. Winter can be a bit dreary with not much activity, but it seldom snows.
I don`t speak French. Will many people speak English?French is the official language spoken in Dijon. Hotels, tourist attractions and restaurants in popular areas generally have staff that speaks some English. On the street, many people (especially young people) speak at least basic English, but they will appreciate a little effort in French. If you decide to do some traveling into the surrounding, more rural areas, or happen upon a restaurant off the beaten track then it`s a good idea to brush up on your French! We suggest you get a good English-French guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.
What is the food like?Dijon is a city with an excellent gastronomic reputation that includes fine wines and culinary specialties. Many of the dishes that Americans thing of as traditional French originated in this region; for example `coq auvin`, Jambon persile (terrine/meatloaf of parsleyed ham) and pain d`epics (gingerbread) are local delicacies of the region. The area is also famous for such dishes as Burgundy beef, chicken stewed in red wine and traditional snails, which are truly national dishes of the region.
The region is also famous for its excellent wine and liqueurs which are used by local experts in the preparation of original cocktails. Dijon is well known for cassis, a sweet black carrent liqueur that is bright reddish-purple in color. A traditional Dijonnise cocktail is called `Kir`, a blend of cassis and a local white wine (it may also be ordered with champagne).
Dijon offers a vibrant nightlife: clubs, pubs, bars and cafes galore. Here you`ll find plenty of clubs for those who want to party into the late hours, an array of exquisite dining spots and eateries to suit all moods, as well as some cultural venues, such as the Grand Theater de Dijon and L`Auditorium to see operas, dance recitals, and concerts.
What are the best areas for shopping?The best shopping street is Rue de la Liberté, which extends east from Place Darcy to the Palais des Ducs, which is a main shopping street with all types of shopping for locals and visitors. Rue du Bourg, rue Bossuet, Place Grangier are also great streets for shopping where you`ll also find some designer shops. Head to rue Verrerie for antiques. Also, the market at Les Halles, an indoor marketplace on rue Odebert, has many stalls for fresh produce, meat, and seafood. The market is open on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 am to noon, and Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm.
Note: Value-added tax (VAT) rate is currently 20% in France for standard goods. A reduced rate of 10% applies to restaurants, transport, and certain medical drugs. And a 5.5% tax applies to food, water and non alcoholic beverages, books, some entertainment events and some domestic personal services. If you are not an EU resident, you may be able to reclaim VAT if you jump through enough hoops.
This 22-stage trail is designed to give you a taste of Dijon`s charm, as well as showcasing the history of the city. Each numbered stage takes to a place of interest, and the whole trail can be covered on foot in about one hour. If you feel like finding out more about Dijon, this trail proposes 3 different loops: the Rousseau loop, the Zola loop and the Moses loop. The stops include many museums, galleries, shops and cafés terraces! Discover the Owl`s Trail app for iPhone, iPad and Android Smartphones!
Is Dijon mustard produced here?Dijon mustard is no longer produced in Dijon. About 80% of the mustard seeds used to produce mustard in France (including the Maille brand which is owned by Unilever) is imported from Canada. Edmond Fallot is an independent family business that has been producing authentic Burgundy mustard (i.e., they use mustard seeds from Burgundy, not imported from Canada) since 1840. They have a boutique on Rue de la Chouette where you can taste their many mustard varieties, but their factory in Beaune sells them for a few cents cheaper.
What should I do if I need medical assistance or need to go to the hospital?Emergency dial 112
Hospital - Hôpital Général, 2 rue de l`Hôpital; tel. 03-80-40-28-29.