In April 2026, I decided to return to a favorite area from my previous France trip, and visit a friend in Paris along the way. Part of what made this trip enjoyable was that it was a leisurely one. I knew that a lot of places would be closed on Easter Sunday and Monday, so I based myself for a longer period of time in Dijon – a lovely and very reasonably priced area of France. After this, a few days to enjoy Paris is a great way to end any trip!

My Itinerary

1- Paris to Dijon – Arrive in Paris and take the train to Dijon (1.5 hours)

2- Dijon- Morning shop at Les Halles (market), check out Dijon art museums

3- Dijon- Day trip to Beaune for lunch & winery visit

4- Dijon- Burgundy Wine or villages visits

5- Dijon- Relaxing / flex day

6-8- Paris- Pick up a metro card and start exploring Paris!

Notes and Plans

I got a great deal on a lovely Airbnb in Dijon, so I opted to base myself there for 5 nights and just enjoy life in the beautiful little city. Dijon has some lovely (and free) art museums, parks, fountains, and dining. I also love sitting at the Delirium bar in the center, amidst the old carousel and gingerbread style buildings. I love shopping at the market (Les Halles) for cheese, bread, meats, and mustard. Don’t miss the Museum of Fine Arts in Dijon’s center- it’s free and has a beautiful collection that I have a special love for, I actually visited both times I came to Dijon. You can also see amazingly detailed sculptures at the small Rude Museum. Lastly, I enjoyed the Magnin Museum, a beautiful home converted to an art-filled museum.

From Dijon, you can also easily access other destinations by train. I took the train 20 minutes to Beaune, which has a number of wineries you can visit. I had a great lunch at a little restaurant called Soul Kitchen, then I made my way to Louis Jadot for a tour and tasting. It was really interesting to learn more about Louis Jadot as a familiar label and one of France’s top wine producers. It was awesome to see how extensive their operation is, and to get to try so many different wines I’ve never seen at home.

I had initially booked a tour to see Burgundy villages that wouldn’t be accessible by train. Unfortunately, the tour was canceled with short notice, so I ended up taking another relaxing local day.

After five days soaking up life in Dijon, I packed up and took the train to Paris. I stayed for three nights at an adorably styled Airbnb apartment in the South Pigalle neighborhood, which I fell in love with – even despite the seven flights of windy stairs. It was a cool area for dining, vintage shopping and boutiques. It was hard not to start my day at the amazing Mamiche, the always bustling bakery next door to my Airbnb. Just uphill and around the bend, I also enjoyed taking a walk through Montmartre, seeing the Sacre Cour basilica up close, and artist-filled Place d’Tetre.

This was my second time in Paris and I spent my few days visiting with a friend and hopping on and off the metro to check out various neighborhoods, parks, museums, food, and drinks, mostly making decisions on a whim. Some highlights from this trip was starting my first morning with a visit to the Petit Palais, a free and quite extensive art museum. I lined up at the door just before opening and it was not too crowded. After my museum visit, I found it was also the perfect time of year to spend time strolling the maze-like hedges at the Luxembourg Gardens, and seeing the blooming flowers at the Tuileries Garden. I made my way over to the Marais to window shop, stroll through the Place de Vosges (Paris’ oldest “place”), wine & escargot snack break at the market counter Enfantes du Marche, and visit the Picasso Museum. The Picasso Museum was pretty cool, but not super extensive, so I ended up with some extra time and stopped by the free Carnavalet Museum. a nearby free history museum. It ended up being a gem with rooms and rooms full of art and historical artifacts.

Food & Drinks

-Dijon- Spica – I had an awesome dinner here at this Michelin listed restaurant. Small, focused menu, but one that you can trust. Dijon has some excellent dining options!

-Dijon- Delirium Bar– Centered in the place across from the carousel and the picturesque buildings, this is a perfect location for soaking up Dijon’s charm.. but the extensive drink menu and efficient service is worth mentioning, too! If you can grab an outdoor seat (it’s not always easy), it’s a perfect spot for sipping a drink in the center.

-Beaune- Soul Kitchen– I loved the beef Bourgogne at this tiny, cozy restaurant in Beaune. The quiche was amazing, too. I went for lunch and they offered two pre-fixe menu options- I was happy with my “traditional” choice, but both sounded amazing. Book ahead if you’re visiting Beaune and want to try it!

-Paris- Le CasseNoix– This French restaurant, not far from the Eiffel Tower, was absolutely delicious. I went for lunch and had the pre-fixe. I loved all three parts and left wanting to return.

-Paris- Le Tire Bouchon Rodier– This was a great place to go with friends in the South Pigalle area, as it allowed us to order a bunch of tapas style French dishes to share. The food was awesome and the menu was classic with some interesting spins.

-Paris- Cambridge Public House– This super chill cocktail bar is one of my favorite stops in the Marais. Extremely well crafted and unique cocktails, and if you’re hungry, you can get a snack like their “cheese of the moment!”

-Paris- Capsule– I read about this restaurant on the Michelin Guide and ventured over to check out their lunch pre fixe- they broke my trend of ordering the beef with a lovely salmon. Solid food and service, a great meal!

-Paris- Enfantes du Marche– I’ve decided that coming to this market hall in the Marais to sit at the counter and eat escargot has become a Paris tradition or ritual for me. I love sitting amidst the lively market atmosphere, people watching, chatting with other diners at the counter, and vibing out to their playlist. It’s a great way to set the tone for your time in Paris.

-Paris- Mamiche– I was lucky to stay at an Airbnb across the street from this amazing bakery. I sampled a number of goodies from croissants and pan au chocolat to bread and random pastries I pointed at in the case. This is another gem I’ll be sure to return to. Don’t let the line scare you- it never really goes away, but it moves relatively quickly.

Next Time?

France has been emerging as a favorite country of mine, and there are so many regions I want to explore and return to. I was disappointed about my Burgundy villages tour being canceled, so I’d still like to return to Burgundy and explore more. When it comes to visiting other parts of France, there are so many- Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Strasbourg…