Dijon or Beaune for a Base?

If your plan is to take trains and buses, then Dijon has more options for you. It is easy to visit Beaune as a day trip from Dijon. Both Dijon and Beaune have interesting sights; Dijon is much larger but still far from being hectic!

It likely depends on what appeals more to you: Dijon has 150,000 residents, with a metro population of 250,000. As a much larger city than Beaune, which has a population of just 20K residents, Dijon has direct TGV trains to Paris that take 90 minutes. Beaune offers a small city experience which I find refreshing after visiting a series of much larger cities. Because Beaune is only 30-train minutes from Dijon, which of the two you base yourself in can come down to where it is in the Burgundy region that you plan to daytrip to.

Beaune if you have a car / Dijon if public transportation

Beaune is small and manageable, which may or may not be what you seek.

Visit the Abbaye de la Bussiere if you can.

We stayed in Dijon a few nights and found it very scenic with lots to see.

Hi Joanna,
We know the zany Fodors/Lonely Planet poster 'zebec' personally and just now, they gave us permission to re-post their Burgundy TR below (Beaune and Dijon are included). Reading it just may cause you to base in both places.

'What follows is both lengthy and JuMbLeD. It may serve as a sort of trip-report-plus-tips-list based upon our recent ramblings around Burgundy and Paris. It has been re-read many times by the Department of Redundancy Dept. to ensure that there was no undue repetition, incorect spelling or grammar badly. It has been re-read many times by the Department of Redundancy Dept. to ensure that there was no undue repetition, incorect spelling or grammar badly.

Most Useful public bus in Burgundy: Transco #44 aka The Burgundy Express--much like vaporetto #1 in Venice, the value here (less then 2 euros) is unbeatable as you connect between Beaune and Dijon and most points between.

Most sympa apartment rental in Dijon: 'My Home In Dijon'--outstanding value. Coco will take care of you.

Most underrated daytrip out of Dijon: Semur-en Auxois (bus #49 dep. 7am)-not only is this a quintessential small French town where traditions still run deep, but it has world-class photo ops from its bridges Pont Pinard and Pont Joly. Skip the heavily-promoted belvedere vista up by the Citroen dealer---a hedge has been allowed to overgrow into the perspective and the view has been compromised. The St. Vernier restaurant in Semur is not yet in any guidebook (zero tourists). It specializes in local Epoisse cheese dishes.
Most underrated daytrip out of Beaune: Orches. This cliffside village in the Haut Cotes west of Meursault has excellent valley views and is quite pretty in and of itself. Added value: La Rochepot chateau-castle is just down the road, if you're into that sort of thing.
Most overrated vista: the ex-St. Christophe church archaeological site looming far above Meursault. Meh...

Most interesting Burgundian wine-producer whose reds and whites won't cost you a second-mortgage:
Pascal Prunier Bonheur. His farm-cave is right at the top of Meursault on the border with Auxey-Duresses.
Full disclosure: he helped us out of a jam, literally (see part two). Seriously, his white Monthelie and his red St. Romain were just two of his seven very, very good wines.

Worst trouble faced during this trip: on the second morning, we tried to re-enter our rented house on the edge of Meursault, but the massive old garage door (the sole entry) jammed and would not budge despite all our efforts and many bad words (see 'what to do when all yer stuff inc. passports, money, sex toys and everything, is locked inside. And the owners live in another country).
See also the last couple on Planet Earth who has not yet purchased that new thing called a 'cellphone'. See also 'soft city folk on the verge of tears'.

To be continued

(cont.)
After a fruitless and stressful half-hour of us tryna' get in, who just happened to drive by on his tractor? (sound of trumpets) Why, our neighbour Pascal, a 5th-generation winemaker with purple palms rough as sandpaper. He and his assistant, Eric, used their manly Burgundian know-how and tools to eventually unjam the jam. Emotionally spent, I looked on like a lost little boy. Mrs Zebec, who was probably the only reason that Pascal stopped in the first place (see 'French men and traditional sources of attraction'), smiled from off to the side.

Best picnic table spot: the official 'aire de pique-nique' just outside of Beaune behind Pk. Bouzaizes (btw, 'bouze' means dung). Added value: for even more views ascend the trail up to the so-called 'Montagne de Beaune'. This trail leads up to a war memorial with spectacular views across the vineyards. Or if you have masochistic best intentions as you slavishly pursue 'alternative attractions', you could always make an ill-advised left turn and end up being chased by some of the world's largest and most vocal, private vineyard guard dogs. Seriously, there is an additional, far less-visited lookout to the western edge of the hill, overlooking Les Avaux climat et al.

Best Smell in Burgundy: the aromatic herbal scents that fill the Homeopathic Pharmacy in old Dijon. Go meet the brothers who run it. They are friendly, identical twins!

Most Perplexing Ongoing Mystery: which Burgundian village does rockstar-serious Pinot collector, Geddy Lee, retreat to every summer with his wife? No need to know exact address and have zero intent to ever visit. Just curious after having become so familiar with the map.

The local whom we encountered who was most seriously in need of professional help: the guy in old Dijon with his 2 leashed cats atop his shoulders while he strolls about chanting in Latin. He uses the cats as props to curry sympathy from potential handout donors. Nuff said.
A fine Vineyard Walk with very few other tourists: Volnay down to Meursault.

Bon Chance Joanna. Happy to advise on Lyon, which was part of this same trip.
I am done. The end.