Thank you for previous input. I have one additional concern.
My wife and I have planned a 4-week trip to France for the spring of 2017. Leaving Annecy we would like your opinions as to whether to spend 4 days in Dijon or go to Lyon. From Dijon we could visit Beaune whereas in Lyon we wonder if its too large a city to handle for 4 days. Thank you as always!
Sincerely,
Daniel K.
We just spent three nights in Dijon and liked it very much (although it was bloody cold there Sunday!). We got to Beaune on a day trip with a wine tour and our only regret is that we would have liked more time in Beaune, so give it a full day. If you are a lover of Burgundy wines, by all means take a tour. We learned so much!
Now I've read your previous posts. How about taking the train from Annecy to "pick a city" in Burgundy and renting the car there, staying in a small town or village to spend 3-5 days exploring Burgundy. I stopped in Beaune for 1/2 day on the way to Alsace and it was enough for me. I skipped Dijon. The little of saw of Burgundy was really great (castles, abbeys, villages, weekly markets, beautiful countryside) and I liked being away from big cities. I based in Avallon for 4 nights, then Equisheim for 3, then drove to Strasbourg to drop the car and spend 3 more nights at the end of my trip. I had been to Strasbourg and Colmar briefly for the Christmas markets and was surprised at how much I enjoyed my second visit to Strasbourg. Wonderful trip. Yours is longer, so even better!
I agree with Chani, Beaune was ok for a day (or less). I personally wouldn't stay there any longer. The charm of Burgundy is the medieval villages you must see by car.
Are you open to driving, or just in Alsace?
I find Dijon to be more interesting for things to see and places to walk. Lyon is a very industrialized city, but, if you are a foodie, it is THE place to go.
I much preferred Lyon to Dijon. But I'm puzzled by your question of whether Lyon is "too large a city to handle for 4 days." Yes, it's a city, but it's not humongous; 4 days is a generous amount of time to see all the attractions without rushing, and 2-3 days would still be a good length of time.
