Hello, my husband and I are curious about Macon France. Online the pictures are lovely but Rick Steves book doesn't cover it. We will not have a car and will be on the train coming from Geneva area. We saw Macon on the train stops and wondered if instead of 2 nights in Dijon, perhaps we should try 2 nights in Macon. We will still be visiting Dijon while we are just down the train line in Dole for 12 days. We're not late nightlife people but enjoy the french smaller towns and renting bikes to ride in the country side and eating good food but not in a tourist area. Does anyone have strong opinions on this? We'd love to hear from someone about Macon and just doing day trips to Dijon while we are staying in Dole for 12 days. Thank you so much for your help. Warm regards to all of you fellow travelers. Darla
Posted by
11218 posts
The RS Guide Books are not comprehensive like a Fodors nor are they meant to be. He covers the locations where he takes his tours .
Posted by
OP
Oregon
4 posts
Thank you Suki, I understand that. I was just hoping to see opinions here on someone who has been to both Macon and Dijon and can give me their opinion based on their enjoyment of Macon as a nice place to explore, eat, drink, etc.
Posted by
California USA
3967 posts
Here are some replies on the forum a few months ago about Mâcon. My opinion hasn’t changed, I’d still pick a different nearby city over Mâcon.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/recommended-activities-for-macon
Posted by
OP
Oregon
4 posts
Thank you Mona! I appreciate your note and I had already looked at that one thread but was hoping for more information from other travelers here and their opinions as well.
Posted by
big blue marble
427 posts
I lived near Mâcon for several years. It was the closest big town for shopping, visits to the préfecture, and so on.
We would go to Dijon with some frequency as well -- it's a much bigger city, with more shopping and cultural attractions than Mâcon, plus a more developed and diverse transit system (important, since you won't have a car).
I would recommend Dijon over Mâcon for those reasons. If you were to rent a car, though, there are certainly enough things to do in the area around Mâcon for a few days. But without a car? I'd go to Dijon.
2¢
Posted by
OP
Oregon
4 posts
Hi Sammy, thanks for your reply. We'll definitely be spending more days in Dijon than in Macon but it sounds like for one day and at least bicycles for transportation out and about, Macon will be worth a short stop.
Posted by
Paris
6920 posts
Honestly I am not sure what you would do in Macon without a car, even just for a day. Bourg en Bresse, also on the train line from Geneva, would be more interesting - the monastery of Brou is an impressive, undervisited sight!