The Côte-d'Or with children:a practical guide for parents

In short: Côte-d’Or offers plenty of child-friendly activities, from large wildlife parks to historical treasure hunts. Dijon and Beaune have the widest range. Allow 3–4 days for a comfortable family pace, alternating short visits with breaks in the many parks.

Côte-d’Or is mainly associated with wine and gastronomy, two worlds that do not seem made for children. Think again. The département is full of family-oriented activities: wildlife parks, interactive museums, treasure hunts and safe cycle routes. And parents can enjoy pinot noir without depriving children of their fun. This guide helps you organise a trip where everyone gets something out of it.

Children’s activities: the essentials

Parc de l’Auxois

Parc de l’Auxois, details

The largest wildlife park in Côte-d’Or (40 hectares, at Arnay-sous-Vitteaux) is home to more than 500 animals from 90 species. Children can feed the goats, watch the birds of prey show and ride the little train. 2026 rates: €22.50 adult, €15.50 child aged 3–12, free under 3. Allow 3 to 4 hours on site. The park is open from 1 April to 11 November, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from September).

The Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle

Dijon’s Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle (Jardin de l’Arquebuse) offers interactive exhibitions on regional flora and fauna. Free entry; the permanent exhibition and temporary exhibitions are charged depending on the exhibition.

Parcours de la Chouette: a free treasure hunt

The Parcours de la Chouette in Dijon’s historic centre is a 22-stop treasure hunt leading children through cobbled streets to discover the city’s history. Each stop has a riddle. Free; allow 1h30 to 2h. Available as a paper booklet at the tourist office or via the mobile app. Children love searching for the little owl carved on Notre-Dame church, a local tradition.

Cycling on the Voie des Vignes

The Voie des Vignes links Marsannay-la-Côte (south of Dijon) to Santenay over 67 km of fully protected cycle path, car-free with very gentle gradients (a former railway line). Perfect for a family ride. Bike hire with child seats and trailers is available in Dijon and Beaune from €15 for half a day.

Parks and gardens to unwind

Children need to run around. Dijon has several quality parks:

• Jardin de l’Arquebuse: 5 hectares, of which about 2 hectares of botanical garden (Jardin des Sciences), with greenhouses, pond and play areas. Free.
• Parc Darcy: water play in summer, carousel, picnic tables. Free.

Play areas and leisure bases

• Parc de la Colombière (Dijon): the largest Dijon park, play area, pond and shaded avenues. Free.
• Parc de la Bouzaize (Beaune): play area near the pond, 5 min walk from the centre. Free.
• Lac Kir (Dijon): supervised beach and swimming in summer, pedalos, kayaks, lake loop by bike or pushchair.

Original activities for children

Taste workshops at the Cité de la Gastronomie

The Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin in Dijon runs cookery workshops for children, notably the Burgundian cheeses workshop (ages 5–7, €7, 45 min). Check the workshop programme on the Cité’s website for other ages.

Musée des Beaux-Arts as a family

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, one of France’s richest, offers a free family trail with an activity booklet guiding children through the Palais des Ducs rooms. Free (permanent collection). Children aged 6 to 12 often enjoy the treasure hunt in the guards’ hall and the ducal kitchen.

Family escape game

Dijon has several escape games, some accessible from 6–7 years with adapted puzzles. Rate: €18 to €25 per person depending on the format. Some draw on Burgundian heritage.

Family-friendly restaurants

Eating with children in Côte-d’Or is straightforward if you know where to go. Here are places that genuinely welcome families:

In Dijon

• La Dame d’Aquitaine: 14th-century vaulted dining room, warm setting, welcoming with children at lunch.

In Beaune

• La Ciboulette: traditional cuisine, family atmosphere.
• Loiseau des Vignes: contemporary cuisine, cosy setting with views over the vines.

Dedicated children’s menus are rare in Burgundy: ask for a half portion (often possible for bœuf bourguignon).

Tip: restaurants often close between 1.30 p.m. and 7 p.m., especially Sunday and Monday. Keep a backup picnic from the supermarket or Les Halles for late afternoon snacks.

Easy picnics

Picnics work well for families. Buy at Les Halles de Dijon (Tuesday to Sunday morning) or Beaune market (Saturday morning): jambon persillé, époisses, pain d’épices, seasonal fruit. Settle at the Jardin de l’Arquebuse or Parc de la Colombière in Dijon, Parc de la Bouzaize in Beaune, by the Canal de Bourgogne or on a picnic area along the Voie des Vignes.

Family accommodation

Gîtes and rentals

The best option for a family of 4 or more is a rural gîte. Expect €350 to €700 per week for a 3–4 person gîte in the Auxois or Châtillonnais, €400 to €800 in the vineyard.

Seasonal rental platforms offer family flats in Dijon from €70 to €110 per night for a 3-room apartment. Advantage: a kitchen makes children’s meals easier.

Hotels accepting children

Always check for a cot (sometimes charged, €10–15/night) and the age limit for free breakfast.

Family campsites

Côte-d’Or has a good thirty campsites. Best for families:

• Camping Les Cent Vignes (Beaune): pool, mini-golf, play areas. Mobile home €60–90/night in season.
• Camping du Lac Kir (Dijon): by the lake, beach and swimming in summer, kayaks, play area, town centre 20 min by bike. Pitch €13–22/night.

Getting around and journey times

Family travel needs reasonable journey times. Key distances:

On the Paris–Dijon TGV, children aged 4 to 11 get −50% off the adult fare, with no card needed. A child under 4 travels free on an adult’s lap (allow about €9 for a seat with the Forfait Bambin). On Mobigo coaches, a single ticket costs €2 for everyone whatever the journey, and under-4s travel free.

Age-specific advice

0–3 years

Toddlers travel easily in a baby carrier in historic centres (pushchairs on Dijon cobbles: almost impossible in medieval streets around the Palais des Ducs). Favour parks and gardens for outings. Museums accept pushchairs. Changing facilities are rare in traditional restaurants: bring a portable changing mat.

4–7 years

Ideal age for the Parcours de la Chouette, cycling on the Voie des Vignes and cookery workshops at the Cité de la Gastronomie. Children this age also enjoy the birds of prey show at Parc de l’Auxois. Plan frequent breaks: a family château visit should not exceed 1h30 to stay enjoyable.

8–12 years

Pre-teens can join escape games, visit the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle and take introductory tasting workshops (non-alcoholic grape juice version at the Cité de la Gastronomie). They also enjoy hiking on Morvan or Auxois trails (max 5–6 km per day as a family).

13 and over (teenagers)

Côte-d’Or stays attractive for teenagers, as long as you vary the formats. Escape games in full version (from 12–13), cycling the Voie des Vignes (the Dijon → Beaune stage is 49 km; the full 67 km can be done in a day by the fittest), canoe-kayak on the Canal de Bourgogne (Saint-Jean-de-Losne base) and hikes in the Morvan or Auxois. Museums work very well too: self-guided tours at the Musée des Beaux-Arts, interactive exhibitions at the Muséum. Finally, tasting is not just for parents: the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin runs introductory taste workshops from age 12, in a non-alcoholic version.

Practical planning

How many days to allow?

Weather

Côte-d’Or has hot summers (up to 35 °C in July–August) and cold winters (often below 0 °C in January–February). Spring and autumn are mild but rainy. Pack layers whatever the season. In summer, heatwaves are increasingly common: plan indoor activities between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. for children.

Where to find formula and nappies?

Supermarkets are plentiful around Dijon (Carrefour, Leclerc, Auchan) and on the edge of Beaune. Town-centre pharmacies sell infant formula and nappies at higher prices than supermarkets. Baby shops (Aubert, Orchestra) are on the Dijon outskirts. Stock up for rural stays.

Free or low-cost activities

• Parcours de la Chouette: free
• Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon: free (permanent)
• Muséum and Jardin de l’Arquebuse: free (garden), temporary exhibitions charged
• All public parks: free
• Beaune Saturday market: free (some producers offer tastings)
• Play areas at Toison d’Or shopping centres in Dijon: free
• Dijon municipal library: free with children’s events some Wednesdays
• Lac Kir beach (Dijon): supervised swimming in summer, free
• Walk along the Canal de Bourgogne: free, pushchair-accessible