Using Reims as Your Champagne Base
Reims is the larger of the two main Champagne towns (population approximately 185,000) and the most accessible from Paris — the TGV high-speed train covers the 145 kilometres in 45 minutes. Most guided Champagne tours depart from Reims, and the city’s own attractions (the cathedral, the Art Deco heritage, the restaurants) make it a destination beyond the wine.
What Departs From Reims
Champagne house cellar tours at the Reims-based houses — Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, Pommery, Ruinart, Lanson, and others — are walkable from the city centre or a short taxi ride. These are the easiest Champagne experiences to arrange from Reims because they require no transport beyond the city.
Guided day tours to the vineyards, Epernay, Hautvillers, and the wider Champagne region depart from central Reims meeting points (typically near the cathedral or the train station). Half-day tours run 3.5–5 hours; full-day tours run 7–9 hours. Both include transport, guided visits, and tastings.
Walking tours of Reims cover the city’s heritage — cathedral, Art Deco, war history, Champagne history — on foot from a central meeting point.
Day trips to Verdun (approximately 130 kilometres west, covered in its own section) depart from Reims and visit the World War I battlefields.
Getting to Reims
From Paris: TGV from Paris Gare de l’Est to Reims Centre station, 45 minutes. Trains run approximately hourly. This is the fastest and most practical connection.
From Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport: TGV directly from CDG to Reims, approximately 30 minutes (limited services — check the schedule). Alternatively, take the TGV from CDG to Paris Gare de l’Est and change to the Reims service.
By car from Paris: approximately 1.5–2 hours via the A4 motorway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Reims or Epernay the better base for Champagne tours?
Reims has more city attractions (cathedral, restaurants, Art Deco heritage), better transport connections (TGV from Paris), and more major Champagne houses within the city. Epernay is smaller, quieter, and more entirely focused on Champagne. Most guided tours depart from Reims and visit Epernay during the day. For a first visit, Reims is the more practical base.
How long should I stay in Reims?
One night allows a half-day Champagne tour and the cathedral. Two nights allow a full-day Champagne tour, the city walking tour, and evening dining. Three nights add a second Champagne day (different houses or a grower-producer focus), a Verdun day trip, or deeper city exploration. Two nights is the most common and comfortable duration.
Can I visit Champagne houses in Reims without a guided tour?
Yes. The major Reims houses (Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, Pommery, Ruinart) offer their own cellar tours bookable directly through their websites. No external guide or tour operator is needed. However, visiting multiple houses, vineyards, and grower-producers in a single day requires transport that a guided tour provides.