Trains From Paris To Reims
Trains run from Paris to Reims throughout the day so it is easy to have a full day of sight-seeing in the lovely town of Reims and go back to Paris in time for dinner.
Reims is served by two stations Reims Central, which is a ten minute walk to the city centre, and Champagnes-Ardennes which is about 5 miles from the City Centre.
If you are coming to Reims from Paris the Reims Central station is best, but if youre coming from Charles de Gaulle airport there is a direct train to Champagne Ardennes which takes about 30 minutes and you can then catch a connecting train to Reims Central or take the tram from outside the station.
Tickets can be booked and purchased through SNCF and Rail Europe. Try to book in advance for the best savings.
The nearest Champagne houses to Reims train station:
The Reims tourist office website has lots of details about the Champagne houses, opening times, maps and information to help you embark on a champagne tour of Reims:
About 15 minutes walk from the train station in Reims.
5 minutes walking distance from the station. Turn left out the main exit of the station and walk to Place de la République .
Take Bus no. 3 from outside the station direction Moulin de la Housse. Get off at Crayères and its a 5 minute walk. .
Take Bus No. 4 direction Hôpital Debré from outside the station and get off at stop Saint Timothée and then a 5 minute walk .
Paris to Reims by car
Day 7 Lucerne & Chiasso
Switzerland & Italy
Today we have the morning in Lucerne to learn more about the Swiss towns charming medieval Altstadt . After a tour of the citys covered bridge and a stroll down its picturesque river and lake front promenades we will re-join the train for lunch as we travel across Switzerland and over the St Gotthard Pass on a very scenic line to Chiasso on the Italian border. Here we will visit an Italian winery in the Ticino district.
Where Is The Champagne Region
The Champagne is a wine region around 160km/100 miles east of Paris, bordering Belgium in the north. Reims and Épernay are the two commercial centers of the Champagne and also the cities where most Champagne producers are having their headquarters.
The Champagne-Ardenne was an independent administrative region of France. In 2016 it got merged with the neighboring regions Alsace and Lorraine to form the new region Grand Est.
Thats being said, the Champagne is a fairly large region. In order to visit the Champagne houses, vineyards and cellars, you should head to Reims. Reims is the biggest city in the region and the center of Champagne productions most big Champagne houses Les Grandes Marques are having their headquarter and visitor center there.
Then there is also Épernay. Its a small town 40 minutes from Reims, but nevertheless the second most important Champagne city. The most famous Dom Perignon brand has its headquarter and visitors center in Éparnay.
Why you should make Reims your base and not Épernay
Even though Épernay is a valid destination when visiting the Champagne, I still recommend making Reims your base. First Reims is easier and quicker to get to from Paris. The regular train to Épernay takes 1h20, while its only 40 minutes from Paris to Reims.
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Champagne Cellars In The Town Vineyards Outside Of Town
The town of Epernay is where all the major champagne brands have their cellars and houses. The Avenue De Champagne runs through the town and is lined with dozens of huge and beautiful houses. Each house houses the companys champagne in their underground cellars, as well as a house to showcase their product by offering tours, and just because they are cool enough to have an old estate.
The Vineyards themselves are located outside of the town. For example, Moet and Chandon produces and bottles all their wines at their estate in Epernay, but the grapes are grown outside of the town. I was envisioning sipping champagne with views of the vineyards and the rolling French countryside like my time in Stellenbosch, South Africa, but Epernay and Reims will not offer this. Youll need to get out to the countryside yourself.
This is part of the reason I chose Epernay. While looking at a map, I could see that Epernay was right near the countryside whereas Reims is a bit further out. Logically, I just figured it would be easier to get to the countryside from Epernay than Reims
Champagne Day Trip Itinerary
This itinerary assumes youll return to Paris in time to relax and have dinner. That said, a 9am Paris departure is ideal. You do not want to leave Paris later than 9:30am or waste time on a non-direct train ticket.
Champagne Houses open 9:30am to 10am. I know what youre thinking. No, its never too early to enjoy champagne.
You always have the option to dine in Reims to extend your day trip, of course.
More Wine Tasting Travel Ideas
Doing a walking Reims champagne tour is beneficial so you can get fresh air between bubblies. You wont be as sleepy so you can enjoy more of the Reims sights. Plus, lets be real: youre eating and drinking a fair bit of champagne, so walking is a great way to work off the calories.
The closest Champagne Houses open for tasting and touring are Champagne Charles de Cazanove and G.H. Mumm, with Taittinger and Veuve Clicquot being on the farther end of this Reims itinerary.
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The Most Popular Champagne Houses In Reims:
Veuve Clicquot located 5km from train station guided visit from 30/p Ruinard- located 5km from train station guided visit from 70/p Pommery located 5km from train station guided visit from 25/p Mumm located 1.5km from train station guided visit from 23/p Taittinger located 5km from train station guided visit from 21/p
Third Stop On A Perfect Day Trip To Reims: Basilica Saint
We soaked up some of the rosés from the generous tasting pours at the Veuve Clicquot Visitors Center with the fresh bread and authentic Italian pasta dishes served at the nearby restaurant Il Gusto.
Then we strolled toward our next wine tasting by way of the Abbey of Saint-Remi.
It was a beautiful day, so people lounged in the park-like atmosphere around the basilica, which dates all the way back to the sixth century.
Today it preserves the remains of Saint-Remi, that very same saint who converted and baptized King Clovis.
We couldnt stop in because there was a wedding going on, but the sounds of singing and celebrating that wafted out the doors toward our perch on the grounds eased any disappointment we may have felt at missing the interior.
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Travelling From Paris To Champagne
Want to know how to get from Paris to by train? We have gathered for you all the useful information about this trip!
The fastest trains from Paris to Champagne-Ardenne take around 39 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 127 kilometres.
On weekdays, the first train leaving is scheduled to depart at around 06:58. The last departure is usually at around 19:28.On Saturdays and Sundays, trains leave Paris at around 06:58, with the last train leaving at around 20:28.There are frequent services on this particular rail route.On average, there are about 22 trains per day travelling between the two cities.They leave approximately every 12 minutes.
Prices for a single ticket between the two cities start from US$14.63.
We think any time is a great time to visit Champagne-Ardenne, as each season has its own unique charm. Nevertheless, please make sure you check the local weather and average seasonal temperatures at destination before deciding on your holiday.
For more tips to help you plan your journey, check out our help articles, or read our guide to .
Best Time To Visit Champagne
Generally speaking, May to October is a good time to visit the region of Champagne. The harvest begins in late September, and thats when the champagne houses are at their busiest, both on the production and tourism sides.
Avoid harvest time if you want to see the smaller, independent vineyards rather than just the big-name brands.
We prefer to visit Champagne in the fall to see the rolling hills and the vines with the fall colors. The pictures in this article correspond to a Champagne day trip from Paris that we took at the beginning of October.
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Book Your Tgv Ticket At The Best Price
There are a number of ways to save on your TGV ticket from Champagne-Ardenne TGV to Paris . Family and friends travelling together can buy four tickets for the price of three, and kids under four go free – so long as they sit on your lap. Tickets are available 90 days prior to departure with greater discounts the sooner you book so get planning your trip! The Interrail Pass can be a great money-saving option for those travelling extensively through France.
Where To Go In Champagne
Champagne is the name of the region, and there are numerous towns within the region. Reims and Epernay are the largest and most central towns within the region. These two towns are about 40 minutes away from each other and for Paris day trippers, youll need to choose one or the other. There is not enough time to do both in the same day.
After doing a ton of research, I settled on Epernay. This is the smaller of the two towns and has a higher concentration of Champagne cellars and is less built up. Having been in Paris for a few days, I was keen to get away from the hectic nature of the city. Epernay is the perfect antidote. The towns iconic Avenue de Champagne houses some of the most famous Champagne brands like Moet and Chandon, Pol Roger, Boizel etc and feels like youre walking on a gold paved road.
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More Champagne Without A Car
Is one day in Champagne not enough? Here you can find a complete listing of Champagnes Champagne Houses with a map to each and how to visit information. Again, the Reims Tourist Office can assist or help you book a tour in English.
With trains running between Reims, Châlons-en-Champagne, and Épernay, it is possible to expand upon your Champagne day trip itinerary from Paris to Reims without a car.
If you prefer to arrange a Champagne tour from Paris without riding the train, not to worry because there are plenty of Paris to Reims champagne tasting tours to make your France travel fruitful.
Tips For Planning A Day Trip To Champagne:
Here is a timeline of a day in Champagne:
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Find The Best Itinerary For Your Bubbly Champagne Trip
There are quite a few options on how to travel to Reims and how to fill your day. It can be quite confusing but I summed up 4 options that seem to be the most logical.
What you pick depends on your travel style do you appreciate traveling with a group or are you more the independent traveler? and of course: your budget.
If you plan to visit the Champagne on a budget, book your train tickets early to get some low-fare tickets. If you reserve only one Champagne tasting and have a budget lunch, your Champagne day trip will be probably around 80 per person. But thats really the bare minimum.
Day 5 Verdun & Traban
France & Germany
Breakfast on the train as we move from Champagne to Verdun one of the most important and poignant World War One battlefield sites on the Western Front. On returning to the train we take lunch as we head north to the city of Trier, where we have a city tour that includes the Roman Baths and the Roman amphitheatre.
Mid-afternoon the Golden Eagle Danube Express leaves Trier and follows the charming Moselle River to TrabenTrabach, where we have a winery tour before returning to the train for dinner as we complete our journey along the Moselle to Koblenz.
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The Wine Cellars Of Veuve Clicquot: The Second Stop On A Perfect Day Trip To Reims
Just a 25-minute walk from the cathedral is the Maison Veuve Clicquot which has an underground network of 24 kilometers of tunnels and cellars that protected the residents of Reims during the war.
Today you can still see the markings on the walls that designated where civilians or soldiers should hide in the cellars.
Two-thirds of the champagne houses cellars date back to the Middle Ages and, along with the chalk quarries on the nearby Hill of Saint-Nicaise that were converted into wine cellars, they make up another UNESCO world heritage site.
Taking the steep stairs to the cellars, it is clear why the limestone mines and underground chalk quarries were converted to cellars. The carving of the earth here started as early as the 3rd century by the Gallo-Romans in search of construction materials for Reims and the walls that surrounded it.
Its cold in those hollowed-out tunnels, like toe-curling cold, and the walls are wet and chalky to the touch. The chilly and humid conditions are perfect for aging champagne in a world untouched by the unpredictable behaviors of humans and Mother Nature above.
When I shared a few pictures from Veuve Clicquot, many people back in the states wrote to tell me that it is their favorite champagne. So it was no surprise to learn during our very informative tour that the top market for this wine house is the United States.
Tips For A Day Trip To Champagne From Paris
Champagne is synonymous with France. After all, the bubbly glasses of goodness originated in northern France and only sparkling wine from that region can bear the prestigious title of Champagne. Visiting the home of one of the most famous drinks in the world was at the top of my life long list of dreams, so on our last day in Parisand the final day of our trip to Spain and France we took a day trip to Champagne from Paris.
I had visions of sipping fizzy Champagne all day and wandering around the historical region without a care in the world, but the reality was much different. We didnt realize the region was divided into two cities , among other bumps in the road. So learn from our mistakes!
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Organized Tours Or Do It Yourself
Given Champagnes fame, you can expect a ton of organized tours that pick you up from Paris for the day. Given its popularity, these tours can book months in advance, especially for the summer months when the vineyards are their most vibrant right before the harvest. These tours are also quite expensive at 200-300 euros per person or so for just the day trip.
I was actually planning to visit The Palace of Versailles until I realized they were closed on Mondays. We decided to visit Champagne the night before so obviously booking a tour was out of the question. This is Europe however, and the transport is fantastic all over so there is absolutely no need to book a tour to visit Champagne. Doing this tour on our own was incredibly easy and this was easily one of the highlights of my time in France. Of course I would always recommend to rent a car and properly explore the region over the course of a few days like I did while visiting the Tuscany wine region of Italy but it just wasnt in the cards for this trip.
As I planned this trip last minute, I did everything on my own. The rest of this post will be for those looking to plan this trip on their own, or just to have a general idea of what the Champagne region is like.
