Champagne Day Trips from Paris: Best Tours, Planning & Tips

If you’re looking for a fun and educational day trip from Paris, why not take a tour of Reims’ champagne houses and learn about the history and process of champagne-making?

Taking a day trip to the champagne region from Paris is one of the best things you can do.

With its rolling hills and picturesque villages, this area of northern France is as charming as it is historically significant. The region has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its vineyards and is steeped in history, making it the perfect day trip from Paris.

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Here, you can visit the famous champagne houses such as Veuve Clicquot and Moët & Chandon, or explore some of the smaller, family-run producers.

Plus, you’ll get to sample some delicious champagnes from the region in the actual birthplace of champagne – which is the best part of this whole thing, if you ask me.

*Love love **loved** champagne tasting at Moët & Chandon*

There are plenty of champagne tours to choose from, both guided and private. Most guided tours offer round trip transportation from Paris in a comfortable van, gourmet lunch, and an expert guide who can give you some history of the region.

And if you’re looking for a unique experience, consider booking a private wine tour with an expert tour guide who can take you through the French countryside to explore some of the most prestigious champagne houses in the region.

Or you can explore the region at your own pace and make stops at the champagne houses and villages that interest you the most!

In this post, I’ll give you the breakdown of all the best champagne day trips from Paris, as well as some tips for making the most of your time in France’s champagne region. Let’s pop open a bottle of bubbly and explore France’s famous champagne wine region!

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About France’s Champagne Region

The Champagne region of France is located in Northern France, about two and a half hours from Paris by high-speed train.

When people refer to the Champagne region of France, they typically refer to one of two cities: Reims and Épernay. Reims is home to the famous UNESCO world heritage site, the Reims Cathedral, and Épernay is referred to as “the capital of champagne“.

What can you do in Champagne?

Champagne makes for a great day trip from Paris!

There are many excellent guided tours available that offer a range of experiences, from learning about the history of champagne and its production to visiting some of the most prestigious champagne houses such as Veuve Clicquot and Moët & Chandon.

The area is full of interesting historical sights, acclaimed champagne houses, and beautiful vineyards. So even those who don’t drink champagne will be in awe of the region’s stunning scenery!

When is the best time to go on a champagne tour?

The best time to visit the Champagne region of France is from late September to early October for the harvest season.

This is when you can observe the traditional champagne-making process. This is also when all of the grapes are handpicked and pressed.

Be sure to book your tour in advance as champagne tours tend to sell out quickly during harvest time!

Champagne Day trips from Paris – Reims

Reims is the top choice when it comes to taking a champagne day trip from Paris. This is mainly because it’s the closest city and also home to some of the most famous champagne houses such as Maison Taittinger and Pommery.

*Making *pour* decisions in a vineyard in Epernay*

Once you arrive in Reims, there are several champagne houses to choose from. You can take a tour of Pommery and Taittinger, both of which offer guided tours with tastings.

Paris to Reims by car

Reims is 80 miles northeast of Paris, or about two hours by car. You can easily rent a car in Paris and take a day trip to Reims, where you can take your time discovering the world-famous champagne houses and tasting different varieties of bubbly!

Those who don’t want to rent a car can take advantage of BlaBlaCar, a popular ridesharing app. Blablacar connects people looking for rides with drivers who are going in the same direction. I’ve used this app twice before to get to Reims and haven’t had any issues.

However, there are sometimes scammers on this app, so use it with discretion. Typically the scammers will accept your ride and then contact you via text message or WhatsApp to tell you your payment was declined before sending you another link to pay.

Note that all payment is done through the Blablacar app and they will never ask for payment outside of the app.

Day trips from Paris to Reims by train

The best way to get from Paris to Reims is by high speed train. The Paris Gare de l’Est (East Station) station has direct trains running to Reims every hour or two. These take about 1hr and 45mins, depending on the route, and cost around €40 return. You can find train tickets to Reims on Omio here.

Paris to Reims by bus

Another cheap and easy option for getting from Paris to Reims is by bus.

The company Flixbus runs direct buses to Reims from the Bercy Seine station in Paris three or four times a day. These take about two and a half hours, depending on traffic, and cost around €25 return. The bus will drop you off in the center of Reims, making it easy for you to find your way around the city. You can buy tickets for the Paris to Reims bus on Flixbus here.

Guided champagne tours in Reims

You can join a small group tour, or you can opt for a private tour of the region with an English-speaking guide.

The tour typically begins in central Paris at the meeting point and then you’ll be taken to Reims, where you’ll have free time to explore the city. You may visit sights such as the Cathedral of Reims or take a leisurely stroll through the city center.

Your day trip will also include visits to different champagne houses such as Pommery, Taittinger, and Veuve Clicquot. Here you will learn about the history of champagne and get an inside look at how it’s made.

maison taittinger champagne — *Tasting at Taittinger champagne house in Reims*

You’ll also taste some of the delicious champagnes from each house!

This Reims & champagne region full-day tour from Paris is a great way to get a taste of the champagne region. You’ll start your trip by heading to the historic city of Reims, where you’ll explore the area. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit Reims Cathedral, where French kings were once crowned.

After exploring Reims, you’ll head to the champagne region, where you’ll visit some of the most famous champagne houses in the world. You will learn about the history and production process of champagne before ending your day with a tasting session.

By the end of the day, you’ll have experienced some of the greatest champagne in the world and gained a newfound appreciation for this beloved French beverage.

Things to do in Reims

Outside of drinking bubbly, there are tons of other things to do and see in Reims. The city is home to some of the country’s most beautiful and historic architecture, such as the majestic Notre Dame de Reims Cathedral.

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The museum at the Palace of Tau is also a must-see for anyone interested in French history and art. In addition, be sure to wander around Place d’Erlon, a picturesque square in the center of town, where you can find plenty of cafes and shops to explore.

Reims is also known for its incredible food scene, so don’t forget to sample some of the city’s delectable cuisine while you’re there! The oysters they sell here are my personal favorite.

*The oysters we had in Reims were incredible!*

Where to stay in Reims

It’s been said that a day trip isn’t enough time to properly explore and enjoy the Champagne region of France.

That said, I highly recommend staying more than just a day in Reims if you can. There’s lots to see in the nearby area such as Epernay, where you can tour the Moet & Chandon champagne caves.

There are plenty of places to stay in Reims, from luxury hotels and boutique lodgings to cozy bed and breakfasts and budget-friendly hostels. If you do decide to extend your stay, there are plenty of great places to stay in Reims that won’t break the bank.

Here are my top choices for the best hotels in Reims:

Novotel Suites Reims Centre ($$)
Best Western Premier Hotel de la Paix ($$)
La Caserne Chanzy Hotel & Spa ($$$)

Browse through over 100 hotels and apartment stays in Reims here 👇

Champagne Day trips from Paris – Epernay

Next up on the Champagne tour, we’ll head to the nearby town of Epernay. This charming city is home to some of the best champagne houses in France, as well as the famous Avenue du Champagne.

epernay champagne day trip from paris — *Epernay city center*

Once you arrive in Epernay, it’s time to start tasting! There are plenty of champagne houses located in and around the city center, including some of the most famous names such as Moet & Chandon and Pol Roger.

The town also offers a variety of guided tours that will take you through the champagne cellars and provide you with an in-depth look at the production process of this delicious beverage.

After visiting the champagne houses, make sure to check out some of Epernay’s other attractions. From historic monuments such as the Château de Condé to some of the best restaurants in France, there’s a lot to explore and enjoy during your champagne day trip from Paris.

Paris to Epernay by car

Getting to Epernay from Paris by car is easy and only takes about 1.5 hours, making it the perfect day trip option if you want to see two different champagne regions in one go! You can rent a car or hire a chauffeur for the day.

If you’re driving yourself, be sure to stick to the speed limit as France has strict traffic laws.

If you’re coming from Reims, the easiest way to get to Epernay is by car – it’s only an hour drive away. If you don’t have a car, you can take the train from Reims to Epernay for around €15 return.

Paris to Epernay by train

If you don’t have a car, the train is the easiest way to get from Paris to Epernay. The journey takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes with direct trains running every hour or two. Tickets start at only €25 return so it’s an affordable day trip option.

You’ll head in the same direction as you did to Reims, so it’s easy to connect the two champagne cities together in one day. The Epernay train station is about 10 minutes from the center of town, so you can either walk or take a taxi. Find train tickets from Paris to Epernay on Omio here.

Guided champagne tours in Epernay

On this guided champagne day trip from Paris, the first stop is the charming village of Hautvillers, where Benedictine monk Dom Perignon discovered the traditional champagne-making process. Here you can visit some of France’s most prestigious champagne houses and even take part in champagne tastings!

dom perignon statue epernay — *Dom P himself in front of the Moët and Chandon house*

moet and chandon house epernay france — *Dom P himself in front of the Moët and Chandon house*

Then you’ll head to Épernay, the center of champagne production in France, for a guided tour and more tastings. You’ll even get to visit a family-run winery and try some of France’s delicious champagne and finest sparkling wine.

The tour lasts about 11 hours and includes a 3-course traditional lunch and an expert-led masterclass in the heart of the Hautvillers vineyard. You’ll visit at least two private champagne houses and enjoy tastings of 8 different champagnes.

At the end of your day trip to Champagne you will be dropped back off in Paris feeling bubbly (no pun intended) and well-educated about the world of champagne.

Things to do in Epernay

*Strolling down Avenue de Champagne in Epernay*

Apart from touring champagne houses, Epernay offers plenty of other activities to enjoy during your stay. From shopping along the Avenue de Champagne to exploring some of the city’s historic monuments, there are endless things to do in Epernay.

If you’re looking for something a bit more low-key, head to one of the many parks and gardens to take a pleasant stroll and enjoy the views. Epernay also has a decent nightlife scene, with plenty of bars and clubs to explore if you’re feeling adventurous.

It’s a pretty small town compared to Epernay though, with more of an older population living here. So don’t expect any ragers when you go out in this town.

Where to stay in Epernay

Epernay is pretty small, so it’s fairly easy to see most of it in one day without needing to stay overnight. But if you do decide to stay in town, there are plenty of great places to choose from.

There are a handful of luxury hotels here, as well as smaller hotels and bed & breakfasts for those on a tighter budget. Most accommodations come with charming country views, so it’s definitely worth considering an extended stay in Epernay if you have the time.

Here are my top choices for the best hotels in Epernay:

Kyriad Epernay ($)
La Cave de l’Avenue de Champagne ($$)
Le 25bis by Leclerc Briant ($$$)

Browse through over 100 hotels and apartment stays in Épernay here 👇

Best champagne day trips from Paris (Guided tours)

The best way to explore the champagne region is through a guided tour. This is because everything is planned for you: from transportation, to admission fees, to tastings and lunch. No need to stress about organizing anything yourself!

There are plenty of guided day trip tours from Paris that will take you through two of the best champagne wine regions in France: Epernay and Reims. These tours usually last around 8-10 hours and include everything you need for an authentic champagne experience.

You can book a private tour for yourself or your small group, or join an organized tour with other people.

For those who want an even more personalized experience, it’s possible to book a private champagne tour with an English-speaking guide and a driver.

Here are some great choices of guided tours of the Champagne region:

Thanks for reading!

There you have it – your guide to taking a day trip from Paris to the region of Champagne region in France!