Itineraries for Your Trip to Reims
3 Days in Reims for First Timers
When I lived in Paris I visited the Champagne region somewhat regularly, and while I certainly enjoyed the bubbly tastings and country walks that came with it, I also thoroughly loved stopping in Reims. While many of my visits to Reims were quick stops to grab a bite to eat, I’d usually try to convince my travel companion to make a stop at the Reims Cathedral of Notre Dame (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims), which is—in my opinion—one of the prettiest Gothic cathedrals in the world. While I think it’s worth stopping in the city while on a wine-tasting tour of Champagne, you’ll get an even deeper experience if you spend three days in Reims. Here’s one way to spend your time.
If you only have time for one thing, make it the Reims Cathedral of Notre Dame, a magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Winters in Reims can get cold, and snow is sometimes a possibility. Bundle up.
Start your trip to Reims by getting familiar with the city and its numerous historic attractions. Take a walking tour of the city to visit highlights such as the Gothic Reims Cathedral of Notre Dame, where many of France's monarchs have been crowned, and the adjacent Tau Palace (Palais du Tau), a former papal residence that’s now a museum.
Spend your afternoon doing a bit of Champagne tasting in the surrounding region. Make the most of your afternoon by joining a tasting tour, an ideal way to learn about bubbly without having to worry about picking a designated driver.
Continue your Champagne education on your second day in Reims by attending a make-your-own Champagne workshop. Learn all about production from a local winemaker and do a bit of tasting while you're at it. Finish your experience up by disgorging your own half-bottle of Champagne and making a custom label with which to commemorate your experience.
In the afternoon, head to nearby Epernay to check out its swanky Champagne houses and spend time in the surrounding countryside, with a stop in the town of Hautvillers along the way.
Now that you've (possibly) had your fill of Champagne, spend your final day learning about World War I history in the area. Take a tour to Verdun, situated just over an hour’s drive from Reims. It’s famous for the 10-month-long battle that took place here back in 1916, and it’s worth visiting its WWI–related sites, including the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and the Trench of the Bayonets (Tranchée des Baionnettes), before you return to Reims.
Finish off your final day in Reims with one last tasting—right in the heart of a vineyard. Watch the sunset as you sip on bubbly right in the heart of where it’s produced.
