You can do Reims and Épernay in one day from Paris: the train takes 40 minutes to Reims (OUIGO, from €16) and about 2h12 to Épernay (from €25.40), and the two towns are 30 km apart. A visit to a champagne house costs €36 to €90 per person (Nov 2026). If you want to taste without rushing, book 2 days.
| From Paris | OUIGO from Paris to Reims in 40 min (from €16–19); to Épernay, about 2h12 with connections (from €25.40) |
|---|---|
| Reims–Épernay | 30 km; direct TER in 34 min, €8.70 (2nd class, Nov 2026) |
| Visit to a maison | From €36 (Veuve Clicquot, 1h) to €90 (Ruinart, 2h), with tasting (Nov 2026) |
| Cathedral towers | €9 (Nov 2026) |
| Booking | Online, with date and time; big maisons fill up on weekends |
| How long | 1 packed day for both; 2 days at a relaxed pace |
| Cost of the day | Roughly €100 to €225 per person, with train, 1 visit and lunch (approximate, Nov 2026) |
Checked in Nov 2026 on official channels. Maison, cathedral and train prices checked in Nov 2026; lunch is approximate.
Can you do Reims and Épernay in 1 day from Paris?
Yes, and plenty of people do: the typical plan is to catch an early train to Reims, see the cathedral and a maison in the morning, have lunch in the center, continue by regional train to Épernay for an afternoon on the Avenue de Champagne and return to Paris in the evening (Épernay Tourisme). The cost is the rush: a single day only gives you an introduction to the two towns.
Dica: Aproveite também para fazer estes passeios em Paris
Tour pelo exterior da catedral de Notre Dame + Ingresso da cripta . Duração: 2 horas
Disneyland Paris Duração: 3 horas ou mais
Passeio de barco pelo Sena. Duração: 1h
Ingresso do 3º andar da Torre Eiffel. Duração: 2 a 3 horas
Ingresso do Palácio de Versalhes. Duração: 2 a 3 horas
Veja mais passeio em Paris aqui.
If you have only one day, pick one town. Reims suits those who want the cathedral, the historic center and big maisons; Épernay suits those who prefer the Avenue de Champagne and the vineyards nearby. Here are the combinations:
| Option | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Reims only (1 day) | Cathedral, center and 1 maison, all on foot or by a short taxi ride | Those who want history and photos |
| Épernay only (1 day) | Avenue de Champagne, 1 maison and Hautvillers | Those who want vineyards and tasting |
| Reims and Épernay (1 day) | Early train to Reims, regional train to Épernay (34 min), back in the evening | Those with 1 day who accept rushing |
| 2 days, one night | Day 1 in Reims, day 2 in Épernay, sleeping in one of the two | Those who want to drink without hurry |
| Guided tour | Departing from Reims station, with transport and small cellars | Those who don’t want to organize anything |
How to get from Paris to Reims and Épernay?
By train, the cheapest option is the OUIGO, which leaves Paris and arrives in 40 minutes at Champagne-Ardenne TGV station, 8 km from the center of Reims: from there, continue by bus, tram or taxi to the center (check the day’s connection on SNCF Connect). Sample prices, 2nd class, SNCF Connect, Nov 2026: from €16 (Dec 15, 2026) and €19 (Jan 20, 2027). To Épernay, the trip takes about 2h12 with connections, from €25.40 (Dec 15, 2026) or €28.40 (Jan 20, 2027). Between Reims and Épernay, the direct TER takes 34 minutes (SNCF Connect, Nov 2026). In the towns, the main sights are near the center and can be reached on foot. For the return, one example: the last train from Reims to Paris on a Saturday in December (Dec 12, 2026) leaves at 7:36 pm, arrives at 9:05 pm and has one connection (€31.20); check the time for your date.
By car, the trip takes about 1h30 to Reims and 1h45 to Épernay. For a tasting day, the train is the right choice: whoever drives does not taste, or tastes and risks a fine. If you prefer to rent a car for other parts of your trip, see the rules in driving in France: tolls, fuel and rules.
Ticket: prices change with the date and how far ahead you book, so treat the values as “from” prices. Paris–Reims starts at €16–19 each way on the OUIGO and Paris–Épernay at €25.40 (examples from Dec 2026 and Jan 2027, SNCF Connect, 2nd class). Reims–Épernay on the direct TER takes 34 minutes and costs €8.70 each way (2nd class, examples for Dec 15, 2026 and Jan 20, 2027, SNCF Connect, Nov 2026). Buy on SNCF Connect and, if it is your first time, read the beginner’s guide to trains in France. The list of other short trips is in TGV day trips from Paris.
What to see in Reims?
Reims is the largest city in Champagne and is called the city of coronations: Notre-Dame de Reims cathedral was the site of the coronation of 33 French kings (Épernay Tourisme). Visiting the nave needs no ticket; what you pay for are the towers, at €9 in Nov 2026 (official cathedral website).
Besides the cathedral, it is worth setting aside time for the center with its squares, cafés and shopping streets, for the Basilica of Saint-Remi (a UNESCO World Heritage site), for the Musée Saint-Remi, housed in a former abbey, and for the Musée Le Vergeur, of decorative arts. In a single day, the cathedral, lunch and one maison already fill the schedule.
How much does a champagne house visit cost?
In torreeiffel.com.br’s Nov 2026 survey, a visit with tasting ranged from €36 at Veuve Clicquot (1h) to €90 at Ruinart (2h), and Moët & Chandon, in Épernay, charged €48 for the simplest visit. The more glasses and vintages, the pricier: 4-hour experiences go beyond €250.
| Maison | Cheapest visit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Veuve Clicquot (Reims) | €36 (Nov 2026), 1h, cellar and tasting of the Brut Yellow Label | Options at €60, €80, €160 and €260 (official website, Nov 2026) |
| Moët & Chandon (Épernay) | €48 (Nov 2026), 1h30, 2 glasses (Impérial and Rosé Impérial) | Also €65 and €85 (official Moët website, Nov 2026) |
| Ruinart (Reims) | €90 (Nov 2026), 2h, 2 cuvées | There is a €110 option with 3 cuvées (official Ruinart website, Nov 2026) |
| Mumm (Reims) | €30 (Nov 2026), 1h30, cellars and 1 tasting | Booking on the official Mumm website |
| Pommery (Reims) | From €30 (Nov 2026), 1h, cellars and 1 tasting | Guided or self-guided: confirm when booking |
| Taittinger (Reims) | €40 (Nov 2026), 1h10, cellars and Brut Réserve + Prestige Rosé | Booking on the official Taittinger website |
For a first time, the cheapest visit to a big maison already shows what matters: the chalk cellars, the production method and two glasses. Spend more only if you already know the house style and want to taste older vintages.
Do I need to book the visit, and when do the maisons open?
Book with date and time on the maison’s website: Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon and the others sell the visit online (Reims Tourisme). Moët is open every day from 9:30 am to 5 pm, in Épernay (Nov 2026); Veuve Clicquot, in Reims, is open from Wednesday to Sunday between Nov 4, 2026 and Jan 3, 2027 and closes on Dec 25 and Jan 1.
This changes the winter plan: if you build the day trip for a Monday or Tuesday, you may find Veuve Clicquot closed, while Moët stays open. After Jan 3, 2027, Veuve Clicquot’s calendar had not yet been published in Nov 2026; check the website before buying the train ticket.
What to do in Épernay?
Épernay is smaller than Reims and sits among the vineyards; the visit revolves around the Avenue de Champagne, home to maisons such as Moët & Chandon, Mercier and Perrier-Jouët (Épernay Tourisme). Moët is at number 18 on the avenue, about a five-minute walk from the station (official Moët website).
Under the town run about 110 km of dug-out cellars, where millions of bottles age. With more time, go to Hautvillers, a village linked to Dom Pérignon, a few minutes from Épernay, and to the viewpoints over the vineyards, which are part of the Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars site, listed by UNESCO. To go further, on foot or by bike, Aÿ-Champagne, Avize and Cramant are nearby.
Guided tour or on your own?
On your own is cheaper and gives you freedom with the schedule. A guided tour solves transport between the small wineries, which the train does not reach: the Reims champagne tour leaves from the esplanade of Reims station, lasts 4 hours, visits two family cellars, includes a tasting of 6 champagnes and has a group of at most 8 people. The tour of Épernay, Hautvillers and Mareuil-sur-Ay lasts 6h30 (prices on Civitatis, Nov 2026). Note: both leave from Reims, and you have to get there on your own.
If you see another tour advertised as “from Paris”, confirm whether the price includes the train and the maison visit.
How much does the full day trip cost?
A day in Reims and Épernay costs between €100 and €225 per person, in approximate values from Nov 2026: the train weighs most, followed by the maison visit.
| Item | Range per person | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Train Paris–Reims–Épernay–Paris | €40 to €90 (Nov 2026) | Paris–Reims from €16–19 and Paris–Épernay from €25.40, each way (SNCF Connect, Nov 2026); varies with how far ahead you book |
| Visit to 1 maison | €36 to €90 (Nov 2026) | Official websites, Nov 2026 |
| Cathedral towers | €9 (Nov 2026) | Optional (Reims cathedral, Nov 2026) |
| Lunch | €20 to €35 (Nov 2026) | Approximate (Nov 2026) |
If you have the Paris ticket budget at hand, you can use the day trip as a day off between museums: the spending is at the same level as a day at Versailles with lunch.
Is it worth staying overnight in Reims or Épernay?
It is if you want to taste more than one maison without watching the train clock. Reims has more hotels and is closer to Paris; Épernay is quieter and close to the vineyards. Simple hotels in Reims start at around €50 a night (Reims Tourisme, Nov 2026). Compare at hotels in Reims or at hotels in Épernay. To stay in Paris on a tight budget, see cheap hotels in Paris.
Staying in the region brings another advantage: the towns empty out after 5 pm and the afternoon light over the vineyards is the best of the day.
What nobody tells you about champagne in France?
- The cellars are cold. Moët recommends bringing a jacket for the visit; in a T-shirt, you won’t last long.
- Not every maison opens every day. Veuve Clicquot only opens Wednesday to Sunday between November and January; pick the day of the week before buying the train ticket.
- A tour “from Paris” is usually something else. The Civitatis one leaves from Reims station; confirm the meeting point and whether the train is included.
- Tasting and driving don’t mix. If you rent a car, the designated driver doesn’t taste; the train avoids the problem.
- Two days in a single town fill up easily. Reims alone takes a day with the cathedral, museums, lunch and one maison, and so does Épernay.
Frequently asked questions
How many kilometers is Reims from Paris?
Reims is about 145 km from Paris by road, and the car trip takes about 1h30. By OUIGO train, the trip from Paris to Champagne-Ardenne TGV station, 8 km from the center of Reims, takes 40 minutes, from €16 (SNCF Connect, Nov 2026).
Which is better, Reims or Épernay?
Reims is better for those who want the cathedral, the historic center and famous maisons; Épernay is better for those who want the Avenue de Champagne and life among the vineyards. In one day, pick one; in two, do both.
Can you drive to Reims and Épernay?
The trip from Paris to Reims takes about 1h30 by car and to Épernay about 1h45 (Épernay Tourisme, Nov 2026). For tasting, the train is safer, because the driver cannot drink.
Do I need a visa to visit Reims and Épernay?
Visitors from the EU and from visa-exempt countries do not need a visa to visit Reims and Épernay, in France, for stays of up to 90 days. Check on the official European Union website whether ETIAS is already required on your travel date.
Can children visit champagne houses?
Many maisons welcome families, but the rule varies by visit. The Civitatis Reims champagne tour, for example, does not admit children under 10 (Nov 2026); check the minimum age on the maison’s website before booking.
Conclusion
If you have a free day in Paris, go to Reims in the morning, see the cathedral, do a €36 to €48 visit (Nov 2026) and head back; add Épernay only if you want the Avenue de Champagne and accept rushing. With two days, sleep in the region and taste without hurry. Book the maison and the train in advance, check the opening day and bring a jacket. For other day-trip ideas, see things to do in Strasbourg and the first-trip itinerary for France.
How we checked this information
Prices and hours of the maisons (Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon, Ruinart, Mumm, Pommery, Taittinger), the cathedral towers and the tours were checked on the official websites and on Civitatis in Nov 2026. Driving times: Épernay Tourisme. Train prices and times (SNCF Connect, including Reims–Épernay) and for the Mumm, Pommery and Taittinger maisons were checked in Nov 2026. Lunch and hotels in Épernay are approximate; free entry to the cathedral nave was not checked: confirm before you go.