Reims, the historic capital of Champagne, just 45 minutes by train from Paris, is one of those destinations we always put off… and really shouldn’t! Between its UNESCO-listed cathedral, its century-old champagne cellars and its foodie streets, the city has more than enough to fill a day or a proper weekend.
Our France bucket list is very long, and we had been wanting to visit Reims for ages! Every time we go to Germany to see my family, we pass close by and tell ourselves we really should stop one day! Well, Alcino ended up organising a little surprise weekend for the two of us to discover the city. Then Alexandra, my friend from the blog itinera-magica, invited me back to the region for another getaway, this time at Christmas.
In this article you’ll find the very best things to do in Reims, drawn from these two trips to the Champagne region, along with all our favourite addresses and practical tips to plan your own stay, whether you have just one day or a whole weekend ahead of you.
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Reims at a glance: how long do you need?
Reims is in Champagne-Ardenne, in the Grand Est region, about 150 kilometres from Paris — perfect for a weekend break in France not far from the capital! Its main draws? Its magnificent cathedral with a rich history, but also its status as the unofficial capital of champagne. It was around Reims that this world-famous drink was born.
Depending on how much time you have, here’s how to plan your stay:
- Only have one day? Head to our Visit Reims in 1 day itinerary so you don’t miss the essentials.
- Have a weekend or more? Jump to Things to do in Reims in 2 days (or more) for a full programme, surroundings included.
- Want the practical info too (accommodation, restaurants, getting around)? Check out our practical information at the end of the article.
Visit Reims in 1 day
If you only have one day in Reims, here are the essentials not to miss:
- Reims Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Reims), one of the city’s unmissable monuments (see below).
- A champagne cellar tour (Pommery or another house), finishing with a tasting.
- A sweet break with the famous pink biscuits of Reims, THE local speciality.
- A stroll through the historic centre, between Place Drouet d’Erlon and the Halles du Boulingrin if you happen to be there on a market day.
If you’re short on time, there are also private day trips from Paris to visit Reims, with tours, champagne tastings and lunch included — handy if you only have a day and no car.
Things to do in Reims in 2 days (or more)
With a full weekend, you’ll have time to explore the city in depth and venture into the surrounding area. Here’s everything we tried during our two stays.
Reims Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Reims)
I’m repeating myself, but religious monuments are among our favourite places to visit… Reims Cathedral was bound to win us over… Its stained-glass windows, its façades, its rose windows, its sheer size… It’s one of the greatest Gothic achievements in the whole country, with no fewer than 2,303 statues! What also makes it famous is its important role in history: almost all the kings of France were crowned here.
Whether or not you love history, I highly recommend the guided tour, as you’ll discover plenty of anecdotes and fascinating details about its construction and the secrets it holds. I’ll leave you the pleasure of finding it yourself, but don’t miss the Smiling Angel! 🙂
Regalia light show
On both of my stays, we watched Regalia, a stunning sound and light show projected onto the cathedral’s façade. It retraces its rich history by staging the day of a king’s coronation, from the preparations to the post-coronation festivities. Check the times and dates here if you’d like to see it.
Guided tour of Reims
In December, we took part in an unusual guided tour: we wandered the streets of Reims… by torchlight! A really fun walk to discover the must-see spots: the Subé fountain, Place Drouet d’Erlon, Place Royale, the Reims cryptoporticus, Rue du Tambour, as well as little backstreets and anecdotes about the city. On top of that, it ended on a foodie note, with tastings of local produce at the Christmas market. The perfect combo! Click here to see guided tours of Reims.
Palace of Tau
Right next to the cathedral stands the Palace of Tau, the former archbishop’s palace where the archbishops of Reims lived. It’s open to visitors, but we didn’t have time to go in. If you’ve been, feel free to tell us about it in the comments!
Carnegie Library
We’d seen a few nice photos of the place. To be honest, we didn’t find the reading room all that exceptional. However, the small room opposite fascinated us… Built in Art Deco style, it’s still worth a detour if you like this artistic movement.
Visit a champagne cellar: Pommery
Of course, the other activity not to miss here is a champagne cellar tour.
We chose Pommery because it’s said to be one of the five most beautiful in the region! We’d have to go back to tell you whether it deserves the title, but I really think it does!
The entrance alone is quite something: you reach the 18 km of tunnels via 116 steps, with a rather stylish lighting effect. The guided tour lasts about an hour with a passionate guide who is an expert in champagne. It was the first time we’d visited a cellar like this; the only ones we knew were the port cellars or those in Pouilly. Only wine, then: we’d never visited a champagne cellar before. To be honest, we didn’t even know how it was made!
The tour is very interesting: you learn lots about Madame Pommery, her story, the first champagne exports and, of course, you finally discover how this sparkling wine is made. Naturally, the tour ends with a champagne tasting.
ℹ️ Practical information
📍 Address: Domaine Vranken-Pommery, 5 Place du Général Gouraud, 51100 Reims
🕒 Duration: about 1 hour (self-guided or guided tour, with a champagne tasting)
🎟️ Price: from around €30 per adult; booking recommended on the official website
Visit Villa Demoiselle
What I haven’t told you is that, on our weekend with Alcino, we headed to Villa Demoiselle thinking we were going to visit a second champagne cellar. Total fail! Here, you only visit the Art Deco mansion!
The place is of course magnificent and the restoration work superb. We’re not huge art buffs, but we enjoyed the visit. It is a bit pricey, though. ➺ All the information is here.
Eat pink biscuits of Reims
We stopped at the Fossier shop to buy pink biscuits of Reims (biscuits roses), THE city’s speciality. To our great surprise, you could taste the different specialities in the shop before buying! So we were able to choose between the famous pink biscuits, raspberry macarons and croquignoles.
You can visit the factory where all these treats are made, but unfortunately tours only run from Monday to Friday. We would have loved to fit it into our weekend in Reims.
Basilica of Saint-Remi
This basilica is really beautiful and almost overshadows Reims Cathedral. In fact, we were surprised to find three religious monuments of this scale so close to one another.
Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde
I’d seen a few photos of this basilica, considered one of the must-sees in Reims. However, it isn’t open all year round, which is a real shame, as it looks stunning. From the outside it’s huge, hinting at a grand interior.
Foujita Chapel
The Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix was designed by the painter Foujita. Together with his godfather, René Lalou, then head of the Mumm champagne house, they had it built from 1964. We walked past it by chance and, as eternal lovers of religious monuments, we simply had to stop…
Halles du Boulingrin market
Reims’ covered market, known as the Halles du Boulingrin, is in the north of the city. We love wandering around markets when we visit somewhere new. Admittedly, in France it’s less exotic than a market in Martinique, for example, but we still love strolling among the colours, the smells and the buzz of a place like this.
➺ Market days at the Halles du Boulingrin: every Wednesday morning, Friday morning and Friday evening (organic market) and Saturday morning. (Opening times updated in July 2025.)
Visit Reims at Christmas
On my second stay, Alexandra and I got to enjoy Reims in its festive finery. On the programme? The big wheel, the Christmas markets, the decorations and lights, and the lovely smells drifting from the stalls, yum! I don’t think the Reims Christmas market is very well known, but it’s really nice, and it’s a lovely time of year to discover the city.
Things to do around Reims
Épernay
Épernay is the region’s second champagne town. Tourism here is mostly wine tourism, so it’s a must! I’ve also written an article on what to do during a day in Épernay. But in short:
- Visit a champagne cellar;
- Discover the Church of Notre-Dame d’Épernay;
- Stroll through the town hall park;
- Take a tethered balloon flight;
- Join a guided tour of the Avenue de Champagne.
Hautvillers
No trip to the region would be complete without a stop in Hautvillers, a small village near Épernay. Doesn’t ring a bell? Yet this village is considered the birthplace of champagne! It was here that a certain Dom Pérignon is said to have perfected the champagne method!
This picturesque village is a mix of family-run champagne houses, vineyards and lovely viewpoints over the valley. After lunch at Au 36, be sure to stop by the village church, where Dom Pérignon is buried.
Châlons-en-Champagne
Just 45 minutes from Reims, Châlons-en-Champagne was a lovely surprise. Known as the “Venice of Champagne”, it’s best explored along its canals, with a truly magical night-time boat ride, the UNESCO-listed Notre-Dame-en-Vaux collegiate church and the Joseph Perrier Champagne cellars. We share it all in our guide to the things to do in Châlons-en-Champagne.
The Champagne Tourist Route
And here’s the region’s other big draw: the Champagne route and its sweeping vineyards. There are actually several routes, depending on the area of Champagne-Ardenne. Being close to Reims, we naturally drove the Montagne de Reims route.
So we drove for several kilometres around Reims and Épernay, with vines as far as the eye could see. We chose this stretch because it took us past some unusual spots: the twisted beech forest of Verzy (Faux de Verzy), the lighthouse and windmill at Verzenay, panoramic viewpoints… plenty of reasons to break up the drive with short stops.
Visiting Reims: practical information
Where to stay in Reims?
➺ For our romantic weekend, Alcino spent a long time choosing our accommodation. He found most places either very expensive or with very negative reviews… We ended up booking the Ibis Styles hotel, which turned out to be an excellent choice! Not only were we a 10-minute walk from the cathedral, but the hotel was spotless with really stylish decor! Perfect, then!
➺ With Alexandra, we stayed in a different category of hotel, the Best Western Premier Hôtel de la Paix. A gorgeous place with sumptuous furnishings and decor. If your budget allows, don’t hesitate to stay here. The hotel has a pool, sauna and hammam, as well as an XXL breakfast and a really nice bar.
Where to eat in Reims?
➺ On our romantic weekend, it was a letdown! We ate badly in Reims! I’d noted down loads of addresses before leaving, recommended and approved by a local… but once there, the restaurants were all either fully booked or closed for their annual holidays… So we ate wherever there was room, which meant not the best places… Next time, we’ll remember to book ahead, which we rarely do.
➺ Fortunately, on my second stay, we tried several excellent restaurants. Here are the ones I recommend:
- Le Tablier, Reims: 30 Place Drouet d’Erlon. Revisited dishes featuring local specialities, such as a cheesecake made with pink biscuits of Reims.
- La Grande Georgette, Reims: 18 Rue Tronsson Ducoudray. An amazing dinner right opposite the cathedral.
- Le Continental, Reims: 93 Place Drouet d’Erlon. We had such a feast! An exceptional restaurant!
- Au 36, Hautvillers: 36 Rue Dom Pérignon. A wine shop and restaurant offering perfect food and champagne pairings!
➺ Don’t miss all the treats made with champagne and pink biscuits of Reims…
What are the food specialities of Reims?
– Pink biscuits of Reims (biscuits roses)
– Reims ham (jambon de Reims)
– The nonnette, a small filled gingerbread cake
– Gingerbread (pain d’épices)
— … and of course, champagne!
Getting around
If you have no choice, you can visit Reims without a car. The train station is fairly central and much of the city is walkable. Some cellars even offer free shuttles to pick you up in the city centre.
However, if you want to explore the Champagne region more widely, including the vineyards, a car is essential!
There are also private day trips from Paris to visit Reims, with tours, champagne tastings and lunch included.
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As you can see, there’s no shortage of things to do and see in Reims, whether you have just one day or a full weekend to explore the surrounding area too. A UNESCO-listed cathedral, century-old champagne cellars, vineyard routes as far as the eye can see, pink biscuits and great restaurants… Reims has everything for a successful foodie and cultural getaway, just a stone’s throw from Paris.
If you head on to Épernay or Hautvillers, take a look at our dedicated article on visiting Épernay in a day, the perfect complement to a stay in the region.
Thanks to my friend Alexandra for inviting me along on her weekend in Reims and Champagne, and to Champagne Refined.
FAQ: visiting Reims
Frequently asked questions are here!
What is there to see in Reims?
The must-sees are Reims Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Reims), a champagne cellar tour (Pommery, for example), the Palace of Tau, the Basilica of Saint-Remi and the Halles du Boulingrin market. Allow at least one day for the highlights.
What are the best things to do in Reims in 2 days?
Over two days, you can add a visit to Villa Demoiselle, a guided walk through the historic centre and a sweet break with the famous pink biscuits of Reims, then head out to Épernay or Hautvillers to discover the Champagne route.
Can you visit Reims in one day?
Yes. If you focus on the cathedral, a champagne cellar tour and a stroll around the centre, one day is enough to see the city’s highlights.
How do you get around Reims?
The city centre is easy to explore on foot, as the train station is central. To explore the vineyards and surroundings (Épernay, Hautvillers, the Champagne route), however, a car is essential.