Who doesn’t love Champagne, the famed sparkling wine made in the French region of the same name? Although there are many, sometimes cheaper, sparkling wines out there, remember that it is NOT Champagne unless it comes from the Champagne region. This lush and historic wine region in northeast France, is a dream destination for any wine lover. And while it’s definitely worth visiting Champagne on its own, combining a trip to Champagne with a visit to Paris is an unbeatable combination. Here’s our guide to visiting Champagne from Paris – including everything you need to know to make the most of your time in this famous wine region!
If you feel overwhelmed, I can create a personal itinerary for you to follow.
Can you do a day trip from Paris to Champagne?
Yes! This is by far the most accessible region, if traveling from the capital, and can be a fabulous day trip from Paris. If you looking to escape to French Wine Country, check out these 4 Best Wine Destinations from Paris.
How far from Paris is Champagne?
Travel from Paris to Champagne by train in just 45 min and you can enjoy its offerings without the hassle or expense of renting a car. But it’s totally up to you which transportation you go for and so I am going to explain how to visit Champagne in this blog post from Paris with a car or without a car.
How to get to Champagne from Paris? First, let’s start with those who want to do it without a car.
I recommend a trip to Epernay. Take the train from Gare de l’Est station to Epernay. The train station is a 10-min easy walk to Avenue de Champagne. The Avenue de Champagne (formerly the Avenue du Commerce) extends for 1 mile, lined on both sides by magnificent private dwellings lovingly constructed over many centuries by the Champagne Houses. Some were originally built as a Head Office, others as the private home of the proprietor. All of them reflect an architectural style that celebrates the brand in particular and Champagne in general.
The Avenue de Champagne is now a (UNESCO) World Heritage site. The late 17th Century saw the construction of magnificent cellars, which by the end of the 18th Century made this avenue the address of choice for pioneering Epernay Champagne producers. The arrival of the railway then brought a boom in business that fostered a taste for architecture on a monumental scale.
Epernay was constantly rebuilt as successive wars and fires took their toll. Champagne is no stranger to disasters. In fact, some say the reason Champagne is used to celebrate is that they are constantly celebrating an end to another difficult chapter.
Famous residents of the avenue include such great names in Champagne as Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët, de Venoge, Vranken, Pol Roger, Mercier and G.H. Martel.
I highly recommend visiting the new Museum of Champagne Wine and Regional Archaeology as it is exceptional. It is housed in the Château Perrier, a symbol of Champagne’s expansion across the world. The Château was built between 1852 and 1857 to house the private mansion and cellars belonging to Charles Perrier, director of the Perrier-Jouët Champagne house. Designed in an eclectic style inspired by the royal palaces of Paris, Château Perrier was simultaneously a place of residence, a reception venue and a location for Champagne production.
Book the tour from Möet where you can get up close to Champagne production and visit the caves. They have tickets available for 23-50 EUR depending on what you choose to taste in their range of Champagnes. If you have never visited Champagne this is a great introduction.
In the summer months, you can catch a jazz concert in the courtyards of one of the houses.
Book lunch and/or dinner at one of the following restaurants.
- Sacré Bistro – 2 Pl. Auban Moët, 51200 Épernay
- La Banque – Rue Général Leclerc, 51200 Épernay
Unfortunately, the options for good restaurants are limited in Epernay. I recommend having lunch and then heading back to Paris for dinner where you have numerous options (check out my restaurant picks in Paris). Don’t settle for bad food for the sake of convenience!
Now let’s move to if you have a car and/ or you are planning to stay for more than one day.
You can rent a car at the CDG airport or in Reims, where I recommend you begin your journey. Reims has an exceptional heritage, forged over the ages. From antiquity to today, the city offers a diverse range of historical sites: Gallo-Roman remains, medieval monuments, museums and, of course, Champagne tours. The city has an excellent tourism office where you can find many in-person or online resources to prepare you for your trip all in ENGLISH.
Reims is home to the famous Champagne Houses of Veuve Clicquot and Taittinger. Both offer Champagne tours to the public. You can purchase tickets directly online.
Any tour of Reims must include the Notre Dame Cathedral. It is an architectural jewel, the beauty of which is acclaimed internationally and unanimously. Larger than Notre-Dame de Paris, it also has an exceptional statuary adorned with 2,303 statues on its facades.
Next, hit the road and discover the smaller villages and sub-regions of Champagne: Aÿ, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Bouzy, Verzy. Immersing yourself more deeply in the region will take time but my number one piece of advice is to make time to see both large houses and small growers. Both play an important role as do cooperatives and the other local business structures.
Booking in advance is required. Availability is dependent on the season as the grower may be busy with harvests etc.. Remember they usually do it all themselves so don’t be surprised if their tourism program is slightly less developed than the bigger, more commercial producers. But that is part of the authenticity that should be embraced. Visiting in the spring or fall after the harvest is the best time of year. Look for Vignobles & Découvertes certifications on websites and buildings. Businesses that display this label pledge to respect numerous requirements: a quality of welcome in French or in a foreign language, sensitivity to the world of wine, a taste for transmission, authenticity, openness to the natural, cultural and human heritage as well as many other criteria and requirements for obtaining this precious label. You find this in all major French wine regions. Learn more about traveling to Bourgogne in my Weekend Guide.
If you are feeling fancy, stay or dine at le Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa. The terrasse has breathtaking views of the vineyards plus the village of Hautvillers is only a short drive away where you can rub shoulders with the inventor of the Champagne method, Dom Pérignon, or at least his famous statue. He has a mischievous smile on his lips and a cup in his hand.
Pack a picnic if the weather is nice and don’t forget the Brie and baguettes!
I’ve worked with the CIVC (Comité Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne) on several projects, one of which was a Champagne Roadtrip Webinar with Napa Valley Wine Academy. I was joined by two other panelists and we discussed the region in detail and offered more tips. I recommend watching the recording on YouTube with a glass in hand of your favorite Champagne.
8 Tips for visiting Champagne from Paris
- Not all Houses allow visitors unless you are a professional and have secured this in advance but the ones that do are wonderful, don’t worry.
- Booking a Champagne Tour visit in advance is ALWAYS a good idea and sometimes required.
- If you have never visited the region before, starting with one of the major houses like Moët, VC (Reims) or Taittinger (Reims) is a good idea. They have tourism programs designed specifically for you. The caves are impressive and you will get a fabulous introduction to the region, winemaking and have the opportunity to purchase their wines.
- Book your train tickets in advance to save money. Don’t use any websites other than SNCF. Don’t worry if you don’t speak French, just use Google Chrome and hit the translate button in the upper right hand corner.
- You can choose your own adventure with or without a car.
- Look for the Vignobles & Découvertes logo when booking tastings.
- Book a Champagne tour from Paris for an extra special experience.
- Watch the Champagne Roadtrip webinar with Napa Valley Wine Academy.
I hope this blog post has inspired you to add a wine-tasting day trip to your itinerary the next time you visit Paris. Champagne is such a special and historic region with delicious bubbly wines that are definitely worth seeking out.
If you enjoyed this article, please subscribe to my newsletter for more content like this – I share resources about all things French wine and culture every month! And don’t forget to tag me in your photos from your wine-tasting adventure in Champagne; I love seeing my readers enjoying the fruits of their labor (or in this case, vinous labors!).
