The ultimate Champagne region weekend escape from Paris

The Champagne region, located in northeastern France, is world-famous as the birthplace of, you guessed it, Champagne. Beyond its prestigious vineyards, the region offers a rich blend of history, culture, and picturesque landscapes. Visitors can explore charming villages surrounded by vine-covered hills, tour some of the most prestigious cellars and discover historic cities such as Reims and Épernay.

In this guide, I have prepared the perfect weekend itinerary from Paris, with no car needed, so you can experience the very best of the Champagne region.

When is the best time to visit the Champagne region?

The best time to visit the Champagne region depends on what you are looking for, but the most popular months are May to July and September to October. In spring, the vineyards are lush and green, while September is the time when the grape harvest takes place. I would avoid summer because of the crowds and the heat. We traveled there in mid-October, and all the grapes had already been harvested, so I would recommend early October instead.

The perfect Champagne weekend itinerary from Paris

Day 1: From Paris to Reims to Épernay

Reims

Reims is one of the main cities in the Champagne region and it is also where several world famous houses such as Veuve Clicquot offer guided tours of their historic cellars. Beyond champagne, Reims is also know for its beautiful cathedral.

How to go to Reims from Paris

Without a car, there are two main ways to get to Reims from Paris: by train or by bus. You can check the options here. The journey usually takes under two hours and is relatively affordable. We paid around 12€ one way per person.

There are many world-famous Champagne houses such as Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon, Ruinart, and Taittinger that offer cellar tours in the cities of Reims and Épernay. Since much of the explanation of the Champagne-making process is similar, I suggest exploring the different houses and choosing the one that interests you most. We personally visited Moët & Chandon in Épernay. Also, make sure to book your tickets months in advance, as they sell out very quickly.

Once in Reims you can take a Champagne tour if the Champagne house you are interested in is in Reims (like Veuve Clicquot or Taittinger) or simply explore the city. As I mentioned, Reim's cathedral, Notre-Dame de Reims, is extremely beautiful. It is one of the most important Gothic cathedrals in France and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It used to be the traditional coronation site of French kings, with more than 30 monarchs crowned here over the centuries.

Épernay

Épernay is often considered the capital of Champagne and is one of the most important towns in the region. It is best known for the Avenue de Champagne, where you will find some of the world's most famous Champagne houses, including Moët & Chandon and Mercier. Beneath the avenue lies a gigantic network of underground cellars stretching for more than 100 kilometers, where millions of bottles of Champagne are stored.

How to go from Reims to Épernay

You can usually take a TER directly from the train station or a bus. You can book your tickets in advance, they are usually not very expensive. The ride is rather short, but the views are really beautiful, with endless fields of vineyards.

Once you get to Épernay, I recommend doing the Moët & Chandon cellar tour. Make sure to book your tickets in advance on the official website. I found the prices to be quite fair for such a prestigious Champagne house and for everything the tour includes. They will teach you everything, from the types of grapes they use, to how long they age the Champagne in the cellars, and how they remove air from the bottle. It is extremely interesting, and we personally learned a lot. At the end of the tour, you will be able to taste one or two of their Champagnes. Honestly, I really recommend the experience.

Day 2: From Épernay to Paris

On your second day, I recommend taking a vineyard tour. On the Viator website, you will find several different options. Choose the one that suits you the most. The views of the vineyards are extremely beautiful.

In the afternoon, go back to Paris.

How to go to Paris from Épernay

To my knowledge there are no direct trains or buses from Épernay to Paris, so you will have to go back to Reims by TER or bus to then take a train or bus to Paris.

I hope you have found this post useful. Don't hesistate to take a look at my other posts!