Binging Bubbly in Champagne: A Paris Day Trip
TRAVEL DATE: APRIL 21, 2024 | EST. READING TIME: 11 MIN
TRAVEL TOOLKIT
Champagne Customized Map (Google Maps)
Seeking a glass of sparkling white wine from the region which bears its name?
Take a day trip from Paris to the only area in the world legally allowed to produce sparkling wine, otherwise known as "Champagne.” A symbol of luxury and festivity where French kings were once crowned in the capital of Reims, this region delights with a rich history of winemaking, inventing traditional techniques like the Méthode Champenoise which have been perfected over centuries past. Escape from the hustle and bustle of the city to a land of fertile terroir which has received international recognition for the distinct flavor profile and quality of grapes cultivated upon it. If sparkling wine suits your fancy, there’s no better place to taste a glass of bubbly than in the chalky caves where that same bottle aged to maturity! Touring sophisticated champagne houses is a quintessentially French experience—so why not hop on the train and head over!
One Day Champagne Itinerary
In a hurry? Here’s a time-stamped itinerary detailing things to do in Reims and Épernay during a day trip from Paris to the Champagne region of France:
8:28 - 9:17 AM: 🚉 Catch the TGV INOUI train from Gare de l’Est heading towards Reims (49 min)
10:00 - 11:15 AM: 🥂 Tour the chalky crayères in the Veuve Clicquot cellars (1hr 15 min)
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM: 🥪 Walk to the upscale yet homey brasserie La Fontaine for lunch (30 min)
1:00 - 3:00 PM: 🛐 Admire local landmarks Porte de Mars, the Cathedral, and the Cryptoportique (2 hr)
3:15 - 3:53 PM: 🛤️ Zip over to Épernay via another quick TER train ride (35 min)
4:40 - 6:10 PM: 🍾 Gear up for another round of bubbly with a tasting tour at Moët & Chandon (1 hr 30 min)
7:03 - 8:23 PM: 🚆 Track back to Gare de l'Est in Paris via the TER train departing from Épernay (1 hr 20 min)
In one of my poorest travel showings to date, I did not get to a single other item beyond the Veuve Clicquot tour on our planned itinerary. We traveled to the Champagne region on a blustering, raining April day and were quite ill-dressed for the inclement conditions, so my disgruntled travel companion made us return to Paris significantly earlier than I had originally planned. I deeply regret not being able to make it to Épernay, but alas not everything can always go according to plan—and I aim to convey all my travel experiences as honestly as possible!
That being said, my disappointing retreat from Reims doesn’t mean your experience has to stop there, and I firmly believe this proposed itinerary would’ve made a delightful day had we visited during sunny, warm weather!
How to Get From Paris to Reims?
FROM: Gare de l’Est (Rue du 8 Mai 1945, 75010 Paris, France)
TO: Reims (Pl. de la Gare, 51100 Reims, France)
TRANSPORTATION: TGV INOUI high-speed trains (46 min, direct, €31)
TRAIN: Traveling from the capital of France to the provincial Champagne region in the northeast is most efficiently accomplished by departing from the Gare de l’Est train station. If your accommodations aren’t located near this particular station, unfortunately you’re SOL and will likely need to catch another train or bus even earlier in the morning to get there. I traveled to Reims from the ibis Paris Gare Montparnasse Catalogne conveniently located near Gare Montparnasse which made our Palace of Versailles trip quite simple, but it also meant we had to take the 7:55 AM buses toward Gare de l’Est before catching the train to Reims. You can purchase tickets online in advance from the official SNCF website.
DRIVE: While you could rent a car yourself, this drive could take anywhere from 1 hour and 25 minutes to 2 hours, compared to the quite efficient 46 minute train ride where you don’t have to think about following the right route directions! Since the intent of this day trip is also to indulge in the region’s delight, I can’t advocate for drinking and driving—especially in a foreign country! Nonetheless, if you opt to book a complete tour package from Paris to the Champagne region, this pricier yet more convenient day trip choice typically include transportation to and from the maisons.
How to Get Around Reims?
WALK: While I had imagined Reims to be the small rural community Belle sings about while detailing her provincial life, it turned out to be a proper town with highways and all the industrial aspects needed to support almost 200,000 people—go figure! That being said, while you can walk around the town it can be quite an undertaking to reach the champagne houses situated on the outskirts—trekking through major intersections and roundabouts—especially if it’s a cold April day with piercing rain coming down. The Centre-Ville area located directly outside the train station forms the major pedestrian portion of town with notable sights to stroll by, so this is the section of Reims I would recommend walking around—since you never know what you’ll discover hidden down a quaint cobblestone alley!
TAXI: You can easily request a cab on Uber or FreeNow to see the estimated wait time and duration up front. I used both mobile apps for my transportation needs, and the scarce number of drivers in Reims meant there was always a bit of a wait before a car would arrive, so plan accordingly! The vast majority of taxis accept credit cards as a payment method—which is always guaranteed if you’re ordering a ride on Uber or FreeNow anyways.
BUS: Various public buses like the 3, 4, 6, and 9 routes can take you directly from the Reims train station Gare Centre stop to the Veuve Clicquot maison which is conveniently located only a few minutes away from the
Cimetiere Du Sud stop. Taking the bus to this champagne house entails about a twenty minute ride give or take, but will only cost you €1.95 compared to the €17.84 taxi ride we took with buses coming every fifteen minutes!
How to Get From Reims to Épernay?
FROM: Reims (Pl. de la Gare, 51100 Reims, France)
TO: Épernay (51200 Épernay, France)
TRANSPORTATION: TER regional trains (34 min, 6 stops, €8.40)
While the TER train line isn’t constantly running between Reims and Épernay on a consistent schedule, this is undoubtedly the quickest way to travel between these two champagne towns—so you should time your schedule accordingly to catch a convenient TER route to Épernay! Otherwise, your 34 minute commute with only six stops can double and take an hour or more depending on the amalgamation of available bus and tram routes you’ll need to stitch together. Take it from me, when you’re embarking on a day of wine tasting the last thing you want to do is hop from bus to bus, which you can avoid altogether as long as you check the TER schedule between Reims and Épernay in advance! Note that available public transportation is particularly limited on Sundays, so if you plan to visit on this day of the week you may need to spend a few extra hours in Reims before there will be an Épernay train route available to catch! You can purchase tickets online from the official SNCF site.
What to Do in Champagne?
Veuve Clicquot
FROM: Reims (Pl. de la Gare, 51100 Reims, France)
TO: Veuve Clicquot (1 Rue Albert Thomas, 51100 Reims, France)
TRANSPORTATION: walk 40 min out of the station down Pl. Drouet d'Erlon, turn left at the roundabout onto Rue de l'Étape, turn right onto Rue de Talleyrand and continue straight all the way through the final roundabout
Your immersive experience through one of the most prestigious Champagne houses in the world will begin at the Veuve Clicquot maison. Embark on a €35 tasting tour introducing the history, craftsmanship, and lasting legacy behind Veuve Clicquot’s classic flagship label known for its vibrant and balanced flavors, the Brut Yellow.
Descending down hundreds of steps into the historic cellars, your journey underground will lead you deep through chalky crayères beneath which have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites. These dimly lit subterranean galleries were once ancient Roman chalk quarries, yet today they facilitate the aging mechanism for cooled bottles of champagne maturing over time, with the unique terroir of this soil contributing to the distinctive flavor profile of Veuve Clicquot champagne!
Your expert sommelier will begin the tour by delving into the fascinating history of a international house scaled into a successful empire by one of the first global girl bosses in history! After being founded in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot-Muiron, the unexpected passing of his son left 27-year-old widow, Madame Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, completely in charge.
This unfortunate happening is ironically what landed the brand its lasting name, as "veuve" means "widow” in French. Known for her keen business sense, vision, and innovative methods in champagne production, in 1810 pioneering Madame Clicquot created the first recorded vintage produced from grapes harvested in a single year—but she wasn’t done just yet! Only six years later she revolutionized the industry yet again, inventing the riddling table or remuage process which turned gently shaking bottles upside down to vastly improve the clarify and quality of the wine.
When she wasn’t busy dedicating her life to bold champagne achievements, "La Grande Dame de la Champagne" was minding her own business smuggling champagne bottles to Russia through the Napoleonic blockade! Expanding the brand’s market internationally while establishing a luxurious reputation as an execellent label favored by European aristocratic elites, Madame Clicquot's leadership and business acumen has cemented her standing as her one of the most celebrated figures in French business history.
Now that you’re caught up to speed on the maison’s revolutionary beginnings, your guide will then delve into an overview of the champagne production process with engaging yet educational multimedia displays. When learning about the grape selection of Pinot Noir, the 4D set-up will allow you to literally smell the grape varieties being blending and how they contribute to the flavor and consistency of the Brut Yellow Label.
A long last it’s time to sample Veuve Clicquot’s iconic yellow label, a recognizable symbol of quality and elegance. This is no time to throw back your single glass, instead savor the nuances of the champagne’s flavor profile, including the aromas, acidity, and effervescence. Depending on the tour package you select, you could also opt to taste other vintage varieties such as the Veuve Clicquot Rosé or the La Grande Dame, a tribute to Madame Clicquot
At the end of the tour, you can peruse the Veuve Clicquot boutique, where you’ll find an array of branded merchandise to choose from, and of course champagne varieties available for purchase. After such an interesting wine tasting experience I could resist and left with a €10 branded yellow label cup for all my future champagne drinking needs. Then mini champagne bottle refrigerators and custom colorful bottle cases you could engrave with your destination of choice were also calling my name, but alas they wouldn’t fit in my carry-on!
Pro Tip:
When you’re exiting the crayères, check out the years printed on each step of the staircase to see if a lucky Veuve Clicquot vintage was produced during your birth year!
We had attempted to continue on to lunch at La Fontaine, but I had mistakenly assumed this establishment didn’t accept reservations and they were completely booked out on the day we visited, leading us to eat at Le Chamois for lunch instead. On that note, if you visit the Champagne region on a Sunday, expect the majority of the retail and dining options to be closed—so prepare accordingly!
Pro Tip:
If you do continue on with the proposed itinerary above, be sure to call La Fontaine at +33 7 83 33 09 70 ahead of time to make a lunch reservation, as this is clearly a popular spot yet they don’t have a proper website where you can submit a virtual table request!
How Much Does One Day in Champagne Cost?
Following the above itinerary led the cost of a one day trip to Champagne to be $233.82 for me as a young 20-something taking her mother to Europe for the first time:
Transportation
€31 - Paris to Reims one way TGV INOUI ticket
€17.84 - FreeNow taxi ride from the Reims train station to Veuve Clicquot
€8.40 - Reims to Épernay one way TER ticket
€29.10 - Épernay to Paris one way TER ticket
Food
€20.90 - Goat cheese tartiflette from Le Chamois
Activities
€35 - Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow tasting tour
€60 - Moët & Chandon Signature tasting tour
Souvenirs
€10 - Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow souvenir cup
Since we did not make it very far on this planned itinerary I would’ve only spent around $150 on the actual excursion…except I had prepaid for TWO Moët & Chandon Signature tastings, so that was kind of an L! Learn from my mistakes and only book nonrefundable excursions you’re confident you can make. Aside from this personal grievance I’m going to continue to lament about, the Veuve experience felt like an entirely reasonable price given the tasting lasted an hour and included a glass of champagne, and at our lunch destination the meal expense seemed cheap given the quantity of food we were served! That being said, the more extensive transportation route required here meant that this day trip from Paris cost more than the Palace of Versailles day trip we embarked on, so if you’re on a budget you may want to opt for the former adventure!
What to Wear in Champagne?
Packing for a trip to the Champagne region really means you’re dressing for a day of wine tasting with a bit of French fashion flair! While wearing pieces which exude your personal style and preferences is always key to looking and feeling confident, there’s some practical considerations to take in account given the nature of this excursion — meaning pieces which form flowing figures, a cozy cardigan, and shoes with sturdy soles should absolutely end up in your luggage!
A day of drinking wine means you’re not only going to be feeling more jolly with each subsequent tasting, but you’ll be consuming glass on glass of this sparkling speciality as the trip progresses, which inevitably leads to bloating. Dresses or matching sets which lay in such a way as to produce a flowing figure are thus the perfect choice to ensure your abdomen doesn’t feel constricted or even worse, you get ill! Practically speaking, sturdy soles are also essential to keep you high and dry on potentially moist, soft soil while a cardigan cover up could come in handy when strolling through the chilly underground crayères. When it comes to the stylistic choices encompassing your outfit, the natural beauty of the blooming vineyards lends itself to complimentary floral fabrics, and any kind of button down vest will instantly elevate your look with a touch of sophisticated Parisian elegance. Last but not least, consider the accessories you layer on top like sunglasses, watches, jewelry, and bags that will inevitably end up in your wine glass close-up shot—and with this final touch you’ll be looking fabulous during a day trip binging bubbly!
Flowing Figures
a day of wine tasting calls for flowing figures instead of restrictive attire which can make you feel constricted and ill
Cardigan Cover-up
accommodate the change in temperature as you descend deep underground into chalky crayères with a cardigan
Floral Fabrics
pop against the green twisting vines with complimentary floral fabrics which radiate spring no matter the season
Button Down Vest
elevate your approach with button down vests conveying the elegant maturity of a finely aged glass of vino
Sturdy Soles
don’t lose your stilettos to the soil — wear some form of sturdy soles which can withstand the soft fertile terrain
Drink Details
you know you’re going to take a close-up of your glass, so come prepared with the details to compliment your drink!
Should You Take a Day Trip From Paris to Champagne?
I’d say so! When visiting an iconic urban destination like Paris, leaving the city to discover the more rural parts of a country can take you to some truly exceptional hidden gems. A day away from the hustle and bustle of a metropolis can serve as a much needed break during an extended trip as well—whether you’re escaping to the Cotswolds from London or to Frederiksborg Castle from Copenhagen. In this case, however, you’ll be commuting to a relatively famous corner of France, named after none other than it’s namesake alcoholic export: Champagne!
Before diving into the merits of this region, it’s important to note this is a true day trip—in that you’ll be traveling about an hour and a half each way and the trains run on somewhat erratic schedules, so you can’t just leave whenever you feel like it. If you’re looking for a shorter, potential half-day trip with easy access back to the city, you’re better suited to travel to the Palace of Versailles. Assuming you do have a full day to spare—and you enjoy the taste of sparkling wine (if not, Bordeaux is likely more your speed)—then a trip to the Champagne region will be a delightful way to fill your Paris itinerary!
If you’ve ever tried champagne before, then I can guarantee that specific beverage you tasted was produced on the exact land you’ll be traveling to, since the European Union has given the region a Protected Designation of Origin status, which means that only sparkling wines produced there can be legally called champagne! If that fact alone doesn’t entice you enough, making this commute to the towns of Reims and Épernay will also allow you to enter the maisons of renowned champagne houses like Veuve Clicquot and Moët & Chandon. On these tasting tours you’ll discover the secret sauce which makes each house tick, alongside the illustrious history which allowed them to rise to the coveted positions these flagship labels hold today — but since you’re traveling straight to the source you won’t have to pay the typically exorbitant prices to take a bottle of this sparkling delicacy home either!
