Binging Bubbly in France: Champagne Day Trip From Paris
LAST UPDATED: FEBRUARY 10, 2025 | TRAVEL DATE: APRIL 2024 | EST. READING TIME: 10 MIN
Seeking a glass of sparkling white wine from the region which bears its name?
Take a day trip from Paris to the only area allowed to produce sparkling wine, colloquially known as "Champagne.” A symbol of luxurious 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 fertile terroir that has received international recognition for the distinct flavor and quality of grapes cultivated upon it. If sparkling wine suits your fancy, there’s no better place for a glass of bubbly than in the chalky caves where that same bottle matured! Touring sophisticated champagne houses is a quintessential French experience—hop on the train and head over!
Champagne Day Trip From Paris 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 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 (1 hr 30 min)
1:00 - 3:00 PM: 🛐 Admire local landmarks like Porte de Mars, the Cathedral, and the Cryptoportique (2 hr)
3:15 - 3:53 PM: 🛤️ Zip over to Épernay via a quick TER train ride (38 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 didn’t get to a single other item beyond the Veuve Clicquot tour during my Champagne day tour from Paris. I traveled on a blustery, raining April day and was quite ill-dressed for the inclement conditions, so I returned to Paris significantly earlier than planned. I deeply regret not making it to Épernay, but alas not everything goes according to plan—and I aim to convey my travel experiences as honestly as possible!
That said, my disappointing retreat from Reims doesn’t mean your experience has to stop there, and I firmly believe this proposed tour from Paris to Champagne would’ve made a delightful day had I visited during sunny, warm weather! If you have less time to spare, traveling to the Veuve Clicquot maison and back makes for a lovely half day Champagne tour from Paris as well, which is essentially what I ended up doing.
How to Get From Paris to Reims?
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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 via Trainline (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, you will 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. This made my Palace of Versailles day trip quite simple, but also meant I had to take the 7:55 AM bus toward Gare de l’Est before catching the train to Reims. Purchase tickets online in advance from Europe’s #1 bus and train ticket destination, Trainline.
DRIVE: While you could rent a car, the drive from Paris to Champagne takes 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 worry about following directions! Since the intent of this day trip is to indulge in the region’s delight, I can’t advocate for drinking and driving—especially in a foreign country!
Alternatively, booking a complete tour package from Paris to the Champagne region includes transportation to and from the maisons as a pricier yet more convenient day trip choice.
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 the industrial infrastructure needed to support almost 200,000 residents—go figure! That said, while you can walk around town it’s 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.
Centre-Ville directly outside the train station forms the major pedestrian portion of town with notable sights to stroll by, so this is the area of Reims I would recommend walking around—you never know what you’ll discover down a quaint cobblestone alley!
TAXI: Request a cab on Uber or FreeNow to see the estimated fare 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 wait before a car would arrive, so plan accordingly! The majority of taxis accept credit cards as a payment method—which is always guaranteed if you order a ride on Uber or FreeNow.
BUS: Various public buses like the 3, 4, 6, and 9 routes run directly from the train station Gare Centre stop to the Veuve Clicquot maison, conveniently located a few minutes away from the Cimetiere Du Sud stop. Taking the bus to this champagne house entails a 20 minute ride with buses coming every 15 minutes, but only costs €1.95 compared to the €17.84 taxi I took!
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 via Trainline (34 min, 6 stops, €8.40)
While the TER train line doesn’t constant run between Reims and Épernay on a consistent schedule, this is undoubtedly the quickest way to travel between these two champagne towns—time your schedule accordingly to catch a convenient TER route to Épernay! Otherwise, the 34 minute commute with only 6 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.
When embarking on a wine tasting day, the last thing you want to do is hop from bus to bus, which you can avoid altogether by checking the TER schedule between Reims and Épernay in advance! Public transportation is particularly limited on Sundays, so if you 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! Purchase tickets online from Trainline.
What to Do During a Champagne Day Trip From Paris?
Veuve Clicquot
FROM: Reims (Pl. de la Gare, 51100 Reims, France)
TO: Veuve Clicquot (1 Rue Albert Thomas, 51100 Reims, France)
TRANSPORTATION: Gare Centre → Cimetiere Du Sud via bus line 9 towards Blancs Monts (14 min, 11 stops, €1.95)
An immersive experience through one of the most prestigious champagne houses in the world begins 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, this journey deep underground leads through chalky crayères designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites. These dimly lit subterranean galleries were once ancient Roman chalk quarries, yet today they mature cooled bottles of champagne, with the unique terroir of the soil contributing to the distinctive flavor profile of Veuve Clicquot champagne!
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An expert sommelier begins the tour by delving into the fascinating history of an 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 circumstance is ironically what landed the brand its lasting name, as "veuve" means "widow” in French.
Known for her keen business sense 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 6 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 clarity and quality of the wine.
When she wasn’t busy dedicating her life to bold champagne achievements, "La Grande Dame de la Champagne" was smuggling champagne bottles to Russia through the Napoleonic blockade!
Expanding the brand’s market internationally while establishing a luxurious reputation as a label favored by European aristocratic elites, Madame Clicquot's leadership cemented her as one of the most celebrated figures in French business history.
After catching you up to speed on the maison’s revolutionary beginnings, the guide will delve into an overview of the champagne production process with engaging yet educational multimedia displays. When learning about the grapes selected for Pinot noir and how they contribute to the flavor and consistency of Brut Yellow, the 4D setup allows you to literally smell the varieties being blended.
At long last it’s time to sample Veuve Clicquot’s iconic yellow label, a recognizable symbol of elegant quality. 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 selected, you can also taste other vintage varieties like the Veuve Clicquot Rosé or La Grande Dame, a tribute to Madame Clicquot.
At the end of the tour, peruse the Veuve Clicquot boutique with an array of branded merchandise to choose from—and of course champagne varieties available for purchase!
After such an interesting tasting experience, I couldn’t resist and left with a €10 branded yellow cup for all my future champagne drinking needs. The mini champagne refrigerators and custom bottle cases engraved with a destination of choice were also calling my name, but alas they couldn’t fit in my carry-on!
Pro Tip:
When exiting the crayères, check out the dates printed on each step of the staircase to see if a lucky Veuve Clicquot vintage was produced during your birth year!
I had attempted to continue on to lunch at La Fontaine, but mistakenly assumed this establishment didn’t accept reservations and they were completely booked, leading us to eat at Le Chamois instead. If you visit the Champagne region on Sunday expect the majority of retail and dining options to be closed—so prepare accordingly!
Pro Tip:
If you continue with the proposed itinerary above, 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 to submit a virtual table request.
How Much Does One Day in Champagne Cost?
Following the above Champagne day trip from Paris itinerary led the cost of a one day trip to the Champagne region to be $233.82 for me as a young 20-something:
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 I didn’t make it very far on this planned itinerary I would’ve only spent around $150 on the actual excursion, except I prepaid for TWO Moët & Chandon Signature tastings! Learn from my mistakes and only book nonrefundable excursions you’re confident you can make. Aside from this personal error, the Veuve experience felt entirely reasonable given the tasting lasted an hour and included a glass of champagne. At our lunch spot, the meal expense also seemed cheap given the quantity of food served!
That said, the more extensive transportation route required meant this day trip from Paris cost more than a Palace of Versailles day trip, 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 means dressing for a day of wine tasting with French fashion flair! While wearing pieces which exude your personal style is always key to feeling confident, there’s some practical considerations to take in account given the nature of this excursion—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 feel 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 with 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 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. The natural beauty of 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. Consider the accessories you layer on like sunglasses, watches, jewelry, and bags that will inevitably end up in your wine glass close-up shots—and with this final touch you’ll look 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 close-ups 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 the country can take you to some truly exceptional hidden gems. A day away from the hustle and bustle of a metropolis serves 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 its 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 travel 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 have a full day to spare—and you enjoy the taste of sparkling wine (if not, Bordeaux is more likely your speed)—then a trip to the Champagne region will be a delightful way to fill your Paris itinerary!
If you’ve tried champagne before, I can guarantee the 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 only sparkling wines produced there can legally be called champagne! If that fact alone doesn’t entice you, making this commute to the towns of Reims and Épernay also allows 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 that makes each house tick, alongside the illustrious histories which allowed them to rise to the coveted positions these flagship labels hold today. Since you’re traveling straight to the source you won’t have to pay exorbitant prices to take a bottle of this sparkling delicacy home either!
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