Looking for the ultimate destination for a wonderful weekend or midweek break? Look no further, because the Champagne region is always a good idea! After just a five-hour drive, you'll already be sitting on the sunny terrace with a glass of sparkling bubbles planning your first champagne house. The hilly landscape, rich history and French language really get you away from it all. Together with two girlfriends, I (Gwen) went on a long weekend trip to this beautiful area. In this blog you will find all the tips for a trip to the Champagne region, and specifically for the area around Reims, Épernay & Hautvillers.
Everything you want to know about the Champagne region, France
General information
Where is the Champagne region located?
How to get to the Champagne region and what is the travel time?
How many days you need for the Champagne region
Best travel time for the Champagne region
Sightseeing: Champagne houses, local farmers and towns!
1. Complete overview of Champagne houses and vintners
2. Our favourites Champagne houses
3. Visit the city of Reims
5. Visit Épernay and Hautvillers
Useful tips for your trip!
Restaurants in Reims
Restaurants in Épernay and Hautvillers
The most beautiful stays in the Champagne region
Map of the Champagne region
Where is the Champagne region located?
Famous worldwide for its sparkling wine, the Champagne region stretches across the north-eastern part of France and is officially located in the Grand Est region, also known as Champagne Ardennes. The heart of the Champagne region is about 150 kilometres east of Paris. Here you will find hills full of green vineyards and picturesque villages, where you can enjoy home-made champagne in the sun. Famous towns and villages in the region include Reims, Épernay and Hautvillers, which we will tell you more about in this blog!
How to get to the Champagne region and what is the travel time?
There are several ways to travel to the Champagne region namely by the car or with the train. By car, you can drive from Utrecht to Reims, one of the region's biggest cities, in about 5 hours. Would you prefer to go by train? Then go to Reims via Paris and you can expect a journey time of 6 hours from Utrecht Central Station. The city of Épernay is also a recommended place to stay and can also be reached by public transport in around 6 hours. And then ... if you do go that way by train, it is of course ideal to combine Paris and the Champagne region!
How many days you need for the Champagne region
We recommend planning at least four days (including travel time) for your trip, but of course longer is always better. Four days will give you a good impression of the region, but it is impossible to see everything. Besides, it very much depends on where you stay and whether you have your own transport. So if you have little time, location is very important!
From Reims and Épernay, you can see a lot of the area and have a nice combination of city and the green vineyards. We ended up choosing Reims and found it ideal! If you go by train, we definitely recommend choosing a city like Reims or Épernay as a base.
Tip: In France, much is still closed on Sundays. This includes restaurants, supermarkets and most champagne houses. So choose Sunday for your travel day back home!
Best travel time for the Champagne region
Whoever thinks of France thinks of the sun! The summer months are therefore perfect for travelling towards the Champagne region. Usually, grapes are picked in September/October (depending on the heat and rain in summer). So do you want to see beautiful green hills covered with vines and grape bunches? Then we recommend travelling in June, July or August to the Champagne region.
Tip: Keep in mind that August is the holiday period of the French. A lot is closed during this month, which means you may find yourself standing in front of a closed door. Not everything is closed, but you may have to look a bit longer before you can start tasting champagne!
Champagne houses, wine cellar and local farmers
Say you want to go to the Champagne region for a long weekend. Friday out, Sunday back home! Good plan, definitely do it! But... make sure you plan ahead. Because on Sundays, most champagne houses are closed. Fortunately, you can always go to the big ones but planning is therefore handy.
So, if you also like to visit the small French villages in the area, travelling by car is really a must. In fact, there is virtually no public transport available between the villages. Of course, the downside then is that the driver won't be able to drink much champagne, but you will see a lot more of the area. And are you also staying in Reims? Then there are plenty of restaurants there where you can then enjoy the local champagnes. Another option is to book a complete tour from Reims!
Complete overview of Champagne houses and vintners
There are an awful lot of champagne houses and do you want them all together in a handy overview? Then ask the Tourist Office to get the booklet listing all champagne houses and wineries in the area. This booklet is free and tells you about the opening hours of the different champagne houses, whether tours are offered, and whether they speak English, among other things.
From Reims and Épernay, you can also take organised day trips to the vineyards and champagne houses. You can get more information and book tours at the Office du Tourisme in these cities. The big advantage is: your whole travel group can enjoy a champagne tasting! Would you rather have it all arranged in advance? Then go to GetYourGuide!
Our favourites Champagne houses
There are a number of champagne houses that we recommend to everyone. Unfortunately, we certainly couldn't visit them all ourselves either but some of our Thousandtravelmiles friends could! We have therefore combined everything so that you can decide what suits you. Some champagne houses are small and affordable while others are big and luxurious. It's impossible to cram everything into a weekend but hey, the champagne region doesn't run away and you can put it on your schedule every year.
Tip: View the map at the bottom of the page for exact locations and create your own route!
- Vranken Pommery: Beautiful house where you can get a comprehensive tour, but you can also go out on your own. Inside the house you will find all kinds of impressive works of art, which makes a visit to this champagne house definitely worthwhile. Afterwards, you can enjoy a delicious champagne tasting on the terrace in the sun.
Opening hours: Mon to Sun (10:00 - 18:00) - Moёt & Chandon: Like Pommery, this is a commercial champagne house where you can visit the cellars with large groups. Still, it has something special and we recommend you visit this classic house. For instance, did you know that Moёt & Chandon, the largest champagne house, has a Dutch history? That makes that glass of Moёt that little bit tastier.
Opening hours: Thu to Mon (9:30 - 17:00) - Ruinart: Discover the oldest champagne house in the world! At this magnificent champagne house, everything is just right. Steep staircases lead you into the ancient Roman corridors where the winery's magnificent cellars are hidden. This 8-kilometre-long system of corridors has been on Unesco's World Heritage List since 1931! During the tour, you will receive extensive information about the champagnes a complete tour of the beautiful cellars. After this, you can enjoy the different types of champagnes the house has to offer.
Opening hours: Thu to Mon (9:30 - 17:00) - Charles Mignon: Beautiful champagne house where you get a comprehensive tour with an awful lot of information. Again, after the tour, you can enjoy the different types of champagnes the house has to offer.
Opening hours: Mon to Fri (9:00 - 12:00 & 14:00 - 17:30) - Bernard Tornay-Hutasse: Some claim this is the tastiest Champagne, and we are curious to hear what you think. The Tornay-Hutasse family owns vineyards, most of which are in Bouzy. Bouzy is known as one of the best wine regions in Champagne, classified as 100% Grand Cru. Despite not being a ‘cosy or grand’ house, the value for money is very good and you can buy delicious champagnes here!
Opening hours: Mon-Sat (9:00-12:00 & 13:30-17:00) - Gabriel Boutet: An extraordinary house where the owner gives you a fantastic tour. She takes you into the small cellars, tells fun facts and at the end of the tour you can taste the champagnes. We recommend calling in advance so you can get a private tour. She also offers the option of an evening tour.
Opening hours: Mon to Thu (9:00 - 18:00) & Fri to Sun (14:00 - 18:00) - Castelger: A small champagne house where you can get good champagnes for a relatively low price (€17.50). We found this one of the tastiest champagnes during our tour of the Champagne region. The owner was very humorous and literally let us taste all the champagnes! Had doubts? Hup, another glass!
Opening hours: Mon to Fri (9am-12pm & 2pm-17:30pm) & Saturday (9am-12pm & 2pm-4pm). Would you like to visit here on Sunday? Then please call to make an appointment.
Tip: Maybe logical, but always check the champagne house's website for current tour prices and opening times. This will avoid any surprises and help you plan your itinerary!
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Visit Reims
Besides the many champagne houses, the villages and towns in the Champagne region also have a lot to offer. We stayed in Reims, a beautiful city in the Champagne region and a good base from which to explore the area or as a first destination for a road trip. You will find pleasant squares where you can order delicious coupe de champagne, the impressive Notre Dame cathedral where in the summer months in the evening a very cool light show on it and parks such as Les Hautes Promenades. Stroll through the French streets, enjoy the sunshine and delicious food!
Restaurants in Reims
There are many bistros and restaurants in Reims and we recommend these! You'll find them all at the bottom of the directory.
- Brasserie Excelsior Reims: This restaurant is high on our list of favourites. Enjoy delicious food and the different types of wines here. In addition, this is the place for the perfect combination of oysters and champagne. Weather permitting, a spot in the garden is highly recommended, but don't forget to book in advance!
- Le Clos: A cosy wine and tapas bar opposite the market halls, with a cosy courtyard. Perfect for those looking for conviviality.
- Le Millénaire: For an elaborate culinary experience and luxury dining, we recommend restaurant Le Millénaire, with 1 Michelin star. Booking is also a must here.
- Le Grand Cafe: The ideal place to relax with a glass of champagne and delicious mussels. The service is incredibly friendly and they have a lovely terrace outside.
- Le Jardin: For those looking for an upscale dining experience, Le Jardin is the place-to-be. This restaurant has Bib Gourmand status and is praised for its excellent value for money. Remember to book in advance as it is often full!
- L'Epicerie Au Bon Manger: For a delicious drink or to take some goodies back to your hotel or flat, L'Epicerie Au Bon Manger comes highly recommended.
Visit Épernay and Hautvillers
These two places are definitely worth a visit. In Épernay, you will find large champagne houses along the Avenue de Champagne, while in Hautvillers you can discover small champagne houses. Hautvillers is characterised by cosy streets, old French houses and is lovely to wander around for an afternoon. While in Épernay, you can perch on the terraces of several champagne houses for a tasting, where grandeur and luxury are the standard.
Restaurants in Épernay and Hautvillers
- Au 36 Restaurant: This restaurant in Hautvillers has a small menu and is ideal for tasting different champagnes. Stop here for lunch and you're sure to be fine!
- Maison Saint Thibault: The perfect breakfast spot in Epernay! We stopped here for a croissant, cup of coffee and a delicious eclair.
- Sacré Bistro: Another popular spot in Epernay. You can enjoy lunch here or eat out in the evening. This modern restaurant has an extensive wine list (with Champagne, of course), as well as good cocktails and delicious dishes. We recommend booking in advance.
- La Cave de l'Avenue the Champagne: This is the place in Épernay to have a drink and discover beautiful wines or champagnes. The drinks menu is huge, so there should definitely be something you like.
The most beautiful stays in the Champagne region
You can make it as luxurious as you like in the Champagne region! There are plenty of beautiful flats and villas interspersed with cosy boutique hotels. Do you have a preference for a particular location? Then make sure you book early. Especially in the small villages, your favourite accommodation may be fully booked last-minute. But don't worry; in the bigger cities there is an abundance of beautiful hotels to choose from, even at the last minute.
- Hôtel Porte Mars Reims Gare Centre Arena: The 3 of us stayed here. Fine hotel with friendly staff. Close to the centre of Reims and we could park the car in the car park around the corner (paid).
- Domaine les Crayères: If you really want to splurge, check out this hotel! It just has to fit your budget but fantastic stay is guaranteed.
- Hotel IKIZEN: A fine flat in the centre of Reims. Everything can be done on foot in the city centre and the hotel has a car park!
See all hotels in the Champagne region
Map of the Champagne region
We hope this information helps you plan your trip. Still have questions? Then feel free to send us a message via Instagram.
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