Reims or Épernay: Which city should you choose for a stay in Champagne?

For its historical heritage

Reims is the ideal choice if you want to combine Champagne with culture.

The city is particularly famous for its magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Palace of Tau, and the Saint-Remi Basilica. Its heritage is closely linked to French history, as the cathedral hosted the coronation of many French kings. The city is also home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Between Champagne tastings, you can easily spend a few hours exploring the city, its historic neighborhoods, and its Art Deco architecture.

To discover the major Champagne Houses

Reims is also a must-visit destination for lovers of the major Champagne Houses.

Several historic houses have their cellars here and offer tours and tastings. The famous chalk caves carved beneath the city are a truly unique experience.

If your idea of a perfect day is visiting a major Champagne House in the morning, having lunch in the city, and discovering the local heritage in the afternoon, Reims is an excellent choice.

For a more urban atmosphere

Reims is a city with a wide choice of restaurants, bars, shops, and cultural activities.

It’s therefore a great option if you like having plenty of things to do without necessarily needing a car.

To be at the heart of the vineyards

If Champagne and vineyard landscapes are your priority, Épernay has the advantage.

The city is surrounded by vineyards and is an excellent starting point for exploring villages such as Hautvillers, Aÿ-Champagne, Cumières, and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ.

It’s also a great base for discovering smaller producers and getting off the beaten track.

For the Avenue de Champagne

It’s impossible to talk about Épernay without mentioning its iconic Avenue de Champagne.

This avenue, stretching for more than a kilometre, is home to prestigious Champagne Houses and beautiful private mansions. Beneath your feet are also impressive underground cellars where millions of bottles are stored.

The avenue is easily accessible from the train station and is perfect for exploring on foot, allowing you to take your time and enjoy the façades, gardens, and different Champagne houses.

For a more peaceful atmosphere

Épernay is much smaller than Reims and offers a quieter atmosphere.

It’s a place to slow down: stroll along the Avenue de Champagne, stop for a tasting, have lunch on a terrace, and then head out to admire the vineyards just a few kilometres away.

For a romantic weekend or a getaway focused on Champagne, it’s probably the city we would choose.

This is perhaps one of the most interesting differences between the two destinations.

In Reims, the experience is strongly centred around the major Champagne Houses and their impressive historic cellars.

In Épernay, you can easily combine a visit to a major Champagne House with discovering smaller, independent growers in the surrounding villages.

And that’s exactly what makes a stay in the region so special: going from a prestigious Champagne House to a family-run estate, tasting different cuvées, and discovering the stories behind each bottle.

For a romantic escape, we’d give Épernay a slight advantage.

Imagine a relaxed morning on the Avenue de Champagne, lunch at a restaurant overlooking the vineyards, followed by a walk through the hillsides and charming villages.

And why not add a vintage touch to your stay?

A vintage car ride through the vineyards, meeting a local grower, enjoying a Champagne tasting, and stopping to admire the sunset : it’s hard to imagine anything more quintessentially Champagne.

Ultimately, there’s no wrong choice, it all depends on what you’re looking for.

Choose Reims if you’re looking for:

🏛️ History and heritage
🍾 Major Champagne Houses
🍽️ A wide choice of restaurants and nightlife
🏙️ A more urban atmosphere
🚆 A destination that’s easy to explore without a car

Choose Épernay if you’re looking for:

🍇 Vineyards right on your doorstep
🥂 An immersive Champagne experience
🌿 Charming villages and vineyard landscapes
💕 A quieter, more romantic atmosphere
🚗 Excursions into the heart of the vineyards

Why choose just one?

If you have two or three days, our advice is simple: visit both!

Reims and Épernay offer two complementary sides of the Champagne region. A day in Reims allows you to discover its rich heritage and prestigious Champagne Houses, while a day around Épernay takes you into the heart of the vineyards and Champagne villages.

And to explore these beautiful landscapes at your own pace, My Vintage Tour Company invites you to discover Champagne in classic vintage cars, with vineyard views, charming villages, meetings with local growers, and Champagne tastings.

The best way to choose between Reims and Épernay? Don’t choose at all. 🥂