Planning an overnight trip in Champagne? Here’s how to do it in style

Champagne is big, covering 150km from north to south and 120km from east to west. If you’ve got just one night in the region, then it’s best to stay focused.

You won’t get the whole picture in 24 hours, but whether you’re in it for a serious Champagne crash course or a relaxing escape, these two itineraries make a perfect first trip.

Itinerary one: Reims, Epernay and a 24-hour Champagne crash course

When it comes to sights, evenings out and general buzz, the city of Reims holds all the cards over smaller Epernay, and it’s here that you should stay overnight.

There are sound and comfortable budget options, but for one night only it’s worth heading centrally to options such as La Caserne Chanzy or Hotel de la Paix for amenities.

Drop your bags and head for Reims Cathedral in the daylight for a dose of history before the Champagne starts flowing.

An impressive 33 French kings were crowned here between 81 and 1825, although visitors today head for the stunning stained glass windows, ranging from 13th century originals to Marc Chagall’s famous 1974 replacements for glass lost during the Second World War.

Champagne celebrated 10 years as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2025, so combine history and bubbles with an essential stop in the chalk crayères to the south of the city.

Several fine Champagne producers use kilometres of cellars built around Gallo-Roman chalk pits to age their wines, with Ruinart, Taittinger and Pommery open for visits.

Both Taittinger and Ruinart offer impressive, recently renovated facilities that include tasting and hospitality, with Ruinart offering a series of rare cuvées by the glass to tempt visitors into the striking new pavilion designed by Japanese architect Sou Foujimoto.

Leave at least two hours to complete a tour and tasting from the centre.

Downtime and on to Epernay

Take your time to soak up Reims in the evening. Head to Place du Forum, and the excellent Wine Bar by Le Vintage, for interesting grower Champagnes by the glass, or sit out in the square in the summer to catch regular free concerts.

Dining options range from Michelin star splashes such as l'Assiette Champenoise, Domaine Les Crayères or newly starred Arbane, to lo-fi options such as Sacré Burger or Au Cul de Poule.

On day two, head to Epernay (travel light if you’re on the trains – there is no left luggage in either Reims or Epernay station).

Brush up on some Champagne essentials at the Musée du Vin de Champagne et d’Archéologie Régionale on the Avenue de Champagne (or the intriguing Pressoria in nearby Aÿ, also home to some famous names in Champagne and a couple of good dining options).

Of the Grands Maisons on or near the Avenue itself, Boizel, Moët et Chandon, Leclerc-Briant, Gosset and Perrier-Jouët all either offer full tours and tastings or fine hospitality.

Epernay is tourist-centered, and dining options are a little thin on the ground here – book ahead to Sacré Bistro for modern dining, or local favourite La Grillade Gourmande.

Itinerary two: Tune out and take it slow in the vineyards

The region has finally caught up with the demand for comfortable escapes in the vineyard landscape itself, from where it’s easy to arrange visits to Champagne producers you may not have had the chance to see from the main centres of Reims and Epernay.

The glitz and glamour of the five-star Royal Champagne is hard to beat, although it’s by far the most costly option in the region.

Located 10 minutes drive from Epernay, it has everything you’d expect from a hotel of this size and grandeur, with one of the region’s top Champagne lists in the Michelin-starred restaurant.

More affordable, though, is nearby Loisium, whose main attraction is a heated outdoor pool, spa and comfortable rooms (although dinner options in nearby Aÿ are better).

There are fine boutique stay-and-dine options in the attractive Château de Sacy and Champagne Palmer’s Domaine du Chalet on the Montagne de Reims, as well as Domaine Jacques Sélosse’s Les Avisés in the Côte des Blancs.

If you are out in the vineyards, don’t miss the opportunity to visit smaller grower-producers.

Top hotels can arrange this for you, but beware the fact that they may have commercial agreements to send guests to certain producers – it’s best to do your research first (read our various regional guides and reports).

Tour companies such as Sparkling Tour or A La Française offer small group tours of independent growers, or you can even arrange a private tour with companies such as Instants Champagne or Delectabulles (who focus on independent women-led Champagne houses).

If you’re arranging your own visits, bear in mind that smaller producers always need visits booking in advance, and will be unlikely to accept visits during August and harvest season (normally September, depending on the vintage).

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