Champagne Day Trips from Paris — Reims and Épernay by Private Driver
145 km east, door to door, with cellar visits booked ahead and someone else driving home.
How Far Is Champagne from Paris?
Reims sits about 145 km east of Paris via the A4. Épernay is a further 25 km south, through the Montagne de Reims vineyards.
Both fit comfortably in one day. The drive between the two towns is a genuine part of the experience rather than dead time — the road climbs through the grand cru villages of the Montagne de Reims and drops into the Marne valley, and it is the stretch most day-trippers never see because the train does not go that way.
How Far Is Paris from Reims by Car?
145 km on the A4. Leaving central Paris before 08:00 or after 09:30 avoids the worst of the traffic heading east.
Champagne by Car or by Train?
The TGV reaches Reims in around 45 minutes, which sounds decisive until you are standing at Reims station with no way to reach the vineyards. Most of the interesting producers are outside the towns, Épernay is a separate connection, and the last train back sets your day's end whether you are finished or not.
A private car solves the part the train cannot: getting between producers, and getting home afterwards without anyone in your group having to skip the tasting in order to drive.
What a Champagne Day Trip from Paris Looks Like
A comfortable day covers both towns with a tasting in each, without ever feeling rushed.
Morning — Reims
The cathedral where French kings were crowned, then a maison in the city. The great Reims houses sit above the crayères, Roman chalk quarries now used as cellars, and the scale of them is the thing people remember.
Afternoon — Épernay
The Avenue de Champagne runs directly above the cellars of the major houses — reputedly the most valuable street in the world by what is stored beneath it. A second, usually smaller, tasting rounds out the day.
Reims Champagne Houses
The major maisons in and around Reims include Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, Pommery, Ruinart and Mumm. Most require advance booking, some only take groups, and availability tightens sharply in high season — so tell us which houses you want when you enquire and we will build the day around what we can secure.
Épernay and the Côte des Blancs
Épernay is the quieter of the two towns and the better base for smaller growers. South of it, the Côte des Blancs villages — Cramant, Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger — produce the chardonnay behind most blanc de blancs, and are close enough to add without lengthening the day much.
What's Included in Your Champagne Day Trip
- Door-to-door pickup from your Paris hotel or address
- A fixed all-inclusive price per vehicle — tolls, fuel, VAT and parking covered
- An English-speaking, professionally licensed chauffeur who is not tasting
- Travel between Reims, Épernay and the vineyard villages throughout the day
- The car and chauffeur held at each stop for the full visit
- Chilled water, Wi-Fi and USB charging on board
- Space for the cases you buy on the way round
Cellar visits and tastings are paid to the individual houses. Tell us which producers you want when you book so we can time the day around their slots.
Champagne Day Trip — Car vs Train vs Coach Tour
| Reach the vineyards | Both towns in a day | Return on your schedule | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TGV to Reims | No — producers are outside town | Separate connection to Épernay | Last train sets your day |
| Group coach tour | Fixed stops only | Sometimes, at pace | No |
| Private driver | Yes, door to door | Yes, comfortably | Yes |
Champagne Day Trips — Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Champagne from Paris?
- Reims, the main city of the Champagne region, is about 145 km east of Paris via the A4. Épernay is a further 25 km south through the vineyards.
Can you do Reims and Épernay in one day from Paris?
- Yes, comfortably with a private driver. A typical day is a maison in Reims in the morning, lunch, then Épernay and the Avenue de Champagne in the afternoon, with the drive between the two running through the Montagne de Reims vineyards.
Is it better to visit Champagne by car or by train?
- The train is faster to Reims itself, but it leaves you without transport once you arrive, and most producers are outside the towns. A private car covers the whole day door to door and removes the problem of who drives home after a tasting.
Do we need to book champagne house visits in advance?
- Almost always. The major houses run timed tours, some take groups only, and slots go quickly in summer and at harvest. Tell us which houses you would like when you enquire.
Can we buy champagne to take back?
- Yes — and this is one of the practical advantages of travelling by car. There is space in the boot for cases, and nothing to carry through a station.
Can you collect us from CDG or Orly for a Champagne trip?
- Yes. We can collect you on arrival, keep your luggage in the car for the day and take you on to your Paris hotel afterwards.
Get your fixed price
Tell us your dates and we will come back with an all-inclusive price per vehicle — no card needed to check availability.
24/7 bookings on (+33) 629 305 761