A Guide to The Best Things to do in Reims, Champagne

Last Updated on 18th August 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

Situated around 100 KM North-East of Paris (or around a forty-five-minute train ride away from Paris if you opt for the fast route), Reims is the gateway to Champagne, a historic French region famed for its bubbly tipple. Here’s your guide to the best things to do in Reims, as well as top attractions and travel tips to know before visiting.

If you’re thinking about seeing a lot of attractions and monuments while in Reims, Consider booking the Reims City Pass, which includes a guided tour of Reims Cathedral and access to public transportation.

To work out whether or not the pass is worth it for you or not, add up the cost of the individual attractions you wish to visit and see if you’ll save money. Find more details here.

Introducing Reims

A historical city boasting the Coronation place of twenty-five French Kings and one of the most impressive Gothic Cathedrals in Europe, Reims is also the gateway to the Champagne region, the world-famous sparkling white Provided that you plan your visit accordingly, the entirety of the city can easily be explored in one to three days.

Reims is one of the largest towns in the historic region of Champagne. The other major cities in the area are Troyes and Epernay. If you have to prioritise visiting just two towns, I recommend heading to Epernay and Reims and skipping out on a visit to Troyes. For more ideas, check out our Champagne itinerary.

What is Reims known for?

As you have probably gathered, Reims is most famous for its association to the Champagne Houses and Champagne production in the surrounding countryside. The city is also well-known for its historic cathedral, in which over 30 kings were crowned.

Practical tips, tricks & advice for visiting Reims

The best way to get around the French city is by foot considering that almost all of the attractions and things to do in Reims are grouped together. It’s easier to visit the city on a clear day considering that almost all Reims attractions include at least one or two outdoor elements!

Otherwise, you should know that while much of Reims is pretty flat, as in the rest of France, there are plenty of cobbled lanes. As such, be sure to wear your comfiest walking shoes and leave your high heels at home!

Around the city, there are plenty of places to eat, drink, and caffeinate. I particularly enjoyed the pizza and ambience of Pizzeria L’Antica.

Located in the shadow of Reims Cathedral, it’s the perfect point for a halfway stop to enjoy a bite to eat at incredibly reasonable prices. After all the lunchtime menu I sampled was €9,50 for a pizza and glass of wine!

While most of the attractions in Reims are free to visit, a few activities are paid for only. If you’re thinking of visiting several museums, making use of public transport, and wish to receive discounts on cellar visits, I highly recommend that you consider purchasing the Reims City Card.

How long do you need in Reims?

To be honest, you could probably see the main attractions of Reims in the course of a single day. If you prefer to explore cities at a slower pace, then aim to stay in the city for two days.

Best things to do in Reims

Seek out hidden gems

As the gateway to the Champagne region of France, i.e. the only place in the world that’s allowed to produce the renowned sparkling tipple, Reims is a must-see for any Francophile who wishes to explore l’Hexagone in greater depth. And while Reims may be pretty popular among tourists, there are still many secret spots in Reims worth discovering.

Musée de la Reddition

You may well not know this, but there’s a museum on the fringes of old town Reims which commemorates the actual site of the surrender. Created in 1985 and open from Wednesday through to Monday, the cultural space comprises of several exhibition spaces, as well as the surrender room of May 7, 1945.

From the Musée de la Reddition, it’s just a short walk away across a few roads and bridges to reach the Roman triumphal arch, which is another must-see attraction in Reims.

La Porte de Mars

Dating all the way back to Roman times, the Reims Triumphal Arch was once the widest in the entirety of the Roman world. Well-preserved, the arch is reminiscent of triumphal arches in other parts of France such as that of Orange and was constructed during the 3rd Century CE. Today, the arch is the widest remaining Roman archway in the world.

Halles Boulingrin 

Art-deco in architectural style and acting as the main covered food market for the city of Reims, the Halles Boulingrin are open on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Wander in during opening hours and you can expect vendors selling sausages, cheese, and wine, as well as other local specialities from Eastern France.

Hôtel de Ville

As is the case with every city in France, Reims has its own town hall, bien sûr. Imposing and grand, the Hôtel de Ville can be found in the heart of the city and is adorned with French flags.

There has been a town hall on site since the end of the 15th-century. Various rebuilds over the years were destroyed for one reason or another and so the town hall you see today was built at the beginning of the 20th-century.

Musée Hotel le Vergeur

Named for a French aristocrat who lived in the city during the 16th-century, today the Museum of Vergeur houses a collection of period furnished rooms. One particular highlight of the small Reims museum that shouldn’t be missed is an original series of prints of Apocalypse and the Large Passion by Albrecht Dürer.

Biscuits Fossier

In operation since the middle of the 18th-century, the Fossier Biscuits and Confectionery manufacturing company produces a wide array of sweets, gingerbread, and marzipan-based sweets.

Marvel at the Foujita Chapel

Situated a little way away outside of the city centre, the Foujita Chapel was built between 1965 and 1966. Named for the artist artist Tsuguharu Foujita, the chapel is well worth a trip to in order to enjoy all of the beautiful frescoes which cover the interior of the ecclesiastical building.

Café du Palais

Hands down one of the most beautiful venues, the Café Palais is to be found in the very heart of the Champagne city and steps away from the iconic Reims Cathedral. The café has been family-run and owned since the 1930s.

You simply must visit Café du Palais at least once while in Reims, if only to stop for a quick coffee! After all, step inside at any given moment and you’ll soon be greeted by piece after piece of artwork from the private collections of the owners.

From a drawing by Marc Chagall to a late 1920s stained glass window adorning the ceiling of the establishment, there’s something to look at in pretty much every direction. If you’re looking for a delightful rest-stop on this Reims walking tour, look no further!

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Reims

Imposing, grand, and situated in the very heart of the historic city centre, Notre Dame Cathedral is a fantastic example of Gothic architecture that’s a must-see while in Reims.

Stunning, and the place where no less than twenty-five French monarchs were crowned King of France, today the Cathedral is a must-see attraction in Reims and merits a visit of at least a few hours.

For more information, be sure to check out our Reims Cathedral guide. If you’re interested in learning more about the cathedral together with a local guide, book a guided tour like this one.

Palais du Tau

Best known for where many Kings visited, many of whom were coronated in the Reims Cathedral (which lies just steps away), the Palais du Tau is probably best-associated with being the palace of the Archbishop of Reims.

Today, the iconic Reims attractions has been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site since 1991 and now operates as a museum. Purchase your Palace of Tau ticket here in advance.

Carnegie Library

Built in the Art Deco style with funds from the Scottish-American Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the Carnegie Library is one of over 2,500 such Carnegie libraries that were constructed in the latter half of the 19th-century and first half of the 20th-century. The Carnegie Library in Reims can be visited today and is used by members of the public for study purposes.

Basilique Saint-Remi

Romanesque and simply stunning, the Saint-Remi Basilica dates back to the 11th-century and is often touted as the largest Romanesque church in Northern France.

The ecclesiastical building is alleged to have been constructed on the site of the chapel of St. Christophe where St. Remi was buried and is now free to visit.

See Art Deco Architecture

Following WWII, the city of Reims was largely destroyed and so was mainly reconstructed in the 1920s. At the time, Art Deco was the most popular architectural style and so many of the new buildings in town were constructed in this manner.

Today, some of the top Art Deco architecture in Reims can be found in the form of cinéma Opéra, the Lallement building, and Le cellier d’expédition Mumm.

See the Venetian Carousel

Of course, it would appear as if every French city is equipped with its own stunning carousel and Reims is no exception. The Venetian Carousel of Reims is located on Place d’Erlon.

Visit the Reims Christmas Market

If you’re feeling particularly festive, then you may well want to visit the Reims Christmas Market, which takes place for around a month each year. Visit at night and you can expect to enjoy beautiful illuminations projected directly onto Reims Cathedral.

The Reims Christmas market boasts dozens of stalls that serve up traditional Christmas market food, not to mention that it’s home to a number of chalets which sell unique souvenir and gifts, many made in France.

Take a day trip to the vineyards

If you’re looking for the ultimate Champagne experience while in Reims, then be sure to book yourself onto a guided visit to one of the many vineyards in the surrounding Champagne region.

For example, this Taittinger Champagne Morning Tour & Tastings is well-reviewed and will give you an insight into the history of Champagne in Reims. For a greater insight into Champagne production, check out these fun facts about Champagne.

Where to stay in Reims

Thanks to the size and popularity of this city, there’s no shortage of wonderful places to stay for almost any budget. For a more affordable yet comfortable option, check out this hotel.

Otherwise, if you’re in Champagne to celebrate an extra special occasion, then consider booking a room at this luxurious hotel, which boasts amenities such as a spa and air conditioning, as well as a restaurant onsite.

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Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.

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