Reims holidays

How to reach Reims

• Flight time: There are no direct flights to Reims. Flights to Paris, the closest airport, from London take about 1 hour 15 minutes. There are multiple flights from other UK cities of similar duration.

• Transfer time: From Charles de Gaulle Airport, the TGV train to Reims takes approximately 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a train from Paris Gare de l'Est, which takes around 45 minutes to reach Reims.

• Price: A TGV train ticket from Charles de Gaulle to Reims costs around €30. The regional train from Paris Gare de l'Est costs approximately €20. Taxis from the airport to Reims are expensive, ranging from €150 to €200.

Weather and best time to visit Reims

Choosing when to take your holidays to Reims will depend on whether you’d like a quieter trip, or if you prefer the crowds and warmth of the summer.

• March to May: Spring is a delightful time to visit Reims, with the city yet to kick into high season gear but with all the sights open. Temperatures range from 10°C to 18°C, rainfall is moderate (about 40-60mm per month) and you're likely to experience around 7-9 hours of sunshine daily.

• June to August: Summer is peak tourist season when visitor numbers can be overwhelming, especially with the clamour to visit the champagne houses. Temperatures range from 18°C to 26°C, there are about 9-11 hours of sunshine daily, and rainfall is relatively low.

• September to November: Autumn offers pleasantly warm temperatures, from 10°C to 20°C. Rainfall increases slightly to around 50-70mm per month, but there are still 6-8 hours of sunshine daily. September is the optimum time for champagne tasting tours with most of the crowds having departed.

• December to February: Winter in Reims can be cold, with average temperatures ranging from 0°C to 8°C and snow not uncommon. Rainfall is around 40-60mm per month, and there are 4-6 hours of sunshine daily. The Christmas market here is one of the best in France, and worth travelling here for alone.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: French is the main language, but most people here can speak English.

• Local habits and customs: There is not a huge tipping culture in Reims, but if you have a couple of extra euros in change after a meal, leave them behind.

• Health and safety: Reims is as safe as any city, but like any place, it’s wise to stay alert and keep an eye on your belongings. Emergency services can be reached by dialling 112.

• Currency: The Euro (€) is the currency used. ATMs are widely available, and credit cards are accepted in most places.

• Getting around: Reims has a walkable centre, but there are local buses to the outlying champagne areas.

• Electricity and plug types: Voltage is officially 230V, using plugs with two round pins. UK travellers will need an adaptor.

• Time zone: Reims is in the Central European Time zone (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of GMT. Daylight Saving Time is observed.

• Required travel documentation: UK travellers need a valid passport to enter France. No visa is required for stays under 90 days within a 180-day period.

Best things to do in Reims

Rebuilt after World War II with brilliant flourishes of Art Deco, the old centre of Reims clusters around one of the most impressive Gothic cathedrals in France, though the city’s main draw is its many legendary champagne houses.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Reims Cathedral: Climb to the top of the cathedral towers for panoramic views of the city and the distant vineyards.

The best districts

• Place Drouet d’Erlon: The city’s main nightlife spot and an almost-complete example of the city’s 1920s reconstruction, this is where all the evening action takes place.

• Place Royale: Designed in 1760, and the city’s focal point, Royal Square is abundant with fabulous architecture, including balustraded roofs and arcades.

Museums

• Musée de l’Automobile: Sparkling collection containing many prototypes and rarities; highlights include a string of sleek, powerful Delahaye coupés and a stunning Panhard et Levassor Dynamic 130 Coupé from 1936 – pure Art Deco on wheels.

• Musée de la Reddition: The moving “Museum of the Surrender” is based around an old schoolroom that served as Eisenhower’s HQ from February 1945; the room has been left exactly as it was, with the Allies’ battle maps on the walls.

Parks and gardens

• Parc de Champagne: Appropriately named, this vast green space is not only filled with trees, it features various amenities such as playgrounds, sports fields and basketball courts, along with training machines for adults.

Historical monuments

• Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims: Known as the Coronation Cathedral, Reims’s Gothic masterpiece boasts a prime place in French history and stunning Chagall stained glass.

• Palais du Tau: The palace preserves the paraphernalia of Charles X’s coronation in 1824, right down to the Dauphin’s hat box and cathedral treasures. Oh, and stop off in the ground-floor tearoom for a delicious cake.

• Basilique Saint-Remi: This UNESCO World Heritage Site preserves its Romanesque transept walls and ambulatory chapels, some of them with modern stained glass that fits in beautifully.

Day trips in the area

• Epernay: Taste vintage bubbly in the atmospheric cellars of world-famous sparkling wine emporia.

• Troyes: Delightful medieval town with historic churches and fascinating museums, from an old apothecary to a personal collection of modern art.

• Essoyes: Visit the former summer home of Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir in this lovely champagne-producing village.

Activities for families in Reims

Families will have a fabulous time of it on their Reims holidays, with plenty of activities to choose from, both of the active and relaxing persuasion.

• Planetarium: Educational and enriching, this solar-shaped building not only holds exhibits on astronomy - telescopes, periscopes and the like - but also has daily shows on the wonders of space.

• Boat rides: Boboats are electric boats that you can rent for a gentle gander along the Canal de l’Aisne à la Marne - not only are these great fun, they also allow you to view the city from a different perspective.

• Theme parks and adventure: It’s a bit of a drive, but Nigloland south of Reims, guarantees an action-packed day of thrills’n’spills with no less than 50 rides.

Free things to do in Reims

Exploring Reims without spending too much is not that difficult, with just a few ways you can do this outlined here.

• Festivals: From mid-June to mid-July, dozens of classical and jazz concerts – many of them free – take place as part of Les Flâneries Musicales de Reims.

• Art Deco architecture: Spend a day tracking down some of the city’s Art-Deco structures, which are unrivalled in France: the Carnegie library with its psychedelic green and white circular-patterned ceiling; the imposing Post Office built entirely of reinforced concrete; and the airy interior of the Grand Theatre.

• Visit the markets: Built in 1927, the covered Marché du Boulingrin is the city’s premier market with specialty vendors selling wine, cheese, sausages and much more - with plenty of opportunities for free sampling. Noisy and chaotic but also great fun.

Nature and outdoor activities

Whilst the city, and region, might not be the most obvious bedfellows for outdoor activities, make no mistake, there are all kinds of possibilities to participate in a wide variety of pursuits here.

• Hiking: The best hiking near Reims is to be had in the Parc Naturel Régional de la Montagne de Reims, with the 7.2km-long Hautvillers and Cumieres loop a particularly enticing - and quite challenging - trail.

• Cycling: In addition to the 10km greenbelt cycle path around the city itself, there’s the Champagne à Vélo and the Ardennes à Vélo circuits, which offer a network of more than 450 km of green lanes across the region.

• Water sports: The Aisne River is the go-to spot for water bound activity, be it kayaking, canoeing or stand-up paddleboarding.

Local dishes in Reims

Many of the local dishes can be paired with champagne, naturally, and whilst refinement is reflected in many of the ingredients, the rural aspect of the region also means plenty of hearty produce from the ‘terroir’.

Some typical dishes

• Andouillette de Troyes: An intestine crammed full of more intestines, all chopped up. It’s an acquired taste (and texture), but it really is better than it sounds.

• Truffles: In no way inferior to those specimens found in the Périgord region, these expensive black fungi are best used in their raw state to preserve their delicate hazelnut flavour.

Meat dishes

• Jambon de Reims: A local speciality, this ham is cured before nutmeg, parsley and shallots are added, and then it’s cooked in stock before being coated in yellow breadcrumbs.

• Pieds de Porc à la Sainte-Ménehould: These slow-cooked pig's trotters are known for their tender texture and rich flavour - and are much tastier than it sounds.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Trout with Champagne Sauce: Fresh trout prepared in a creamy Champagne sauce and served with seasonal vegetables; paired with a local white wine, it’s a delicious dish.

Street food

• Tarte à la Champagne: A savoury tart made with a creamy cheese and onion filling - the perfect snack on the run.

• Croques monsieur or croques madame: You’ll find these variations on the toasted cheese-and-ham sandwich at many street stands.

Sweets and desserts

• Biscuit Rose de Reims: Created by confectioners in the 18th century, these crunchy pink biscuits are covered in a layer of icing sugar and then dipped in Champagne.

• Pain d'épices: A spiced gingerbread cake that goes down a treat with a cup of tea.

Local drinks

• Champagne: Dom Pérignon is the most famous, but there are plenty of other bubblies to try in the cellars of Épernay’s maisons.

• Cider: Normally relegated to a bit part in this champagne-dominated part of the world, the cider from the Ardennes region is truly exquisite, and especially refreshing on a hot day.