Reims

Day 1: Coronation city essentials

Ease into Reims with its UNESCO-listed heart: the cathedral, the archbishop’s palace, and the basilica that anchors the city’s sacred story. Start early to enjoy calm squares, softer light, and quieter interiors before day-trippers arrive.

• Morning: Circle the cathédrale Notre-Dame exterior from the parvis to the chevet on Rue du Trésor; bring small binoculars to study high sculptures (spot the Smiling Angel) and look for WWI shrapnel scars. If you’ve pre-booked, do the tower climb first thing to beat queues and heat.
• Midday: Explore the cathedral interior when the sun is high for the finest light on 13th‑century glass and the Marc Chagall windows. Pop into the Carnegie Library’s Art Deco hall (free) and have a light lunch around Place du Forum (ideal if you plan the Cryptoporticus tomorrow).
• Afternoon: Visit the Palais du Tau for coronation treasures and original statuary, then stroll 15 minutes to the basilique Saint‑Remi; allow time for the quiet Romanesque nave and the adjacent Musée Saint‑Remi. Tip: check for free organ auditions; maintain church etiquette during services.
• Evening: Return to the cathedral square for the Rêve de couleurs facade light show (summer–early autumn; timings vary). In winter, the Christmas market transforms the parvis; otherwise dine on Place Drouet d’Erlon and keep an eye on belongings in crowds. (Consider a city pass for combined entries and transport.)

Day 2: Roman roots and Art Deco rebirth

Today balances ancient Durocortorum with the 1920s–30s reconstruction that defines central Reims. If you’re here mid‑September, European Heritage Days often open normally private interiors—plan to pivot for rare access.

• Morning: If it’s Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, start with breakfast at the Halles du Boulingrin market beneath its soaring 1929 concrete vault. Walk via Les Hautes Promenades to the Porte de Mars; soft morning light is best for photos and reliefs.
• Midday: Head to the Gallo‑Roman Cryptoporticus beneath Place du Forum (cool year‑round—bring a light layer); check opening hours and guided tour times. Lunch nearby on bistro terraces, then wander the Hôtel Le Vergeur courtyard for a pre‑war architectural contrast.
• Afternoon: Take the Art Deco trail: collect the brochure at the Tourist Office and “look up” along Cours Langlet and Rue de Vesle for mosaics, sgraffito and ironwork. Step inside the Bibliothèque Carnegie, then continue to Place Royale and the Hôtel de Ville to read the city’s neoclassical and civic layers.
• Evening: Aperitif by the Subé Fountain on Place Drouet d’Erlon, followed by dinner. Consider a performance at the Opéra de Reims (programmes vary) or a summer Flâneries Musicales concert hosted in heritage venues.

Day 3: Champagne chalk cellars and modern history

Dedicate your final day to Reims’ subterranean wonders and 20th‑century landmarks. Pre‑book champagne house tours (slots fill weeks ahead in summer and vendanges season) and wear comfortable shoes and a warm layer for 10–12°C cellars.

• Morning: Tour one of the great houses on Butte Saint‑Nicaise (Taittinger, Pommery, Ruinart, or Veuve Clicquot) to explore the crayères—vast Roman‑era chalk quarries now used for ageing. If you love architecture, pair Pommery with the Villa Demoiselle (advance booking required).
• Midday: Lunch at a champagne house brasserie or picnic at Parc de Champagne. Use the tram or bus to minimise parking stress in the hyper‑centre; park‑and‑ride options are convenient on busy days.
• Afternoon: Visit the Chapelle Foujita near Mumm for serene frescoed walls and a personal 1960s spiritual masterpiece. Continue to the Musée de la Reddition by the station to stand in the preserved map room where Germany’s surrender was signed on 7 May 1945. (Check closing days; many museums shut on Mondays.)
• Evening: Savour a final golden hour around the cathedral’s west facade and Place Royale. For a last toast, try a champagne bar off Rue de Mars; in colder months, switch to a cosy wine bar and enjoy the city’s calm after dark.

By Air

• Reims has no commercial airport.
• Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) – about 130 km. Direct TGV from CDG TGV to Champagne-Ardenne TGV: 30–45 min, then 5–10 min TER or ~20 min tram to the city centre. Driving: 1 h 15–1 h 30.
• Paris Orly (ORY) – about 150 km. Transfer to Paris-Est for TGV to Reims Centre (overall 1 h 45–2 h 15). Driving: 1 h 30–1 h 45.
• Paris Beauvais (BVA) – about 200 km. Coach to Paris then train; driving 2 h 30–3 h.
• Lille (LIL) – about 160 km. TGV/TER via Lille Flandres/Europe 1 h 30–2 h; driving ~1 h 45–2 h.
• Luxembourg (LUX) – about 180 km. Train ~2 h 30–3 h with changes; driving ~2 h–2 h 15.

By Train

• Main stations: Gare de Reims (city centre) and Champagne-Ardenne TGV (Bezannes, ~8 km SW).
• Paris (Gare de l’Est) to Reims Centre: TGV/TERGV ~45 min, frequent daily services.
• CDG TGV to Champagne-Ardenne TGV: 30–45 min; onward 5–10 min TER or ~20 min tram to central Reims.
• Lille Europe/Flandres to Champagne-Ardenne TGV: ~1 h 05–1 h 30; connect by TER/tram to the centre.
• Strasbourg to Reims: ~1 h 45–2 h 30 (usually TGV with a change).
• Brussels Midi to Reims: ~2 h 15–3 h with a change (often Lille or Paris).
• Luxembourg to Reims: ~2 h 30–3 h with a change (often Metz).
• Regional: Épernay ~30 min; Châlons-en-Champagne ~30–40 min.
• Local connections: CITURA tram links Champagne-Ardenne TGV with the city (Line B).

By Coach/Bus

• Operators include BlaBlaCar Bus and FlixBus with routes from Paris (Bercy/La Défense/CDG), Lille, Brussels and Luxembourg.
• Typical Paris–Reims journey: 1 h 45–2 h 30 (route-dependent).
• Main stop: Gare Routière de Reims (next to Gare de Reims); some services also call at Champagne-Ardenne TGV.

By Car

• Motorways: A4 (Paris–Metz–Strasbourg) and A26 (Calais–Troyes–Dijon).
• Approximate driving times: Paris 1 h 30 (A4); CDG 1 h 15–1 h 30; Lille ~1 h 45 (A26); Calais ~3 h (A26); Luxembourg City ~2 h–2 h 15; Brussels ~2 h 30–3 h; Strasbourg ~3 h–3 h 30 (A4).
• Notes: Motorway tolls apply; central parking is limited—consider park-and-ride car parks with tram into the centre.