A full day of tastings at the great houses, private transport included. Itineraries from 4 to 11 hours, Michelin-starred restaurants, prices and a booking timeline: a guide by Service VTC Reims.
Why Champagne deserves a full day
A Champagne day trip from Paris offers one of Europe's most refined wine experiences: tastings at legendary houses, Michelin-starred dining, and UNESCO World Heritage vineyards, all roughly 2 hr from the capital by road.
This guide presents the insider approach: a private-driver service that handles the logistics, smooths the timing between visits, and lets every passenger taste freely. Whether you have four hours or a full day, you will find recommended houses, restaurants to match your budget, sample timed itineraries and a transparent price grid.
Who this guide is for: luxury travelers, wine enthusiasts, couples celebrating a milestone, small private groups.
Book this day with Service VTC Reims
- Door-to-door from your Paris hotel: pick-up in the morning, about 2 hr to Champagne, 8 hours with your driver, back to Paris in the evening.
- Driver and Mercedes for the full day from Paris: €1040 (~$1160 USD) by sedan (1–3 passengers) or €1300 (~$1450 USD) by van (up to 7). Tastings and lunch are paid directly to the houses and restaurants.
- Already staying in Reims? A full day with your driver is €480 (~$535 USD) by sedan or €580 (~$650 USD) by van.
- Prefer a day we have already designed? The Champagne Widows (from €660 (~$735 USD) from Reims) · From Coronations to Chalk Cellars (from €560 (~$625 USD) from Reims) · From Chalk to Vine (from €560 (~$625 USD) from Reims) · Nothing but Chardonnay (from €660 (~$735 USD) from Reims).
- Rated 4.9/5 from 53 Google reviews. Request a quote for your day
Getting to Champagne from Paris
Private driver
Duration: door-to-door day with up to 8 hours in Champagne. Paris ↔ Reims transfer ≈ 2 hr depending on traffic, ~145 km via the A4.
Rate: full day from Paris, €1040 (~$1160 USD) by sedan (1 to 3 people) or €1300 (~$1450 USD) by van (4 to 7 people), per vehicle. Fuel, tolls and parking included. Schedule and booking: our Champagne day trip from Paris.
Vehicles: C-Class, GLE or Tesla Model Y sedan (1 to 3 passengers), S-Class on request, Mercedes van (4 to 7 passengers), and a 19- or 24-seat minibus for groups, subject to availability.
Door-to-door pickup from your Paris hotel or apartment (Ritz, Four Seasons George V, InterContinental, Park Hyatt Vendôme, etc.).
Train + local transport
Duration: ~45 min TGV INOUI from Paris-Est to Reims (Center or Champagne-Ardenne TGV). Paris → Épernay takes 1 hr 13 min to 1 hr 30 min.
Cost: €35 (~$40 USD) to €60 (~$65 USD) train ticket, plus local transport between houses.
Affordable way to reach Reims fast, but the day becomes fragmented between houses.
Note: traditional taxis are more reliable than on-demand ride-hailing, but availability can be uncertain and waiting times extreme during high season.
Rental car
Duration: ~2 hr of driving, plus navigation and parking stress.
Cost: €60 (~$65 USD) to €100 (~$110 USD) rental + fuel + parking.
Maximum flexibility, but someone in the group must stay sober, and whoever drives is legally liable if pulled over.
Eight houses to visit with a private driver
Public prices noted in 2026, to be reconfirmed when booking. All of them are easy to reach with a private driver across the two hubs of Reims and Épernay (≈30 km apart).
Dom Pérignon
Épernay · by reservation
The prestige cuvée of Moët & Chandon (LVMH). A 2-hour private visit for 6 guests at most, in French or English, with two glasses of Dom Pérignon.
Price: €360 (~$400 USD) per person, only as part of a full day with a chauffeur.
Booking: 3 to 4 months ahead.
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin
Reims · founded 1772
Veuve Clicquot crayères: 24 km of underground galleries beneath the Saint-Nicaise hill, the largest private network on the site, UNESCO since 2015.
Price: from €60 (~$65 USD), up to €260 (~$290 USD) (La Grande Dame, 4 hr).
Booking: mandatory online, no walk-ins.
Taittinger
Reims · Saint-Nicaise abbey site
Family-owned house at 9 place Saint-Nicaise. 4th-century Gallo-Roman crayères at 18 m deep, on the site of the former Saint-Nicaise Abbey (13th c.).
Price: €40 (~$45 USD) to €100 (~$110 USD) depending on the tour.
Booking: made by you on the house's website, 1 to 2 weeks ahead, more in high season; we tell you exactly which tour and slot to pick.
Ruinart
Reims · founded 1729
Oldest Champagne house still in operation. Crayères 38 m below ground, 8 km of Gallo-Roman galleries. LVMH, "Carte Blanche" contemporary art program.
Price: from €90 (~$100 USD) per adult (€50 (~$55 USD) children 7-17).
Booking: several weeks ahead.
Pommery
Reims · neo-gothic estate
18 km of galleries connecting ~60 Gallo-Roman chalk pits at 30 m below ground. Architecture commissioned by Madame Pommery, "Expérience Pommery" art program since 2003.
Price: from €30 (~$35 USD).
Booking: recommended, especially for groups.
Moët & Chandon
Épernay · founded 1743
The flagship house on the UNESCO Avenue de Champagne. 28 km of multi-level galleries. Global brand, large-format experience.
Price: from €48 (~$55 USD), up to €460 (~$515 USD) (top-tier formats).
Booking: avoid high season if you can, or aim for early-morning or late-afternoon slots.
Lanson
Reims · founded 1760
Family-style house at 66 rue de Courlancy, 10 min from the station. The only major house offering a "vine-to-glass" tour in the city center.
Price: from €32 (~$35 USD).
Booking: 1 week ahead.
Independent growers
Beyond the great houses
Grower-producers in the Côte des Blancs, the Montagne de Reims or the Marne Valley, booked by us directly: cellar, press house and tasting, often with the grower in person. Cult estates such as Jacques Selosse very rarely receive visitors.
Price: usually €15 to €60 (~$65 USD) per person.
Booking: a few days to two weeks ahead.
Lunch and dinner in Champagne
Le Parc at Les Crayères
2 Michelin stars · Reims
Classical French haute cuisine at Domaine Les Crayères, an early 20th-century château built for Madame Pommery's family and now owned by the Gardinier family. Chef Christophe Moret (formerly Plaza Athénée, Lasserre, Shangri-La).
Lunch: €150 (~$170 USD) to €250 (~$280 USD) · Dinner: €250 (~$280 USD) to €350 (~$390 USD).
Booking: 1 to 2 months ahead.
Racine
2 Michelin stars · Reims
Creative Franco-Japanese cuisine by chef Kazuyuki Tanaka, place Godinot. Only 15 seats (4 tables + 4 counter seats).
Lunch: €120 (~$135 USD) to €180 (~$200 USD) · Dinner: €200 (~$225 USD) to €300 (~$335 USD).
Booking: 2 to 3 weeks ahead.
Le Foch
Reims · Michelin Guide selection
Classical product-driven cuisine, strong emphasis on fish and shellfish (chef Jacky Louaze). Family-run, popular with Champagne cellar masters.
Lunch: €80 (~$90 USD) to €150 (~$170 USD).
Couvert de Vignes
Our recommendation · Chigny-les-Roses
Modern, creative cooking by chef Benjamin Gilles, in the heart of the Montagne de Reims, with fruit and vegetables at the center of the plate.
Lunch: €60 (~$65 USD) to €100 (~$110 USD).
Le Millénaire
1 Michelin star · Reims city center
City-center gastronomic restaurant (Benjamin Andreux / Delphine Cornaille). Notable wine list and sommelier-driven service.
Lunch: €60 (~$65 USD) to €110 (~$125 USD).
L'Assiette Champenoise
3 Michelin stars · Tinqueux
The absolute pinnacle of Champagne gastronomy by Arnaud Lallement. 3 stars since 2014, a table celebrated worldwide for its precision and its dialogue with Champagne wines.
Lunch: €220 (~$245 USD) to €350 (~$390 USD) · Dinner: €290 (~$325 USD) to €450 (~$505 USD).
Booking: 2 to 3 months ahead.
Three paces to choose from
The hours below refer to driver time on-site in Champagne, excluding the Paris ↔ Reims transfer. The round trip is billed separately (option “with Paris pickup”) or can be omitted if you arrive by your own means (TGV, car). The driver handles all travel between Reims and Épernay (≈30 km).
Discovery · 4 hr on-site
2 houses + café lunch
- 11:30 am · Arrival in Reims, pickup
- 11:45 am · 1st house (Veuve Clicquot or Taittinger, ≈1 hr)
- 1:00 pm · Lunch at a local café / bistro (≈1 hr)
- 2:15 pm · 2nd house (Ruinart or Lanson, ≈1 hr)
- 3:30 pm · End of charter
Driver fare covers: vehicle + chauffeur + fuel + tolls + parking.
Extras (paid directly): Paris ↔ Reims transfer (option), house entries, lunch.
Driver fare on-site: €280 (~$315 USD) sedan / €340 (~$380 USD) van for a half day (4 hr).
Classic day · 8 hr on-site
2 houses + gastronomic lunch
- 10:00 am · Arrival in Reims
- 10:30 am · 1st house (Taittinger, ≈1 hr 30 min)
- 12:30 pm · Lunch at Racine or Couvert de Vignes (≈1 hr 30 min)
- 2:30 pm · 2nd house (Veuve Clicquot or Pommery, ≈1 hr 30 min)
- 4:30 pm · Stroll on Avenue de Champagne (Épernay, optional)
- 6:00 pm · End of charter
Driver fare covers: vehicle + chauffeur + fuel + tolls + parking.
Extras (paid directly): Paris ↔ Reims transfer (option), house entries, lunch.
Driver fare on-site: €480 (~$535 USD) sedan / €580 (~$650 USD) van for a full day (8 hr).
Immersion · 11 hr on-site
3 houses + Michelin-starred lunch
- 9:30 am · Arrival in Épernay
- 10:00 am · Dom Pérignon or Moët in Épernay (≈2 hr)
- 12:15 pm · Épernay→Reims drive (≈30 min)
- 1:00 pm · Lunch at Le Parc at Les Crayères or Racine (≈2 hr)
- 3:30 pm · 2nd house (Ruinart or Veuve Clicquot)
- 5:30 pm · 3rd house (Pommery or Lanson)
- 8:30 pm · End of charter
Driver fare covers: vehicle + chauffeur + fuel + tolls + parking.
Extras (paid directly): Paris ↔ Reims transfer (option), house entries, starred lunch.
Driver fare on-site: on quote (overtime beyond 8 hr).
Paris ↔ Reims transfer (optional)
Door-to-door round trip from your Paris hotel (≈2 hr each way, ≈145 km via the A4). Billed separately as a private transfer, from €280 (~$315 USD) by sedan or €390 (~$435 USD) by van each way (central Paris). To be booked together with the on-site charter. Without pickup: meet us in Reims (TGV Paris-Est → Reims Center, 45 min) and we take over from the station.
The real cost spelled out
Private driver service (per person, full day from Paris)
| Item | Per person |
|---|---|
| Full day from Paris by sedan, for three | €347 (~$390 USD) |
| Full day from Paris by van, for four | €325 (~$365 USD) |
| Full day from Paris by van, for seven | €186 (~$210 USD) |
Fuel, tolls and parking included. Per-person cost decreases as the group grows.
House visits (reference 2026 prices)
| House | Base visit / person |
|---|---|
| Dom Pérignon (private formats) | €360 (~$400 USD) |
| Veuve Clicquot | from €60 (~$65 USD) |
| Taittinger | €40 (~$45 USD) to €100 (~$110 USD) |
| Ruinart | from €90 (~$100 USD) |
| Pommery | from €30 (~$35 USD) |
| Moët & Chandon | from €48 (~$55 USD) |
| Lanson | from €32 (~$35 USD) |
Dining (average lunch price)
| Restaurant | Per person |
|---|---|
| Couvert de Vignes · recommended | €60 (~$65 USD) to €100 (~$110 USD) |
| Le Millénaire (1 star) | €60 (~$65 USD) to €110 (~$125 USD) |
| L'Assiette Champenoise (3 stars) | €220 (~$245 USD) to €350 (~$390 USD) |
| Le Foch | €80 (~$90 USD) to €150 (~$170 USD) |
| Racine (2 stars) | €120 (~$135 USD) to €180 (~$200 USD) |
| Le Parc at Les Crayères (2 stars) | €150 (~$170 USD) to €250 (~$280 USD) |
Worked example: full day from Paris, group of 4
- Private driver, full day from Paris by van for four: ≈€325 (~$365 USD) per person
- 2 house visits (Taittinger + Veuve Clicquot): ≈€100 (~$110 USD) per person
- Lunch at Le Millénaire: ≈€100 (~$110 USD) per person
- Total: the driver, plus about €200 (~$225 USD) per person for visits and lunch (mid-range profile).
For a 6-hour format, the driver fee is prorated to the duration, quote on request.
How far ahead?
3 to 4 months ahead
If Dom Pérignon is essential, book now (very limited slots). Block the date with the private-driver service.
4 to 6 weeks ahead
Confirm dates and slots with other houses. Reserve starred restaurants (Le Parc, Racine).
2 to 3 weeks ahead
Final reconfirmations with houses and driver. Lock down hotel pickup times.
1 week ahead
Check the weather; plan a warm layer (cellars 10-12 °C, 50-54 °F). Review house websites for last-minute changes.
Drive time to Reims
Early-morning pickups (between 8 am and 9 am) are entirely realistic. Allow 15 min for hotel check-out.
| Hotel | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Le Bristol (8th) | 145 km | 2 hr |
| Ritz Paris (1st) | 147 km | 2 hr |
| Plaza Athénée (8th) | 143 km | 2 hr |
| Four Seasons George V (8th) | 145 km | 2 hr |
| Hôtel de Crillon (8th) | 146 km | 2 hr |
| Hôtel Costes (1st) | 150 km | 2 hr |
On site, the right habits
Dress code
Houses: smart casual. No athletic wear, no flip-flops. Warm layer (cellars ≈10-12 °C, 50-54 °F).
Starred restaurants: smart dress recommended. A jacket is appreciated at Le Parc and Racine.
Languages
English is widely spoken at the major houses (Veuve Clicquot, Moët, Ruinart, Taittinger).
Japanese: rarely available on tours; a Japanese-speaking guide can be booked in advance. Documents and audio guides sometimes available.
Tastings
2 to 4 tastings per house depending on the format (Brut, vintage, prestige cuvée).
Food pairing sometimes available as an option. Spittoons always provided.
Photography
Photos usually allowed in tasting rooms; stricter rules in cellars (sometimes no flash).
Modern smartphone or small mirrorless. Tripods typically not allowed.
Your questions before booking
Do I need to book the houses in advance?
Yes, in nearly all cases. Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, Dom Pérignon and most major houses are visit-by-reservation only. Allow 1-2 weeks for standard tours, several months for Dom Pérignon, and several weeks during high season (May to October).
Is Dom Pérignon worth the price?
For serious enthusiasts, yes. It is the region's most exclusive experience: a 2-hour private visit, 6 guests at most, two glasses of Dom Pérignon. The visit alone is €360 (~$400 USD) per person, only as part of a full day with a chauffeur, booked 3 to 4 months ahead.
Can I visit Reims and Épernay in the same day?
Yes, about 30 km separate the two (35-40 min by car). An 8-hour day fits 2-3 houses and a meal. The driver handles all logistics between the two hubs.
What if I don't drink alcohol?
Most houses offer juice, coffee, still or sparkling water. Tasting pours are around 30 ml: spitting, sharing or skipping is entirely accepted. Staff never judge.
Can we bring children?
Yes, but flag it when booking. Most houses welcome children on the tour; some tasting rooms ask them to wait outside. Mind the pace: very young children tire quickly.
Is lunch included in the house visits?
No, except for specific "lunch experience" formats at some houses (book ahead). Standard visits include a tasting and sometimes a few bites (cheese, savory crackers).
What is the best season?
Spring (April to May): mild weather, moderate crowds, lush vineyards.
Autumn (September to October): harvest usually from late August to mid-September, then golden vines in October; steady crowds.
Summer (June to August): warm, busy, some houses reduce their slots.
Winter (November to February): quiet; some houses close for several weeks (Ruinart from late December to late January, Perrier-Jouët from November to March) or open fewer days, like Veuve Clicquot: we check the calendar for your date.
Can a private driver help with reservations?
Yes, this is one of the main advantages of a professional service. Established drivers know the visitor-relations teams and can streamline access, group bookings and overall logistics. A few houses, such as Taittinger or Bollinger, are booked directly by the visitor, on their website or app: we then tell you exactly which tour and slot to book.
Can you organize a visit for a large group or corporate event?
Yes. We match the vehicle to the group size: sedan or van for 1 to 7 people, Mercedes minibus with 19 or 24 seats subject to availability, or several vehicles for larger parties, on quote. The big houses welcome groups on dedicated slots. Lead time: 2 to 3 months for groups above 20 people, more in peak season.
How much should I budget?
On top of the driver (see the cost table above), allow per person: about €100 (~$110 USD) to €150 (~$170 USD) for two houses and a simple lunch, €150 (~$170 USD) to €250 (~$280 USD) with a fine-dining lunch, €250 (~$280 USD) to €400 (~$445 USD) with three houses and a starred lunch, and €500 (~$560 USD) or more with Dom Pérignon.
Rather than plan it all, pick a tour we've already shaped
Each of these follows the spirit of the rhythms above, private chauffeur and logistics included. Visits and tastings are paid directly to each house.
Champagne Discovery Tour
A half-day introduction: one grand house and one grower, perfect for a first visit.
Crayères UNESCO Tour
The Gallo-Roman chalk cellars listed as World Heritage, beneath the Saint-Nicaise hill.
Avenue de Champagne
A day in Épernay along the “world's most beautiful avenue” and its dramatic cellars.
Under-the-Radar Champagne Growers
Grower champagnes off the beaten track, visited with just your own party.
Grape Varieties & Grands Crus
The three grape varieties, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier, across the Grand Cru villages.
All our tours
An overview of our Champagne tours and the houses we drive you to.