Two days is the sweet spot for Champagne: enough for the grand houses of Reims and the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, a grower off the beaten track, one memorable dinner, and an unhurried pace between tastings. Here is a two-day itinerary, where to stay and eat, and how to do it all from Paris, with a driver at your disposal so no one watches the clock or the road.
Why two days works
A single day in Champagne is wonderful but full. A weekend lets the region breathe: Reims and its cathedral on the first day, Épernay and the vineyards on the second, with time for two or three house visits, a grower, a proper dinner and a slow morning. It also opens the door to what a day trip cannot fit: a Grand Cru village, Hautvillers, a vineyard walk, or a starred table without rushing for the last train.
The two towns are only 28 km / 17 mi apart, so a weekend is comfortable from either base. The itinerary below runs Reims first, then Épernay, but it works just as well reversed. With a private driver across both days, you move between houses and villages on your own schedule, and everyone can taste freely.
Reims: the coronation city
Arrive in the morning and start with Notre-Dame de Reims, the UNESCO coronation cathedral (the Palais du Tau next door is closed for renovation until late 2027). Reims is compact, so the great houses are minutes away.
A first-day rhythm
- Morning: the cathedral and the old center, with a coffee on Place Drouet-d'Erlon.
- Lunch: a city brasserie, or a fine table if you want to make a moment of it.
- Afternoon: one or two grand houses, ideally above the crayères, the UNESCO chalk cellars beneath the Saint-Nicaise hill. Visit Veuve Clicquot or Taittinger, or see our Crayères UNESCO tour.
- Evening: dinner in Reims, from a lively bistro to a starred dining room, then a night in the city. For a full hour-by-hour plan, see our One day in Reims itinerary.
Épernay and the vineyards
Drive south through the vineyards of the Montagne de Reims to Épernay, about 30 minutes. The second day trades the city for the vines and the intimate scale of the Avenue de Champagne.
A second-day rhythm
- Morning: the Avenue de Champagne, with a visit to a grand house such as Moët & Chandon, above kilometers of cellars.
- Midday: a stop in Hautvillers, the hillside village where Dom Pérignon worked, with views over the vines.
- Lunch: a vineyard table or a lunch with a grower, more personal than a grand house.
- Afternoon: a small independent grower for a different, hands-on side of Champagne, then back toward Paris or Reims at your own pace. See our Avenue de Champagne tour.
Not sure how to split the two towns? Our companion guide Reims or Épernay compares them in detail.
Choosing a base
Reims, for the city
The widest choice of hotels and restaurants, walkable at night, and the fastest arrival from Paris. Ideal if you want a city break with your Champagne. At the top end, Domaine Les Crayères offers a park setting and a celebrated table.
Épernay or the vineyards, for the setting
Smaller and more intimate, right among the vines, with vineyard hotels on the surrounding hillsides. Ideal if the wine and the landscape are the point.
One base or two
With only 28 km / 17 mi between the towns, a single base works well for both days. Choose Reims for city energy or the Épernay side for a quieter, wine-country weekend. A driver makes either base effortless, since the daily transfers are handled for you.
Tables for a weekend
- A starred dinner: Reims and its surroundings hold several fine dining rooms, from a three-star destination to elegant one-star tables. Book well ahead and let the chauffeur handle the drive home.
- A bistro night: the streets around Place Drouet-d'Erlon in Reims offer relaxed regional cooking and Champagne by the glass.
- A grower's lunch: on day two, a table with a vigneron pairs local dishes with the estate's own cuvées, a highlight many prefer to any grand dining room.
- Local flavors: the pink biscuit of Reims, the local ham, and regional cheeses make good souvenirs along the way.
Weekend variations
First-timer's weekend
The big names: two grand houses in Reims, one on the Avenue de Champagne, the cathedral and Hautvillers. The complete introduction, unhurried.
Wine-lover's weekend
Fewer big houses, more growers and terroir: a Grand Cru village, a blending or cellar-focused visit, and lunch with a vigneron.
Romantic weekend
A vineyard hotel, a starred dinner, a slow morning in Hautvillers, and, with a grower who offers it, a private tasting just for the two of you.
Group or celebration
For a larger party, our minibus keeps everyone together across both days, from house to house and dinner to hotel, with one booking and no one left to drive.
Arriving, then getting around all weekend
- From Paris: 45 minutes by TGV to Reims, then a driver for the weekend. The easiest way in.
- From CDG airport: a private transfer from CDG to Reims brings you door to door; a first tasting on the way can be added, quoted separately.
- Across two days: a car at your disposal takes care of every transfer, from hotel to houses to dinner and between the two towns, so the weekend flows without timetables.
- When to come: every season has its appeal; see our guide on when to visit Champagne.
Your questions about the weekend
Is two days enough for Champagne?
Yes, two days is the ideal length. It covers Reims and Épernay, two or three house visits, a grower, a great dinner and an unhurried pace, without the rush of a single day.
Should I base myself in Reims or Épernay?
Reims for city energy and the widest choice of hotels and restaurants; the Épernay side for a quieter, wine-country stay. With only 28 km / 17 mi between them, either base works for both days.
How many houses can you visit over a weekend?
Comfortably three to four across two days, mixing grand houses with a grower, plus the cathedral, Hautvillers and a good lunch. A driver between visits keeps the pace relaxed.
Can you do a Champagne weekend from Paris without a car?
Yes. Take the TGV to Reims and use a private driver for the two days. No parking to find, no drinking and driving, no rural transfers to sort out, and everyone can taste.
Is a weekend good for a group or celebration?
Very much so. Our minibus keeps a larger group together across both days, house to house and dinner to hotel, with a single booking and no designated driver.
Do we need to book the houses and restaurants ahead?
Yes, especially in peak season. House visits run on set times and starred tables fill early, so confirm both before the weekend and build the days around them.
Build your weekend with a chauffeur
Each one is private, chauffeur and logistics included. Visits and tastings are paid on site, at the house of your choice.
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 in Reims.
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 classified villages.
All our tours
An overview of our Champagne tours and the houses we drive you to, in Reims and Épernay.