Escape the hustle and bustle of Paris for a day to discover one of the jewels of French heritage: the Champagne. At only 1 hour 30 minutes from Paris, The Champagne vineyards offer a fantastic diversity of experiences: cellar visits, champagne tastings, discovering the great Champagne Houses, wine villages and landscapes listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.’UNESCO.
Among the most iconic destinations, Reims and Épernay These are two essential stops on a Champagne excursion from Paris. Reims charms with its historical heritage and the grand Champagne houses located around the city, while Épernay is famous for its prestigious Champagne Avenue and its kilometers of underground cellars.
But a day in Champagne isn't limited to these two cities. Champagne Route It also allows you to meet independent winemakers, discover villages in the heart of the vineyard and build an itinerary perfectly suited to your desires.
To fully enjoy a day of tasting, transportation is obviously essential. Between safety, comfort, the ability to transport your purchases, and the freedom to enjoy the tastings, a Coach or minibus excursion with driver from Paris constitutes a solution particularly suited to groups.
In this article, Francebus offers several route ideas for organizing a day trip to Champagne from Paris, as well as a selection of major Houses to visit and advice on choosing the right vehicle for your group.
Why take a trip to Champagne from Paris with a driver?
A visit to Champagne is, by definition, an invitation to tasting. Whether it's discovering the cuvées of a major House or the champagnes of an independent winemaker, the pleasure should not be hindered by logistical concerns.
- Safety and responsibility: The designated driver is the one who doesn't drink. With a professional driver, all participants can enjoy the tastings without having to get behind the wheel.
- Door-to-door convenience: Your driver can pick up your group in Paris, at your hotel or at a pre-arranged meeting point, and then take you back at the end of the day.
- Time saving: no need to coordinate multiple cars, search for parking spaces or manage public transport schedules.
- Knowledge of the terrain: A professional driver knows the main access routes to Reims, Épernay and the wine-growing villages of Champagne.
- Transport of purchases: The vehicles have a space to return bottles and gift sets purchased during the day.
For a group of friends, a family, a company or an association, the hire of a coach with driver from Paris This allows the journey to become a truly integral part of the experience.
The best day trips to Champagne from Paris: 4 itineraries
Champagne is not limited to a single route. Depending on your interests — heritage, prestigious Champagne houses, gastronomy or discovering winemakers — several itineraries can be imagined.
🗺️ 1. Reims: Heritage, History and Great Champagne Houses
Reims is probably the most obvious choice for a first trip to Champagne from Paris. The city combines historical heritage, gastronomy, and the presence of several major Champagne houses.
A day can begin with a discovery of the historic center of Reims and its famous Notre-Dame Cathedral, before continuing with a cellar visit and tasting at a major winery.
- Morning: Departure from Paris followed by exploration of the historic centre of Reims and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
- Lunch : restaurant in Reims or in the surrounding vineyards.
- Afternoon : Visit to a large Champagne House and tasting in the chalk cellars.
- End of day: return to Paris by coach or minibus with driver.
This formula is particularly suited to those looking for a day trip from Paris to Reims combining cultural tourism and champagne discovery.
🗺️ 2. Épernay and the Avenue de Champagne: at the heart of the great Champagne Houses
For a day more dedicated to champagne, head towards Épernay. The city is famous worldwide for its Champagne Avenue, bordered by the private mansions of the great Houses.
An excursion to Épernay allows you to visit one or more Champagne Houses, go down into the cellars and discover the different stages of champagne production.
- Morning: Departure from Paris and arrival in Épernay.
- Morning: Discovering the Avenue de Champagne and visiting a grand Champagne House.
- Lunch : restaurant in Épernay or in a nearby wine-growing village.
- Afternoon : second visit or tasting with a winemaker.
- End of day: back to Paris.
This is the ideal route for those looking for a day trip to Épernay from Paris focused on cellars, tastings and major wineries.
🗺️ 3. Reims and the wine-growing villages: heritage and terroir
For a more complete exploration of Champagne, it is possible to combine Reims and the vineyard. This formula allows you to combine a cultural visit with a meeting with an independent winemaker.
- Morning: Visit to Reims and its cathedral.
- Lunch : lunch in the vineyard.
- Afternoon : Discovery of an independent winegrowers' estate and tasting.
- Back : departure from the vineyard towards Paris.
This formula offers a good balance between the must-sees of Reims and a more authentic approach to the Champagne terroir.
🗺️ 4. Hillsides and architecture: Châlons-en-Champagne and L'Épine
To get off the beaten track, an excursion to Châlons-en-Champagne offers an original alternative. Nicknamed the "Sparkling Venice", the city allows you to discover another facet of the Champagne heritage.
- Morning: visit to the Basilica of the Thorn, flamboyant monument located in the middle of the fields, then on to Châlons for a boat trip on the city's historic canals.
- Lunch : The Caudalies, housed in a superb 19th century mansion and offering a particularly interesting wine list.
- Afternoon : visit to the Maison Joseph Perrier, whose ground-floor cellars offer a more intimate atmosphere.
💡 Cargo hold capacity: One of the great pleasures of a trip to Champagne is being able to bring home the wines discovered during the tastings. Francebus vehicles have ample cargo space to transport your bottles, gift sets, or cases comfortably, without you having to worry about them being inconvenient during the day.
The great Champagne houses to visit in Reims and Épernay 🍾
Reims and Épernay are home to some of the world's most prestigious Champagne houses. A cellar tour offers insight into the history of these brands, their production methods, and their unique relationship with the terroir.
✨ Veuve Clicquot House (Reims)
- The experience: This is one of the most popular tours. The House pays tribute to Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, the "Grande Dame of Champagne", a major figure in the history of the House.
- The best part: The tours take place in chalk quarries, former chalk cellars, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The underground galleries offer a spectacular atmosphere and allow you to discover the history of the House in a different way.
Learn more on the official Veuve Clicquot website.
✨ Moët & Chandon House (Épernay)
- The experience: Located on the prestigious Avenue de Champagne, this Champagne House is one of the world's leading champagne producers. The tour immerses visitors in the history of Jean-Rémy Moët and the House.
- The best part: Its vast network of cellars, stretching 28 kilometers, offers a spectacular immersion beneath Épernay. The visit concludes with a tasting.
Learn more on the official Moët & Chandon website
✨ Maison Taittinger (Reims)
- The experience: Taittinger is one of the great Champagne houses to have maintained its family independence. The tour notably highlights the influence of Chardonnay.
- The best part: The cellars are located beneath the former Saint-Nicaise Abbey. Medieval remains mingle with ancient chalk quarries to create a particularly rich historical and architectural experience.
Learn more on the official Taittinger House website
✨ Maison Pommery (Reims)
- The experience: Madame Pommery revolutionized the market by developing a particularly dry Brut champagne in the 19th century. The estate boasts spectacular neo-Gothic architecture.
- The best part: The chalk quarries regularly host contemporary artworks. The 116-step staircase leading to the cellars is one of the highlights of the visit.
Learn more on the official Pommery website
✨ Maison Ruinart (Reims)
- The experience: Founded in 1729, Ruinart is the oldest Champagne House. It gives a central place to Chardonnay and its prestige cuvées.
- The best part: The Ruinart chalk cellars are among the deepest and most spectacular in Reims, reaching depths of up to 38 meters. The House also maintains a close link with the art world.
Learn more on the official Maison Ruinart website
✨ Maison Perrier-Jouët (Épernay)
- The experience: Known for its bottles adorned with Japanese anemones designed by Émile Gallé, the House is closely linked to Art Nouveau.
- The best part: The discovery of Perrier-Jouët, particularly the Belle Époque House, combines heritage, nature and art. A particularly interesting stop for design enthusiasts.
Learn more on the official website of Maison Perrier-Jouët
✨ Maison Billecart-Salmon (Mareuil-sur-Aÿ)
- The experience: Though smaller in size than some of the larger houses, Billecart-Salmon enjoys a strong reputation among sommeliers. The family-run winery is located in the heart of the vineyards.
- The best part: Its French-style garden and more intimate approach make it an interesting stop for visitors wishing to better understand winemaking and Rosé Champagne.
Learn more on the official Billecart-Salmon House website.
How to organize a day trip to Champagne from Paris?
A day trip from Paris to Champagne It requires a minimum of organization, especially if you wish to visit several sites and participate in tastings.
Book cellar tours in advance
Tours of the major Champagne houses generally require reservations. To create a coherent itinerary, it's best to set the tour times before choosing the other activities for the day.
Allow sufficient time for travel.
A successful excursion isn't about cramming in as many visits as possible. It's important to leave time for lunch, enjoy the villages you pass through, and avoid spending the day rushing from one appointment to the next.
Choose between Reims, Épernay or both
For a first exploration, Reims is particularly interesting for its heritage and its great Houses. Épernay is a must-see for its Avenue de Champagne and its atmosphere entirely focused on the vineyard.
It is also possible to combine the two cities, provided that visits are carefully selected and travel times are taken into account.
Plan for the transport of the bottles
Tastings can quickly turn into purchases. A sufficiently large luggage compartment is therefore a real advantage for a trip to Champagne. This allows you to buy a few bottles or several cases without having to transport them in the passenger compartment.
Which vehicle should I choose for a trip to Champagne?
There bus hire with driver from Paris It adapts to the size of your group. The vehicle can also be chosen according to the desired level of comfort and the amount of luggage or purchases to be transported.
- Premium minivan – 8 passengers: Ideal for a family or small group of friends wishing to organize a private excursion.
- Minibus – up to 19 passengers: a solution suitable for medium-sized groups, associations or small professional groups.
- Luxury Touring Coach – 49 seats and more: The ideal solution for large groups, companies, associations or organized excursions.
- High-end sedan: suitable for private transfers or small groups seeking a higher standard of service.
In any case, the benefit of a coach with driver The same applies: your group travels together, no one has to drive after the tastings, and you can fully enjoy your day.
Why choose Francebus for your Champagne excursion?
Francebus will assist you in organizing your Champagne excursion from Paris, whether it's a day in Reims, a visit to Épernay, a tour on the Champagne Route or a personalized itinerary in the vineyards.
We adapt the vehicle to the number of participants and your program:
- 8-seater minivans for small groups; ;
- 19-seater minibus for intermediate groups; ;
- coaches with 49 seats or more for large groups; ;
- high-end sedans for private transfers.
Choosing Francebus means ensuring:
✅ comfort
✅ safety
✅ punctuality
✅ serenity
✅ quality of service
Our goal is simple: to allow you to focus on your visit to Champagne, the landscapes, the cellars and the tastings, while we take care of the transport.
Request your free quote for your Champagne excursion from Paris.
FAQ: Champagne excursion from Paris
Is it possible to visit Champagne from Paris in one day?
Yes. Reims, Épernay, and several villages in the Champagne wine region are accessible from Paris as part of a day trip. With a well-planned itinerary, it's possible to combine heritage sites, cellar visits, lunch, and wine tasting.
How long does it take to get from Paris to Reims?
Reims is about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Paris by road under normal traffic conditions. For a group, a minibus or coach with driver allows you to travel together and enjoy the journey without having to manage the driving.
Is it possible to travel from Paris to Reims in one day?
Yes. One. day trip from Paris to Reims allows you to discover the cathedral, the historic center and one or more major Champagne houses before returning to Paris in the evening.
Is it possible to visit Épernay from Paris in a day?
Yes. One. day trip to Épernay from Paris is particularly suited to visitors wishing to discover the Avenue de Champagne, visit a great House and enjoy a tasting in the vineyard.
What is the best destination for a first trip to Champagne?
Reims and Épernay are the two most obvious destinations for a first visit. Reims is particularly suited to lovers of heritage and prestigious Champagne houses, while Épernay is ideal for discovering the Avenue de Champagne and the world of wine.
Is it possible to organize a private tour in Champagne with a driver?
Yes. Francebus can organize a Private transport with driver from Paris for a family, a group of friends, a company or an association, with an itinerary tailored to your desires and the number of participants.
Can we bring back champagne purchased during the excursion?
Yes. The vehicles have a cargo area for transporting your purchases. For larger groups, a coach offers particularly convenient luggage space.
A day trip to Champagne departing from Paris, at your own pace
Reims, Épernay, the grand Champagne houses, the independent winemakers, the villages and the hillsides: Champagne offers enough riches to build a day trip from Paris adapted to each group.
You can choose to spend a cultural day in Reims, dedicate your excursion to the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, or create a more intimate itinerary to meet the winemakers.
In any case, the transport with driver allows you to fully enjoy the experience, travel together and discover Champagne without having to worry about driving after the tastings.
Contact Francebus to organize your next trip to Champagne from Paris.
