Reims was a city in France that we looked up because we really wanted to visit the Champagne area. We didn’t really stay in Reims but more in the countryside because we wanted to explore it a bit more and to enjoy the peace and solitude. The number of things to do in Reims pretty much surprised me.
Okay so they won’t keep you busy day after day but it is a peaceful city. You can leisurely wander through from attraction to attraction, eat at some of the most iconic places in town and enjoy some of the museums in the city.
We spent a day in Reims and we had a lot of rain. So we alternated our day between indoor and outdoor activities in Reims. It made for an interesting day in the city and we still saw a lot.
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Table of Contents
Where To Stay In Reims, France
One of the questions that I always get asked is where to stay in Reims, France. That’s part of the reason, I’m starting off this guide to things to do in Reims with this section. Where you stay determines the ease at which you can do things, it also determines your costs and is dependent on your mobility. Since we were on a road trip, we decided to stay outside the city. Staying in the Champagne countryside appealed to us and it was cheaper.
If you however are dependent on the public transport system, I would recommend staying in the city because Reims is super walkable. It is easy to get from place to place and you can easily find places to eat and chill at.
Here are a couple of places that are really good options when it comes to where to stay in Reims.
Ibis budget Reims Parc Des Expositions – Budget
⭐️ Rating: 8/10 (2,189 Reviews) Price: $89 per night 📍Location: 2 Rue Gabriel Voisin, Reims Details: Read more on booking.com now!
One of my favorite budget hotels to stay in is the Ibis range. This is because they are always functional, generally have a communal kitchen and are great if you want a safe space to crash. Generally speaking, they are often also budget friendly. The Ibis budget in Reims is one such example.
Now its not located right in the heart of the city though which is one drawback. One of the great things about this hotel is that it has free private parking which makes it great if you are on a road trip and don’t want to shell out lots of money on parking fees.
“Friendly front desk on arrival. Smooth check in process. Free parking on site. Easy drive into town. Comfortable room.”
Dave (read more reviews now!)
As with all hotels in the chain, the rooms are well equipped, have an AC (particularly important on hot days) and even has a morning continental breakfast that you can indulge in.
Best Western Premier Hotel de la Paix – Mid-Range
⭐️ Rating: 8.8/10 (5,728 Reviews) Price: $183 per night 📍Location: 9 rue Buirette, Reims Details: Read more on booking.com now!
The Best Western is well known but the one in Reims is particularly cool. It sits about in the mid range where budget is concerned but it is located just 600 meters away from the city center which means that you can pretty much walk everywhere.
For me this is a big bonus especially when we travel with kids. It means that you can always come home and put the kids to sleep for sometime or just chill mid day if you want to.
In addition to the epic contemporary styled rooms, you will find that the hotel has an indoor swimming pool so you can rake up the laps no matter what weather you visit in. Its one of those hotels that you enjoy spending time in as much as you enjoy wandering around Reims.
“Location was spot-on in the centre of Reims, but in a location that’s slightly quieter than the main street. We stayed on a Sunday evening so I think we may have been slightly upgraded, but the room was exceptional and being on the fifth floor had bi-fold doors out onto a private balcony overlooking the internal quadrangle with a great view of the cathedral.
Staff were excellent, particularly the young chap with the braids who served us early evening dinner in the bar.”
Paul (read more reviews now!)
On good days when the sun is shining you can enjoy the rooftop terrace too. There’s also an onsite restaurant.
La Caserne Chanzy Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection – Luxury
⭐️ Rating: 8.7/10 (1,530 Reviews) Price: $318 per night 📍Location: 18 Rue Tronsson Ducoudray, Reims Details: Read more on booking.com now!
Now if you want to stay in the lap of luxury in Reims and be pampered during your trip, I would recommend staying at the La Caserne Chanzy Hotel & Spa. It is located right next to the Reims Cathedral so it is as central as it gets. In fact, one of the prime attractions is the views of the cathedral that you can get from its rooms!
All the rooms are well equipped with everything that you would expect in a five star hotel. In addition to all the regular stuff, this hotel also has an inhouse spa where you can lounge and relax after walking the city.
Obviously it has a sauna, a hot tub and a steam room. You can see what I’m getting at right?
“The location was amazing. Our room had a spectacular view of the Reims cathedral. And it was a short, pleasant walk to world-class champagne tasting, many local restaurants, and one of the best Christmas markets in France.”
Michael (read more reviews now!)
When it comes to food, the in house restaurant La Grande Georgette is very popular. You could alternatively head out for food and then come back for a drink at the bar which is a great way to meet other guests.
Iconic Things To Do In Reims, France
1. The Royal Palace Aka Tau Palace
The Tau palace is one of the most iconic attractions in Reims. I had not done my research about it before we visited but as we were walking by, we saw the grand structure and stopped to see it. The one beauty of traveling nowadays is that the internet always provides an answer to your questions so my lapse in research did not take away from visiting it.
The Tau Palace served as the residence of the kings of France. This was used when they headed to Reims for their coronation ceremony. Today the palace still stands strong and reminds us of a time gone by. It has all the splendor of the Middle ages from the sculptures, tapestries, paintings etc.
2. Cathedral Notre Dame Of Reims
As with all the cities of France that we have visited to date, we found the main cathedral of Reims was gorgeous. It towered above us and as the wind and rain pelted us, we felt the wind tunnel all around the cathedral.
The Cathedral Notre Dame of Reims has an important part in history. It is known as the traditional coronation place of the Kings of France. Yes! It is that important.
Intriguingly enough the cathedral was constructed way back in the 5th century. While it is still standing, the cathedral has suffered through history and had to be repaired and reconstructed.
As it was reconstructed, changes were made but in essence you will see the iconic Gothic architecture. It is also considered one of the most important architectural structures in France.
The best part is that the cathedral is free to enter. It is warm and it is a great place to visit if you are looking for things to do in Reims when it rains.
3. Statue Of Jeanne D’Arc
Right next to the Cathedral of Notre Dame is a statue of Jeanne D’Arc. She is a patron saint of France and you will find her mentioned all over the city. This statue is one of the iconic attractions in Reims. Honestly if you ask me, there is nothing extra special about the statue but it is super close to the cathedral and will take less than a minute to head there and see it.
4. Cryptoportique
One of the interesting things to do in Reims is to visit the Cryptoportique. This is the oldest part of the city and a very interesting part if I do say so myself. You could actually be forgiven if you walked by without realizing its importance.
The word is derived from Latin where ‘Crypta’ and ‘Porticus’ referred to a sheltered corridor. Despite the fact that it was built in the 3rd century, you will find that the Cryptoportique is still in remarkable condition. There are often tours organized here but they don’t take place in winter.
5. Place Drouet d’Erlon
Place Drouet d’Erlon is an iconic fountain in Reims. You’ll see it while you are wandering around the city. It’s not one of the things to do in Reims that you have to chase after but it is very very pretty and I highly recommend making your way towards it. Plus, the area around it is surrounded by some really nice restaurants.
Things To Do In Reims With Children
Reims is one of those cities that is great for people of all ages. Heading there as a couple, you’ll find romantic things to do. Just want to travel solo, you can do that too. It was however one of the cities in France that impressed me because of the number of things to do in Reims that were kid friendly.
6. Les Hautes Promenades
Our first stop was right where we parked our car. The Hautes Promenades is a long strip of land which is a garden. There are lots of activities here for children of all ages and adults too. From swings and hammocks, to places to chill, you will find that this is one of the best places to be when the sun shines bright.
It is also a square that is used for events so when you are in the city keep an eye out for any activities here. Mind you, the Hautes Promenades isn’t located right in the city center. Instead, it is one of the things to do in Reims that is on the outskirts of the city.
7. Square Charles Sarazin
We were wandering around the center of the city when we saw this absolutely adorable little garden. From the outside it looks like hardly anything but when you enter you will find that it has a lot of different playground equipment. It is a nice quiet place away from the crowds if you want some quiet time with your kids. You know when they get overwhelmed by their surroundings and need to just be kids.
8. Le Petite Malle (Board Game Cafe)
Okay, this is one of the things to do in Reims for kids that might not be for everyone. Shawn and I are avid gamers and we introduced our kids to a lot of kids travel games from a very young age. They also play pretty advanced games.
We stepped into Le Petite Malle to get away from the rain and it was super cozy. While the games weren’t our usual travel games, there were a lot of interesting ones to choose from. The attendants are always happy to help you learn a new game.
Ideally speaking this isn’t a place you would go with toddlers unless they are used to games. I would recommend it for kids above 8 years old.
Things To Do In Reims Related To Food
The thing about Reims is that it has a lot of great places to eat. I don’t mean just average spots but really really good food. So if you want to check in a couple of places for a quick bite, these were the places that we stopped at during our day in Reims.
9. Emelie And The Cool Kids
This is one funky café in Reims and has a lot of variety. Note that the café has two branches. We sat at the one next to the Cryptoportique because it had a nice view and it was close to where we were. The café is also pretty budget friendly with lots of formulas aka combination orders that you can choose from.
While I found the coffee average, the pastries here were excellent. Shawn had the bagel sandwich which was layered up with all sorts of goodies and loved it. In fact, it was so good that I ordered one for myself too.
Another good part about it is that you will feel extremely unrushed here. Its a place to come, sit down and enjoy your time. Not an eat and run kinda place. You can however get a takeaway if the seats are all full which they tend to be during lunch hours.
10. Boulangerie Pâtisserie Paintagruélique – Boulangerie épicurienne
We stumbled across this place while were ticking off things to do in Reims. The reason why we noticed it was because of the huge lines in front of the shop. Mind you, this was all locals. The shop does not have a place to sit but its a great place to catch one of the legendary pastries. Just parcel it and head to one of the squares to enjoy them in the nice open air.
Take Some Tours
If you stay in the city then one of the absolute best things to do in Reims is to head out on day trips. Obviously wine and champagne tasting has to be a part of these tours. You can’t really visit Champagne without trying them out. Here are a couple of ones that I would recommend.
11. Champagne And Family Run Wineries Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.8/5 (282 Reviews) Price: $125 per person Duration: 4.5 hours 📍Meeting Point: Reims city center train station Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
While the numerous things to do in Reims attracts people to the city, you will find that the most popular thing to do is to visit the Champagne region.
One of the best way is to head out and visit the family run wineries. These are not as commercial as many of the bigger company tours that you see across the world.
In fact, I found the the tours of family run wineries super cozy because they always have a story.
You know just how they started, how many years they’ve been around, how many generations they’ve had the winery in their family… It is also interesting to learn about Champagne from people who have spent their whole lives just refining the beverage.
You will get to wander through the cellars, see how the champagne is prepared and stored. Another cool thing is to see all the traditional ways in which champagne was made.
This particular tour also takes you to the village of Hautvillers. This is the birthplace of Champagne so its pretty interesting. You also get to visit the church where the famous monk Dom Pérignon is buried.
“Excellent tour! Small group (7) and transport in a brand new tour van. Very comfortable. This was an awesome and complete tour of the champagne experiences that one should not miss!
It included a quick overview of Reims followed by a stop at Dom Perignon’s monastery and burial site. Then a stop to enjoy a beautiful view of the vines and discuss the process of caring for the vines and a drive through Èpernay.
It concluded with exceptional two tours of family run winemakers. This was awesome since Reims is filled with much larger producers. This tour provided a unique perspective. Excellent!”
Kyle (read more reviews now!)
This is totally the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the tour which is why I recommend it. Plus you do everything in comfort without worrying about transport or driving after consuming alcohol.
12. Sabrage Technique Workshop and Champagne Tasting
⭐️ Rating: 4.7/5 (54 Reviews) Price: $95 per person Duration: 1.5 hours 📍Meeting Point: Champagne Canard-Duchêne. Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
This workshop is a particularly cool and interesting one. I know there are loads of champagne tasting activities that can be indulged in but the sabrage tecnhique workshop offers you an opportunity to learn how to wield a sword and open a champagne bottle that way. You actually get a swordsman diploma in sabrage after this which is what makes it extra cool.
“Thank you team for that amazing experience, and delicious champagne . We spent beautiful time on winery , and we learned very interesting technical to open the bottle. Highly recommended 👍👍👍👍”
Elena (read more reviews now!)
Obviously, you get to drink the contents of the bottle you open so you can savor the taste of the local champagne. Did I mention that this is all done on the grounds of the Golden Saber Academy? For those of you who love history (like me!), you will enjoy listening to the history of sword making when it comes to these particular swords.
13. Verdun Battlefield Tour
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (23 Reviews) Price: $434 for 2 people Duration: 6 hours 📍Meeting Point: Reims Central Train Station Details: Read more on Viator!
If you’ve finished off with your Champagne tours and fancy learning a bit about the history of World War I, you will find that the Verdun Battlefield tour is something that will interest you. Here you will get to walk through fortifications, trenches and monuments that were associated with the battle.
The best part is that it is a small group tour with a local guide. This means that the pace is slower and you can ask as many questions as you want. Along the way, your guide will recount stories of this battle and tell you about the sacrifices that the soldiers made.
I have visited a similar spot near Arras and I can attest that these stories are moving and emotional. You will also get a chance to see the ossuary.
“This was an important day on our three week stay in France and was beyond worth it. Roger was fantastic! As a local and former history teacher, he REALLY knows his stuff. My son is a history buff, and the two hit it off immediately. So many details and visualizations. Just wonderful. A truly meaningful day.”
Andria (read more reviews now!)
The numerous crosses scattered across the countryside will give you an understanding of the cost of the battle and the number of people who laid down their lives here.
Other iconic spots that you will see on this tour include Fort Douaumont, Fleury, Tranchee des Baionnettes and Monument Maginot.
That wraps up my entire guide to the things to do in Reims and the other tips that I had to offer on the city. Reims is truly one of the cities in Paris that I enjoyed. I did not have a lot of expectations but it exceeded it on all fronts.
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