Best Things to Do in Reims

Many people think that the best things to do in Reims during Christmas, October, August or the rest of the year have to do with exploring its vineyards because it is where the world famous champagne comes from. However, the reality is that this city has much more to offer and is an excellent tourist destination for both young and old travellers and even for a whole family group including children.

So, I advise you to keep reading this post, as I will tell you about 10 plans and activities that stand out for their convenience and entertainment potential, which will make the tourist planning of your trip to Reims a real success from start to finish.

As champagne is one of the great protagonists of this city and the region in which it is located, you can imagine that a guided tour that takes you directly to some of the most famous cellars is a highly recommended plan. In this context, an excursion to the headquarters of Moët et Chandon is something not to be missed, as this is the most famous champagne producer in the world, which makes this idea one of the best one-day tours from Reims.

You should know that this drink is characterised by its quality, as well as by its pale yellow tone in which the fruit is perceived on the palate of the consumer. The cellars of this champagne-producing company are more than two centuries old and these vineyards have had a designation of origin since the beginning of the 20th century, making it one of the first brands to achieve this quality distinction.

So it is almost always a relatively private tour for a limited group of people. Transport is usually in an air-conditioned minivan and the experience includes a tasting of at least 10 different types of champagne produced by the company. Also included is the accompaniment of a guide who is a specialist in the history of champagne and this particular brand.

Details of interest:

• Price: the tour usually costs around 200 euros per person, which is logical given that this is an exclusive experience.
• Duration: The total duration of this type of sightseeing tour is approximately nine hours.

The Battle of Verdun was a wartime event of the First World War in which Germany and France engaged in a constant and direct confrontation for almost a year. The battle actually lasted 303 days and was one of the longest and most costly in human history. Some historians claim that there were almost 700,000 casualties as a direct consequence of this conflict.

Today, the site where this battle took place has a very significant historical importance. For this reason, there are guided tours that take you to see the different monuments on the site, as well as the interactive trail where people can see how the trench battle was fought.

Without a doubt, it is one of the main tourist attractions of this city and its surroundings. So a guided or self-guided tour is one of the best things to do on a two-day trip to Reims.

But a private tour is a much better plan because it offers you the logistics of learning about this historic event without the hassle of transport. Let alone paying entrance fees for the various memorials.

Details of interest:

• Price: the price of this type of tour is usually around 350 euros.
• Duration: The walk usually lasts about five hours in total, although it may be extended or shortened depending on the weather.

The Palais du Tau is an archiepiscopal palace within the city of Reims. Its importance has to do with the French monarchy and together with the basilica of Saint-Remi and the cathedral of the city were named World Heritage by Unesco. So in a way it is one of the most important buildings in French history, as well as in the history of Catholicism.

This palace was the residence where the kings stayed just before their official consecration and that means it was the place where the person dressed and got ready before leaving for the cathedral. For almost 800 years, this place hosted royal or imperial banquets, as the first one took place in the year 990 and the last one in 1825.

It is definitely a place not to be missed during your visit to this city. Especially taking into account that nowadays there is a museum with a permanent exhibition in which monarchic jewels that belonged even to a king as old as Charlemagne are exhibited.

Also, you should know that it is a site that is part of the attractions of the tourist pass of the city of Reims and, therefore, it is a service that you should invest in if you want to save money throughout your trip.

Reims is distinguished for being a city full of natural spaces, which is logical knowing that the fields for the production of champagne are its main tourist attraction. For this reason, one of the best things to do in this city is to enjoy a ride through its streets and its surroundings while pedalling an electric bicycle.

You should know that the experience is usually organised for small groups of people. It is also common to include the accompaniment of one or two guides who are specialists in the history of the Champagne region. In fact, it usually covers different villages on the outskirts of the city, which means that it is a tour of both the city centre of Reims and the surrounding communities.

As it is a sporting activity, it is very entertaining for family groups and it is even common for lunch and wine tasting to be offered on some part of the itinerary. At least on guided tours. The best thing about it is that the experience takes you specifically to the places you should see on a three-day visit to Reims. As such, it may be a more favourable investment than starting out cycling on your own on the region's roads.

Details of interest:

• Price: if you decide to go for the guided tour, you should know that it usually costs around 170 euros per person. But this includes the wine tasting as well as the guide's fee and lunch, if included. Renting an electric bicycle per hour in the city should be around 5 to 10 euros approximately.
• Duration: an excursion like this usually lasts seven hours, but keep in mind that it covers a large part of the area around Reims, which is part of the historic Champagne region. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims is another of the wonders of this city that you can't miss no matter how short or long your trip is. It is one of the main catholic churches in the world and it is definitely one of the most representative temples of gothic architecture in France. For these reasons, it is advisable that you know how to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral in Reims, either with a guided tour or on your own.

You should keep in mind that locating it within the urban landscape of this town is not complicated, since it is the tallest building in the city and for several centuries it was also the tallest building in this section of France. You should also bear in mind that it is a very old building, dating from the 11th century, and therefore predates cathedrals such as those in the city of Strasbourg or Amiens.

If you are interested in a guided tour, you should know that the cathedral itself offers them free of charge, and if you need to book them, you can do so via its website. You should also bear in mind that it is open every day from 7:30 in the morning and that admission is completely free so that you can spend as much time as you like exploring its architectural and artistic details.

Porte Mars translates as Mars Gate and basically consists of an ancient Gallo-Roman triumphal arch that was the gateway to the city of Reims and dates back to the 3rd century. It was built at the time when the Roman Empire was extending into this part of Europe and for many historians it is one of the most impressive monuments of what is considered to be the ancient age. That while, at the same time, it is the widest triumphal arch built during Roman times.

In fact, it is the oldest still standing, at least of those north of the Alps and all these reasons make it a site worth visiting in the city of Reims. You should know that it is in a square bearing the same name and that it is part of a trail of public parks that are worth visiting for their beauty and for being totally free entertainment.

You should also bear in mind that the train station is right next to this part of the city and, therefore, it is highly recommended that you go and see this arch as soon as you arrive in the city. At least if this is your means of transport.

Despite the fact that Reims is a significantly small city with not many squares, there is still one place you shouldn't miss and which you should dedicate several hours to in order to capture its true essence. It is the Place Royale and is basically the most representative square of the city and is located in what is roughly the geographical centre of the community.

It is quite close to the cathedral and therefore for centuries, or at least since the reconstruction of the city after the Second World War, it has been the meeting point for both the older population and the local youth. At the same time, the area around the square is full of shops, in keeping with Reims standards.

As the square is decorated during the end of the year festivities, then you should know that a stroll around this place is also part of the best things to do in Reims during the Christmas season.

One of the best automobile museums focused on vintage cars is located in the city of Reims and its name is Musée Automobile Reims Champagne. The place consists of an extensive hangar that has a large variety of both motorbikes and cars and has cars dating directly from the creation of the vehicle to the present times.

Bicycles and other types of transportation are also on display and the museum is also notable for having 7000 miniature pieces of automobiles that were created during the first half of the 20th century. The museum is open every day of the year except Tuesdays, 1 January and 25 December. Opening hours change during the high summer season, but in general it is usually open from 10 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m. with a short break at midday.

It is a museum where you have to pay an entrance fee because it is actually a private institution. However, you should know that children under the age of six get in free of charge. You should also bear in mind that it is located in a residential neighbourhood of the city and is not exactly within the historic centre of Reims.

Details of interest:

• Price: admission costs around 10 euros per person, although children under 26 pay around 7.5 euros.

On the other hand, there is the fact that Reims is not that big a city, so most people tend to spend only a couple of hours visiting it. Especially if they don't intend to tour the surrounding vineyards and the headquarters of companies such as Möet Chandon or Veuve Clicquot. Therefore, one of the best things to do in the city can be to pay for a private tour to see most of its attractions in a quick and safe way where you won't miss any important details.

This type of experience is usually reserved for family groups of a maximum of 10 people and this means that the guide is basically there for you and your companions. So this plan is one of the best things to do in the city and is definitely a good investment of your time and money. At least if Reims is a place that catches your attention and you have a couple of hours to wander around.

Details of interest:

• Prices: the price for this type of tour is usually around 250 euros, although that price is divided between the number of participants which should not exceed 8 to 10 people.
• Duration: the duration of this type of tour is usually two hours and this is more than enough to see the main buildings and monuments in a small city.

In the town of Épernay, a couple of kilometres south of Reims, you will find the Musée du Vin de Champagne et d'Archéologie Régionale. This site is an institution dedicated to the archaeological and sociological study of the Champagne region. For this reason, it is considered one of the best museums you could visit during a trip in this part of France.

At the same time, the site where it is located is another marvel for the region because the Château Perrier is one of the most beautiful residences in the area and has a very significant historical importance, which makes it a place not to be missed by architecture lovers, as well as by those who will spend a lot of time in this part of France and need to occupy their time in the surroundings of Reims.

So taking a bus from Reims city station or driving to this site via the D951 motorway is a recommended plan, especially if you are interested in learning a little more about the history of settlement and social formation of this part of France.

Details of interest:

• Price: tickets to this museum cost approximately nine euros per person although on the first Sunday of every month all visitors are allowed free admission.