A Bubbly Break from Paris: My Daytrip to Reims

I love planning daytrips when I travel - it gives you a change of scenery without having to uproot your "home base". Being a 9 to 5 traveler, I don't have the luxury of being leisurely with my adventures, so while taking my sweet time meandering from city to city sounds incredible, I usually have a week abroad. Daytrips are the perfect solution when you want to see more of a country but can't devote more than a day to do it.

During my last trip to Paris, I decided it was time to venture out of my dear City of Lights (can you tell Paris is my favorite place in the world?) to explore someplace new. I had already done Versailles and heading to the Loire Valley or Mont-Saint-Michel would take up hours of traveling back and forth. So - a daytrip to Reims it was!

While you may not know of Reims, it may sound familiar. Ever study a label on a bottle of bubbly? If you have, and it was legit champagne, you likely saw "REIMS" proudly displayed on the packaging. Reims is part of the champagne region, the only place in the world where the bubbles can be made. Seriously - any sparkling wines made outside this region cannot legally be called champagne. The idea of spending my day in a quaint French city overflowing with bubbly didn't require too much convincing. If you're looking for a luxurious little daytrip that doesn't require a lot of travel time, Reims should be at the top of your list.

Reims has its own Notre Dame!

Reims is situated northeast of Paris and a short train ride away. We took a direct TGV train (meaning it doesn't make any stops along the way) from Gare de l'Est and it took us about 40 minutes one way. We managed to score tickets for 17€ each by picking times that weren't during prime commuting times. Reims is very walkable, but it costs less than 5€ for a bus pass that's good for 24 hours of unlimited trips. I would recommend going any day of the week aside from Sunday and Monday - a lot of businesses are closed these days.

You go to Reims mostly for the bubbly. Many champagne houses in the area offer tours and tastings open to the public. Almost all I looked into required a reservation in advance, so make sure you book tickets ahead of time. I did a tour and tasting of the Taittinger house, but here are some popular options that offer tours in English:

• Mumm – tour prices range from 23€ (one tasting) to 42€ (two rare tastings)

• Taittinger – tours from 21€ (one tasting) to 60€ (tasting of its two prestigious champagnes)

• Veuve Clicquot – offers both private and public tours; public tours go from 28€ (one tasting) to 128€ (four tastings, including two vintages, paired with cheese)

While timing will depend on which tours you select, it seems typical to spend about 2 hours at each one. Assuming you gave yourself enough time with your train tickets, you could easily plan to hit up two tours. At some point, the information shared on the tours will overlap so booking three or more might get repetitive.

For our time at Taittinger, we began with a video that explained the history of the champagne house and its bubbly-making process. Afterwards, our guide took our group of 25 or so people through the cellars where the wine ages. Interestingly, the cellars are made of chalk and sit 60 meters underground; some premium bottles age there for 10 or more years. The cellars date back as early as the fourth century.

The chalk cellars of Taittinger - bottles on bottles!

I had always thought of champagne as just overpriced bubbles you saved for special occasions, but the tour gave me a newfound appreciation for this luxury wine. We opted to taste Taittinger's two notable vintages (retailed for around 180€ a bottle) against its standard brut (retails for about 50€) and were able to taste an obvious difference. We were also treated to some insider tips for enjoying a glass of bubbly- for example, smaller bottles will yield a more delicious end product, so magnums aren't worth the splurge. Champagne is also best when it's not ice cold - if it's too chilled, the excess bubbles will dull the taste.

Break up your boozy adventures with some sightseeing! Reims is known as the Coronation City since its cathedral, its own Notre-Dame, is where former French kings were crowned. This UNESCO sight is open to the public and a refreshing break from the swarms of crowds you’ll find at its Parisian counterpart. You can also take advantage of the walkability of the town and explore the many shops that line the streets. While you'll find plenty of known clothing stores, it's also dotted with tea salons, chocolate shops, and local goodies.

As with most restaurants in France, I suggest making reservations for any meals. You’ll find everything from casual cafes to Michelin-starred restaurants in Reims, but some top lunch recommendations located within a mile of the Notre-Dame are:

• A l'Ere du Temps – classic French crepes, served up both savory and sweet. This is a budget friendly option with most crepes coming in under 8€.

• L’Alambic – a cozy little restaurant situated in a cellar, this is a bit more expensive (30-40€ a person, depending on how many courses you get). Reservations are highly recommended but this is a vegetarian friendly restaurant!

• Il gusto – take a break from traditional French food with this Italian restaurant. It’s along the way if you’re heading to Taittinger!

ALLLLLL the champagne!

If a midday snack is what you need, stop by Maison Fossier, located right by Notre-Dame. This sweet shop serves up the famed pink cookies of Reims, which were designed for dunking in a glass of bubbly without crumbling. Amorino Gelato is located in a quaint outdoor area and serves up cones of delicious gelato shaped like a flower - it's a chain but still worth stopping at. You’ll find plenty of wine bars along the streets of Reims, perfect for resting your feet over yet another glass of champagne.

Gelato roses are the best kind of roses, right?

A daytrip in Reims is ideal for getting out of the hustle and bustle of Paris without traveling too far. It’s a walkable, charming little city perfect for spending a day exploring. All the bubbly will make it feel like a luxurious little getaway – make sure you pick up a bottle or two to bring back home (if you check a bag). Are you a champagne fan? If not, this city will definitely convert you!