people walking near brown concrete building during daytime

Reims

Reims is the champagne city where French kings were crowned, and where the wine ages in chalk cellars under the streets.

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Reims sits on the Vesle river in the Marne department of northeastern France, about 129 km northeast of Paris. It is the department's largest city and lies on the northern edge of the Champagne wine region, where champagne production and export are closely tied to the city. For centuries French kings were crowned here, and royal anointings took place in the cathedral, which is why the city is called la cité des sacres. UNESCO lists the cathedral, the Palace of Tau and the Abbey of Saint-Remi together as one World Heritage Site, added in 1991.

Most large champagne houses, the grandes marques, are based here, and most open for tastings and tours. The wine ages in chalk caves and tunnels beneath the city, and some of those passages date back to Roman times. The Museum of the Surrender is where Germany's unconditional surrender was received on 7 May 1945. A day covers the cathedral and one cellar visit, and two nights leave room for the museums too. The weather is often gloomy, so pack layers.

Reims in five

Check the booking page of each champagne houseThe big houses, the grandes marques, are based in Reims, and most welcome visitors for tastings and tours. Check each house's site for times and tour languages before you walk over.Tours and tickets
Get from the TGV station to the centreReims-Champagne TGV station is about 5 km southwest of the centre, so you need a bus or taxi from there. Gare de Reims, in the centre, is the hub for regional transport.Getting around
See the cathedral and the Palace of Tau togetherThe Palace of Tau is next to the cathedral and housed kings during coronations. Its museum shows cathedral treasures and royal coronation attire, so plan both in one visit.
Plan a cellar visit with a champagne houseChampagne ages in caves and tunnels under Reims, a maze below the city, and some chalk passages date back to Roman times.
Time an evening for the Regalia light showRegalia is a free 15-minute open-air light show about French coronations, projected onto Reims Cathedral in August and September. It is a short stop, so check the dates before you plan the evening.Festivals

Things to do in Reims

See all attractions in Reims

gray concrete building near green trees during daytime

Church · ReimsCathédrale Notre-Dame de ReimsEntry to the cathedral is free, but some guided visits and the tower climb are paid, so check the official website before you go.

Museum · ReimsMusée Saint-Remi

Church · ReimsBasilique Saint-Remi

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to ReimsPut the places you like in Reims on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Euro (EUR)
Entry: Visa-free short stays for many passports; check France-Visas Read more
Emergency: 112 general; 15 medical (SAMU), 17 police, 18 fire
Tipping: Service is included; rounding up the bill is customary
Time: UTC+1, UTC+2 with daylight saving (late March to late October)

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low1°Cold, grey
FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh9°Low2°Cold, grey
MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low3°Spring begins
AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low5°Mild, showers
MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Mild, long days
JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Joan of Arc fête
JulyPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Warm, quiet
AugustPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Regalia, warm
SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Harvest, Regalia
OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Autumn, grey
NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Grey, cool
DecemberRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low3°Christmas market

Average daily high and low in Reims, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Reims

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 7°
Humidity: 87%
Wind: 10 km/h
Chance of rain: 23%

Reims

09:40 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today10°5°23%Monday: Rain. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 23%.
Tue10°4°8%Tuesday: Rain. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 8%.
Wed10°3°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu11°2°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri9°4°3%Friday: Fog. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 3%.
Sat9°2°8%Saturday: Fog. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 8%.
Sun11°0°27%Sunday: Fog. High 11°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 27%.

Updated 06:27 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

ÉpernayCheck the route before you goA champagne town in the Marne department.
Parisabout 129 km from ReimsThe capital, reached by high-speed train from Reims-Champagne TGV station.
Châlons-en-ChampagneCheck the route before you goThe prefecture of the Marne department, and not its largest city.

Before you go to Reims

eSIM for ReimsMaps and train times offlineRead the guide

Travel insurance for city tripsCover for a missed train or tourRead the guide

Money and cardsCards and cash for tastings and cafésRead the guide

Stays in ReimsCentre, cathedral and station areasRead the guide

Rules for Reims, checked

Many nationalities enter France visa-free for short Schengen stays; check the rules on France-Visas before you book.Source
Champagne bought for resale or in large quantities follows EU customs and excise rules; check the French customs site before you carry it home.Source
Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in France; 15 is the medical emergency line (SAMU).

Plan around Reims

All of France

Entry, trains and regions for a wider French trip

Read the guide Getting around

High-speed trains, the TGV station and local buses

Read the guide Where to stay

Hotels and guesthouses near the centre and the station

Read the guide Festivals and events

Joan of Arc festival in June and the Regalia show in August and September

Read the guide Christmas Markets in Europe

Where the Reims market fits in a December route

Read the guide Money and costs

Cards, cash and typical prices for a city trip

Read the guide

Reims FAQ

Is Reims worth visiting?

Yes, for the cathedral, the coronation history and the champagne houses. It is smaller than Paris, so one or two nights cover the main sights.

How do you get to Reims from Paris?

By high-speed train to Reims-Champagne TGV station, about 5 km southwest of the centre, then a local bus or taxi. The Gare de Reims in the centre is the regional hub for trains and buses.

How many days do you need in Reims?

One full day covers the cathedral, the Palace of Tau and a champagne house tour. Add a second night for the museums and, in August or September, an evening at the Regalia show.

Is Reims good for champagne?

Yes. Many large houses have their headquarters in Reims and most open for tastings and tours, and the cellars under the city are part of the trip.

When is the best time to visit Reims?

May and June for mild weather and the Joan of Arc festival in June. September brings the harvest season and the Regalia show, and December has the Christmas market.

What is Reims known for?

Its coronation history, with Reims Cathedral and the Abbey of Saint-Remi listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its champagne production.