Bespoke itineraries
Reims 2-day gastronomie luxe itinerary
- 2 days
- Reims · FR
- Luxury
2-day luxe itinerary in Reims. Concierge timings, luxury hotels, gastronomie, vignobles highlights, verified bookable addresses by MyConciergeHotel.
Two days in Reims, Épernay and Hautvillers make a tightly paced Champagne escape. The rhythm works in two steps, balancing cellar access, serious dining and proper downtime at Les Crayères or Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa. Expect roughly 2,200 to 3,800 EUR total for two, taxes included, depending on room category, private appointments and wine pairings. May through October is the easiest season, while harvest weeks bring tighter roads and less flexibility. At Les Crayères, ask specifically for the “Cuvée du Roy” room or a Junior Suite facing the park, not the road. It changes the stay. For Ruinart, the private visit through the UNESCO-listed chalk cellars is not handled through the standard tourist channel. The practical route is a direct email to the house’s visits office, ideally four weeks ahead. Les Crayères is a Relais & Châteaux property, and Philippe Mille holds 2 Michelin stars.
What is the best 2-day itinerary for Reims?
2 days in Reims for a luxe profile: Day 1 covers Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, Palais du Tau, and the quieter 10:00 Ruinart caves slot. Day 2 links Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, Dom Pérignon in Hautvillers, and Caves Moët & Chandon. Base at Les Crayères, a Relais & Châteaux address. Best in April–June or September–October. Updated May 2026.
The itinerary, step by step
Each step combines an exceptional hotel, a tested timing and our on-site recommendations.
- Day 1
Day 1: Reims — Cathedral, Ruinart cellars and 2-star dining
- Reims
- Stay duration: 1 day
Reims works best late in the day, when the stone of the cathedral softens and the Chagall windows read more clearly. Check in first at Les Crayères, Relais & Châteaux, set in the Saint-Remi park. From there, it is about ten minutes by car to the centre. Aim for Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims in the late afternoon, then continue to the Palais du Tau, the former archiepiscopal palace tied to the coronation of the kings of France. Keep the Basilique Saint-Remi for the return to the hotel, when the pace is quieter and the last hour feels more settled. If Ruinart is part of the same day, the private visit has to be secured well before arrival. The house does not run it on the standard circuit. Access to the UNESCO-listed crayères is booked only by email with the visits office, four weeks ahead. Ask Les Crayères concierge for a timed round-trip transfer to the cathedral. It avoids centre parking. For the room, request the “Cuvée du Roy” or a Junior Suite facing the park. Both look over the 7 hectares of French garden, not the road. For dinner, book Philippe Mille, 2 stars Michelin, for the first service. That keeps the evening structured after the cellars. Concierge secret: for Ruinart, state explicitly in your first email that you want the private visit to the historic crayères; without that line, you are often moved to a more standard format.
Things to see / do
- Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims
- Palais du Tau
- Caves Ruinart
- Basilique Saint-Remi
- Day 2
Day 2: Épernay & Hautvillers — Dom Pérignon, Avenue de Champagne
- Épernay & Hautvillers
- Stay duration: 1 day
Between Épernay and Hautvillers, the day reads better in the vines first, then underground on the Avenue de Champagne. Leave early for Hautvillers and the abbey linked to Dom Pérignon. This is not handled as a walk-in visit. It is requested through Moët & Chandon, with confirmation depending on the calendar and access conditions. Take the first slot of the morning, when the village is still easy to move through and the road toward the Vallée de la Marne remains simple. On the way back down, stop in Cumières for lunch with a local grower in the village, then continue to Épernay. Keep the afternoon for the Avenue de Champagne, then the caves of Moët & Chandon if you have a fixed time booked. The open visit at Perrier-Jouët fits neatly after that, without forcing the pace. The best hotel reference here is Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa, a 5-star property between Champillon and Hautvillers. Ask the concierge for a room with full vineyard views over the Vallée de la Marne, and for a delayed departure if you are back late from Épernay. It prevents a rushed return and leaves the next morning usable. Book lunch in Cumières before locking the cellars. Service in this area fills quickly around visits, especially between 12:30 and 14:00. Concierge secret: schedule Moët & Chandon for the very start of the afternoon, then walk the Avenue de Champagne around 16:30; traffic drops sharply and the façades are easier to read without groups.
Things to see / do
- Avenue de Champagne Épernay
- Dom Pérignon Hautvillers
- Caves Moët & Chandon
- Cumières village vigneron
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Reims and Champagne?
The best balance runs from May to October. June and September are the easiest months for combining cellar visits, dining, and vineyard time. Harvest usually falls between late August and mid-September, when access can be tighter at some houses. December also works well for a short luxury break, with fewer tour groups. Avoid Saturday afternoons for major maisons. Book premium visits 4 to 6 weeks ahead, especially private Ruinart experiences.
What’s the best way to tour Champagne cellars in Reims?
Book directly with each house on its website, or by email for private formats. In Reims, Ruinart, Taittinger, Pommery, and Veuve Clicquot are the most structured options. For Ruinart, the private visit through its UNESCO-listed chalk cellars is only arranged by email with the visits office, roughly 4 weeks in advance. Aim for the first morning slot, which is usually quieter. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours per house, including transfers.
Which are the best luxury hotels in Reims and Champagne?
For a city-based stay, Les Crayères remains the benchmark, a Relais & Châteaux property set within a 7-hectare park. Ask for the “Cuvée du Roy” room or a park-facing Junior Suite, which avoids the road side. For a vineyard setting, Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa in Champillon offers the strongest spa, dining, and vineyard combination. Les Crayères works better for dinners in Reims. Royal Champagne is more practical for Épernay and the Montagne de Reims.
What budget should you plan for a luxury weekend in Reims?
For two people over 2 days, plan on EUR 1,800 to EUR 3,500 including taxes, excluding serious bottle shopping. One night at Les Crayères or Royal Champagne often lands between EUR 600 and EUR 1,200 depending on room type and season. Add EUR 250 to EUR 500 for a gastronomic dinner for two with Champagne. Private cellar visits and a local driver increase the total quickly. The Paris–Reims train, however, remains relatively moderate.
Is Reims easy to reach from Paris by train?
Yes. Reims is one of the easiest luxury escapes from Paris by TGV INOUI. From Paris-Est, the journey is about 45 minutes to Champagne-Ardenne TGV, then 10 to 15 minutes by taxi to the city center or the main hotels. Some services also reach Reims Centre in roughly 45 to 50 minutes, depending on the train. For a smooth weekend, take an early train and pre-book a driver or taxi for houses outside town.
Which Champagnes should you taste and bring back from Reims?
Bring back a practical mix, not only prestige cuvées. In Reims, taste Ruinart Blanc de Blancs, Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame when available, and Taittinger’s wines depending on the current vintage. Add a blanc de noirs from the Montagne de Reims or a grower Champagne from a Premier Cru village. Always ask for the disgorgement date when the house shares it. Most maisons can provide transport cartons that are easier than a cabin suitcase on the train.
What should you see in Épernay on a Champagne weekend?
In Épernay, focus first on the Avenue de Champagne and its major houses, then move quickly out to the villages. Moët & Chandon is a clear introduction, but the experience becomes richer in nearby Hautvillers, about 10 minutes away, for Dom Pérignon history and vineyard slopes. Book lunch early, then a cellar visit in the afternoon, not the other way around if you are driving. From Royal Champagne in Champillon, access is especially easy.
Is Reims Cathedral a UNESCO World Heritage site?
Yes. Notre-Dame de Reims is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing created in 1991, together with the Palace of Tau and the former Abbey of Saint-Remi. It is also the coronation church of many French kings, which gives the site its real historical context. Visit early in the morning to avoid groups. If time is short, pair the cathedral with the Palace of Tau, then continue through central Reims on foot or with a driver.
Can you do a Champagne weekend outside the summer season?
Yes, and it is often more comfortable. From November to March, outside the holiday period, hotels and major Champagne houses are generally quieter. Cellar visits work very well year-round because the core experience is underground. The only tighter periods are Christmas, New Year, and Valentine’s Day, when reservations need more planning. For a calmer atmosphere, aim for Thursday and Friday in January or February, and check restaurant closing days before booking trains.
Which fine-dining restaurants in Reims are truly worth booking?
The strongest pairing is Le Parc at Les Crayères, 2 Michelin stars, for a destination dinner, and Le Grand Cerf in Montchenot, 1 Michelin star, if you are willing to drive about 20 minutes. In Reims itself, Racine, 1 Michelin star, is a reliable choice for a more compact dining room. Book the first dinner seating so you keep some margin after cellar visits. At Les Crayères, dining and sleeping on site avoids an unnecessary return after Champagne.