Grand Est · France
Where to stay in Reims
Reims is a city in Grand Est, France, home to about 178,000 people.
- Best months
- May to September
- Nearest airport
- XCR56 km · Chalons Vatry airport
- Currency
- EUReuro
- Time zone
- Europe/Paris
- Language
- French
About
About Reims
Reims, the home of champagne (the most celebrated and celebratory wine in the world), is the main city of the Champagne area. Though it is somewhat hiding in Paris' shadow and does not immediately come to mind when people think of France, it is a charming city, and one that the French hold dear to their hearts. The Reims Cathedral, one of the most beautiful buildings of the European Middle Ages, is filled with history: almost all French kings were crowned there for about 1,000 years.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Reims
See
- Cathedral
- Palace of Tau
- Carnegie Library of Reims
- Porte de Mars
- Hotel de la Salle
- Hotel des Contes de Champagne
- Town Hall
- Saint-Remi Basilica
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Reims-Gueux
- Automobile Museum Reims-Champagne
Do
- G.H. Mumm
- Veuve Cliquot
- Piper Heidsieck
- Taittinger
- Pommery
- Ruinart
- La Vigne du Roy
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Reims
21 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Au Clos du Lac | 8.7 km | |
| Best Western Premier Hotel de la Paix Best Western | 1.2 km | |
| Champagne - Chambre d'Hotes Pierre Trichet | 6.7 km | |
| Champagne Domaine Sacret - AY | 23.4 km | |
| Chateau De Rilly - Les Collectionneurs | 11.1 km | |
| Chateau Les Crayeres | 3.2 km | |
| Grand Hôtel Des Templiers | 1.0 km | |
| Holiday Inn Reims Centre Holiday Inn | 1.3 km | |
| Hotel Continental - Reims | 0.9 km | |
| Hyatt Centric Reims | 1.8 km | |
| L'Ecrin des Vignes | 12.1 km | |
| La Grange en Champagne | 11.8 km | |
| Le Clos du Moulin | 24.0 km | |
| Le Logis Aux Bulles | 16.4 km | |
| Les Suites Champenoises | 4.4 km | |
| Manoir Henri Giraud Aÿ-Les Collectionneurs | 23.6 km | |
| Mercure Reims Centre Cathédrale Mercure Hotels | 1.8 km | |
| Mercure Reims Parc des Expositions Mercure Hotels | 4.4 km | |
| Novotel Reims Tinqueux Novotel | 4.0 km | |
| Novotel Suites Reims Centre Novotel | 0.5 km | |
| Royal Champagne Hôtel & Spa | 19.7 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Reims
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Reims are May to September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 25 °C; December is the wettest, with about 72 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Reims: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Chalons Vatry airport (XCR), about 56 km from the city centre in a straight line; Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG, 111 km) and Paris-Orly Airport (ORY, 136 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Reims does not have its own airport. However, it is very close to Paris Charles de Gaulle (typically 30 minutes by high speed train, TGV to Gare Champagne TGV). Other airports within driving distance are Paris Beauvais (2 hours) and Châlons Vatry (45-60 minutes). Since the high speed train line has been opened, Reims is linked not only to Paris, but also to major cities in the country: Lille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Strasbourg,... Charles de Gaulle Airport is only 30 minutes away and offers good connections from the South-East (Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Nice, Montpellier).
Getting around
While the centre is fairly compact and easy to get around by foot, if you want to go further afield then try the buses. They're very reliable, run regularly, and despite local complaints, good value at €2.00 to go anywhere (Oct 2024). If you intend to use them a lot, buy a carnet of 10 tickets from bars, tobacco shops or newspaper shops. single tickets can be bought on the bus but make sure you have the right amount. Taxis are reasonable (about €2 a mile) but you can't hail them and they have to be booked in advance, which can be difficult if your French isn't above conversational level.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
XCR · Chalons Vatry airport
CDG · Charles de Gaulle International Airport
ORY · Paris-Orly Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Reims
Eat
The Place d'Erlon is the near beating heart of the city (It's not exactly a hotbed of activity!) There are many great places to eat here from cheap burger bars (Q, a Belgian McD's) to Anglo-Irish bars. If you go around the corner onto Boulevard Foch you will find some good mid-price eateries. For better ethnic food look down the road at the side of the Opera cinema for a selection of good, cheaper, French and Ethnic restaurants (Chinese, Mexican and French). Another option is to buy a baguette at one of the many patisseries like Petit Four and sit by one of the fountains and watch the world go by. Pizzerias around the Place Stalingrad are a lot cheaper than the centre of town.
Drink
Champagne of course! Place de Stalingrad- There are two great places here, The Kilberry and Stalingrad. The Kilberry, an Irish pub, is where all the French drink. It's a lot cheaper than in the centre and, to my mind, has a better atmosphere. It also has lots of free music and good promotions. The manager, Mike, is generally friendly and the staff and locals are very friendly. Definitely one to watch the Rugby in. For the quieter drink, try the Stalingrad on the corner. It's a traditional French Tabac, has limited food at lunchtime. The owner, Patrick, is an English speaking Jazz fan and there is normally live Jazz upstairs on a Thursday night.
Stay safe
Reims is a safe city overall, with a decent police presence day and night. However, some neighborhoods north of the main railway station (Orgeval) and in the city's southwest (Croix Rouge, Wilson) have their share of crime, but they have limited touristic value. Being aware of your surroundings and keeping your belongings close to you are enough to avoid trouble.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Reims: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Reims?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Reims are May to September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 25 °C; December is the wettest, with about 72 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Reims?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Chalons Vatry airport (XCR), about 56 km from the city centre in a straight line; Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG, 111 km) and Paris-Orly Airport (ORY, 136 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Reims?
euro (EUR).
Nearby
Destinations near Reims
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.