Reims or Épernay? How to Choose the Best Base in Champagne

If you are coming to Champagne for the first time, choosing where to stay can feel more complicated than expected. Reims and Épernay are only about 30 minutes apart, yet the experience of staying in each place is very different.

Both work well as a base, but they suit different travel styles. Understanding those differences early on will make your time in Champagne much smoother and far more enjoyable.

One important thing to understand before you choose

Champagne is not a region where public transport makes everything easy once you are here.

There are trains between Reims and Épernay, but they are limited, especially in the evening. The last train is usually around 7pm. If you are visiting wineries, dining outside town, or staying in the countryside, you will often need to rely on a car or an Uber.

This is something many first-time visitors underestimate. Where you stay has a direct impact on how relaxed or complicated your days feel, particularly in the evenings.

Staying in Reims

Reims is the larger of the two towns and is known as the city of coronations. It has a strong student population, which gives it a lively atmosphere and a wide choice of places to eat and drink.

There are many restaurants, wine bars, and cafés spread across the city, and more variety overall when it comes to dining and nightlife. While you can certainly walk to dinner in Épernay as well, Reims offers more choice within walking distance, especially if you enjoy changing restaurants or going out after dinner.

Reims is also very easy to reach from Paris, with a direct high-speed train taking around 45 minutes. This makes it a practical base for first-time visitors or for those combining Champagne with time in Paris.

Reims tends to suit visitors who:

• Are visiting Champagne for the first time

• Enjoy city life and having more choice in the evenings

• Like wine bars and a bit of nightlife

• Want very easy access to Paris

Staying in Épernay

Épernay feels smaller, calmer, and more focused on Champagne itself.

The town sits right next to the vineyards and is home to the famous Avenue de Champagne. It is compact and very walkable, and you can easily walk to dinner within the town centre. The difference is not convenience, but atmosphere.

Épernay has fewer restaurants and wine bars than Reims, but the pace is slower and the setting feels more intimate. Many visitors find it more romantic and enjoy being closer to the vineyards, especially if wine is the main focus of their trip.

Épernay tends to suit visitors who:

• Want to be close to the vineyards

• Prefer a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere

• Are mainly focused on Champagne

• Enjoy a small town feel

  Considering the Champagne countryside

  For travellers who love nature and want to experience Champagne beyond the main towns, staying in a village can be a wonderful option.

  Small Champagne villages closer to Épernay, Dormans, or even Château-Thierry offer a very different experience. You wake up surrounded by vineyards, life is quieter, and the region feels more local and relaxed.

  This option works best if you enjoy the countryside and are comfortable planning transport. Dining options are more limited in the evenings, but with good organisation, staying in a village can be one of the most rewarding ways to experience Champagne.

  So where should you stay?

  If you enjoy city life, a lively atmosphere, and having more choice for restaurants and nightlife, Reims usually makes things simpler.

  If you are drawn to vineyards, quieter evenings, and a more romantic, wine-focused atmosphere, Épernay or a nearby village may suit you better.

  Many first-time visitors choose to stay in Reims and visit Épernay during the day. Others split their stay between both towns. Both approaches work well with thoughtful planning.

  Final thoughts

  There is no single “best” place to stay in Champagne, especially on a first visit. Reims and Épernay simply offer different ways of experiencing the region.

  If you enjoy energy, variety, and simple logistics, Reims is often the easiest choice. If you prefer a slower pace and being closer to the vineyards, Épernay or the surrounding countryside can feel more aligned.

  As a private tour guide in Champagne, this is a question I am asked almost daily, and the visitors who enjoy their trip most are usually those whose base matches how they like to travel. What matters most is being honest about the pace, atmosphere, and logistics that feel right for you.