Reims

Hi Lynne, yes, Reims is very walkable. Be sure to visit the Surrender Museum (located very near the train station) where WWII officially ended. If you are able to stay overnight, there is an illumination at Reims Cathedral that is close to spectacular. Check to see if your date(s) are on the schedule. Have a nice trip!

Donna, thank you so much for your speedy response! We're so excited for our trip!

Lynne,
A day trip is doable with an early start and late evening return, but you might want to consider a one night stay just so you are not too rushed. It is very easy to spend more than just one day there. And, as mentioned before, everything is walkable with the possible exception of a tour of champagne producer. There is at least one very close to the town center that can be accessed by bus. That same bus also goes to the Surrender Museum or you can walk to it using an underground walkway under the train station.

TC, this is great information. Perhaps we will stay the night!

Does anyone happen to know if there are local tour providers that provide transportation to the outlying wineries that are not within walking/bus distance? How about bicycle rental similar to Velib? Or should we just use a taxi?

My friends and I did a half day Cris-Event Champagne tour based on the TA reviews and was very happy. Check out Trip Advisor under Tours to see if this is what you are interested in. It was a tour of smaller champagne houses, including 3 tastings.

you can use google maps to map out a walking route from the train station to wineries you are considering and see if you think it is in walkable distance. My recollection is that only one is within a 30 minute walk, but that was from a trip several years ago.

Most of the tours of the champagne cellars (caves) are in Reims. Some need to be booked in advance, maybe most in high season. Reims was once the "capital" of the champagne producers, but now they are all in Epernay, a short train ride from Reims. In Reims, you will see the old caves which are mostly not in use, though the tours are very interesting. The most "fun" tour is Mercier in Epernay, which you get to by walking through the little town center, then along the Avenue de Champagne, passing the headquarters of every champagne maker you've every heard of and many more you haven't.

If you can, spend 2 days (1 night). That gives you time to visit Epernay. The TI at the train station or the cathedral will give you a good map of Reims and help you choose and book tours. In addition to the cathedral, visit the very interesting Musee de la Reddition (surrender) and the ancient, beautiful Saint Remi Basilica.

Hi Lynne, we did a tour & champagne tasting at GH Martel & Co. It was within walking distance from the train station.

Martel and Tattinger are about the farthest from the train station, but quite close to each other and to the basilica. I took both tours, one after the other. . . . quite different, both good. Tattinger is the stingiest with tasting, but they do pour their reserve wine. Martel was the most generous. By the way, all the cafes and restaurants sell bubbly by the glass, even at the train station you'll have a choice of 3 or 4.