Train Tickets from Paris to Reims

Reims is a destination for which the travel time can vary a great deal, because there are both super-fast trains and locals running on that route. There are also some departures that involve a combination of the two types of trains. In order to maximize your sightseeing time you'll probably want to take one of the fast trains. Pay attention to the total travel time, because there are some routings that are both expensive (involving at least one fast train) and slow (due to long waits for connections); you certainly don't want one of those!

The fast trains have fares that vary, typically increasing significantly as the travel date approaches, but time of day and day of week can also affect the fare. Tickets for those fast trains include a seat reservation and are good only for the specific train you have chosen, so you won't want to buy them before you're really certain of your travel date. It is possible for those trains to sell out, but it would be unusual for that to happen very far in advance unless there's a special event occurring in a city along the rail line. There are quite a few morning trains to Reims, so I'd be thinking more about trying to save some money than running into a full train.

You can explore the schedule and get an idea of fares on the SNCF website: https://en.oui.sncf/en/. Do enter your age and your daughter's, because one or both of you might qualify for a discount. As you will see, most trains to Reims depart from Paris-Est station.

Ticket-sale practices could easily change before your 2023 trip, so I'd suggest checking the website in early May 2023. I think there's a way to provide your email address and get a notification when tickets for your anticipated travel date go on sale.

May I please jump onto this post with French train travel? This coming Sat morning we land at CDG 10:20. We know which train station we need to use to get to Bayeux. We however have not yet purchased train tickets. Is it a mistake to wait to purchase our tickets at station? Will they be much higher priced? Was just waiting to see our timeframe after flight and taxi and etc?

Is it a mistake to wait to purchase our tickets at station?

Not in your case because your flight is not guaranteed to arrive at 10:20. Also the route from Paris to Bayeux is covered by regional trains which do not require a seat reservation. You sit where ever a seat is open.

Will they be much higher priced? Was just waiting to see our timeframe after flight and taxi and etc?

No, regional trains are fixed price, though sometimes they have deals. There is a train Paris Gare St Lazare to Bayeux scheduled at 12:59 this Saturday that looks like you would make as long as the flight arrives on time at 10:20 am

Thank you Jazz!!

While you often save lots of money booking early -- booking this week or last minute next is not likely to be a difference. Cheap tickets go very early.

WE lucked out and get the cheapest TGV tickets Paris/Reims a few years ago booking a day or two before the trip. Usually you are stuck paying the full cost as the bargain tickets are long sold out, but oddly we got the cheap tickets; for some reason that was not a popular date.

It takes about 45 minutes on the TGV to Reims -- and public transport once there is cheap and easy.

Be sure to book your cellar tour as soon as you know when you will be there. We were able to get tickets for Taittinger but many of the well known tours were booked out. One is plenty IMHO but you want to be sure to get at least one good traditional cellar tour. Here is our tour and also a visit to the Cathedral and to the not to be missed St. Remy. https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2020/03/28/reims-cathedral-st-remy-and-taittinger/

We are planning Reims as our first stop for 2 nights upon arrival from CDG. I am reluctant to book the train now as the flight could be late and customs may take awhile, etc. do you think that it will be a problem finding a train to Reims from CDG in November ?

Identify the possible trains and then book the next reasonable one when you get there; unlikely they will be sold out in November.

Immigration is not taking long at CDG at the moment, but this is never entirely predictable.

Wow I’m glad I checked !
We get CDG at 130 and there aren’t great train times in the afternoon to Reims. Maybe we actually go Paris first and Reims at the end of the trip- or maybe rent a car at CDG and drop off in Reims. Thoughts ?! Thanks !!

On a random weekday in November, there seems to be a gap between approx 1 PM and 4.30 PM, but 4.30 PM is perfect for a 1.30 arrival at CDG! And there are more trains into the late afternoon and evening. If you see a train that goes to "Champagne Ardenne TGV" it is not ideal, but it is fine as well, as you can take a tram or a cab into town, it's only a few miles.

You can also take the RER into Paris and get a train to Reims from Paris on arrival. Better than waiting for hours at the airport for a train. I would finish the trip in Paris so you don't waste your second to last day rushing back to Paris for the flight home.

Thanks for the ideas. Actually I had already booked the airport Hilton the last night and would be an easy trip from Reims to CdG for the last night