To visit Champagne without a car, start from Reims or Épernay, the two towns with direct trains from Paris and a regional train between them through the vineyards. From there, buses, bikes, taxis and a tourist office shuttle reach the villages.
The short answer
Direct trains from Paris Gare de l'Est reach Épernay in 1 hour 20 minutes, and the TGV reaches Reims in 45 minutes. The TER Ligne des Bulles runs between Reims and Épernay every 30 minutes, a 30-minute ride with stops at Rilly-la-Montagne, Germaine, Avenay-Val-d'Or and Aÿ.
In Épernay, the avenue de Champagne cellars are less than 20 minutes on foot from the town center. For Hautvillers, which has no station, take a taxi or cycle the Véloroute 52.
Your options
| Option | From | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct train | Paris Gare de l'Est to Épernay | 1h20 | — |
| TGV | Paris Gare de l'Est to Reims | 45 min | — |
| Ligne des Bulles train | Reims-Centre to Épernay | 30 min | — |
| Mouvéo bus | Épernay bus station | — | €1.10 ($1) single, €3 ($3) day ticket |
| Esprit de Champagne shuttle | Épernay tourist office | — | €20 ($22) adult, €6.50 ($7) under 18 |
| Electric bike rental | Épernay tourist office | — | €35 ($38) a day |
| Taxi | Épernay to Hautvillers | 10 min | — |
Trains from Paris
The direct train from Paris Gare de l'Est to Épernay takes 1 hour 20 minutes. From Épernay station, the tourist office is less than 10 minutes on foot: walk straight out of the station and cross the Parc de l'Hôtel de Ville.
The TGV from Paris Gare de l'Est reaches Reims in 45 minutes. Reims has two stations: Reims-Centre in the city center, and Champagne-Ardenne TGV in Bezannes, linked to the city by tram. Reims is also 30 minutes by TGV from Paris Roissy (Charles de Gaulle) airport.
The Ligne des Bulles
The TER Ligne des Bulles crosses the Montagne de Reims between Reims-Centre and Épernay in 30 minutes, and the vineyard hillsides appear after the Rilly-la-Montagne tunnel. Trains run about every 30 minutes from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Village walks start at the station parking lots along the line. In Aÿ-Champagne, Si Aÿ m'était conté covers 3 km in 1 hour 15 minutes. Si Germaine m'était conté in Germaine is 5 km (1 hour 30 minutes), and Si Avenay m'était conté in Avenay-Val-d'Or is 2.5 km (1 hour).
On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the fluo Grand Est weekend group pass costs €40 ($43) per day for 2 to 5 people, with unlimited trains on the fluo Grand Est network. From Châlons-en-Champagne, the train to Épernay takes 20 minutes on the Paris-Strasbourg line.
Local buses
Épernay's bus station is less than 5 minutes from the train station and the tourist office. Mouvéo buses serve Dizy, Aÿ, Pierry, Moussy, Chouilly and Mardeuil.
Line 10 runs from Épernay to Aÿ-Champagne and Mareuil, every 30 minutes from 7 to 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., and every hour at other times. Line 3 runs to Dizy every 30 minutes. A single ticket costs €1.10 ($1) and a one-day ticket €3 ($3), both from the driver.
The Esprit de Champagne shuttle
The Épernay tourist office runs a minibus for 8 people to its partners, either a champagne house or a wine-tourism activity, for a visit, a visit with tasting or a tasting. It runs from May 1 to October 31.
The shuttle leaves the tourist office at 2:15 p.m. and the municipal campground at 10:15 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. It costs €20 ($22) per adult and €6.50 ($7) for under-18s, with round-trip transport and the visit included.
Bikes
Facil-e-Bike rents bikes at the Épernay tourist office, 7 avenue de Champagne, from May to September. An electric bike costs €35 ($38) a day or €20 ($22) a half-day, and a classic bike €25 ($27) or €15 ($16). Delivery to your lodging costs €48 ($52) a day for an electric bike and €35 ($38) for a classic one.
From Épernay, the Véloroute 52 runs toward Dormans, with a detour to Hautvillers, or toward Aÿ and Châlons-en-Champagne. A departmental cycle route through the Montagne de Reims Regional Nature Park links Reims and Épernay. The Échappée en Champagne is a 72 km loop from Aÿ-Champagne through 14 towns, including Hautvillers and Bouzy, over one or two days.
In Reims, the Zébullo self-service scheme has over 290 electric bikes at more than 65 stations, with free registration in the app.
Taxis and Hautvillers
Hautvillers is 6 km from Épernay. A taxi takes 10 minutes from Épernay and 30 minutes from Reims. In the village, the abbey church holds the tomb of Dom Pérignon, and the village has 140 wrought-iron signs. The Circuit des moines walk from the Jard Kiedrich parking lot covers 3 km in 1 hour.
Before you go
- The nearest train stops to Hautvillers are Rilly-la-Montagne, Germaine, Avenay-Val-d'Or, Aÿ-Champagne and Épernay.
- Book the Esprit de Champagne shuttle ahead: the 2:15 p.m. departure at the Épernay tourist office and the campground departures at the campground reception desk.
- Mouvéo lines 3 and 10 run from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Plan your return trip around the last bus.
- Spit as you taste if you are cycling.
For the wider region, see Champagne.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Champagne by train from Paris?
Yes. Direct trains from Paris Gare de l'Est reach Épernay in 1 hour 20 minutes, and the TGV reaches Reims-Centre in 45 minutes. The Ligne des Bulles then links Reims and Épernay every 30 minutes, stopping at Rilly-la-Montagne, Germaine, Avenay-Val-d'Or and Aÿ-Champagne.
How do I get to Hautvillers without a car?
Hautvillers has no station. A taxi takes 10 minutes from Épernay and 30 minutes from Reims. By bike, the Véloroute 52 from Épernay toward Dormans has a detour to Hautvillers, which is 6 km from Épernay.
Is there a shuttle to champagne houses from Épernay?
Yes. From May 1 to October 31, the Épernay tourist office's Esprit de Champagne minibus takes 8 people to a partner champagne house or activity. It costs €20 ($22) per adult and €6.50 ($7) for under-18s, transport and visit included.
Where can I rent a bike in Épernay?
Facil-e-Bike rents bikes at the tourist office, 7 avenue de Champagne, from May to September. An electric bike costs €35 ($38) a day or €20 ($22) a half-day, and delivery to your lodging costs €48 ($52) a day.
