Getting from Reims to Épernay in Champagne is a 27 km trip, by regional train or by car.
The short answer
Take the TER from Reims-Centre station. The direct journey takes 34 minutes, and TER Grand Est runs 20 round trips a day, with up to two trains an hour through the day.
The line is nicknamed the Ligne des Bulles. Trains leave about every 30 minutes from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Épernay station is less than 500 meters from the tourist office.
Your options
| Option | From | Via | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TER Ligne des Bulles | Reims-Centre station | Rilly-la-Montagne, Germaine, Avenay-Val-d'Or, Aÿ-Champagne | 34 min direct | TER fare |
| Tram, then TER | Champagne-Ardenne TGV, Bezannes | Reims Centre-Ville station | — | Tram and TER fares |
| Car | Reims | 27 km to Épernay | — | — |
| Champagne Route drive | Reims | Verzenay, Hautvillers | — | — |
TER Ligne des Bulles
The Ligne des Bulles is the TER Fluo line C09 between Reims and Épernay. Between the two towns it stops at Rilly-la-Montagne, Germaine, Avenay-Val-d'Or and Aÿ-Champagne.
The line links the 3 sites of the Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars, on the UNESCO World Heritage list since July 4, 2015: the Saint-Nicaise hill in Reims, the historic hillsides and the avenue de Champagne in Épernay.
The Carte Fluo costs €30 ($32) for one year and gives a 50% discount every day on Fluo trains, coaches (except in Bas-Rhin) and bikes in Grand Est.
Stopping on the way
Each stop has a walk from the station to the village center:
- Rilly-la-Montagne, about 10 km from Reims: 5 minutes on foot.
- Germaine: 30 minutes via the hamlet of Les Haies, or 40 minutes through the forest.
- Avenay-Val-d'Or: 10 minutes on foot.
- Aÿ-Champagne: 10 minutes on foot.
Arriving at Épernay station
The avenue de Champagne is 5 minutes on foot from Épernay station. For the tourist office at 7 avenue de Champagne, go straight from the station to place Mendès-France, pass the theater and cross rue de Reims into the Jardin de l'Hôtel de Ville. Cross the garden, go round the town hall on the right, and the tourist office is just after it.
From Champagne-Ardenne TGV station
Reims has two stations. If your TGV arrives at Champagne-Ardenne TGV in Bezannes, 25 km from Épernay, take the tram to Reims Centre-Ville station and board the Ligne des Bulles there.
By car
Épernay is 27 km from Reims. A car rental branch is at Reims city center station, 8 rue Pingat.
Reims Tourisme suggests a signposted Champagne Route drive from Reims to Épernay via Verzenay, whose lighthouse in the vineyards houses a museum about the vine, and Hautvillers, linked to Dom Pérignon. Hautvillers is 6 km from Épernay.
In Épernay, paid street parking is on rue Jean Moët, rue Pupin and rue Jean Chandon-Moët, within 100 meters of the tourist office. The underground Parking du Jard (entrance on rue Eugène Mercier, a 150-meter walk from the tourist office) and Parking Centre-Ville (entrances on place Hugues Plomb or boulevard du Cubry, 700 meters away) give the first hour free.
Before you go
- Part of Reims is a Low Emission Zone (ZFE). You can't drive in it without a vignette, on pain of a fine.
- During engineering works on line C09, coaches replace some trains. Bikes aren't allowed on these coaches, and you can't buy a ticket on board.
- Not all champagne houses welcome visitors without a reservation, so book cellar visits ahead.
- If you drive and plan to taste, spit as you go or choose a designated driver.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Reims to Épernay?
The direct TER takes 34 minutes from Reims-Centre station to Épernay, and TER Grand Est runs 20 round trips a day. Between the two towns, the train stops at Rilly-la-Montagne, Germaine, Avenay-Val-d'Or and Aÿ-Champagne.
How often do trains run between Reims and Épernay?
Ligne des Bulles trains leave about every 30 minutes from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and TER Grand Est runs up to two trains an hour through the day. During engineering works on line C09, coaches replace some trains.
How far is Épernay station from the avenue de Champagne?
The avenue de Champagne is 5 minutes on foot from Épernay station, and the tourist office at 7 avenue de Champagne is less than 500 meters away. Walk through the Jardin de l'Hôtel de Ville and round the town hall to reach it.
Can I take the train from Champagne-Ardenne TGV station to Épernay?
Champagne-Ardenne TGV in Bezannes is 25 km from Épernay. Take the tram from Bezannes to Reims Centre-Ville station, then board the Ligne des Bulles to Épernay. The direct train from Reims takes 34 minutes.
