If you're planning a trip to France's Champagne region, one of the first questions you'll probably have is: should you stay in Reims or Épernay?
These are the two main bases for visiting Champagne, and while they're close enough that you can easily visit both, they offer different experiences.
Reims is the larger city. It has the famous cathedral, more restaurants, better train connections, and some Champagne houses, but not a ton of them. Épernay is smaller and quieter, with the famous Avenue de Champagne.
So which one is better?
Honestly, it depends on the kind of Champagne trip you want. If this is your first visit and you want the easiest, most practical base, I'd probably choose Reims. If the focus of your trip is to taste as much champagne as possible, I'd choose Épernay.
But if you have time, the best answer is to visit both. Here's how I'd decide where to stay in Champagne, depending on what kind of trip you're looking for.
Reims vs. Épernay: The Quick Answer
Stay in Reims if you want more restaurant choices, easier train access, more of a city feel, and a mix of Champagne, food, and history.
Stay in Épernay if you want to spend more time along the Avenue de Champagne, visit smaller villages like Hautvillers, and have a more wine-focused trip.
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Why Stay in Reims?
First-Time Visitors
For most first-time visitors, Reims is probably the easiest base.
If it's your first time in Champagne, Reims gives you a strong introduction to the region and is very practical. It's larger than Épernay, easier to reach from Paris, and has more going on outside of Champagne tastings.
You can visit major Champagne houses, see the famous chalk cellars, tour the cathedral, and eat at some of the best restaurants in the area. It feels like a proper city, but not an overwhelming one. It gives you the most variety with the least logistical stress.
Reims Has More Food Options
For me, one of the biggest reasons to stay in Reims is the food.
Épernay has good restaurants too, but Reims has more choices. You'll find traditional French bistros, bakeries, cheese shops, wine bars, and several higher-end restaurants. If food is a major part of your trip, Reims is probably where I'd suggest you base yourself.
Reims is also a good place to seek out local products like Chaource, a soft cow's milk cheese from the region with a rich, buttery flavor and bloomy rind. Champagne is obviously the reason most people come here, but the food is one of the reasons I keep wanting to return.
Reims Has the Cathedral and More History
Reims is also the better choice if you want more than just wine tastings. The most famous landmark in the city is Reims Cathedral, which towers over the center and is impossible to miss. It served as the coronation site for French kings for centuries, and even if you're not usually someone who plans trips around cathedrals, this one is worth seeing.
Reims gives you more of a cultural and historical layer to your Champagne trip. You can spend the morning visiting the cathedral, have lunch in the city, then do a Champagne house tour in the afternoon without needing to leave town.
Reims Has Some Major Champagne Houses
While it's easier to taste more producers in Épernay, Reims is home to some of the most famous large houses.
G.H. Mumm is one of my favorite spots for tastings and tours in Reims. Their tour gives a detailed look at the history of the house and its cellars, followed by a tasting of some of their more prestigious blends. They also talked about creating Champagne designed for space travel, which is something I haven't heard anywhere else.
Another favorite of mine in Reims is Lanson. While it is also a big name, I feel that their organized tour has a more personal feel than many others.
Why Stay in Épernay?
Épernay is the better base if your ideal trip is less about being in a city and more about being surrounded by bubbles. It's smaller and quieter than Reims, but it has one of the most famous streets in the world: the Avenue de Champagne.
Avenue de Champagne Is the Main Draw
This is where you'll find grand Champagne houses, beautiful estates, and underground cellars filled with millions of bottles aging beneath the street. It looks very polished and elegant, but it's also surprisingly approachable for visitors. Many of the Champagne houses offer tastings or tours, and you can easily spend a full day just walking, house to house, tasting, and enjoying the atmosphere.
One of the most famous houses here is Moët & Chandon. A tour there gives you the classic big-house experience, with polished hospitality, history, and an impressive network of cellars.
But Épernay is not only about the biggest names. One of my favorite producers on the Avenue de Champagne is Michel Gonet. What makes Michel Gonet special is that they're a grower-producer, meaning they cultivate the grapes used in their bottles on their own land. Their long-aged blanc de blancs are some of the best Champagnes I've tasted, with very fine bubbles, rich flavor, and very little sweetness.
Every time we've visited, we've also been impressed by the warmth and knowledge of the staff. The tasting room and patio have a calm, elegant feel that makes it a really memorable stop.
Épernay Is Better for Smaller Producers and Villages
Épernay is also a great base if you want to explore beyond the most famous producers.
A lesser-known one I love is Leclerc Briant, which is still walkable from the center of Épernay but a little off the main Avenue de Champagne. They're known for their biodynamic approach and for experimenting with techniques like aging Champagne in the sea or in gold-lined barrels.
A more recent discovery for me was Comtesse Lafond, a beautiful old house with lovely views of the surrounding nature. The tasting there felt more intimate than some of the larger houses, and they sell some still wines as well as Champagne.
From Épernay, it's also easy to visit smaller villages like Hautvillers, which is one of my favorite places in the region. Hautvillers is famous for its connection to Dom Pérignon, who served as cellar master at the Abbey of Hautvillers and is buried in the abbey church. Beyond that history, the village itself is charming, with narrow streets, stone houses, local shops, tasting rooms, and beautiful views over the vineyards.
If you want your trip to feel less like a city break and more like a vineyard escape, Épernay makes a lot of sense.
Final Thoughts
Reims is best if you want more options for where to eat, easier access, and more to do than just drink Champagne. If you're happy to just wander around from tasting to tasting, then Épernay might be the better choice for you. Either way, the region is beautiful, delicious, and lots to discover!