Reims Transportation

Often asked question on Reims in the VT Travel Forum:
"I want to do a day trip to Reims from Paris! Is it do-able???"

It is. Not that I'd try it myself ....one day (with connections included) is just not enough time to get the Best Of Reims tourism sites plus a Champagne House visit into your quality "been-there-done-that' travel diary.

Please be aware that there is a TGV station serving Reims, the Champagne -Ardenne Station, which is located 7-8 kilometers from the centre of town. If you select a train which only stops there, a bus or taxi will be required to get into the city centre or a connection with a local train (TER). Selecting "REIMS GARE" as your destination will save the hassle of the extra connection.

Paris Station is "PARIS EST" and regular TGV services cover the route.... about an hour between departure times early in the morning starting around 7am. Trip takes 48 minutes to Reims Central (40 mins to Ch-Ardenne). Check out the timetable below and you will see at least four TGV services prior to mid-day (one of which requires transfer at Ch-Ardenne). There are a couple of direct return TGV s in the evening.

Be aware that Sunday ('D'imanche) and public holiday (jours feriés or 'F'etes) timetables will differ. Check timetable headings for days of week. Check notes at bottom of timetable for exceptions etc. see next link for assistance to read same.
Check tip on non-TGV timetables for decode of French phrases.

Link to Reims - Paris L'Est - Train Time Table

URL for timetable: http://telechargement.ter-sncf.com/Images/Champagne_Ardenne/Tridion/Web_REL_1V_du_20_11_2012_tcm-18-16138.pdf

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Getting to Reims by train is quite easy. Whether coming directly from Paris or as in our case, coming in from Epernay, trains run frequently and are reasonably priced. The train stations are centrally located and easy to get back and forth from.

Machines inside are multi-lingual and the people at the ticket booths are also quite helpful.

Both regular trains and TGV trains stop at the station. Our TGV journey took about an hour and delivered us to Gare d'Est in Paris.

When your track is announced, be sure to validate your tickets in the yellow machines before getting on the train.

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Reims lies east of Paris on the super fast TGV Est railway (train à grande vitesse). The frequent trains take merely 45 minute from the French capital, and tickets are fairly inexpensive (€29 each way as of Nov 2010). Reims thus makes a great day trip, or a weekend trip, from Paris. Although a full day may be sufficient to glance at the highlights, a weekend would probably be best for seeing everything more leisurely. When arriving at Reims by rail, do not fail to admire the beautiful Neoclassical façade of the railway station. It was originally built in 1877 upon the completion of the first railway connecting the city with Epernay, but was almost completely damaged in WWI and reconstructed in the 1930s identically to the original structure.

While not supper frequent (a bit scarce during week-ends), Reims has an extensive bus network (greenish-yellow busses with purple markings) ans stops are well marked.
Very convenient if you have to reach sites 'far ' apart or are tired.

The prices are resonable : 1€ per journey (tickets can be bought on board).

The Citadines 1 and Citadines 2 lines are doing round trips around the center town and can be used as sightseeing busses.
The line K goes to the Champagnes-Ardennes(Bezannes) TGV station.

The best way to reach Reims from Paris (or from most other french cities) is by train.

Since June 2007, Reims is served by TGV : the journey is 45 minutes from Paris (1h50 from Strasbourg, 50 minutes from Roissy-CDG).
There are also (slower) conventional trains.

Be aware that there are 2 TGV stations for Reims : Reims (in the city itself) and Champagnes-Ardennes (in Bezannes - 5 km from Reims) and that many TGV stop in Champagnes-Ardennes and not Reims.
To reach the town, 2 solutions : either the TER (local train - 8 minutes , direct, 2.10 €) or the bus, line K (20 minutes, 1€)

THE BEST WAY TO RECH REIMS IS FROM PARIS. tHE TRAIN LEAVES ALMOST VERY HOUR STARTING FROM 6:30 IN THE MORNING TILL 9:30 IN THE EVENING. SO THERES A TRAIN ALMOST EVERY 1-2 HRS.

YOU HAVE TO CATCH THE TRAIN FROM PARIS EST, OR GARE DE L'EST STATION.

The train from Paris (Gare d'Est) to Reims was very quick but it was also expensive. The tickets were 40.6E round trip per person for 2nd class seats. The ride took about 1:40.

There were 12 trains per day going during the week, less on the weekend, but there was a large gap of around 3 hours between the early morning trains and the train we caught at 11:16 so be sure and check the train schedules before you go.

The train station in Reims is within a 10-15 minute walk of the central attractions of Notre Dame, the tourist office and the Palais de Tau.

We wer running short on time and the champagne house of Veuve Clicqout is a fair distance from the center of town. There is a cab stand near the theatre and fine arts museum. The cab ride cost about 6E.