Reims Transportation

1 more image

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.

Just to let you know that I took my chances and succeeded hitchhiking from Paris to Reims, I must say that I really liked the country on the way and met few people that were very nice and try to help.

Due to the fact that Reims is located on the main train route from Strasbourg to Paris, Reims can be also reached very comfortable by train.

For detailed schedules of trains getting to Reims have a look at the homepage of the french railways:

*www.sncf.fr*