Ultimate 3 Days in Champagne Region Itinerary

Are you looking for an amazing 3-day itinerary to the Champagne region in France? Then I got you covered!

My wife and I have just returned from a magical long weekend in the Champagne region. From visiting cute family-owned wineries to picturesque little villages, the Champagne region has everything my heart desires.

It can be a bit overwhelming to plan a trip to Champagne – with so many different wineries out there. Some overcharge insanely for their commercialized tours!

To help you avoid that, I have created this amazing 3 days in Champagne itinerary.

Let’s get to it!

3 Days in Champagne Itinerary: at a Glance

If you are here to quickly get the 3 days in Champagne region itinerary – look no further.

Below, I will provide you with more detail on all of the destinations and give reviews and tips.

As some of you may know by now, I choose to put quality over quantity in my itineraries. My itineraries are not overly filled, and there is room left to wonder and relax.

Especially on Day 3, there is a lot of room for adventure and improvising.

1. Reims

Sightseeing

Reims is a vibrant city located in the Champagne region of France. It is known to hold significant historical and cultural importance.

I did not find the city as beautiful as the smaller villages. Spending the morning there is, in my opinion, enough. It should still be on everyone’s 3 days in the Champagne region itinerary.

Here are a couple of things you need to check out in Reims:

🥂 Reims Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Reims): The beautiful and iconic cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is definitely worth a visit. It is also the coronation site of French kings. The stained glass windows are so special!

🥂 Palais du Tau: This palace is right next to Reims Cathedral. The Palais du Tau was once the residence of the archbishops of Reims. It is now a museum with lots of cool historical stuff.

🥂 Basilique Saint-Remi: Another UNESCO World Heritage site, totally beautiful!

🥂 Place Drouet-d’Erlon: This is a lively square in the city center where you can take a nice stroll. The place is lined with cafes, shops, and restaurants.

🥂 Cryptoporticus of Reims: Explore the underground Roman galleries! They are showcasing the architectural heritage of ancient Reims, which I found super interesting.

Champagne Tasting

Reims is home to several prestigious Champagne houses.

You should definitely partake in a wine tasting or two when in Reims. Veuve Clicquot, Pommery, and Taittinger are some of the most famous Champagne Houses in Reims that offer tours.

If you prefer a more casual tasting, head over to Charles Cazanove, where we did our tasting. We also bought many cases of different Champagne there, they have great offers.

In these tours, you can learn all about the Champagne-making process, see the cellars, and have a chance to sample their exquisite sparkling wines.

Lunch

Reims is known for its fantastic culinary culture. Make sure to book your table for lunch in advance; many places in the area fill up quickly.

Here are some of my favorite lunch places in Reims that offer amazing French cuisine and glasses of delicious Champagne:

• La Table Des Halles
• L’Alambic
• L’Atelier

2. Hautvillers – the Birthplace of Champagne

Hautvillers is a picturesque village and one of my favorite spots in the Champagne region.

It is situated on the hillside of the Montagne de Reims. From Hautvillers, you have an amazing view over the valley. It is located about 3 kilometers south of Épernay.

The village itself offers charming streets, traditional half-timbered houses, and historical buildings. It is beautiful to walk through and think about the heritage of Champagne.

Without a doubt, the most important place to visit in Hautvillers is the Abbey of Saint Pierre.

Abbey of Saint Pierre d’Hautvillers

The village of Hautvillers is famous for its historic abbey, the Abbey of Saint-Pierre d’Hautvillers. The abbey was founded in the 7th century.

It is famous for being the former home of Dom Pérignon. Dom Perignon was a monk who made big contributions to the development of Champagne.

They call him the birth-father of Champagne because he was perfecting the Champagne-making process.

In the Abbey, you can also see the final resting place of Dom Perignon.

Champagne Tastings in Hautvillers

Hautvillers is the perfect place for a Champagne tasting (no surprise here!).

It is a great place to end the first day of the 3-day itinerary in the Champagne Region.

There are many great Champagne houses and smaller wine bars that offer tastings by the glass. That is quite atypical for the region.

Especially in Epernay and Reims, they require you to buy a tasting package of 3 – 8 glasses.

Here are some of my favorite Champagne houses in Hautvillers:

• Champagne Jean-Philippe Bosser
• Champagne Fernand Lemaire
• Champagne Gaston Ciquet
• Champagne Dominique Bliard Labeste (tasting free if you buy a bottle)

3. Dinner at Chateau de Sacy

Chateau de Sacy is an amazing French restaurant serving quality products from the region, and it is a total hidden gem tip!

From the terrace, you will have an amazing view of the vineyards. That’s my favorite thing about this place for sure.

You can get set Menus at a really decent price or the fancier Menu Degustation. Make sure to reserve way in advance, they are usually booked.

4. Chigny-Les-Roses

Chigny les Roses is my favorite village in the Champagne region of France.

It needs to be on everyone’s 3-day itinerary in the Champagne region, if you ask me.

Chigny les Roses is located in the Marne department. It is surrounded by vineyards and offers beautiful views of the rolling hills covered in grapevines. The village itself is not too big, it is cute and charming.

The village is part of the Montagne de Reims subregion. This region is famous for its high-quality Pinot Noir grapes.

Make sure to pass by the Saint-Lié Church. It is a historic monument that dates back to the 13th century.

Champagne Tasting at Champagne Gardet

In Chigny Les Roses you will find my favorite Champagne tasting experience in the region.

Champagne Gardet is an independent, family-owned Champagne House. It is small in size, but because of that, they can explore traditional wine-making methods to create refined Champagnes.

Chigny-les-Roses is classified as Premier Cru. Champagne Gardet offers three ranges of quality champagnes. The Tradition Collection, the Extra Brut Collection, and the Prestige Collection.

The reason why we loved that tasting so much was the ambiance. The tastings were held in a super cute winter garden with some traditional features. The owner presented us with 8 different glasses of champagne during the tasting.

He was not only very knowledgeable but also very nice. He sat with us and passionately told us everything we needed to know. It is a great contrast to some of the bigger, commercialized wine houses.

Needless to say, we left the winery with a few boxes full of Champagne.

Lunch at Couvert de Vignes

After my favorite Champagne tasting in the region, it is time for my favorite French restaurant in Champagne.

Lunch at Couvert de Vignes will make all your food dreams come true, I promise! Make sure to book in advance, they are super busy!

The chef offers seasonal and local products and transforms them into works of art. The dishes are so simple, yet so flavorful.

They do not have a normal menu to choose from, but only offer pre-set food experiences. The prices are reasonable and the quality is excellent.

5. Epernay

Épernay is a charming town located in the Champagne region.

It is one of the most interesting towns for lovers of sparkling wine. I suggest spending a whole afternoon in Epernay on this 3-day Champagne region itinerary.

To be honest, Epernay was not my favorite town on this trip. The big champagne houses are fancy and a tad pretentious, in my opinion.

However, it is still worth checking out, and there are a lot of nice things you can do in Epernay.

What to Do in Epernay

One of the main attractions in Épernay is the Avenue de Champagne. The Avenue de Champagne is a prestigious street that showcases many fancy Champagne houses and their cellars.

It is often referred to as the “Champs-Élysées of Champagne.”

It is lined with elegant mansions and esteemed Champagne houses, including renowned brands like Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët, and Pol Roger.

The Avenue de Champagne has some stunning architecture to offer. Many of the buildings there were built during the 19th century. This was a time when the Champagne industry experienced significant growth.

Make sure to check out the Champagne Wine and Regional Archaeology Museum in the Chateau Perrier. The Chateau Perrier also has a lovely garden that you can take a walk in.

Champagne Tastings in Epernay

As I mentioned, many big Champagne houses have their headquarters or cellars along the Avenue de Champagne. These houses offer guided tours, tastings, and the opportunity to explore their historic cellars.

The champagne tastings here are slightly different than those in the countryside, so keep that in mind.

In most of the bigger houses, you can’t just walk in without a reservation. The tastings are also a lot more expensive and usually focus more on the tour of the cellars than on sampling Champagne.

I suggest picking one of the bigger houses that you would really like to see and sticking to that. They are more or less alike, so no need to spend a lot of money on many different houses.

Here are some of my favorite Champagne tastings and tours in Epernay:

• Moet & Chandon Champagne
• Champagne Mercier
• Champagne Comtesse Lafond

Drinks on the Terraces

If you are not interested in a tour, you can also sit down on one of the many terraces on the Avenue de Champagne and sip a glass in a nice atmosphere.

Most Champagne houses have bars in their yards, so there are many choices.

I suggest checking out the #Brut. It was our favorite because it was a bit less stuffy and more relaxed.

Dinner in Epernay

Epernay is a great place for a lovely dinner.

If you are looking for a relaxed dinner with some pizza and pasta and a nice glass of Champagne, Le Stelvio is a great pick.

For a more formal dinner in a fine dining setting, Why Not is an amazing choice.

If you are looking to end the evening on an even more special note, check out the Rooftop Terrace Bar at the Royal Champagne Hotel for some drinks!

Day 3 in Champagne – Exploring Villages

On Day 3 of my Champagne Region Itinerary, I suggest a drive around the sweetest villages of the region. Pick a couple of villages from my list of favorites below, or simply jump in your car and drive around.

In almost all of the small towns and villages in the Champagne region are a couple of wineries. You can simply walk in and taste a couple of glasses.

This was one of my favorite parts of our trip. We discovered beautiful spots, tasted delicious champagne, and had a great time.

Alternatively, you can also book a Day Tour of the Champagne region. Many great tours offer visits to the most interesting wine villages.

Cutest Villages in Champagne

Verzy: This cute village is surrounded by ancient oak trees known as “Faux.” Verzy is a lovely small village with a great atmosphere.

Rilly-la-Montagne: This village is extremely special as well. It is nestled amidst vineyards and is super cute. It has these lovely half-timbered houses – great for Instagram pics.

Mutigny: Surrounded by vineyards and forests, Mutigny is a peaceful village with small cottages and scenic landscapes. Make sure to stop by Loisium Wine & Spa Hotel for a drink in their wine bar.

Aÿ-Champagne: Aÿ-Champagne is a lovely village with a rich Champagne heritage. It is home to several renowned Champagne houses. It was one of my favorite villages. It has some charming streets and historic buildings, like a beautiful church.

Dinner at Auberge Les Relais

End your last evening on the 3 days in Champagne region itinerary with a nice dinner at Auberge Les Relais.

The restaurant is located a bit off the beaten track, in a scenic little village.

They serve fine dining types of food and have pre-set menus at great prices.

The view from the winter garden of the restaurant is lovely, and the staff were very friendly.

Where to Stay in the Champagne Region

There are a lot of different options for you to stay in the Champagne Region. I suggest staying somewhere with a view of the vineyards, outside of the city.

Here are some of my favorite options for hotels for every taste and budget:

Affordable Luxury: Loisium Wine & Spa Hotel Champagne 4*

The Loisium Wine & Spa Hotel in Champagne is one of the best wine spas I have ever stayed in.

The hotel is nicely located on a hill, so you have a great view of the vineyards.

The hotel features amazingly beautiful rooms and suites overlooking the vineyards, equipped with every luxury you might need. The spa is heavenly, and you also have an amazing view from the pool area.

One of my favorite things about this hotel is the wine bar. They serve many different champagnes, alongside regional food.

This is an amazing spot for a long weekend in Champagne.

Budget: Golden Tulip Hotel Reims 4*

The Golden Tulip Hotel in Reims is a great budget-friendly hotel. It is located in the city of Reims, but rather on the edge of town, close to the vineyards.

It is close to some of the famous Champagne houses, historical landmarks, and shopping districts. The Golden Tulip Hotel in Reims provides comfortable and modern rooms at a good price point.

It also has a nice spa, sauna, and outdoor swimming pool.

When is the Best Time to Go to Champagne

The best time to visit the Champagne region depends on your preferences and what you want to experience.

We went at the end of April and we had a lovely time, although there was sadly some rain. Spring is usually lovely, but it does get busier toward the beginning of summer.

Fall is the busiest season in Champagne, because of all the harvest festivals and activities.

For a more in-depth review about the best time to go to Champagne, read my designated article.

How Many Days Do You Need in Champagne?

I suggest visiting the Champagne Region for at least three days.

Anything less than that, and you have to hurry from place to place. Three days in the Champagne Region is a comfortable time to see the cutest villages and try some delicious champagne.

If you have more than three days, you can certainly keep yourself busy there for a lot longer. There is a huge number of different little wineries and villages that are worth a visit.

We stayed for a long weekend in Champagne, and I found it just perfect. A normal weekend, so 2 days in Champagne, France, is also great!

Helpful Tips for the Champagne Region

There are some things that I wish I had known before going to the Champagne Region.

One of them is the great scarcity of food. There are plenty of fancy restaurants, but they are usually booked way in advance.

We had trouble finding dinner reservations on the spot. Many cheaper restaurants have been closed since the pandemic.

In many of the smaller wineries and Champagne houses, you can just walk in without reservations. Some of them might look closed from the outside, but just go ahead and ask. People are very friendly.

There are two apps that are really helpful on our trip:

• The Fork (for food reservations)
• Rue des Vignerons (for wine tastings)

Conclusion: 3 Days in Champagne Region Itinerary

This brings my 3 days in Champagne Itinerary to an end. After my visit, I was absolutely enchanted with the picturesque villages, rolling hills, and friendly people of the Champagne region.

The smaller, family-owned vineyards were my favorites, and I suggest that you put your focus on these as well. Make sure to book a pleasant accommodation, so you have a great place to relax and unwind after the fabulous champagne tastings.

Make sure to buy some blanc de blanc or some blanc de noir from small producers – it makes for a great souvenir. 

Many of the winemakers are so passionate and will tell you all about their heritage on a guided tour, which was definitely one of my highlights on this trip.

Try some vintages, some bubbles, or even some rosé – to make your trip perfect!

Lastly, I hope you will love your 3 days in the Champagne Region as much as I did!