Minibus Hire Across France

Reims and the Champagne Vineyards by Minibus

Reims is where champagne country begins, and it suits a small group well: famous cellars, the cathedral of the kings and vineyard villages half an hour away. With a minibus and a driver, everyone can taste and nobody has to drive.

Why group size matters here

Every major house expects cellar visits to be reserved, and in high season the tourist office says booking ahead is essential. Some of them only welcome small groups, and that is where an 8- to 16-seat minibus comes into its own: you go round as one party instead of splitting up.

So book the houses first, check the group size each one accepts, then choose the vehicle. A larger party may do better in two minibuses running the same loop than in one full coach.

Minibus with side door open for boarding
Minibus with side door open for boarding

Into the vineyards

Allow about 30 minutes from the cathedral to either Hautvillers or Épernay. In Épernay the Avenue de Champagne belongs to the UNESCO-listed Coteaux, Maisons et Caves de Champagne, and Rue Jean Moët, a few metres away, has a handful of coach spaces that the tourist office treats as the group meeting point.

Between the two towns, the villages of the Montagne de Reims make a gentle afternoon. Your driver waits while you visit, then takes you on to the next cellar.

Flying in to Reims

Places your group will love in Reims

  • Montagne de Reims and the Champagne vineyards — Vineyard villages such as Hautvillers between Reims and Épernay
  • Avenue de Champagne, Épernay — Street of champagne houses in Épernay; the "Coteaux, Maisons et Caves de Champagne" are a UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Champagne houses in Reims — Cellar visits at the major houses; the tourist office says advance booking is essential in high season
  • Palais du Tau and the Basilique Saint-Remi — Former archbishops' palace beside the cathedral, and the Romanesque basilica in the south of the city
  • Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims — Coronation cathedral of the kings of France; guided group visits from 20 paying adults; buying tickets in advance is encouraged

Where groups tend to stay

  • Épernay for vineyard stays
  • Champagne-Ardenne TGV / Bezannes
  • Saint-Remi and the champagne house district
  • City centre (cathedral, Place d'Erlon, Reims station)

In Reims itself

Guided group visits of the coronation cathedral start at 20 paying adults, and tickets bought early make the day smoother. The Palais du Tau stands beside it; the Basilique Saint-Remi is in the south of the city.

Grand Reims keeps Crit'Air 4, Crit'Air 5 and unclassified vehicles out of its low-emission zone, which lies within the inner ring of boulevards and along part of the A344; Crit'Air 3 vehicles have a reprieve until 2029. Check the latest position before you travel. The city centre has no published coach drop-off point, so your driver confirms where to set you down.

Coming from Paris

By road, Paris-Charles de Gaulle is 141 km off, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. A TGV from CDG also reaches Reims in about half an hour, so you could take the train instead, with the minibus meeting you at Reims station or at Champagne-Ardenne TGV in Bezannes.

Your questions, answered

Can we fit Reims and Épernay into one day?

Yes. They are about 30 minutes apart, so two cellar visits, lunch and a stroll along the Avenue de Champagne fit comfortably. Book each house first and leave space between them.

Is a day trip from Paris realistic?

Paris is about 1 hour 40 minutes away by road each way. It works, but a night in Reims or Épernay makes a tasting day far less rushed.

Which roads will we use?

Reims sits where the A4 (Paris to Strasbourg) meets the A26 (Calais to Troyes), and both are toll motorways. Ask how tolls are handled when you receive your quote.

More days out you can book with us

Other vehicles with a driver