How to Spend 2 Days in Champagne

One of the world’s best-known and most celebrated wine regions, Champagne in northeastern France is a popular pilgrimage point for enthusiasts of all things bubbly. Beyond its vines, the area also boasts charming cities, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and gastronomic plenty. Here’s how to make the most of your 2-day stay.

Day 1: Vineyard Explorations in Épernay

**Morning:**Few thoroughfares will delight bubbly enthusiasts more than Épernay’s Avenue of Champagne. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the street is lined with many of the world’s most esteemed Champagne houses (and features more than 68 miles—or 110 kilometers—of chalk-carved cellars below ground). Get your morning off to a jubilant start with a tasting session.

**Afternoon:**The spiritual home of the pinot meunier grape, the Champagne region’s Marne Valley boasts gently rolling hills, verdant rows of grapevines, and other picturesque scenery. Épernay is conveniently ringed with wineries, which means you can trade the cellars for the vines on an afternoon vineyard tour.

**Evening:**The self-proclaimed capital of Champagne is also a fitting destination for foodies, with numerous authentic and convivial bistros. After all the bubbly, line your stomach with hearty local dishes like beef cooked in wine or slow-roasted lamb.

Day 2: Sipping and Sightseeing in Reims

**Morning:**Like nearby Épernay, Reims is a major Champagne-region base and the perfect place to enjoy an in-depth tasting tour (though note that pinot noir is the city’s grape of choice). Start your day on an effervescent note with a visit to some of Reims’ top Champagne houses, from Veuve Clicquot and Pommery to Ruinart and Lanson.

**Afternoon:**Take a pause from the sipping and swirling, clear your head, and drop by Reims’ most popular landmarks. It isn’t a visit to the city without a stop at the glorious and soaring Reims Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Segway tours, meanwhile, make for a less strenuous way to sightsee.

**Evening:**Once you’ve worked up a thirst, swing by a Reims wine bar for an aperitif before making your way to dinner. Reims is home to several Michelin-starred heavy hitters, and whichever you choose, you’re guaranteed exceptional fine dining (and wine pairings to match).