Your Guide to A Day Trip to Épernay: Is It Worth It?
Paris is an amazing, lively city even in the midst of her moodiness – but sometimes, locals and tourists alike crave a day trip to Éperany from Paris to bask in the peace and quiet while taking subtle sips of champagne.
View of Church in Épernay, France; August 2026
After exploring both Reims and Épernay on a day trip from Paris to the Champagne region (as it’s only about an hour away from Paris by train), I’ve got a pretty good idea of the best things to do in Épernay and if it’s worth people who don’t drink (like myself) to visit.
Épernay is definitely a peaceful escape from Paris, lacking a loud personality because it specifically tries to not have one – it just wants to be calm, quiet, and divulge in little bits of luxury when it can (such as with the infamous champagne testing on Avenue de Champagne).
For people who love a patio-style afternoon with little tapas and chats with friends over a drink, Épernay is more than worth a day trip from Paris. Even if you aren’t the biggest fan of drinking, there’s still a lot to do – from hikes, photogenic viewpoints, museums, and just exploring the small town.
Having taken a day trip to Épernay myself, I’m going to break down the best things to do in Épernay, how to get there from Paris, and if it’s truly worth taking a day trip to Épernay.
Is Épernay Worth Visiting?
I think that Épernay is worth a day trip at least once to do all of the Champagne tasting and to get a vibe for the “countryside” outside of Paris – but I wouldn’t be dying to go there again.
That being said, I am saying this from the perspective of someone who has lived in France for years and been to many “small French towns” such as this one. I could easily see someone who hasn’t been to other areas of France like the little villages along the Côte d'Azur, Aix-en-Provence, and more be very attracted to seeing a slower and more typical side of French life in a town like Épernay.
Épernay is your classic “small French town” vibe: with a distinct church, little downtown for shopping, and lots of locally owned restaurants and cafès. But what makes it really special is that it’s surrounded by rolling hills, wine cellars, and vineyards – making it a complete 180-degree turnaround from the atmosphere found in Paris.
If you’re craving a softer side of France and aren’t into big cities – Épernay is a great day trip from Paris for you to take. However, if you like more grandiose places to explore and feel like you a had a full adventure after a day trip – you may be more interesting in a day trip to somewhere like Disneyland Paris, Versailles, or Giverny.
View of church and gardens in Épernay, France; August 2026
How Do I Get to Épernay from Paris?
Épernay is surprisingly super easy to get to from Paris, as there’s a non-stop regional train that’ll take you there.
However, if you want to see Reims (link here) first, you can take a high-speed train that will get you from Reims to Paris in under an hour – and then hop on a short 30 minute regional train to Épernay afterward.
The overview cards below will explain the three main steps required to get to Épernay:
🚆 How to Get From Paris to Épernay
With your purchased high-speed train ticket in hand to leave for Reims, you’ll be leaving Paris from Gare de l’Est Station – not Gare du Nord. If you get off at the wrong one, it’s a short one-stop metro ride to the next one or a mere 10-minute walk between the train stations. This will probably take around 25 minutes via the metro depending on where in Paris you’re staying.
Once you’re at Gare de l’Est, you’ll be boarding your TGV INOUI train to Reims. This only takes around 45 minutes and will drop you off within walking distance of the city center. If you’re heading directly to Épernay instead, you can take a regional train from Gare de l’Est straight to Épernay.
If you didn’t go directly from Paris to Épernay and decided to explore Reims first, you can take a regional train from Reims to Épernay. The journey takes around 30 minutes, with trains running every couple of hours, making it easy to combine both Champagne cities in the same trip.
Street view of Church in Épernay, France; August 2026
Reims vs Épernay: Which Day Trip Is Better?
Many people will be caught between which day trip from Paris is best for them, but in reality – I found doing both Reims and Épernay as a single day trip from Paris to be the sweet spot.
However, if you only have the time or budget for one – I think Reims is the better match for people who enjoy miniature cities, with Épernay being more suited for people who love wine tastings and countryside vibes.
The battle cards below will break down some of the differences between Reims and Épernay to help you decide which day trip from Paris is right for you:
⛪🍾 Reims vs. Épernay: Which Day Trip Is Right for You?
Reims is the easier choice when you want to maximize your day, as the high-speed train from Paris takes only around 45 minutes. You can leave Paris in the morning and be wandering around Reims before you know it.
I found Reims to be about on par with Paris price-wise, especially when it came to eating out. Of course, adding champagne tastings will increase your budget, but there are also plenty of things to do around the city that don't involve drinking champagne all day.
Reims feels much more like a small French city where champagne just happens to be a huge part of the culture. You can visit the cathedral, wander the streets, stop for lunch, shop, and still squeeze in a champagne house or two.
Choose Reims if you want a more varied Paris day trip with history, architecture, city wandering, food, and champagne all rolled into one.
Épernay takes a little more commitment for a Paris day trip, with the journey taking around 1 hour and 30 minutes. It's still completely manageable in a day, but Reims wins when your priority is spending as little time as possible on the train.
Everyday prices in Épernay felt about on par with Paris and Reims, but this is where you're much more likely to spend extra money on champagne tastings. When champagne is the whole point of the trip, those glasses and tastings can add up!
Épernay feels more manicured and curated around champagne. Instead of feeling like a little city with champagne houses mixed in, the entire experience feels much more centered around sipping champagne, beautiful houses, and taking your time.
Choose Épernay if your ideal day involves plopping down at a café, sipping champagne, chatting for hours, visiting champagne houses, and soaking up the slower atmosphere.
5 Best Things to Do in Épernay
1. Go Champagne Tasting on Avenue de Champagne
As the central touristic thing to do in Épernay, you can’t visit this little city in Champagne without walking down the famous Avenue de Champagne for a little wine tasting.
Walking Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, France; August 2026
With a plethora of wine cellars running underground along Avenue de Champagne, this half mile strip (or a ten minute walk up and down) of Champagne houses after the other, the options for places to go champagne tasting will be endless.
Plus, the houses themselves are truly adorable – so even if you don’t drink, it’s worth a walk up and down for the photos alone!
Pro Tip: If you want to go to the famous Moet and Chandon wine tasting house, which is one of the most well known in the world – be sure to book your tickets in advance! This place was already packed by mid-day, and this was during the annual France travel lull in August – meaning I am sure it’s packed to the brim during peak summer season.
2. Snap a Photo at Place de Champagne
This one is more for the record books, but since you’ll already be walking down Avenue de Champagne – you might as well make it to the end to see the nifty welcome sign this little French city has set up.
Place de Champagne in Épernay, France; August 2026
Funnily enough, even after all my research and vlog watching before heading to Épernay – I didn’t notice until standing there in person that the sign is actually shaped like a champagne bottle top!
Pro Tip: You can do this walk all the way to the end, snap your photos, and then make your way back down towards the train station and city center – doing champagne tasting as you head back towards the town.
3. Bask in the Panoramic Views at Belvédère Pierre Cheval
For people who love more adventurous, rustic places like New Zealand or Switzerland will surely enjoy the scenic beauty that surrounds Épernay – especially at this iconic viewpoint in the city which overlooks the many vineyards, church, and other monumental parts of the area.
View of rolling hills and buildings in Épernay, France; August 2026
You’ll see lots of signs pointing to “Belvedere Pierre Cheval”, even one that goes straight up a hill on Avenue de Champagne itself – but you can always walk past Place de Champagne to follow a curved path that winds up all the way to the top.
Pro Tip: If you weren’t expecting a full-on hike and don’t have easy access to a car the way that I didn’t, you can go up halfway and still get an amazing panoramic view of the city.
4. Wander Around the Centre Ville
If you aren’t taking time to peruse the local shops, cafés, and restaurants in every city you visit in France – you’ve been doing it wrong, and Épernay is no different.
Cafés in the city center of Épernay, France; August 2026
There are lots of really cute cheese and wine spots, little stores, and less busy corners of Épernay to discover. After walking around the main town for an hour, you’ll have pretty much learned your way around – so I won’t spoil it for you and let you explore on your own.
Pro Tip: There is the most tranquil square with a fountain, called Place Hugues Plomb, and a Carrefour nearby to have a little picnic and moment to yourself on a bench. I really enjoyed this little peaceful pocket away from Paris when I came to Épernay for the day. It’s also best to do this at the end of your day trip to Épernay, after champagne tasting on the main avenue, as you’ll be closer to the train station.
5. Discover the Secret Garden Behind the Hôtel de Ville
I’m a sucker for a secret garden. When I had first arrived to Épernay, I was on the hunt for a bathroom where I didn’t need to sit down in a café and pay (we’ve been on a budget lately) – and came across their Hôtel de Ville (French for city hall) with the most stunning little park.
Quiet gardens behind Hôtel de Ville in Épernay, France; August 2026
From the little fountain, vibrant flowers, and view of the postcard-like church in the distance – this very well may have been my favorite place in all of Épernay.
Pro Tip: The public toilet is all the way in the back, near the brown wooden fence-like structure. There is also a tourist information center right nearby here to help kick off your day trip to Épernay!
Want to see my day trip to Épernay in action?
Check out my vlog below exploring the infamous Avenue de Champage, panoramic views, and more!
🍾🌳 Épernay Day Trip FAQs 🌳🍾
City view of Épernay, France; August 2026
Looking for more information and Paris and France as you plan your trip?
Click here to discover more, as I have several articles like this to help you plan the perfect trip to Paris and the rest of France.
Additional articles you may find helpful include:
10 Best Day Trips from Paris by Train (From a Local's Perspective)
Your Guide to A Day Trip to Reims: Is It Worth It?
10 Best Neighborhoods in Paris: Where to Stay (A Local’s Guide)
Your Guide to a First Trip to Paris: A Local-Approved 5-Day Itinerary
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Last updated: September 12, 2026