Top 6 things to do in Reims

Visiting Reims means discovering a particularly rich architectural and historical heritage. Whether you’re looking for gastronomic delights, cultural visits or sporting activities, you’re bound to find something fun to do here, where you can learn more about the city’s history. In this article, you’ll find iconic places, some of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. So much to explore!

What to do in Reims, the 6 best activities to try out!

1. Notre-Dame Cathedral

Category: Free/Cultural

Description: Anyone visiting Reims must visit Notre-Dame Cathedral, often described as the “jewel of Gothic art”. You can visit it every day of the week from 7.30am, and it closes its doors at 7.30pm, except on Sundays at 7.15pm. There’s no need to take out your wallet! The venue is open to all, with no need to pay, so everyone can have the chance, at least once in their lives, to climb the few steps that lead inside. You’ll immediately be struck by the electric aura that reigns here: gargoyles so well sculpted that they look real; sturdy walls and facades; multicoloured stained glass windows that, when the sun’s rays hit them, give the room a magnificent show… There’s no doubt that Notre-Dame Cathedral is the place to visit in the city of Reims!

2. Champagne houses

Category: €€/Gastronomic

Description: It’s hard to come to Reims and miss the famous “Champagne Houses”, home to the region’s most expensive and precious wines. Oenophiles be warned! This symbol of celebration, which is served at major events, is an integral part of the city’s identity. The Vranken-Pommery Champagne House and the Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne House are both highly recommended places to visit. Take a guided tour and discover the secrets of their histories, taste some of the world’s most unique dishes, and meet their passionate winegrowers! It’s an unusual outing that’s a little out of the ordinary for visits to museums and historic monuments.

3. The Basilica and Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi

Category: €€/Cultural

Description: This is the most famous church in the city of Reims. Almost the size of Notre-Dame Cathedral, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its Romanesque-Gothic style, you’ll be immediately and irrevocably won over by its spiritual interior. Here you will also find a museum retracing the history of the abbey and of Gallo-Roman Reims, with collections of objects from prehistory to the 16th century, and military history, where the city of Reims played a major role during the Gallic War. So much to discover and learn in one place!

4. Stroll in Reims

Category: €€/Sporty

Description: Reims is first and foremost a city of monuments and a special history, but it also has a strong and beautiful natural heritage. Rich in biodiversity, you’ll need to take the time to visit the city centre, of course, but you’ll also need to get away from it all to venture into the wider countryside. Put on a good pair of trainers, take a rucksack and a few litres of water (don’t worry, this isn’t Koh Lanta either), and make haste towards the green paths. Any hiking tips? It goes without saying that you absolutely must visit the Champagne vineyards, but above all the Reims Mountain Regional Nature Park. If you’re not the world’s greatest hikers (we’re not judging you), these trails are perfectly accessible by bike. These areas of relaxation and recreation will make you feel as peaceful as the wind that brushes the trees in the early hours of the morning.

5. Maison Fossier

Category: €€/Gastronomy

Description: Welcome to the home of the pink biscuit! This exquisite, world-famous dessert originated in Reims. For the pleasure of your taste buds, after a long day spent wandering the streets of the city, take a break in the “Maison Fossier” to taste these little biscuits with such an original colour. When you enter, you’ll be seduced by the charming setting, similar to the interior of a doll’s house. Take a seat at one of the tables, and indulge in a delicious glass of champagne to accompany your crunchy, melt-in-your-mouth biscuits. Towards the end, before you leave, don’t hesitate to buy a little souvenir: an adorable pink biscuit box; or even a mini case. So endearing!

6. Opéra de Reims

Category: €€/Cultural

Description: Built by the Rémois architect Alphonse Gosset and inaugurated in 1873, the Reims Opera House is a building that is as pleasing as it is impressive. Its decoration is essentially inspired by Art Deco, and its architecture is worthy of the finest monuments in France. With a capacity for a very large audience, it’s the perfect place if you want to end your stay with a vocal touch! It has a tradition and a reputation for presenting the full diversity of the lyric arts, and you’ll meet artists as passionate as each other. Ballets, events, storytelling, artistic collaborations… Exceptional evenings await you. From time to time, don’t forget to look up at the ceiling, where the mosaics and drawings are magnificent to behold.