5 Finest Areas & Neighborhoods

The incredible city of Reims is the unofficial capital of France’s famed champagne region. Sprawling wine estates, celebrated champagne houses, and wooded hills and valleys characterize the area.

Reims is just a 45-minute train ride from the French capital of Paris, making it an incredibly accessible and easy place to visit, especially if you’ve been to France before. If you’d like to expand your exploration of France beyond the City of Love, Reims is an excellent option.

You’ll need a few days to explore this gorgeous region. Spend your days champagne tasting, wandering through beautiful vineyards, learning about French history, or all of the above! The best place to base your stay has to be Reims.

Reims is the largest city in the area and has the most options when it comes to accommodation. Reims hotels vary from just the basics to extravagant chateaus. Let’s get into the best areas of Reims to stay while visiting France’s stunning champagne countryside!

TL;DR Best Hotels in Reims, France

Areas to Choose Within Reims, France

• Best area for first-timers/tourists – Reims Centre-Ville 
• Best areas for budget travelers – Reims Nord, Parc des Expositions
• Best area for luxury travelers – Tinqueux 
• Best area for safety – Tinqueux 
• Best area for families – Saint-Remi

Where to Stay in Reims, France

1. Reims Centre-Ville

Centre-Ville is the place to be and where you can find many of the best hotels in the city. It’s a mix of old and new, hallmarked by charming cobblestone streets with the famous Reims Cathedral at the heart of this neighborhood.

When staying in the heart of Reims, you can enjoy stunning architecture, impressive UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and excellent restaurants. In fact, the city is home to six Michelin-starred restaurants. Two of these restaurants, Le Foch and Racine, can be found in Reims Centre-Ville.

The city center is the best place to stay in Reims for first-time visitors to the region due to its convenient location, close walking distance to most of Reims’ top tourist attractions, and having the highest concentration of hotels in town. It’s also the closest neighborhood to the Reims train station.

Best things to do in Reims Centre-Ville:

• Take a tour of Reims’ stunning Notre Dame Cathedral, also known as Reims Cathedral or Notre Dame de Reims. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was once where coronation for French kings had been held for more than 1,000 years.
• Next door, the Palais du Tau (closed for renovations until 2025) showcases many statues formerly located in the cathedral. It includes the remains of the Holy Ampulla and was the former residence of the bishops of Reims.
• Have a picnic at the tranquil Square de la Patte d’Oie. This park is known for its duck ponds, water fountains, and playgrounds.
• Visit the Museum of Fine Arts, home to five centuries of European and French art.
• Stroll past the Porte de Mars, the widest ancient Roman arch in the world!
• Enjoy people-watching, dining, and shopping in picturesque Place Drouet d’Erlon.
• Get a taste of traditional French cuisine and regional dishes at Halles Boulingrin.

Best hotels in Reims Centre-Ville:

See Related: Fun & Best Things to Do in the South of France

2. Tinqueux

Tinqueux is a suburb of Reims, just west of the city center. It’s quiet and peaceful and makes you feel like you’re in the heart of the Champagne countryside rather than being in a large city.

This charming French suburb is best known for L’Assiette Champenoise, a three-star Michelin restaurant. The highly-praised restaurant’s menu changes with the season and includes many ingredients grown locally in the Champagne region. The restaurant is located in a five-star hotel by the same name.

Tinqueux is a great place to stay for luxury travelers who want to be truly immersed in the beautiful champagne region. I highly recommend renting a car if staying in Tinqueux in order to easily access the Champagne route that connects various Champagne houses.

Best things to do in Tinqueux:

• Indulge in a meal at L’Assiette Champenoise, Reims’ only restaurant awarded three Michelin stars.
• Catch an entertaining musical performance at Le Kabaret Music Hall. This “dinner and a show”-type venue includes cabaret performances, orchestras, comedies, and more!
• Take a relaxing walk around the lake at Parc de la Croix Cordier.
• Visit the Reims Planetarium, which is included in the Reims City Pass.

Best hotels in Tinqueux:

See Related: Fun & Best Things to Do in Epernay, France

3. Saint-Remi

If you want to stay close to the action but in a bit of a quieter area, Saint-Remi is a fantastic option. This lovely neighborhood is just south of the city center and is just as picturesque.

At the heart of the Saint-Remi neighborhood is the Basilique Saint-Remi, which dates back to the 11th century and is the largest Romanesque church in Northern France. Situated within the church is a museum that showcases works of art and artifacts found throughout the region dating back to prehistoric times.

Saint-Remi is also a fabulous location for champagne tasting. One of the most famous champagne houses nearby is Veuve Clicquot, which you can visit on a guided tour. Other incredible champagne houses to visit nearby include Champagne Martel, Champagne Vranken, and Champagne Taittinger.

Saint-Remi is the best area to stay in Reims for families. You can find many affordable vacation rentals that can accommodate small families in a quiet area while still being within short walking distance of many of Reims’ top attractions.

Best things to do in Saint-Remi:

• Visit the stunning Basilique-Saint Remi, which dates back to the 11th century.
• If you have extra time, check out the Musée Saint-Remi, located inside the church. This museum displays works of art and artifacts from around the region.
• Spend a day champagne tasting at various nearby champagne houses. Many, like Veuve Clicquot, offer guided tours of their wine cellars or have an outdoor terrace to enjoy some bubble al fresco.
• Visit Champagne Vranken’s Villa Demoiselle, which has been converted into an art nouveau and art deco museum.
• Stop by the nearby Musée Automobile Reims Champagne. This museum showcases a large collection of automobiles, rare motorcycles, and even an impressive collection of miniature cars.
• Have a meal at Le Parc, the two-star Michelin restaurant at Domaine les Crayères. The menu is inspired by the changing seasons and the surrounding Champagne countryside.

Best hotels in Saint-Remi:

See Related: Fun & Best Things to Do in Menton, France

4. Reims Nord

If you’re searching for the best Reims hotel deals, the Reims Nord neighborhood is going to be your top option. You’ll find a wide array of accommodations here, including cheap hotels, vacation rentals with spacious rooms, and affordable, sophisticated hotels.

Reims Nord, as its name suggests, is the northern part of the city, located north of Reims Centre-Ville and the Reims train station. It extends pretty far north from central Reims, so you will have to rely on public transportation to get to most of the main attractions.

While Reims Nord features less notable attractions than Reims’ city center, it still remains one of the best areas to stay during your time in the Champagne region. The city is easily walkable, and there are many fantastic cafes and restaurants in this neighborhood.

Best things to do in Reims Nord:

• Party at La Petite Halle de Quartier Libre Reims. This event space often hosts free parties and events for all to enjoy. There’s a bar, restaurant, dance hall, and even a co-working space if you need to catch up on some work.
• Spend some time at Musée de la Reddition. This museum showcases the history and artifacts of World War II and is, in fact, the site of the surrender of Nazi Germany, signifying the end of the war.
• Enjoy the beautiful gardens and fountains of Parc Christian Pozzo di Borgo.
• Visit Église Saint-Thomas de Reims. This catholic church dates back to the mid-19th century and is one of the most striking churches in Reims.

Best hotels in Reims Nord:

See Related: Fun & Best Things to Do in Mulhouse, France

5. Parc des Expositions

The Parc des Expositions area of Reims is located to the southeast of the city center. The Parc des Expositions is a convention center that holds many of the city’s most popular events; therefore, there are several hotels close by as well.

With its location on the outskirts of town, this neighborhood is super close to sprawling vineyards and gorgeous green spaces. There are multiple parks in this neighborhood, the largest of them being the Parc de Champagne.

The Parc de Champagne is absolutely the most stunning green space in Reims. It includes a ton of walking paths, a botanical garden, sports fields, an athletic track, and a dog park.

Parc des Expositions is another great place to stay in Reims for budget travelers. As I mentioned earlier, there are quite a few hotels in the area, many of which are wallet-friendly.

It’s quite a long walk from this area to Reims city center, but there is a direct bus that leaves from the Parc des Expositions to Reims city center that leaves every 15 minutes. The bus brings you to the city center in just over 20 minutes.

Best things to do in Parc des Expositions:

• Stroll through the scenic Parc de Champagne. This gorgeous park is perfect for a morning or evening walk or run, with several walking paths, gardens, and a running track.
• Attend an event at Parc des Expositions. There’s always something going on here, whether it be the Independent Wine Growers’ Fair or The Culture Food Show. Be sure to check out the convention center’s website to see if there’s anything happening during your visit.
• Visit the Fort de la Pompelle Museum. This fort was built in 1870 to protect Reims and was also a combat site during World War I.

Best hotels in Parc des Expositions:

See Related: Best Wine Regions in France

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Brittney is a lifelong traveler from Oahu, Hawaii. She has visited more than 35 countries and is continually researching new places to explore!