10 Things to do in Reims at Christmas

The best things to do in Reims have to do with exploring its historic buildings as well as its vineyards. But at Christmas time this changes a bit, as it opens up the possibility for you to enjoy a wide range of traditions that have to do with this special holiday.

Here are the best things to do in Reims at Christmas time so you can plan a visit that suits your expectations and interests.

The most famous Christmas activity in Reims is its Christmas market, with up to 1,000 different traders and 150 wooden huts, attracting hundreds of visitors from Paris and other northern French cities year after year.

The atmosphere is accompanied by carolers, light shows, jazz bands, magicians and all kinds of street entertainment. There is also a gourmet section at this Christmas market, as well as a Ferris wheel with heated booths to enjoy the views in comfort.

Champagne is also in abundance in every corner of the city and various artisan producers offer free or paid tastings at their stalls.

Useful information

• Date: open from the beginning to the end of December and comes alive in the afternoons and evenings.
• Tip: at Christmas, the markets can be included in the itinerary when booking a private tour of Reim.

Épernay is a town located a couple of kilometres south of Reims that is known for being the undisputed capital of champagne production. In fact, you can book the champagne tour of Épernay and Hautvillers to get to know this world in depth.

But in the second weekend of December, Épernay fills up with art installations, sound and lights with various street theatre acts, music and champagne tastings. It's all part of the Christmas festivities known as Habits de Lumière.

On Sunday, the closing day, there is also a parade of prestigious cars from the last century, which over the years has become one of the most representative events of this Christmas festival. So if you are visiting Reims for 2 days or more, you should make the most of the Habits de Lumière.

Notre Dame de Reims Cathedral is the most visited tourist attraction in the city all year round, and specifically at Christmas time because it offers special masses that have to do with the origin of this Catholic holiday. So much so that it is often included in the itinerary when booking a guided tour of Reims.

On 24 and 25 December, masses are organised during the afternoons and evenings to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. At the same time, they offer further reflections on the Catholic faith in the 21st century and on the spirituality of this religion.

But the Christmas masses do not only take place on the official date of this celebration. Throughout December, these religious events are organised, which can be very entertaining and interesting even for non-believers.

Useful information

• Price: entering the Cathedral and attending mass is completely free.
• Recommendation: it is important that you know how to visit the Notre Dame de Reims Cathedral at the time of your visit, in order to enjoy its historical importance and its role in the Christian traditions of Christmas.

At Christmas, several of the major champagne companies often organise special tastings in the spirit of the season. This means that very specific types of champagne are usually offered to the accompaniment of live music and even Christmas decorations.

If, in addition to that, you are interested in the idea of learning a bit about the process of creating champagne, as well as the history of the main brands that became a world-class benchmark, I recommend booking a tour to the Moët & Chandon and Taittinger cellars from Reims.

This is one of the best excursions from Reims and the best thing about it is that you will be accompanied by a guide, in a small group and you can be picked up directly from your hotel. Besides getting to know these two great producers, the tour includes champagne tasting and visits to family-run wineries.

Another major tourist attraction in the city of Reims is the famous Palais du Tau. This site is located right next to the cathedral and was the residence where the French monarchs would dress up before going to the coronation ceremony.

Inside there is a museum exhibiting the jewellery and clothing worn by the French kings during their accession to the throne. But the best thing is that, during Christmas, the museum usually offers special exhibitions aimed at learning about the traditions of the monarchs. This means you could see the jewellery or clothing worn during the Christmas Eve banquets.

As this museum is located right next to the main tourist attraction and in the heart of the historic city centre, you can include it in your tour when booking a private tour of Reims and see it without a problem if you are visiting Reims in 3 days or less.

The Opéra de Reims holds special concerts at the end of the year and for the 25th of December. The exact time and theme of these concerts changes every year, as it is possible that it is an opera event as well as a concert organised by the local symphony orchestra.

Either way, the idea of enjoying an event in such a special theatre hall is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many tourists, especially at a time as entertaining and special as Christmas.

Note that these Christmas concerts are almost always held on weekends as it is more convenient for both tourists and locals who work during the week.

Christmas is also synonymous with consumption and shopping for many people. For this, the historic centre of Reims has several shopping areas that can be favourable for you to buy gifts for your loved ones or some souvenirs.

One of the most recommended places is Galeries Lafayette, a famous French department stores' where you can find everything you need, from clothes and conventional objects to designer brands.

Also, at Christmas, both the inside and outside of this shop are usually full of Christmas decorations, so it can be a tourist activity even if you don't intend to buy anything. If you're worried about prices, you should know that even though it's a shop with a reputation for being expensive, you'll find little or big things to suit your budget.

The local football team of Reims plays in Ligue 1 and is called Stade de Reims. Throughout the month of December and around Christmas time there are usually matches at the Auguste Delanue stadium, as these dates are part of the French football league's competition schedule.

If you consider yourself a football fan, then this place is a must-see. It's also right next to one of the city's most beautiful urban parks, so it can be an excellent entertainment alternative for the little ones if you're travelling with the family.

The exact date of these matches depends on how Ligue 1 is going at the time of your trip, but chances are there will be at least two or even three matches of this team throughout the month of December in your city.

French gastronomy is characterised by being quite peculiar. For this reason, you should not miss the opportunity to get to know what Christmas meals are like in this country, and your visit to the city of Reims in December and during Christmas is a perfect occasion for this purpose.

Most gastronomic restaurants at Christmas time offer dishes representative of the holiday such as duck fuagras, boudin blanc and roast turkey.

As for desserts, you should know that the bûche de Noel is a cake that is shaped like a log with chocolate and filled with cream. My advice is to try it, as many describe it as a delicious dish.

Reims is very close to Paris, about 90 minutes away. That's why many Parisians visit Reims when they want to escape to the countryside. In your case, you could take a trip in the opposite direction to enjoy the Christmas attractions the French capital has to offer:

• The streets decorated with the typical lights of this season.
• Its shopping areas to do your Christmas shopping with a much more diverse range of products.
• The parks with decorations and the typical Christmas lights.
• The Eiffel Tower and its surroundings become the epicentre of the Christmas spirit in one of the biggest cities in the world.

If your trip to the city of Reims is long enough for you to consider visiting other parts of northern France, then you should take a day or two to visit the capital.