Reims
Reims Christmas market: fizz, mulled wine and a Roman arch
In December the stalls light up by the Porte de Mars, a Roman triumphal arch from the third century. Below ground are the champagne houses, several of them open all winter.
12 November 20265 min read
Picolo Editorial
In short: Reims Christmas market
The Reims Christmas market runs along the Hautes Promenades Jean-Louis Schneiter, between the railway station and the Porte de Mars. In 2026 it is open from 25 November to 27 December, closed on Christmas Day. From London it is about four hours by Eurostar and TGV. Domaine Les Crayères is our first choice for a Christmas weekend.
Last checked: November 2026.
The market
The market lines the promenades on the northern side of the centre, between the station and the Porte de Mars. The arch dates from the days when Reims was the Roman city of Durocortorum, and it makes a good meeting point when the stalls fill up in the evening.
Most of it is about food and drink. Look for local specialities such as biscuits roses, the pink biscuits of Reims traditionally dipped in champagne. Vin chaud, French mulled wine, is part of the evening, and the champagne waits in the cellars beneath the city.
Until 20 December the stalls open at 11.30am on weekdays and 10am at weekends. They close at 9pm or 10pm, and at 8pm on Sundays. On Mondays the market opens at 2pm. In the week after 20 December it opens at 11am, closes at 6pm on Christmas Eve and stays shut on Christmas Day.
The champagne houses in winter
Christmas is a good time to visit the champagne cellars. Slots are easier to find, and the temperature below ground is the same as in summer, around 10-12°C. Taittinger is open all year, in Roman chalk quarries 18 metres beneath Saint-Nicaise. Pommery and Ruinart are in the same quarter.
Book before you travel. Around Christmas and New Year many houses change their hours, and some close for a few days.
The cathedral in December
The cathedral of Notre-Dame, where the kings of France were crowned, is about a quarter of an hour's walk from the market. With one evening, do the market first and the cathedral after.
Getting there
Take the Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord, walk about ten minutes to Gare de l'Est and catch the TGV to Reims, around 45 minutes. The market starts a couple of minutes' walk from Reims station. See our Eurostar to Champagne guide for the full route.
Where to stay
Domaine Les Crayères
A château in a park in Saint-Nicaise, a few minutes' walk from the Taittinger and Pommery cellars. It has around 20 rooms and suites with antiques, and dinner is at Le Parc.
Best for a Christmas weekend with the cellars next door and a taxi to the market.
Hotel Continental
A Belle Époque hotel on Place Drouet-d'Erlon, the pedestrian square lined with restaurants, a short walk from the promenades where the market stands. There is a restaurant, a bar and a terrace.
Best for walking to the market in the evening and back again without a taxi.
La Caserne Chanzy
Facing the cathedral, and from some rooms you look straight at the rose window. The Deep Nature Spa has a sensory pool, and La Grande Georgette serves classic French cooking under the same roof.
Best for seeing the cathedral from your window and warming up in the spa after an evening in the cold.
Our first choice for Christmas in Reims
Domaine Les Crayères
Domaine Les Crayères is the château for a Christmas in Reims with the champagne as close as possible. It stands in a park in Saint-Nicaise, with the Taittinger and Pommery cellars a few minutes' walk away. Spend the afternoon in the chalk and take a taxi to the market after dark. Back at the château, Le Parc is waiting.
Frequently asked questions about the Reims Christmas market
When is the Reims Christmas market?
The Reims Christmas market opens in late November and runs into the days after Christmas. In 2026 it is open from 25 November to 27 December and closed on Christmas Day. The stalls open between 10am and 11.30am and close between 8pm and 10pm. On Mondays the market opens at 2pm, and on Christmas Eve it closes at 6pm.
Where is the Christmas market in Reims?
It runs along the Promenades Jean-Louis Schneiter and the square by the Porte de Mars, the Roman triumphal arch on the northern side of the centre. It is right next to the railway station, so you can walk from the train to the stalls in a couple of minutes. The cathedral is about fifteen minutes' walk away.
Are the champagne houses in Reims open in December?
Many are, though hours change around Christmas and New Year. Taittinger keeps its cellars open all year, and Pommery and Ruinart are in the same Saint-Nicaise quarter. Book before you travel. Winter slots are easier to get than summer ones, and the cellars stay at the same temperature year-round.
Can you do Reims Christmas market as a trip from London?
Yes. The journey takes about four hours by Eurostar and TGV, with a short walk between Paris stations. A day trip is possible but rushed. One or two nights let you add a cellar visit and see the market after dark, when it is at its best.
Where should you stay in Reims at Christmas?
Stay central to walk to the market. Hotel Continental is a short walk from the promenades, and La Caserne Chanzy faces the cathedral. To be near the champagne cellars, Domaine Les Crayères is in Saint-Nicaise, though you will take a taxi to the market in the evening.
Sources
Dates and opening hours come from the Marne tourist board and the Département de la Marne. Taittinger's cellars are described on the house's own website, and train times come from SNCF and Eurostar. Hotel details come from Hotels.com.
Merry Christmas from Reims
Picolo Editorial