The world's most celebrated wine street runs directly above 110 km of chalk cellars holding 200 million bottles. Épernay is where Champagne is born — and your best chance to drink it at the source.
How you arrive depends entirely on your vessel type — Épernay is an inland port accessible only to smaller barges and hotel ships.
💡 Pro move: Cellars stay a constant 10–12°C (50–54°F) year-round. Bring a light jacket regardless of outside temperature.
Épernay is a barge and hotel-ship port on the Marne River — large cruise vessels use coach transfers.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| CroisiEurope, Belmond, European Waterways barges | Port de Plaisance / Capitainerie d'Épernay, Marne Canal📍 | Docked |
| River cruise shore excursions (Viking, AmaWaterways, etc.) | Coach drop-off at Épernay train station📍 | Docked |
From underground cellar odysseys to vineyard panoramas and Michelin-worthy lunches, Épernay packs a full shore day into one champagne-soaked street.
The world's most famous Champagne house opens its 28 km of chalk cellars to guided tours. Marvel at the Dom Pérignon statue, learn méthode champenoise from start to finish, and close with a tasting of the house flagship.
Book Moët & Chandon tours →Mercier's audio-guided electric train winds through 18 km of cellars, passing a giant oak cask that holds the equivalent of 200,000 bottles. Great for groups or those who prefer a seated tour — ends with a tasting.
Book Mercier cellar tours →A tethered helium balloon at the foot of the Avenue de Champagne lifts you 150 m above the Marne Valley for 360° views over the UNESCO-listed vineyards. Weather permitting.
Find balloon flight tours →Ditch the big houses for an afternoon at C-Comme, Épernay's celebrated Champagne bar. Choose from 300+ independent grower bottles paired with local charcuterie, Chaource, and Langres cheese.
Find Champagne tasting experiences →A 10-minute taxi ride to neighbouring Aÿ reveals this immersive museum in a former Pommery press house. Interactive exhibits trace Champagne's 350-year history, finishing with a two-glass tasting.
Find Pressoria tours →Walk or take a short cab to Cumières and climb the hillside vines to Hautvillers — the village where Dom Pérignon worked and is buried. Outstanding valley views and a beautifully preserved Benedictine abbey.
Find Champagne vineyard tours →Épernay is one of the most rewarding port walks in Europe — flat, scenic, and lined with bottle-able history.
Start at the Moët & Chandon gatehouse and walk the full length of the Avenue de Champagne past grand 19th-century Champagne house mansions — Pol Roger, Perrier-Jouët, Boizel — to Mercier at the far end. The cellars of the world's most valuable wine inventory lie directly beneath your feet.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →From the train station, walk to the Parc de l'Hôtel de Ville for the manicured English garden and lake, then detour to Église Notre-Dame for its 16th-century stained glass, and finish at Place de la République for a café stop.
Climate normals for Épernay, Champagne, France (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F / 7°C | 35°F / 2°C | 15 |
| Feb | 47°F / 8°C | 35°F / 2°C | 11 |
| Mar | 53°F / 12°C | 37°F / 3°C | 12 |
| Apr | 59°F / 15°C | 42°F / 6°C | 9 |
| May | 65°F / 18°C | 48°F / 9°C | 12 |
| Jun | 73°F / 23°C | 57°F / 14°C | 11 |
| Jul | 77°F / 25°C | 59°F / 15°C | 9 |
| Aug | 76°F / 24°C | 59°F / 15°C | 10 |
| Sep | 70°F / 21°C | 54°F / 12°C | 8 |
| Oct | 61°F / 16°C | 48°F / 9°C | 12 |
| Nov | 51°F / 11°C | 41°F / 5°C | 12 |
| Dec | 46°F / 8°C | 37°F / 3°C | 14 |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)