Best time to visit Reims
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Reims
19 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on Reims).
- 1
Private Full Day Tour - Visit of 3 Champagne Growers from Reims. - 2
Moet et Chandon Tasting and Fun Private Tour in Champagne - 3
Small Group - Half Day Champagne Tour - Visit of 2 Small Producers/Growers - 4
Reims or Epernay: Full day Champagne Mumm, family grower & lunch - 5
Reims or Epernay: Full day Veuve Clicquot family grower & lunch - 6
From Reims Full day Electric bike Champagne and lunch - 7
Day trip by van in Champagne small group of 8 - 8
Veuve Clicquot Tasting and Fun Private Tour in Champagne - 9
Private tour: Full Day Veuve Clicquot to Reims or Epernay region - 10
Private Champagne tour, family growers and lunch - 11
Full Day Champagne Pommery Small Group Tour - 12
Reims afternoon tour Champagne and family growers - 13
Discover Champagne in half a day in a Van - 14
Private Bastogne War Museum, Battlefields and Barracks Tour - 15
Verdun WWI Battle Site Region Full Day Private Tour - 16
Winery visit and tasting tour in the vineyards - 17
Best Intro to Reims in 2 hours with a Local - 18
10 Hours Private Tour to World War 1 Sites at Verdun - 19
Full day Moet and Chandon family grower in Reims or Epernay
Last refreshed 2026-06-18.
Similar climatesVersailles97% · Paris96% · Lille96%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Reims (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Reims's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1–7 | 3 | 13 | 159 | 12.2 | 83% | 21 | 87 | 1 | Moderate | 4 |
| Feb | 4–10 | 6 | 11 | 139 | 12.6 | 75% | 24 | 104 | 1 | Quiet | 4 |
| Mar | 4–12 | 9 | 13 | 153 | 11.8 | 67% | 21 | 178 | 2 | Quiet | 5 |
| Apr | 5–15 | 12 | 10 | 116 | 11.6 | 59% | 19 | 226 | 3 | Quiet | 7 |
| May | 9–19 | 17 | 11 | 133 | 12.1 | 60% | 19 | 265 | 5 | Busy | 7 |
| Jun | 13–23 | 22 | 10 | 112 | 11.2 | 59% | 16 | 262 | 6 | Quiet | 8 |
| Jul | 14–24 | 24 | 10 | 117 | 11.7 | 57% | 18 | 268 | 5 | Quiet | 8 |
| Aug | 15–25 | 25 | 10 | 112 | 11.2 | 58% | 17 | 253 | 5 | Peak | 8 |
| Sep | 12–22 | 21 | 9 | 100 | 11.1 | 63% | 17 | 208 | 4 | Moderate | 8 |
| Oct | 10–17 | 15 | 14 | 149 | 10.6 | 75% | 20 | 152 | 2 | Quiet | 6 |
| Nov | 5–10 | 8 | 12 | 123 | 10.3 | 82% | 19 | 99 | 1 | Quiet | 5 |
| Dec | 3–7 | 4 | 15 | 165 | 11.0 | 86% | 21 | 62 | 1 | Quiet | 3 |
UV Index in Reims by Month
UV index in Reims peaks at 6 (moderate) in June, dropping to 1 (low) in January.
Best months in detail
September
8/1012–22°C · 9 rain days (100h) · 208 sun hours · 63% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 4 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 5 (moderate)
June
8/1013–23°C · 10 rain days (112h) · 262 sun hours · 59% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (high)
July
8/1014–24°C · 10 rain days (117h) · 268 sun hours · 57% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
4/101–7°C (feels 3°C) · 13 rain days (159h) · 87 sun hours · 83% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 1 (low)
February
4/104–10°C (feels 6°C) · 11 rain days (139h) · 104 sun hours · 75% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
March
5/104–12°C (feels 9°C) · 13 rain days (153h) · 178 sun hours · 67% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
April
7/105–15°C (feels 12°C) · 10 rain days (116h) · 226 sun hours · 59% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 5 (moderate)
May
7/109–19°C (feels 17°C) · 11 rain days (133h) · 265 sun hours · 60% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (high)
August
8/1015–25°C · 10 rain days (112h) · 253 sun hours · 58% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
October
6/1010–17°C (feels 15°C) · 14 rain days (149h) · 152 sun hours · 75% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 3 (moderate)
November
5/105–10°C (feels 8°C) · 12 rain days (123h) · 99 sun hours · 82% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
December
3/103–7°C (feels 4°C) · 15 rain days (165h) · 62 sun hours · 86% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
Nobody may pick a grape until the date is published
Champagne's harvest does not begin when a grower judges the fruit ready. The Comite Champagne and INAO jointly publish a ban de vendange that sets an opening date for every commune and every grape variety separately — so two growers in the same village can be given different start dates depending on what they planted.
The date comes from measurement. The Reseau MATU has sampled roughly 600 control plots twice a week through the four weeks before harvest since 1956, and the ban follows the sugar and acidity readings. Picking is entirely by hand, which the appellation rules require.
It moves, and sharply. The 2026 ban was published on 12 August with village dates running 8 to 22 August — the earliest opening ever recorded. In 2025 the same window ran 21 August to 4 September. That is a fortnight of movement in a single year, announced days ahead.
Sources: Comite Champagne — harvesting, the ban de vendange and the MATU network , UNESCO — Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars (inscribed 2015)
When is the Champagne harvest?
Late August into September, but the exact start is decreed rather than chosen. The Comite Champagne and INAO publish a ban de vendange setting dates per commune and per grape variety, usually about a week in advance. In 2026 it ran 8 to 22 August, the earliest ever; in 2025 it ran 21 August to 4 September.
What is the best month to visit Reims?
May, June or September. All three give comfortable weather for the cathedral and the cellars without August's peak near 24C, which is also the crowd peak. September has the added draw of harvest activity in the surrounding villages, though the exact dates are only published shortly beforehand.
How many days do you need in Reims?
Two. One for the cathedral, the Palais du Tau and the Saint-Remi basilica — all UNESCO-listed since 1991 — and one for the champagne houses, whose chalk cellars run deep beneath the city. A third day lets you reach Epernay and the Cote des Blancs villages by car or tour.
Can you visit champagne cellars during the harvest?
Most houses continue to run tours through the harvest period, though individual producers set their own arrangements and smaller growers are naturally occupied. Book directly and confirm rather than assuming, particularly with small estates. The harvest window itself shifts by up to two weeks between years.
Is Reims worth visiting?
Yes, and on two separate counts. The cathedral where French kings were crowned is UNESCO-listed and among the finest Gothic buildings in Europe. Separately, the Champagne hillsides, houses and cellars were inscribed in 2015, and the chalk cellars beneath the city are part of that listing.
What is the wettest month in Reims?
December, at around 78mm, with September driest at about 53mm. This is a temperate continental climate with no dry season and no month wet enough to spoil a trip — rainfall is spread evenly and modestly. February is coldest with lows near 1C, so winter visits are chilly rather than severe.
Is champagne harvested by hand?
Yes, entirely — machine harvesting is prohibited under the appellation rules, because whole bunches must arrive intact for the press. It is one reason the harvest employs tens of thousands of seasonal pickers across the region for a few weeks each year, and why the start date matters so much logistically.
Which is better, Reims or Epernay?
Reims is the larger city with the cathedral, more restaurants and the grand houses of the Champagne trade. Epernay is smaller and more single-purpose, built along the Avenue de Champagne with cellars beneath it. Reims for a city break with champagne attached; Epernay if the wine is the whole point.
How far is Reims from Paris?
About 45 minutes by TGV from Paris Est, which makes it comfortably a day trip — though the cellars and the cathedral together justify an overnight. Driving takes around 90 minutes. The speed of the train is why Reims works as a short break in a way most French wine regions do not.
When is Reims least crowded?
November through March, outside the Christmas market period. The cathedral and the cellars operate year-round and the chalk cellars are a constant temperature regardless of season, which makes winter a genuinely sensible time to visit. August is the crowd peak, coinciding with the French holiday month.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Reims
When is the best time to visit Reims?
September is the highest-scoring month (8/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 12–22°C (9 rainy days). The top three months by score are September, June, July.
What is the worst time to visit Reims?
December is the lowest-scoring month (3/10). Typical conditions: 3–7°C (15 rainy days).
When are crowds lowest in Reims?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in July and peaks in August. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Reims have good weather but fewer tourists?
June (climate 8/10, crowd index 8) and July (climate 8/10, crowd index 0) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Reims by month?
UV peaks at 6 (moderate) in June and is lowest in January at 1 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 1, Feb 1, Mar 2, Apr 3, May 5, Jun 6, Jul 5, Aug 5, Sep 4, Oct 2, Nov 1, Dec 1.
What is the UV index in Reims in June?
June is the peak UV month in Reims, with a daily-peak UV index of 6 (moderate). Standard sun protection — sunglasses and light SPF — is recommended.
How high can UV get in Reims on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. June is the worst case: typical days average UV 6 (moderate), but the top 10% of days reach UV 8 (high) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in Reims bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 5 months: January, February, March, November, December. The worst month is February with a typical-day mean of 12 µg/m³ (moderate); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 21 µg/m³ (unhealthy for sensitive) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.