Tourism. Reims, the only French city classified among the “destinations worth the detour”

Beyond Paris, the city of Reims is increasingly establishing itself as a leading tourist destination. A craze confirmed by a report which reveals the trends for the year 2025. According to research carried out around the world, the capital of Marne is among the new fashionable places, alongside seaside resorts in Mexico or Thailand .

Will 2025 be an exceptional tourist year for Reims? In any case, this is what the Horizons report predicts, published on October 18 and which places the Marne town at the top of the list of destinations “Worth the detour”.

In this list of “places that are more discreet and further away from the crowds than the tourist hotspots”it is the only French city among nine other places around the world, most of which are seaside resorts.

“This is where we see the strength of the imagination of champagne, it bodes well for good things!”rejoices Arthur Carpentier, marketing and sales director of Reims Tourisme & Congrès. “That doesn’t surprise me!”agrees Geneviève Esposito, former tour guide.

A selection based on research carried out worldwide on the Expedia travel agency website, based on the percentage increase between September 1, 2023 and August 31, 2024. Thus, 63% of consumers say they are likely “to include one of the destinations mentioned in their next trip”.

So why Reims? First, it benefits from the Olympic Games effect with more tourists in Paris, as analyzed by tourism professionals. Reims, due to its proximity to the capital, benefits from this popularity. “If you are in Paris and want to discover a nearby region, it’s perfect, you can be there in less than an hour by TGV”, recalls the latter Raphaël De Vasconcellos, guide-lecturer in the Champagne region.

If you are in Paris and want to discover a nearby region, it’s perfect, you can be there in less than an hour by TGV.

Raphaël De Vasconcellos

guide-lecturer in the Champagne region.

“Reims offers a very interesting detour destination for Paris and an alternative to Mont-Saint-Michel and the castles of the Loire”, also contextualizes Arthur Carpentier.

Whether for a one-day stopover or a complete stay, the idea of ​​discovering the French vineyard appeals. “95% of tourists arrive with champagne wine in mind. They are surprised to hear about Clovis, the coronation of kings or Franco-German reconciliation,” underlines Raphaël De Vasconcellos, guide for fifteen years.

The fact remains that the champagne houses and vineyards, considerable assets, succeed in attracting all types of tourists. In addition to local tourism, there are those who travel thousands of kilometers: Americans, Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders…

A presence which is also strengthened from year to year and which already confirms the future trends announced. “56% of tourists are foreign and this rate of internationalization, above average, tends to consolidate”explains Arthur Carpentier. It reports that since January, international customers have increased by 7%.

56% of tourists are foreigners and this rate of internationalization, above average, tends to consolidate.

Arthur Carpentier

marketing and sales director of Reims Tourisme & Congrès.

In addition to the must-sees such as the Cathedral, the city center in Art Deco style or the Roman ruins, the tourism professionals interviewed also invite you to discover the funeral and memorial sites of the First World War, the ancient past of the city, the Saint Basilica -Rémy classified as a UNESCO world heritage site or the Montagne de Reims regional natural park.

At the end of 2025, the Musée des Sacres will also be added, which will reopen its doors after two years of closure.. For the Museum of Fine Arts, closed since 2019, we will however have to wait until 2026. A downside which adds to the numerous works underway in the city, sometimes positive for future attractiveness, sometimes disturbing for tourists who make the choice of the car.