Habits de Lumière — a 3-day weekend in Champagne

The weekend, day by day

1. Day 1

   Arrive in Épernay

   Land at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), settle in and walk the old town in the afternoon. Light dinner near your accommodation — save your appetite for the festival day.

2. Day 2

   Habits de Lumière

   Festival day — arrive early to avoid the lunchtime crowd. Insider tip: Book a private cellar tour at Perrier-Jouët before the festival crowds hit—their Belle Époque vintage library is rarely shown publicly, and festival week allows special access. Skip Avenue de Champagne's generic wine stalls and instead visit Mailly Grand Cru's cooperative tasting room; their grower-champagnes offer depth the megahouses hide.

3. Day 3

   Wine country day in Champagne

   Use the third day for a single winery visit (booked ahead) and a long lunch at one of the regional addresses below before heading home.

Where to stay

Three angles for the festival window. Festival hotels book out 6+ months in advance — apartments are the contingency when the main shortlist is sold out.

• Hotels in Épernay

  Live inventory around the festival window — 2 adults, all star ratings.

• 4–5 star options near Épernay

  Higher-end shortlist when you want the milestone weekend treatment.

• Apartments in Épernay

  Self-catering option — useful when festival hotels sell out 6+ months ahead.

Booking.com links — we may earn a commission. We never recommend hotels we wouldn't use ourselves.

Where to eat

Practical

Nearest airport

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)

Mid-range daily budget

~€260/day for two

Festival site

Visit official site