Épernay Champagne bus tour with 3 tastings and sabrage

Three glasses of champagne and a sabrage show from an open-top bus rolling through the vineyards

An open-top imperial bus tour of Épernay and the surrounding Champagne region, led by a local guide who shares stories from winemaking families. The route follows the UNESCO-listed Avenue de Champagne past the great champagne houses, then climbs into the vineyard-lined hillsides to Hautvillers, where Dom Pérignon lived. You taste 3 flutes of champagne with a small snack and watch a sabrage demonstration: the tradition of opening champagne with a saber. The tour runs 1.5 hours or 2 hours. The longer option adds the village of Aÿ, home to Bollinger.

Step-by-step itinerary

Epernay and Champagne tasting tour

• Travel along Avenue de Champagne
• Visit Hautvillers village
• Photo break and champagne tasting
• Watch sabrage demonstration
• Optional visit to Aÿ village
• Return to Epernay

The experience

The tour starts on the Avenue de Champagne, Épernay's most prestigious boulevard, where the iconic champagne houses line both sides. From the open-top terrace of the bus, you get an unobstructed view of the architecture and the landscape beyond. The guide, Marie-Antoinette, is a local whose family has grown grapes for generations. She shares the anecdotes and traditions that shape how champagne is made and understood in the region.

The route climbs into the hillsides to Hautvillers, the village where Dom Pérignon lived and worked. You'll see the vineyards that feed the houses below and get a photo break to step out. At Hautvillers, you taste 2 flutes of champagne with a small snack. The tour then moves to a festive setting where you watch a sabrage demonstration: the iconic regional tradition of opening a bottle with a saber, as much spectacle as it is ceremony. If you book the 2-hour option, the bus continues to Aÿ, the village home to the prestigious Bollinger house, before returning to Épernay.

Music plays on board throughout. The bus is wheelchair accessible, and all areas are accessible to guests with mobility needs. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and service animals are welcome. The guide speaks French.

What’s included

• Music on board.
• a local guide who shares stories from winemaking families.
• 3 flutes of champagne for adults.
• a small snack.
• soft drinks.
• and a sabrage demonstration.

Options for this experience

2 options

1h30 tourGuide in French · 14:30Lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes.

2h15 TourGuide in French · 10:30This tour, which normally runs 2 hours, adds one more stop: the village of Aÿ, home to the renowned Bollinger Champagne House as well as Deutz Champagne. Total duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SundayDepartures at 10:30 and 14:30Last departure this season: 29 Nov

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (under 18)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideFrench

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by L'impériale de Marie Antoinette

Is this one for you?The open-top bus keeps you comfortable while moving through the landscape, so you see the Avenue de Champagne and the vineyards without stopping and starting. The 2-hour option lets you add Aÿ if you want more of the region without a full day commitment.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 18).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Hautvillers and why does the tour stop there?

Hautvillers is the picturesque village where Dom Pérignon lived and worked, making it the birthplace of champagne as we know it. The tour stops there for a photo break and to taste 2 flutes of champagne with a snack before the sabrage demonstration.

What does the sabrage demonstration involve?

Sabrage is the tradition of opening a champagne bottle with a saber: a spectacular and convivial moment that is iconic to the Champagne region. You watch the demonstration as part of the tour's festive finale.

Should I book the 1.5-hour or 2-hour tour?

The 1.5-hour tour covers Épernay's Avenue de Champagne and Hautvillers. The 2-hour option adds the village of Aÿ, home to the prestigious Bollinger champagne house, if you want a longer route through the region.

How many tastings are included?

You taste 3 flutes of champagne total: 2 at Hautvillers and 1 more during the tour. Each tasting comes with a small snack, and soft drinks are also available on board.

Is this tour accessible for people with mobility needs?

Yes. The open-top bus is wheelchair accessible, all areas and surfaces are accessible, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Service animals are welcome on board.