Dating in Reims: Best Free Sites & Apps for English Speakers

Champagne, coronations and an international campus

Reims is known for its Gothic cathedral, where French kings were crowned, and for the champagne houses whose cellars run under the city. Less known is how international its student life has become. Sciences Po has a campus here with programmes taught largely in English, NEOMA Business School welcomes many international students, and the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne completes the picture.

Being under an hour from Paris also shapes the scene: some residents work in the capital, and Parisians come for weekends. Outside the campuses, Reims is a fairly traditional French city where social life runs in French and people tend to date within existing circles of friends.

The right site for your situation

Here is how the partners in our France ranking fit Reims:

• Meetic: serious dating for 25 to 49 in French; profile and likes are free, messages are paid.
• DisonsDemain: over-50s, French-speaking.
• eDarling: long-term relationships after 40, via a free personality test and compatible suggestions.
• DateMyAge: the English-language option for singles over 40.

Students mostly use the free apps. Tinder, Bumble and Hinge all offer free chat with matches; happn helps in the compact centre around the cathedral and Place d’Erlon.

Place d’Erlon, cellars and parks

Place Drouet d’Erlon, a long pedestrian square near the station, is the centre of Reims nightlife, lined with brasseries, bars and terraces. It is the obvious place for a first drink. Smaller wine bars around the cathedral and the Halles du Boulingrin market, a striking Art Deco building, are good for something more intimate.

A visit to a champagne house is an elegant date, though better for a second or third meeting; several houses on the Saint-Nicaise hill and along Avenue de Champagne in Épernay offer tours. The Parc de Champagne and the banks of the canal are pleasant for walks or cycling.

To meet people offline, student associations at Sciences Po and NEOMA organise many events, and the city has running clubs, rowing on the canal and language exchanges where French students practise their English.

Tips for dating in Reims

Reims is a “small big city”: you will run into matches again, so stay courteous even when things do not work out. If you commute to Paris, consider widening your search, but be honest about where you live. Meet in public, tell someone your plans and never send money to an online contact.

Which site fits you in Reims?

Daniel, 21, American undergraduate at the Sciences Po campus

He studies in English and wants to meet French students. Tinder and Bumble are free and widely used in Reims. Free tip: join a language exchange to improve your French and meet locals.

Claire, 33, sales manager at a champagne house

She works long hours in season and wants something serious. Meetic fits her age range. Free tip: browsing and likes are free, so she can test it during the quieter winter months.

Hans, 49, Dutch logistics manager in the Reims area

He speaks some French but prefers English for writing. DateMyAge works in English for over-40s. Free tip: combine it with Hinge for free chat.

Françoise, 57, teacher near the Boulingrin market

Ready to date again after a divorce. DisonsDemain is designed for over-50s. Free tip: profile and likes cost nothing, so she can take her time.

Dating in Reims: FAQ

Is Reims good for English speakers?

The student community, especially at the Sciences Po campus and NEOMA, is very international. The rest of the city lives in French.

Where do singles go out in Reims?

Place Drouet d’Erlon is the main area for bars and restaurants, with smaller wine bars around the cathedral.

Which free apps work in Reims?

All four big free apps, Tinder, Bumble, Hinge and happn, let you chat without paying after a match.