593 Best Hotels in France

This family-owned-and-run hotel at the heights of Courchevel has upheld a vision of hospitality, elegance, and a love of winter sports since opening in the 1970s. It certainly has its place among Courchevel’s elite hotels, but it's set apart by its lack of pretension, family atmosphere, ravishing decor, and location at the top the village. Light-flooded room with balconies and giant bay windows offer every comfort and unobstructed mountain views. Professionals are on hand to equip you for the slopes outside the door, and après ski is enjoyed by a roaring fire, at the chic cozy bar, or in the gaming room. Go seamlessly from skiing to the shimmering Codage spa, with indoor and outdoor pools, a panoramic sauna, fitness room (with physiotherapy if desired), and Jacuzzi. All of this is rounded out by three dining choices: intimate Michelin-starred Alpurna, a French gastronomic restaurant, and a casual eatery serving Alpine favorites.

The cobbled streets of the Vieille Ville are visible from this comfortable 18th-century hotel directly across from the town theater. Guest rooms are bright and modern with stylish bathroom; Rooms 11 and 21 are largest, with pleasing views over the Old Town. Tall patrons take note: rooms on the top floor have sloping ceilings. Service is personable and friendly, and parking is reasonable (€10 per day), a real plus in the busy town center.

All of the small, delicately contemporary rooms at this four-story charmer overlook the Citadelle's green park, some from tiny balconies. If there are more than two of you, ask for the pretty loft with an extra cot and a private spiral-stair entrance. Continental breakfast is served on the petite terrasse outside. The cozy Barock bar is open April to October.

This lustrous Relais & Château property, set on a quiet street two minutes from the Champs-Élysées, has been newly restored to the highest standard. In winter, a roaring fire warms the plush lobby from breakfast until after-dinner drinks in the adjoining wood-paneled cocktail bar, while upstairs guests lounge on bespoke furnishings in spacious rooms that mix Japanese simplicity with Parisian elegance, some with terraces (of all sizes) and stellar views of the Eiffel Tower. Huge marble bathrooms, many with walk-in showers and separate tubs, easily accommodate two people, and the hushed Japanese-style Ikoi spa offers a small pool, sauna, fitness room, and a menu of luxury treatments. Though there’s no on-site restaurant, high-quality bar snacks can be sufficient for lunch or dinner.

This interesting hotel with tasteful, elegant rooms is in a stately, early-20th-century bank building in the heart of the Opéra district, which is full of shops and theaters. The imposing domed lobby hosts an eclectic restaurant and tapas bar on either side. Each room has parquet floors, custom furniture, leather-weave headboards, and marble or green mosaic tiles in the bathrooms. The Spanish-owned hotel doubles as a museum, with the owner's jewelry collection on display on each floor.

Located just behind the train station, this glass, triangular hotel designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon is hard to miss, especially at night when it's bathed in blue light. Modern rooms and suites are sleek and sparse, with floor-to-ceiling windows and walk-in closets. The hotel's two restaurants and three bars serve fine northern European fare. In-house entertainment includes a casino with more than 300 slot machines and 20 gaming tables, as well as a 1,200-seat theater. The hotel is a stone's throw from the Eurostar Terminal and close to Lille Flandres station. It's also withing walking distance to the old city center. The neighboring Parc de Dondaines provides a pretty backdrop for many room views and pleasant grounds for a postmeal stroll.

Set smack dab on the famous Croisette, facing the Palais des Festivals, this stately hotel is the perfect high-end pleasure, thanks to soaring suites and unparalleled views of the Mediterranean—and, during the film festival, of the iconic red carpet. The elegant Fouquet’s restaurant and bar adds a touch of film star glamour. Mediterranean menus and refreshing cocktails are stars of the show at Ciro’s Cannes and its stylish private beach. Included in the rates is Studio by Petit VIP, a varied program of kids activities from art to baking and language classes. Meanwhile parents can relax by the outdoor pool or enjoy the Spa Diane Barrière by Parisian brand Biologique Recherche. Splash on a sea view room designed by Isabelle Stanislas. There’s even a pillow menu for a perfect night’s sleep.

Set in a handsome 19th-century stone mansion smack-dab in the center of bustling Rocamadour, this hotel has charm to spare and a very good gastronomic restaurant. At this Best Western hotel, guests enjoy the romance (and quiet) of a historic setting with bright, ample rooms and every modern convenience. The restaurant is easily the best in town, offering a menu of French classics—foie gras, duck breast, Quercy lamb, and the local cabécou cheese—along with great views from the town heights; there's also a lower-priced bistro if you're in a hurry.

The service, amenities, and petit déjeuner (breakfast) may be far from luxurious at this unpretentious family-owned-and-operated hotel, but the location in the heart of St-Germain is fabulous. The relatively spacious rooms are comfortable, with old-fashioned wood furnishings, renovated bathrooms, and neutral white and beige upholstery. Wi-Fi access is free. Children are welcome; baby cribs and high chairs are even available.

You might not guess that this friendly, family-run, shabby-chic hotel, convenient to both the train station and the Palais des Papes, is a budget option. It's full of welcoming touches like vintage art and colorful linens, and it's comfortable, functional, and easy on the wallet.

The lobby of this Belle Époque extravaganza feels otherworldly (think the white-on-white, Rococo-ed rooms at the end of Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey), and the white-and-cream guest rooms have things like cascading, diamondlike ceiling lights, sculpted rose door handles, and the very latest in push-button luxury. The hotel's Italian restaurant can be hit and miss, but it has a great terrace, and the basement contains one of the most striking spas around (there are even plasma TVs in the saunas, though you don't get to pick the channel).

Once a convent, a theater, and a brothel (not at the same time), this chic boutique hotel is not shy about mixing the metaphors of its colorful past. Eve’s sinful snake emblazoned on the carpet points you to your petit boudoir, where buttoned-up tweed banquettes and headboards contrast with bright plush velvet chairs and throw pillows. Sexy original photographs spice up the rooms, the on-site bar, and private pool “salons,” where guests can reserve a one-hour private swim—with champagne and pastries, if so desired—in a spacious whirlpool equipped with a shower, dressing area, and velvet chaises. The glamorous bar hosts DJ sets, sexy shows, and ateliers, accompanied by creative craft cocktails and a menu of surprisingly excellent bar snacks. Just around the corner from the Marché des Enfants Rouge in the heart of the Marais, the hotel perfectly reflects this epicenter of fashion.

Subdued lighting and rich jewel tones announce the blend of romance and chic cultivated by the Hôtel Bourg Tibourg, designed by Paris superstar Jacques Garcia. Royal-blue walls and red velvet line the claustrophobic halls, and Byzantine alcoves hold mosaic-tile tubs. Rooms are barely bigger than the beds, and every inch has been upholstered, tasseled, and draped in a cacophony of stripes, florals, and medieval motifs. A pocket garden has room for three tables, leafy plants, and a swath of stars above. Loaner iPads and flat-screen TVs are among the creature comforts. 

Built in the early 19th century and converted into a hotel in 1903, this little gem exudes old-school charm, with spacious airy rooms, an intimate atmosphere, and a sunny winter garden with a terrace bar that is delightful in spring and summer. While there's no pool, spa, or fine dining restaurant, but is still a lovely hotel that has been sensitively modernized without trying too hard for the boutique hotel label. Breakfast (which must be reserved the night before) is well-presented with an excellent choice of high-quality cold cuts, cheeses, croissants, breads, and fresh-pressed juices.

Open since 1861, just a stone's throw from the Louvre and the banks of the Seine, the romantic Britannique blends courteous English service with old-fashioned French elegance. Take the winding staircase to reach the well-maintained rooms done up in a mix of attractive reproductions and antiques. Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs lend a touch of modernity.

This eccentric and slightly threadbare inn in an elegant 18th-century house is the antithesis of slick, which, coupled with the location in the Quartier Mazarin, makes it a favorite with writers, artists, and musicians at festival time—and at any time with guests who appreciate the charm of novel furnishings and the music of the bells of St-Jean-de-Malte. Its large rooms are furnished gracefully enough with secondhand finds; some rooms even have original 18th-century painted door panels. The hotel also has six kitchenette suites; the two across from the Musée Granet and the one on the ground floor with a private garden are the best.

Across from the cathedral on a picturesque pedestrian street, this modest little hotel with updated rooms has a welcoming air and a quirky sense of style. Stuffed animal heads and Louis XV–style furniture wow guests in the public areas while the guest rooms' bright fabrics, gilt mirrors, and thronelike armchairs instill a royal flair. The all-tile showers are impeccable, but only the superieur rooms come with tubs.

Born in the Roaring Twenties, this independent hotel has a decor featuring both Belle Époque and Art Deco influences, with renovated rooms done in cheerful lemon-yellow hues inspired by the region’s citrus heritage. You can choose between garden or mountain views. American Francophiles Sara and Gerald Murphy may have popularized the term "sunbathing" in the 1920s, but you can embrace it today while lounging by the small, outdoor pool. Breakfast is available for €18, but the hotel doesn't offer lunch or dinner. Fortunately, numerous dining options await in town or along the beautifully refurbished port.

As one of a handful of upscale hotels in the city, the centrally located Carlton overlooks the Place de la République, adding a much-needed frisson of international style to Lyon's lodging scene. Set in a 19th-century grande dame of a building, with plenty of marble and wrought iron, the red-theme rooms mix a sort of Art Deco style with contemporary touches. Rooms have all the modern amenities, including reliable Wi-Fi, and bathrooms are ample and thoroughly modern. Common areas are cozy and sophisticated, and there's a good in-hotel restaurant as well as a Champagne bar and full-service spa. For lovely city views, ask for a corner Rotunda room on the top floor.

On a relatively quiet side street, this contemporary boutique bed-and-breakfast may be petite, but many thoughtful extras—free Wi-Fi and nonalcoholic minibar beverages, L'Occitane toiletries—make it as accommodating as bigger hotels. Soundproof windows help keep out the noise from the nearby bars and cafés. Expect a cozy experience with easy access to Place des Vosges, Musée Picasso, Bastille, and public transportation.

More a walled château than a medieval fortress, Hôtel Castel Brando sits across from the harbor town of Erbalunga. The central building, surrounded by three outlying ones, is awash with charming old-world knickknacks: Grecian urns, wicker lamps, teapots, and candlesticks. Sumptuous furnishings include Queen Anne chairs and crimson boudoir sofas. Some rooms, cozy with vaulted ceilings and glazed tiled floors, stand along a gravel pathway lined by rosebushes, with balconies overlooking a small swimming pool screened by an orange grove. A larger outdoor swimming with a hot tub sits close to the main building.

When it comes to pampering, no detail escapes this luxury seaside resort set in a cluster of historic buildings in a lovely bay a stone’s throw from Dinard's beach. With three dwellings to choose from (the oldest dating to 1872), more than half of the hotel’s stylish, light-drenched rooms come with splendid sea views and terraces. Everything you’ll need is at your fingertips: a full-service spa and outdoor pool with sea views, a one-Michelin-starred restaurant (the Porquoi Pas) and a chic bar, several delightful outdoor terraces for dining and sunbathing, and even a hotel yacht for marine outings. The hotel’s year-round package deals offer a break on prices.

This luxury hotel located down a quiet street between the Tuileries and Grands Boulevards brings a touch of Italian flair to the French capital. Behind the relatively understated façade sits a plush interior decked out in colorful velvet and satin. Suites and rooms in the Rivoli wing of the hotel are decorated in a French style evoking the 1930s, while in the Opera wing, more contemporary decor allows the views to do much of the talking. The menu of the on-site restaurant, L'Assaggio, is developed in partnership with Michelin-starred chef Ugo Alciati, with an offering of northern Italian specialties to enjoy in the dining room or the beautiful courtyard terrace.

A unique mainstay of the district, the Chopin—set within the atmospheric Passage Jouffroy—recalls its 1846 birth date with a creaky-floored lobby, aged woodwork, and its own homey charm. Basic but comfortable rooms overlook quaint toy shops and bookstores. Top-floor rooms gaze out over the rooftops of Paris, but none face the busy streets. The best rooms end in "7" (No. 407 has a view of the Grévin Wax Museum's ateliers), whereas those ending in "2" tend to be darkest and smallest (but also the cheapest).

Exposed stone walls, wooden beams, and medieval artwork echo the style of the Musée Cluny, two blocks from this charming, family-run hotel. Rooms convey a less elaborate, more streamlined aesthetic than the lobby, and they're relatively quiet owing to the side-street location.

Opened as an inn in 1580 and restored to its former half-timber glory, the \"courtyard of the crow\" retains its Middle Ages facade, but its interiors are another story: luxe design, crystal chandeliers, period furniture, and colorful fabrics are the essence of modern style, sumptuousness, and comfort. Enter the courtyard—especially at night—and it is easy to imagine Frederic the Great (a visitor to the original hotel) and his entourage pulling up in a caravan of coaches.

Managed by artists, this hotel near the Louvre stands out thanks to its eclectic pop-art decor—expect an unusual canvas of local and international guests that's just as colorful. Rooms are quiet havens in a somewhat overwhelming palette of purples, reds, and blue. You'll find walk-in showers, designer toiletries, adjustable beds, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and vintage furniture hand-selected at flea markets all over France, but not overly spacious bathrooms or closets. The lobby-lounge has an honor bar and shelves of books to read or exchange.

Like the views from its interconnected hilltop houses, prices at this sumptuous property are elevated—but, in return, you get a rarefied stage-set of medieval luxury. Antiques, bold fabrics, and cozy southern touches inform the book-filled salons and French-country-chic guest rooms, some with terraces looking out onto infinity. Unwind in the heated pool, indulge in the spa, or sample stylish French cuisine in the stone-vaulted dining room. Wine tastings and regional discovery packages encourage longer stays.

At this design-focused hotel in a Vosges sandstone building, cutting-edge style meets 19th-century elegance. Guest rooms have a snappy, understated style with white linens and bold splashes of color (think turquoise and mustard). There's also a small spa and fitness center on the lower level.

Guests at this stylish spot in central Châlons can enjoy well-appointed rooms (think modern furniture, marble bathrooms, and either wood floors or plush carpets) along with outstanding dining options. The rooms in the back are quietest, while those on the upper level have the most atmosphere. In the stellar restaurant (no lunch Saturday), chef Jérôme Feck creates sophisticated dishes with aplomb, drawing inspiration from the finest ingredients such as lobster, scallops, and seasonal game. Cheaper fare is offered in the brasserie, Les Temps Changent.