593 Best Hotels in France

Mont-St-Michel’s most famous hostelry can be tough to book: after all, its historic restaurant is the birthplace of Mère Poulard’s legendary soufflé-like omelet. Set in adjoining houses, the hotel itself is linked by three steep and narrow stairways. La Mère Poulard's location, right by the main gateway, is very convenient—just don’t come expecting any views.

An antidote to historical overload, this contemporary, eight-story Best Western–branded property is 10 minutes on foot from the cathedral and has modern furnishings and dramatic artwork. Its color palette is up to date—think mustard, aubergine, pomegranate, and cocoa. A heated indoor pool with Jacuzzi and hammam can be found at the back of a pretty garden. The brasserie-style restaurant serves mainly grilled meats and seafood.

Sophisticated artistic touches make this 24-room boutique hotel set in a historic building a standout in the area. Bright, harmonious rooms, accented with winsome wallpapers and serene pastels, are simply appointed in a chic contemporary style, with up-to-date bathrooms (some with both shower and bath) and deliciously comfy beds. Tall ceilings are a plus in some rooms, but the best is the Loiseau suite with a spacious terrace and charming views over the town’s 15th-century buildings. To top it all off, the hotel’s restaurant—adorned with paintings that evoke Pont-Aven’s artistic heritage—is among the best in town.

Just past old town, at the foot of the château, this secret treasure cuts into the cliff (an elevator takes you up to reception), and the best rooms—including Raoul Dufy's favorite—not only have views of the azure sea, they also look down into an intimate garden dotted with lemon trees. Enjoy a drink at the patio bar or a dip in the cliff-side pool. The excellent restaurant serves meals year-round in a candlelit garden.

Just two blocks from the Canal St-Martin, and within walking distance of shopping, restaurants, and both the Gare du Nord and the Gare du l'Est, lies this pretty, little hotel full of vintage charm that's also easy on the wallet. Classy touches such as plush velvet easy chairs, throw pillows, and headboards in romantic colors, plus trendy vintage touches, a charming skylit dining area, cozy library, a small garden terrace, and attentive service, lend a sophisticated air to what is essentially a semi-budget hotel.

In a large park filled with olive and cypress trees, this hotel-restaurant complex prepares some of the region's best meals in one of the calmest settings just outside the city center. Rooms are split across two low-rise villa-style buildings, all with balconies or terraces overlooking the park or the patio. The gastronomic restaurant, popular with haute Perpignan, serves light Mediterranean specialties around the pool. A spa using Nuxe products offers a hammam, sauna, and treatment rooms; access to the wellness areas (without a treatment) is €15.

If you're wondering why horses are grazing outside your window, it's because this chic pastoral getaway is set on a horse farm deep in the beautiful Rambouillet countryside. Three contemporary chalets clustered around a lovely pond offer spacious rooms and private balconies, and the property is equipped for hiking, cycling (regular and electric), horseback riding, golf, ping-pong, volleyball, or just relaxing with a book. There's a small spa and a spacious verrière restaurant serving delicious gourmet fare sourced from the kitchen garden. The hotel provides transport from three local train stations.

Perched on a cliff top in the Old Town, this gracious grouping of 16th-century mansions comes together as a fine hotel, where an extravagant period salon leads to curving stone stairs that go up to sizable rooms with beamed ceilings and antiques. Corner rooms have wonderful views. By day you can take a dip in the courtyard pool. In season, have dinner on the walled-in terrace, where the sweeping view takes precedence over the decent if unexciting food. The restaurant is a good spot for children thanks to the adjoining garden equipped with a swing set.

This unconventional countryside lodging puts a cheeky spin on the traditional chateau hotel. Eccentric layouts in the two contemporary pavilions—some with in-room sinks, ladders to loft rooms, and outside bedrooms (yes, you read that right)—add a frisson of surprise. Lovely grounds and a spacious wooden terrace permit plenty of lounging and outdoor dining, and the hotel’s proximity to the Château de Chaumont, a ten-minute walk away, is a bonus. All the amenities are of a high quality, and the top-notch Le Grand Chaume restaurant, in a dome-topped hut, never disappoints.

Set in a 150-year-old mansion in the heart of Annecy, this charmer of a hotel features stunning views of the lake, castle, and mountains on one side and a peaceful garden on the other. Between those two vistas, a dozen bright and spacious guestrooms, each with its own original theme (Green Forest, New York, Moody Blue, Oscar Wilde, etc.) are done up with a pleasing whimsy in the utmost taste. The cozy library is a delight on cooler days and the breakfast room is the perfect spot to linger over fresh croissants with delicious homemade jams.

Forget five stars—this toy Mediterranean village, which is grouped around courtyards landscaped with palms, olive trees, and lavender, has a "palace" classification, not to mention access to the exclusive Byblos Beach Ramatuelle. Guest rooms, done à la provençale, have ultramodern comforts. Lounge by the pool, and enjoy Italian fare at the on-site Il Giardino or Japanese cuisine in Zuma. Speaking of food, the kitchens here get produce from le jardin de la Piboule, an agroecological garden with 70 varieties of vegetables, fruits, and aromatic flowers. Lounge by the pool, and enjoy the view with an aperitif from the Sky Bar rooftop. As evening falls, anyone who is anyone goes to the hotel's Caves du Roy—a kitsch disco extravaganza where "squillionaires" order €25,000 bottles of Champagne. It's paparazzi-free and virtually impossible to get in unless you arrive early or reserve a table in advance.

This hotel just steps from the Théâtre Antique lacks nothing in the way of charm or service—indeed, it would be hard to find a more welcoming staff. Rooms are basic and range from small and serviceable to comfortably spacious. Some have tremendous views over the Roman amphitheater, and all have bright if small bathrooms. The steam room and whirlpool in the basement spa are welcome perks after a day on foot. The hotel has a café, and the garden and small terrace are pleasant places to enjoy lunch, dinner, or just a cup of tea or a glass of wine.

Lovingly restored by friendly owners Christine and Guy Welter, the giddily opulent former residence of Lord Cavendish and a listed Belle Époque building is a true delight, blending a contemporary palette of "wintergarden" greens and "incensed" reds with 19th-century elegance. It's on one of the city's busiest streets, but double windows block out noise. Breakfast is free when you book through the hotel's website. 

After a day in the caves, you might enjoy an overnight or weekend stay at this bijoux of a hotel in the center of town with not one but two superb restaurants—a bistro and a cozy gastronomic dining room—set among a pretty park. Guest rooms, some with a terrace or a balcony overlooking a flowery garden, mix classic and modern in the most pleasing way, with dreamy beds, big bathrooms, and triple-glazed windows for quiet. The grounds comprise a garden, outdoor pool and sunning area, and a spacious terrace. But what really sparks life into the hotel is the warm welcome you receive whether staying or dining, or, with luck, both.

Built in 1676, this unpretentious option is in a corner of the market square, close to the château and strongly recommended if you plan to explore the town on foot. Some rooms around the old stable courtyard have their original wood beams; several have been brought up to date and redecorated in pastel colors (the most spacious, No. 108, is also one of the few rooms with a bath rather than just a shower).

Tucked away on a pretty old town side street, this intimate, vine-clad hotel received a makeover by Parisian interiors star India Mahdavi, who preserved the elegant bones of the grand medieval building—once the home for the provost of the Cloisters—but added vivid fabrics and rattan or burnished-wood furniture that contrast with limestone walls and other original details like arches or fireplaces. The cool courtyard restaurant, which is open for lunch daily and dinner on the weekends, serves Arlesian specialties. You can sip a drink under a towering century-old tree or enjoy a coffee in the cozy library. Prices are gentle, but that may be because the hotel does not have air-conditioning, which can be inconvenient during the heat of the Provençal summer.

Spectacularly situated at the edge of the pistes and at the heart of the three valleys, this classic chalet-style hotel has playfully appropriated all the Alpine motifs for a contemporary but no less luxurious alternative to the region's more established grand dames. Earthy jewel tones in the rugs and plush furniture harmonize with rustic wood-clad walls and endless views of snowy peaks and blue skies from the private balconies. The hotel's three restaurants (the Beefbar, the Italian Biancaneve, and Le Fumoir) cover all your dining needs (including fondue!) and the on-site ski room, fabulous indoor-outdoor pool, and Tata Harper spa will outfit and pamper you in the glamorous style to which everyone in Meribel aspires. Areas for kids and teens, as well as adjoining rooms and two private chalets, make this a good choice for families.

As you’d expect from L’Occitane, Provence’s leading skincare brand, the spa is the star at this opulent, country retreat in a restored 17th-century convent, where everything seems to shimmer—from the spacious rooms, done up in pale wood and creamy linen with designer furnishings and private garden terraces, to the elegant common areas. And you’ll shimmer, too, after a trip to the spa, fully equipped with a spacious pool as well as a menu of relaxing treatments. Two on-site restaurants, including Michelin-starred Le Feuillée, round out the offerings that make for a serene, splurge-worthy stay.

Despite being in the heart of the city, this hotel, in a restored 12th-century priory, is surprisingly quiet; some of the smallish guest rooms have exposed beams, those overlooking the street are soundproof, and the ones in back look out on the courtyard. Service is friendly and efficient.

From the look of this charming, ivy-covered, Anglo-Norman château—complete with storybook tower, private park, and lovely sea vistas—it is easy to understand why Monet, Proust, Offenbach, and other greats accepted invitations here. Built overlooking Étretat by a rich Parisian couple in 1862, the Belle Époque house has guest rooms that are spacious, comfortable, quiet, and individually furnished, with the emphasis on \"individual\"—vast swaths of red fabric, decorator mirrors, and antique gramophones are some flamboyant accents, while other rooms are stylish enough for Maison Française. For a spectacular view, request the Sarah Bernhardt suite, the Impératrice Eugénie room, or the Isadora Duncan room overlooking the pool. In the evening retreat to one of the estate's several restaurants, including the classic Restaurant Gastronomique or Racines, led by Togolese chef Senda David Waguena in the kitchen and Hissein Mahamoud handling dessert.

Designer Jean-Philippe Nuel applied his sleek styling to Le Général, one of Paris's first affordable, high-design hotels. Daring splashes of fuchsia decorate the walls in the common areas, though the rooms are more subdued, in cream, chocolate, and chestnut. Clever decorative touches include clear-plastic desk chairs, ambient lighting, and silver rubber duckies in the bath. A small fitness center and a full-service bar are nice touches, and close proximity to métro stations is another convenience appreciated by guests.

You can dream in the clouds with Toulouse's famous aviators in this 1930s hotel tucked into a corner of Place du Capitole—popular with pioneering pilots back in the glory days, it's been playfully retrofitted with a smart design that pays homage to Toulouse's high-flying heritage. Black-and-white portraits and archival footage of the brave early airmen ornament the walls, telling the tale of pilots like Antoine de St-Exupéry who holed up here. Aside from St-Exupéry’s original suite (which has been decorated to reflect his era), the sleek grayscale rooms have an edgy minimalist decor, industrial-style lighting, plus mod-cons like Wi-Fi and large flat-screen TVs.

Tucked away in an 18th-century town house on a quiet city center street, just minutes from the Théâtre Antique, this chic boutique hotel—part of Best Western's Signature Collection—has stylishly furnished rooms; a wellness area with a fitness room, sauna, and steam room; and a spacious rooftop pool. The hotel's Le Garden restaurant, with an outdoor terrace, is open for lunch and dinner. Breakfast is served buffet style indoors or on the terrace.

Built in the 1920s and traditionally considered to be St-Jean-de-Luz's premier hotel, Le Grand offers ocean views, intimacy, plus a general sense of being where the action is. Rooms done up in pastels, wood, and marble and an unbeatable location at the northern end of the St-Jean-de-Luz beach seal the deal. Frequented by high rollers and the well-to-do from around the globe, it's the place to stay in this colorful beach town.

This little hotel is smack in the middle of the Haut-de-Cagnes's liveliest square, complete with picture-perfect pétanque games. Guest rooms have been updated with a mix of contemporary and French country antique style, with windows looking onto the square and the hills beyond Cagnes. Set in a fetching weathered stone house, the Grimaldi also houses one of the upper town's best restaurants, the downside of which can be noise if your room faces the square.

Once a Catholic school, this ivy-clad 19th-century building—a 10-minute walk from the Château de Villandry—is now a charming boutique hotel. All 20 rooms are spacious and modern, with comfortable beds and all the amenities, though rooms in the main building tend to be on the larger side, with views of the park. Set on lovely grounds, there are plenty of scenic nooks for some lovely views of the countryside.

For an overnight stay in Vitré’s old town, this contemporary lodging set in a period mansion delivers all you’ll need and more. Streamlined, serviceable rooms offer comfortable beds and spacious bathrooms with walk-in showers, plus kettles and coffeemakers in higher category rooms. In cold weather, cozy up to the fireplace in the sleek bar and lounge with a warm beverage and snack, or soak in the sunshine on the outdoor terrace in the summer. The indoor pool, sauna, and compact fitness room are just the thing after a day of touring the town.

Set atop a small wooded hill 200 yards from the sea, this gorgeous half-timber, dormer-roof manor has a pretty green-and-white facade in the Anglo-Norman style, plus accommodations that promise sweeping views. Guest rooms are traditionally and tastefully furnished, and all have attractive modern marble bathrooms; the first-floor room has a four-poster bed and its own balcony. There's also a spa suite that sleeps two, and a beachside residence in traditional Norman style that sleeps 12. The atmospheric restaurant presents a seasonal range of gastronomic dishes. 

Built in 1565 in the fortified walls that encircled the Vieille Ville, this romantic, riverside inn is made up of a series of Renaissance houses lavished with glossy rafters, rich brocades, four-poster beds, Jacuzzis, and other extravagant details. A vivid color scheme—scarlet, sapphire, candy pink—further enhances the Vermeer-like atmosphere. All in all, this is not a high-end luxury hotel; it's an endearing, quirky old place hanging over a Petite Venise canal. The hotel's restaurant, À l'Échevin, (closed Tuesday and Wednesday) offers top-notch cuisine. Dine in salons or on the terrace perched above the river.

A stunning transformation has brought a blend of Provençal warmth and chic, retro-Californian style to this once-rural property, thanks to French-Mexican designer Hugo Toro who used ochre tones and bespoke furnishings to create inviting interiors. With two dining options—elegant La Table des Pins and casual al fresco Pool—plus two swimming pools and the Glow House Spa by Clarins offering a sauna, hammam, and gym, the hotel is a luxurious wellness retreat, offering the perfect blend of relaxation and Riviera glamour.