120 Best Hotels in France

Modern, cheerful, and very zen, Le Six hotel and spa has a fireplace-equipped common room, a small library, and elegant, quiet rooms with individual Nespresso machines. The organic breakfasts are served in the glass-roofed winter garden or via room service. Try reserving one of the three deluxe rooms with private balconies, so you can have breakfast or a romantic evening cocktail en plein air. If you're feeling more sociable, hotel guests are welcome to share an aperitif with the manager around the fireplace. Relax after a day of walking and treat yourself to a massage or free hammam in the basement level spa (reservations are a must). 

In the center of town, this Belle Époque hotel has catered to an A-list clientele since it opened its doors in 1878. Riffing on the Swiss-chalet theme, the warm, cozy rooms feel contemporary without being impersonal. It's hard to beat taking a dip in a heated indoor-outdoor pool framed by majestic mountains, but the addition of elegant gourmet restaurant Le Matafan—with acclaimed chef Mickey Bourdillat at the helm—and a gorgeous spa clinch the deal.

Celebrated as a culinary landmark for decades, Hotel Pic is also an excellent hotel, with vaulted white salons, deep plush-velvet sofas, 18th-century billiard tables, lovely gardens, and an inviting swimming pool. Some may say the bespoke luxe-contemporary interior design has obliterated all traces of its time-honored past, but few will mind, considering how splendid and tailored for your comfort the aesthetics are. After dinner at the famed Pic restaurant, retire to one of the rooms downstairs, adorned with rosewood paneling, white leather headboards, velvet furnishings, and opulent marble baths. Most rooms have terraces overlooking the garden with views into the kitchen for a glimpse of the master at work.

This discreet boutique hotel in a quiet corner overlooking Eglise St-Sulpice is perfect if you're seeking a romantic and cozy hideaway in the sought-after St-Germain-des-Prés district. From its humble beginnings as a family-owned bed-and-breakfast, the establishment quickly made a name for itself. What this hotel lacks in space it makes up for with amenities and attentive service. The decor is a mix of 20th-century styles, with Egyptian-cotton linens, plush carpeting, original artwork, and thoughtfully designed lighting. Corner rooms are the most spacious, with views of the Eiffel Tower on the top floors. Rooms overlooking the courtyard are the quietest. Complimentary afternoon tea and aperitifs are provided in the lounge, the perfect spot to indulge in a quiet Parisian moment.

Formerly the home of Pierre Richer de Belleval, the creator of the Jardin des Plantes, this 17th-century urban mansion is now an elite hotel offering luxury designer rooms with stunning bathrooms, terrazzo floors, and crystal chandeliers. Dining options include Le Jardin de Sens, a Michelin-starred restaurant spearheaded by the Pourcel brothers, as well as the glass-roofed La Canourgue for more casual dining. You can also enjoy a cocktail in the opulent bar with its boldly decorated ceiling.

If your heart is set on staying in Aix center, this snazzy hotel 16 km (10 miles) outside of Aix—in a classic Provençal landscape at the foothills of Cezanne's Mont Sainte-Victoire—will make you think again. Contemporary and luxurious without a hint of pretension, the hotel capitalizes on the eye-popping views of the mountain and Picasso's Château Vauvenargues (where he is buried). All of the rooms—many of which have terraces—are spacious; beautifully decorated; stocked with all the extras (Nespresso machines, kettles, international channels, robes, slippers); and flooded with light. The views are also stellar from the fabulous pool, bar, and "bistronomic" restaurant, which serves sophisticated Brazilian-Mediterranean cuisine.

Somerset Maugham holed up in one of the tiny crow's-nest rooms at the top, Jean Cocteau lived here while writing Orphée, and Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton used to tie one on in the bar—and this waterfront landmark remains a formidable and flawless retreat. The best rooms are brightened with vivid colors and stenciled quotes from Cocteau, and some top-floor rooms have spectacular harbor views. All rooms have L'Occitane products. During July and August, a three-night minimum may be required, but the staff will work with you when possible.

This splendid resort, rising castle-like from the lush Chantilly forest, is located inside an early-20th-century building that has been decked out in 18th-century style, luxuriously incorporating the themes of its surroundings (horses, forest, and royalty). The spacious salons and guest rooms were designed for utmost calm and elegance, with sweeping forest views (many rooms have sizeable private balconies). Soft herringbone wood floors, subdued color palettes, sensitive lighting, and plush furniture convey warmth and coziness perfect for lounging. An accommodating concierge can organize day trips and excursions in the forest and to Chantilly (5 miles away), but everything for a lavish romantic and restorative weekend in the countryside is at your fingertips: an indoor pool and full-service spa (from the sought-after Paris skincare brand Biologique Recherche), a gastronomic restaurant (L’Opéra) set in a historic music room, and Le Stradivarius, a sleek bar and bistro with a spacious terrace for outdoor dining.

Housed in Marseille's majestic 18th-century Hôtel Dieu, a beloved landmark built according to plans by Jacques Hardouin-Mansart, architect to Louis XIV, this place has been transformed into a gleaming palace—even if you don't stay here, it's worth stopping by for a drink on the sprawling terrace, with gorgeous views of the old port. The hotel interiors are luminous and comfortable, accented with large amphorae, artworks, and photographs of the city by local artists. Rooms are beautifully conceived with luxe touches; and many have large private terraces with views of the port (and views from the bathtub). The gold-mosaic pool and full-service Clarins spa and gym provide all the required pampering, and with chef Arnaud Davin at the helm, the hotel's bistro Les Fenêtres and the lovely Capian bar are Marseille standouts.

Sarah Bernhardt and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle adored this elegant Belle Époque hotel, an epitome of Haussmannian grandeur inaugurated in 1862 by the Empress Eugenie herself, and today the guest rooms, many with eye-popping views of the Opéra Garnier, blend old-world luxury with 21st-century glamour. Five exquisite suites offer balconies, grand panoramas, and all the extravagance of a palace hotel but with the cozy chic of your very own Paris apartment. La Parisienne, under the eves, is as romantic a room as you could dream up, with a picture-perfect view of the Eiffel Tower. The stunning Balmain spa, glass-roofed winter garden, and historic Café de la Paix—both historic monuments beloved by the likes of Josephine Baker and Marlene Dietrich—round out your quintessentially Parisian stay.

This local grande dame—in a lovely neighborhood near the canal and just across from the Jardins de la Fontaine—has been transformed into a gorgeous contemporary hotel, complete with indoor and outdoor pools, a bistro, and a gastronomic restaurant overseen by superstar chef Pierre Gagnaire. Pablo Picasso, Ava Garder, and Jean Cocteau all stayed here for the famous Féria de Nîmes (bullfights), and the stunning decor features plush furniture in lovely shades of teal, lustrous wood and marble everywhere, and a sparkling spa. The fabulous Hemingway Bar in the downstairs lobby opens onto a huge terrace, and the gourmet Duende restaurant is among the top tables in Nîmes. For a romantic getaway or for families, the hotel has eight beautiful private villas and child-friendly activities.

Gourmands from around the world flock to this lovely 17th-century bastide, transformed by Alain Ducasse—who, as of 2023, has 21 Michelin stars to his name—into a luxury country retreat surrounded by olive and chestnut trees, lavender, and trellises filled with the blooms of rose bushes. Individually decorated rooms with evocative names such as Sunflower, Pumpkin, and Buttercup—some with private terrace, some that lead directly into the park—are decorated with an unpretentious mixture of antiques and country prints.

Often called the most beautiful inn in France, "the golden dove" occupies a rose-stone Renaissance mansion just outside the walls of St-Paul-de-Vence and is so perfect overall that some contend you haven't really been to the French Riviera until you've stayed or dined here. Walk into the dining room and you'll do a double take—yes, those are real Mirós, Bonnards, and Légers on the walls, given in payment in hungrier days when this inn was the cherished retreat of Picasso and Chagall, Maeterlinck and Kipling, and Yves Montand and Simone Signoret (who met and married here). Upstairs, the guest rooms are bewitching, replete with Louis XIII armoires, medieval four-posters, wood beams, Provençal borders, and murals; even rooms in the two annexes are flawless and tasteful.

Entering this hotel set in a lively, lightly touristed quarter of Paris is like stepping into an enchanted garden. Using elements such as the bar’s flowered ceilings, birdsong in the elevators, and cheerful guest rooms (some with private terraces) in sunny pastel yellows, blues, and greens, Swedish designer Martin Brudnizki has conjured a bucolic getaway complete with two garden terraces: one adjacent to the eponymous restaurant and another outside the rooftop cocktail bar (with stellar views of Paris). There's more enchantment in the Holidermie spa, with its quartet of mosaic Roman baths—in the order of salt, hot, cold, and whirlpool—and a sauna and hammam too. The more casual café, overlooking bustling Rue Cadet, serves a menu of sweet and savory dishes plus coffee, cocktails, and drinks from 7:30 am until 11:30 at night.

Once the home of a marquis, this splendid Provençal property, tucked away under towering plane trees—with lovely gardens, a swimming pool, picturesque walkways, and a pétanque court—combines a serene natural setting with gracious lodging and outstanding dining thanks to its owners, the Michelin-starred chef Mathias Dandine and his wife. The chef's motto, "a beautiful place, for beautiful moments around a beautiful table," pretty much sums it up. Just off the lavender route—a 20-minute drive from Cassis and the Calanques National Park and just 10 miles from Marseille center—it's perfectly situated (and perfectly equipped) for a restorative Provençal retreat.

Each of the spacious rooms in this exquisite hotel—created by merging three buildings of a 17th-century mansion—is unique, but they all have beautiful decor, high ceilings (many beamed) and other elegant architectural details, enormous baths, modern amenities, and typical Uzès charm. Rooms on the top floors benefit from views over the rooftops, and, in some instances, of the nearby Saint-Théodont Cathedral and its famous Fenestrelle Tower. The hotel also has a L'Occitane spa and a Michelin-starred restaurant.

The romantic guest rooms at Le Chêne Bleu wine estate—set in a magnificent medieval priory amid a UNESCO nature preserve—have antique furnishings, beamed ceilings, tiled floors, spacious baths, and heart-stopping views from the crest of the Dentelles de Montmirail. A stay includes access to everything this picture-perfect property has to offer, including a library; a pool; tennis courts; biking; and, bien sur, tastings of award-winning reds, whites, and rosés. Take a gourmet picnic for a day of exploring the lavender fields and vineyards, stroll through the kitchen gardens, or lounge by the duck pond or pool.

This hotel sits on a manicured hill with marvelous views of the town and citadel and feels like a private Mediterranean villa. Beyond are panoramic vistas of surrounding mountains and sparkling waters. Most rooms are within the central hotel complex, but there are also hacienda-style villas, each filled with apartments opening onto breezy patios. The ambience is au naturel, with sweet-smelling foliage and flora including olive, fig, and pine and cedar trees, as well as sage, rosemary, and lavender. Terra-cotta roof tiles, traditional-style dwellings, and stone pathways blend seamlessly into the environment.

Set in a 1930s former France Telecom exchange, the Art Deco–era building's streamlined contours create the ideal setting for spaces that mix modern elegance with high-tech advances, while making the most of some very Parisian views of nearby Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower a few blocks away.

Perched on a dreamy setting in the heights of Annecy, overlooking the city, the azure lake, and the mountains beyond, this Relais & Château property's magical atmosphere extends from the chic design hotel—set in an 1866 schoolhouse—to the three-Michelin-starred restaurant on-site. Along with the views, guests enjoy spacious, light-filled rooms that harmonize with the setting and convey a rustic luxury in the contrast between raw wood beams, marble, wicker, leather, terraces, and natural organic bedding (suites Melisse and Signature have gas fireplaces and there's a duplex for families of up to five). The small outdoor pool is set among a gorgeous terraced kitchen garden whose herbs and flowers will appear later on your dinner plate.

In Biarritz's golden age, this is where the wealthy patrons of Le Regina (the Garage's sister-hotel across the street) kept their limousines, but the ultra-hip Experimental group has transformed it into Biarritz's coolest hotel, with a mix of impeccable rooms (some with private garden-terraces) and lavish suites. In summer, the full-sized, heated outdoor pool is fabulous, especially thanks to the outdoor DJ sets. The buffet breakfast is Biarritz's best, with bacon, eggs, and cornbread offered alongside cold cuts, cheeses, yogurt, four kinds of juices, multiple muesli and cereal choices, and tangy dips and pickles.

One of the island's finest hôtels de charme, this graceful, ivy-covered Genoese-style retreat rambles down through terraced gardens to a private beach overlooking the Golfe d'Ajaccio. The best rooms have direct views of the sea from private balconies; some have whirlpools. At the candlelit restaurant L'Arbousier, a blend of traditional and nouvelle cuisine is served in the cozy interior room with ancient beams recycled from what was once the Ajaccio prison. Try fish tartare, scrambled eggs with truffles, or lobster specialties. On warm days you can dine on the terrace and enjoy the panoramic views.

Entering this dazzling little hotel is like walking straight into the surf, perched as it is right over the Marseille waterfront with every one of its (tiny) rooms overlooking the turquoise-blue Mediterranean. A 10-minute walk from the Vieux Port, 20 minutes on foot to the famous bouillabaisse restaurants at the Vallon des Auffes, and next to a popular beach, the hotel feels farther from the city center than it actually is. The building, designed to look like a chic 1950s beachfront resort, has two pools—one on the rooftop along with a sundeck—a compact spa, a fitness room, and a top-notch restaurant helmed by chef Chester Tsai. When the summer crowds hit the beach, you'll appreciate its private sunning terrace.

Ever since Michel Guérard's restaurant fired the first shots of the nouvelle revolution in the late 1970s, the excellence of this suave hotel and culinary landmark has been a given (so much so that breakfast here outdoes dinner at most other places); hence a stay at (or at least a visit to) Les Prés d'Eugénie remains an important notch on any gourmand's belt. Thanks to Guérard's signature flair, cuisine minceur—the slimmer's dream—collides with the lusty fare of the Landes region (langoustines garnished with foie gras and mesclun greens, lobster with confetti-ed calf's head). In the lovely Second Empire–style hotel, set in a fine garden, grandeur prevails and rooms are formal. However, rooms in the \"annex\"—the former 18th-century convent Le Couvent des Herbes—have an understated luxe and look out over the herb garden. To top it all off, the complex includes an excellent spa, dance studio, two pools, and a 9-hole golf course, while \"theme\" weeks are devoted to cooking, perfumes, wines, or gardening.

It's a winning formula: find a stately manor on a wooded estate in the middle of wine country, add a luxe restaurant and spa, and focus on sustainability and wellness, and this spot has perfected it. Les Sources is the third and most complete of Alice and Jérôme Tourbier's wildly successful hotel brand, where \"emotional luxury\"—i.e., caring for body and soul—is the mantra. Here, guests can relish the château's romantic mix of antique and modern design or opt for one of the ultra-contemporary wood-clad suites clustered around a pond, where wildflowers and tall grasses obscure your private outdoor terrace from view. Gourmet menus at the gastronomic restaurant or soaring bistro and bar (with a spacious outdoor terrace) spotlight local, sustainable, and healthy dishes. The spa by Caudalie, one of France's top natural beauty brands and based on the restorative, anti-aging properties of grapeseed, offers every opportunity for pampering, with both indoor and outdoor pools. There are also yoga, fitness, detox programs, bikes, and hiking boots at your disposal for those who take the credo seriously. Grab a bicycle (electric if you prefer) and peddle to Cheverny, Chambord, or Chenonceau châteaux, all within an hour-and-45-minute ride.

You'll have the Eiffel Tower, Sacré Coeur, or the beautiful Église Saint-Eustache as your view for the night from the arching atelier-style windows of your swanky room at this elegant hotel set in the city's beautifully restored 19th-century Louvre post office. Courtyard-facing rooms have garden views, some with a private terrace. The decor mixes a soothing palette of polished wood and burnished golds with state-of-the-art technology and cheeky touches, like the mail art beautifully displayed in the rooms. The hotel's stunning ground-floor café and glamorous Franco-Japanese La Plume restaurant on the roof are definitely worth a visit, especially in warm weather, when you can take advantage of the 10,000-square-foot rooftop garden to dine, sip a cocktail, or sun yourself on a beach chair. There's also a full-service spa and fitness room. What's more, you're within minutes of some of Paris's top museums, including the Centre Pompidou and the Louvre.

Tucked away on a quiet street so close and yet far enough from the bustling Bastille, this is one of Paris's more elegant boutique lodgings. Artsy touches abound and skylights or balconies in the rooms assure plenty of daylight, all the better to take in every deluxe detail: hand-crafted wood, custom furniture, chic lighting, designer wallpapers and textiles, and marble baths. It adds up to an ultraglamorous lodging with the trappings of a five-star hotel, including a chic restaurant with outdoor seating, a popular cocktail lounge, and a small spa with sauna, hammam, and a micro-pool.

This grand, 17th-century farmstead in the shadow of the Alpilles was once populated by Dominican monks (hence the name "farmhouse of the preachers") and is now a serene and beautiful country-house hotel, where you're encouraged to treat the place as your own—perhaps wandering the lovely grounds, walking along the miles of trails, taking a dip in the pool, or lounging in chairs amid the olive groves. Every comfort (except for TVs to allow for total serenity) has been provided in rooms worthy of a design magazine photo spread. Delicious home-cooked meals made with produce sourced from local farmers are served from the open kitchen. You can help yourself to coffee, tea, and wine from the common fridge—just remember to load your dishes in the dishwasher.

This cosmopolitan, five-star boutique hotel, three minutes from the Champs-Élysées but far removed from the hubbub, brings a welcome frisson of romance to the neighborhood, with opulent, jewel-like decor featuring glittering mirrors, deluxe fabrics and linens, and design-forward furnishings. Four luminous top-floor suites offer lovely views of the Paris rooftops (one has views of the Eiffel Tower and the Sacré-Coeur from the terrace). A private duplex apartment set in the garden boasts not one but two private garden patios. A small spa and the excellent Michelin-starred Galanga restaurant and bar—with garden seating in summer—make this a lovely spot to travel to exotic places while not stepping foot from Paris.

Set in a beautifully restored 18th-century mill, just below the château and in the center of the charming old town, this beautiful Provençal charmer is the perfect base for exploring Lourmarin, the Luberon villages to the north, and Aix and the Alpilles to the south. After a warm welcome, you’ll enjoy a leisurely drink on the terrace before being shown to your spacious room done in relaxing pale colors, with comfy contemporary furnishings and up-to-date baths. The pool and garden terrace provide shade and cool on summer days. The on-site restaurant is one of the best in the town, and the charming bar is open all day for snacks and drinks.