120 Best Hotels in France

Scrupulously devoted to the legacy of Marcel Proust, what this gorgeous hotel lacks in space it makes up for in sheer opulence. Each of the 22 rooms recalls a writer or artist friend of the author or a character from his writings, and all are splendidly arrayed in silk, hand-embroidered, or brocade wallpapers and matching upholstery designed by historic fabric houses. Meticulously sourced original period artwork, writing nooks, and chic bathrooms (in obsidian marble with pressed leather wallpapers) complete the vibe. A sumptuous winter garden, a reading room (lined with original leather-clad volumes), and a bar draw a Proust-worthy crowd, but the exquisite pool and hammam—created by craftspeople to the King of Morocco—are reserved for guests only.

Of Paris's palace hotels, the Mandarin Oriental is among the most contemporary, with a soaring marble entryway and a sleek, luxe style that is a welcome contrast to the historic grande dames. The hotel has cultivated a fiercely loyal clientele that relishes its lovely, Asian-inspired rooms, featuring lustrous dark-wood furnishings and creamy walls, accented with deep mauve or taupe, and spotless white-marble baths.

The welcome is gracious at this hotel in one of the city’s preeminent historic mansions, beautifully restored to its 17th-century grandeur, with parquet floors, period moldings and fireplaces, murals, a magnificent central stone staircase, rooms that capitalize on soaring windows and ceilings. Some accommodations have cozier volumes that benefit from warm colors, plush contemporary furnishings, and soothing lighting. All rooms features giant bathrooms (most with showers, bathtubs, and double sinks), plenty of storage, and the amenities you’d expect from a luxury hotel. There’s also a small spa and outdoor pool in the garden courtyard. A gourmet breakfast is served in the Michelin-starred Rouge restaurant, where the much-lauded chef Georgiana Viou presides at lunch and dinner (she also heads the hotel’s chic but more casual bistro, Gigi). What’s more, the hotel is set in the very heart of old town, an easy walk to all of the city’s sights.

A gravity defying marvel, perched so high above the Mediterranean that it feels as if it floats between sea and sky, this property designed by renowned French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte is a dream come true for design and art enthusiasts. From every angle, the views of Monaco, France, and Italy are nothing short of hypnotic, and floor-to-ceiling glass invites that fabled Côte D’Azur light to flood in. All rooms have terraces with sweeping sea views; three rooms also have private pools. But the showstopper here is the infinity pool, suspended over the Mediterranean, merging with the endless blues of the horizon. Gastronomy is led by chef Sébastien Tantot, and each of the four restaurants offers a distinct dining experience. Mixologist cocktail creations can be enjoyed in the bar or terrace overlooking Monte Carlo.  The Surrenne Spa promises rejuvenation for body and soul. Maybourne La Plage, a beach club and restaurant (though there is no actual beach, rather a sun bed deck with access to sea swimming in crystalline waters) is a 10-minute ride away in Cap Martin.

While being transformed into the Mondrian Cannes—the first of the Accor brand's sleek lifestyle hotels to open in France—the former Grand Hotel underwent a massive modernization that not only refreshed the rooms but also added the unique Mr. Nakamoto restaurant and the new Hyde Beach, which is only about 300 feet from the hotel's front door and has its own pier. Although Cannes has lots to see and do, if you stay here, you may never make it beyond the gorgeous grounds.

You'll find discreet old-world service and tranquility at this venerable hotel set back off a quiet street among its own flagstone courtyard and gardens. The 13th-century, stone-vaulted cellar has been transformed into a luxury Guerlain spa, complete with a gym, sauna, and whirlpool.

In novels, songs, and common parlance, there's not a word that evokes the romance and luxury of Paris better than the Ritz. Since its opening in 1898, the storied hotel has attracted le tout Paris: the personalities synonymous with the city who burnished the hotel's prestige with their glamour and mystique—Marcel Proust, Coco Chanel, Ernest Hemingway. While all the revered nooks stay reassuringly the same, albeit buffed to a new gleam (including the hallowed Hemingway bar and the legendary pool), state-of-the-art enhancements include a sybaritic Chanel spa, a retractable roof over the interior garden, a €8,600-a-night Hemingway Suite with private patio, and a sumptuous restoration of each of the hotel's 143 rooms.

Its plum location next to the beautiful Palais de Pharo and park, its legendary service, and the views from its rooftop terrace make this more than a standard-issue, five-star luxury property. Contemporary luxe common areas feature dark wood (like the halls of a luxury cruise ship), marine themes, and original artworks and more than half the rooms have views over the port. Vistas also showcase the J4 Pier, the forts, and Marseille's two hills. Sea-and-sand-tone rooms are comfortable and spacious with ample bathrooms. A lovely full-service spa and small pool, gastronomic restaurant, and the terrific terrace bar are icing on the cake.

Nestled in the countryside, this resort is larger than Monaco and comes with an impressive roster of amenities—four pools, two world-class 18-hole golf courses, a two-story spa, and five restaurants including Michelin-starred La Faventia and gourmet restaurant Le Gaudina, both recently refurbished. Each of the suites and villas at this Provençal Xanadu is equipped with a private terrace and marble bathrooms that have both a bath and separate shower, as well as exclusive Fragonard toiletries.

Experience all the elegance of Aix just like a (very privileged) local at this gorgeously restored villa, where the bespoke suites mix antiques with plush modern furnishings and have original artwork, designer fabrics, and luxe amenities. The Estival Suite has a lovely terrace, and the Suite Secrète harbors a private courtyard, fully-equipped kitchen, and walk-in shower. You can also book a massage and participate in a range of classes (cooking, drawing, yoga) or wine tastings. Everything was conceived by your gracious hosts with your well-being and comfort in mind.

Rooms here are bathed in the lavenders, blues, ochers, and oranges of Aix and feature elegant antiques and gorgeous Souleiado and Rubelli fabrics—a design scheme that truly evokes the swank 19th-century Provence colonized by Parisian barons and dukes. Little wonder this former archbishop's palace has become the darling of shelter magazines everywhere and regularly sweeps the "best of" lists. Standing serenely apart from the city center on the outskirts of town (offering great views over the pink roofs of Aix), this hilltop garden retreat has a gastronomic restaurant, pool, and spa, so you may not need to leave—and you certainly won't want to.

You can wave to skiers on the lifts that whiz past your sharply angled window at the Altapura, a ski-in, ski-out property on the edge of Val Thorens. Even the standard rooms feel like suites, with sleekly furnished sitting areas and bathrooms with separate steam showers and deep soaking tubs. Amenities include flat-screen TVs and free movies in all languages. A spiral stone staircase takes you downstairs to three restaurants, including the intimate La Laiterie, which specializes in fondue (if you're with a group, try all five). Downstairs is a soothing spa, designed to look like a birch forest.

The showpiece at this 17th-century town house in the heart of St-Germain-des-Prés is the stunning front lobby, spanned by massive beams and a gigantic stone fireplace reminiscent of French aristocratic homes of yore. Even the smallest rooms are a generous size by Paris standards, and Hermès toiletries fill the granite bathrooms. Behind the private, paved courtyard is a second structure with three apartments, all ideal for families. The hotel's Café Laurent hosts jazz musicians Tuesday through Saturday evenings, and a luxurious spa offers treatments and indoor swimming. Prices vary enormously depending on dates.

The glamorous Royal Monceau Raffles offers tons of luxury, great dining, and an artsy atmosphere along with a hefty dose of cool. The Philippe Starck decor aims for a cosmopolitan look, mixing contemporary artworks with burnished-wood finishes, glittering chandeliers, and mirrors galore. Impeccable rooms and suites are flooded with light and filled with streamlined furnishings and quirky accents like acoustic guitars. Anticipating your every need is the hotel's credo, as evidenced by its two Michelin-starred restaurants, superb bookstore, art gallery, cigar bar, and the largest hotel pool in Paris.

Estate hotels are a dime a dozen in Provence, but this one, set in an 18th-century château nestled on a vineyard a few miles from Aix, goes the extra mile to distinguish itself with a mix of historic and contemporary elements. Guest rooms in the château are sleek and modern, with vast marble bathrooms, and freestanding accommodations include a charming stone house (a bargain in the off season) and three space-age, wood-and-glass “lumipods” that open up to the surrounding trees and vineyards. The grounds also feature manicured French gardens strewn with contemporary sculpture. For cuisine you’ll be spoiled for choice, with four gourmet restaurants, including a fine Japanese bistro and a Michelin-starred gastronomic dining room. The world-class spa has several top-of-the-line skin-care regimens.

Set in a flower-bedecked building on a quiet street a block from the Champs-Élysées, this Belle Époque–style hotel brings a welcome touch of whimsy to an often-imposing neighborhood. Warm colors and lush fabrics in the cozy lobby bar and restaurant invite lingering over a coffee or a cocktail at any hour of the day. In the pretty salon, guests repose on pillowed banquettes around the fireplace and tuck into delicious small plates of French comfort food (think veggie omelette, seasonal soup, Caesar salad, and truffled raviolis). Well-appointed rooms are compact, with handsome bathrooms done up in rich russet tiles and gleaming chrome. It's the perfect spot for cocooning, or a spa treatment, after a visit to the Arc de Triomphe or the Champs-Élysées, both a quick walk from your front door.

Occupying the site of an ancient Knights Templar fortress and set amid 34 acres of private greenery designed by Jean Mus, this hilltop domain has 180-degree panoramas and is complete with a helicopter pad. Inside are light, airy public salons, where afternoon tea and rare Champagnes are offered, and luxurious guest quarters; there are also two- and three-bedroom villas accented with beautiful antiques. The superb Le St-Martin restaurant (yup, there's a dress code!) has an 8,000-bottle wine list and features sublime creations by chef Jean-Luc Lefrançois. The terrace views over Old Vence to the Baie des Anges are eye-popping. On the last Friday of every month, there's a wine tasting at the underground Les Canthares.

In a grand park with towering trees planted by Champagne legend Madame Pommery, this celebrated hotel remains the showplace of Reims—a stylish, late-19th-century château featuring guest rooms bedecked with antiques, boiseries, and couture fabrics, plus the finest Champenoise restaurant of them all, Le Parc. There are currently plans to open an ultra-modern spa with a lap pool, sauna, and hammam.

Perhaps the most opulent of St-Tropez's luxe hangouts—with its balustraded white villa built in 1936—is now an LVMH property, where French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte refreshed the interiors, with the predominant theme being light. The spa (featuring hammam, snow shower, and ice fountain experiences) transforms you with Guerlain facial or body treatments, pedicures, manicures, and hair or beauty makeovers, leaving you ready to linger over dinner at chef Arnaud Donckele’s three-Michelin-star restaurant, Vague d'Or (set menus from €415). You're already dropping some serious cash here, so it's worth paying extra for a seaside room where you can lean over the balcony and take in the coastal views.

No stranger to five-star prices, Disneyland has actually never had a five-star hotel until it opened this 487-room confection, a cross between a Victorian mansion and a fairy-tale castle. Set at the entrance to the park, it’s the most convenient Disney lodging, and many rooms overlook Main Street and Sleeping Beauty Castle (which the hotel resembles more than a little). Room themes draw from 11 Disney princesses and princes, from Cinderella to the Snow Queen and Rapunzel in colors like powder blue, silvery grey, and, yes, pink, but with a glittery sophistication other park hotels lack. Some deluxe suites sport fireplaces and outdoor terraces in the courtyard garden. Facilities like the indoor pool, Jacuzzi, and full-service spa—which pampers kids as young as six—round out the high-end experience. Other highlights include a trove of fun activities for kids, including a wandering troupe of Disney princesses and princes that appear regularly at La Table de Lumière gourmet restaurant, the Fleur de Lys lounge, and the Royal Banquet (you can also book a meet-and-greet by appointment). 

It took four years for the two delightful owners, one a fifth-generation antiques dealer, to transform this 18th-century bastide amid farmland and vineyards into a guesthouse of rare elegance and taste. Whichever of the spacious suites you choose, you’ll be treated to museum-worthy antiques and artworks, luxury linens, comfortable contemporary furniture, and all the considerate touches that make you feel at home (the home of your dreams, that is). The private guesthouse next to the bastide is a masterpiece of contemporary design, mixing modern and classical artworks and antiques in the beautiful sleeping and sitting areas. The estate lies on three private acres of manicured gardens, orchards, and olive groves, with a pool and plenty of lovely spots to relax under the shade of ancient trees and take in breathtaking views of Ménerbes.

Despite its unremarkable, dark facade, this small, family-owned hotel is an oasis of peace and friendly service when you leave the busy street and pass through the front door. It offers a variety of spacious rooms, suites, and apartments, and it specializes in romantic three- and five-day stays with airport transfers and other perks for travelers who want their Paris experience to be smooth and easy.

Housed in the town's old post office, steps from the Palais des Festivals, Five Seas has plentiful amenities—a rooftop pool, personal shoppers, jogging routes, yacht charters, and dog sitters are all at hand—and a stylish interior that evokes voyages to the Far East. Decent-size rooms dressed in red fabrics blend with exquisite dark-wood furniture against all-white linens and bathroom fixtures. The view of Le Suquet from the Restaurant Panoramique by Le Roof may be dazzling, but it's nothing compared to the food, including the continental breakfast (€25).

One of the village’s more contemporary chalet hotels, the Four Seasons comes with modern interiors that inspire luxurious cocooning with every deluxe touch. In winter, you’re welcomed by a roaring fire and comfortable nooks for après ski among a beautiful art and rare-glass collection. Well-appointed rooms are bright and modern, with state-of-the-art fixtures, plenty of daylight, and spacious baths. With only 12 rooms, there’s an exclusive feel here, and while each one is beautiful, the higher priced suites are the standouts. The hotel spa is also exceptional with a heated pool, fitness room, and customized treatments. The yoga dome on the lovely grounds is great for a getaway focused on wellness. For a more traditional alpine stay, the Four Seasons sister lodging, Les Chalets du Mont d’Arbois, sports antiques, cozy interiors, wooded grounds, and access to the main hotel spa. Set at the edge of town, a shuttle service is provided for anywhere you need to go.

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.

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.

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.