120 Best Hotels in France

After all of Aix's old-world charm, this five-star hotel with all the modern conveniences makes a nice contrast. An easy walk from Cours Mirabeau, the old town, and city center and convenient to the train station, the hotel is perfectly located for sightseeing. Rooms are spacious, immaculate, and bright, with ample modern bathrooms, air-conditioning (welcome during hot Provence summers), and a handsome modern design in tranquil hues and pale wood. Ask for a room with a terrace to enjoy the view over town and the evening breezes, or better yet, enjoy a drink at the stylish terrace bar. The gourmet restaurant, Le Comptoir du Clos, gets consistently high marks for value, convenience, and quality. After a day on your feet, the full-service spa and pool are also a big plus.

Hiding behind a classic, 19th-century facade is this fresh, 1930s-influenced hotel, which was fully remodeled in 2018 by designer Didier Gomez. Under a huge atrium skylight, the lobby's urban-chic design sets the mood. Imported woods and black slate accent the hotel's sauna, steam room, and countercurrent swimming pool. Rooms have modern amenities like flat-screen TVs and free high-speed Internet.

Perched high above the Vieille Ville (old city) atop the Fourvière Hill, this pristine hotel was once a 17th-century convent; glowing in its ocher-yellow exterior, it has vaulted ceilings, lovely terraces, and marvelous views, seen to best advantage from the Terrasses de Lyon restaurant. With a newly expanded glassed-in winter garden (every table now has a view over Lyon) and tomato-red salons, this excellent eatery offers an exciting nouvelle cuisine menu. Throughout, in time-warp fashion, 17th-century Italianate architectural details are contrasted with the latest in bright postmodern Italian furnishings. The clientele tends to be travelers seeking peace and quiet. Breakfast is extra.

With this chic boutique hotel, Lyon can finally boast the kind of bespoke contemporary luxury the city has long lacked, including all the standout touches: a beautiful day-lit swimming pool and newly expanded spa, a private garden, elegant marble baths, and flawless service. But the icing on this cake are the jaw-dropping views of Lyon from your spacious outdoor terrace (or bath). If you don't opt for a Lyon-view room, garden-facing rooms are lovely too. Set high on the Fourvière Hill, the hotel is an easy walk from the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière (reachable via the funiculaire from the Saint-Just metro stop in the Vieux Lyon), just minutes from the Théâtre antique de Lyon, and about a ten-minute walk to Vieux Lyon (Old City).

This well-loved family-run hotel reopened in late 2015 after a total gut renovation, emerging butterflylike from its old-fashioned chrysalis. The new Grand Hotel Henri is the best thing to happen to the L'Îsle-sur-la-Sorgue lodging scene in a while, adding a dash of high style and panache to outdo even the chicest boutique hotels in the region. Each of the hotel's bright, airy rooms is done up in a different style, mixing vintage and antique treasures (this is the Isle) with yummy contemporary color schemes, wallpapers, and sumptuous murals in the two suites. The stylish bar (which doubles as a breakfast room), restaurant, and lounge area were instantaneous hits with local sophisticates. All topped off by friendly service and an utter lack of pretension.

This glamorous Philippe Starck–designed property takes the art and poetry of Cocteau-era Paris as its theme and couldn't be more stylish or better located. Located in the heart of the lower Marais, it's minutes from the major sights and an easy walk to dining, shopping, the Centre Pompidou, and Île de la Cité. The cozy rooms are bright, glamorous, and full of artsy charm, and the roomier upper-floor suites offer splendid Marais views. 

With a Provençal-yellow facade, blue shutters, balustraded sea terrace, and pretty pastel guest rooms, Brise Marine embodies a picturesque Cap Ferrat hotel. Guest quarters are well maintained and feel like bedrooms in a private home—many have windows that provide views of the gorgeous peninsula, stunningly framed by statuesque palms. Spend the extra €60, and get a balcony.

Previously occupied by a prominent Marseille family, this 19th-century home now holds 20 beautifully designed accommodations. On the first floor there’s just one guest room in what was once the parlor, while the fourth floor is home to two that are sought after for their balconies. Each spacious room is unique, with brick walls, a high ceiling, and impeccably placed lighting. There’s a grand piano by the staircase just waiting for spontaneous fingers. A bountiful breakfast is served in the lounge, and you don't want to go elsewhere for Sunday brunch. Local chicsters join guests for a fun cocktail hour and a regular program of DJ nights, live jazz, and other hip musical moments, which can occur on any night of the week.

Perched on a cliff overlooking the surf and the narrow Anse de Goulphar Bay, this 1970s-era hotel was François Mitterrand's address when he vacationed on Belle-Île and it still retains presidential glamour, with its renowned spa, saltwater pool, and spectacular views. In the bright, airy restaurant, chef Franck Moisan specializes in seafood, caught just offshore. The herb-crusted turbot and the line-caught sea bass are simple but delicious. Castel Clara's expansive wooden-deck terrace is the perfect lounging spot for cocktails at sundown.

With princely opulence, overstuffed chairs, wall sconces, and antiques, this family-owned château and its elegant 18th-century facade fulfill the Hollywood notion of a palatial property. Guest Rooms 19 and 20 have peaked ceilings with exposed wood beams, and the enchanting restaurant has white wainscoting, crystal chandeliers, and gilt accents. One unexpected offering is a 750-square-foot luxury tree-house suite, complete with air-conditioning, bathroom with bathtub, and a terrace overlooking the gardens. At Le Séran, chef Samuel Gaspar highlights local ingredients in dishes like Culoiseau chicken with local morels and wild garlic or scallops with spinach and sorrel, which are complemented by an extensive wine list.

This gracious 18th-century country château and wine estate combines a deeply Provençal setting with chic yet comfy rooms and suites in either the historic château or a more modern wing. The beautiful Historic Suite, with great views over the park, has a period marble tub big enough for six. Enjoy a glass of the estate's rosé in the beautiful bar or on the wide garden terrace, then dine at the gastronomic restaurant, one of the best in the area. Many of the castle's period details were preserved during its restoration, and, today, it's the perfect place to disconnect, aided by a spa and pool.

If touring the châteaux of the Loire doesn’t quite satisfy your taste for luxury, come live like a royal at this supremely romantic estate, set among stately French gardens and woods, where even the staff dresses the part. Extravagant even by French interiors star Jacques Garcia’s standard, these sumptuous rooms—named after royal mistresses and queens—sport precious tapestries, original oil paintings, gorgeous antiques, gilded mirrors, and miles of silk damask and velvet, much of it in Garcia’s signature scarlet. As indulgence here is a way of life, the gastronomic restaurant’s multiple courses (served according to 17th-century protocol) equals its lavish decor with a wine list to satisfy persnickety connoisseurs. Spa treatments with sought-after French beauty brands, a sauna, a hot tub and outdoor pool, a 1940’s Morgan touring car and e-bikes at your disposal, and gourmet picnic baskets for romantic escapades complete your royal visit.

Though this cluster of private stone cottages has had a modernizing face-lift, the antique tiles and faux patinas keep things looking fashionably rustic, and the panoramic views are classics. Amenities include a heated pool, a billiards room, and babysitting services by arrangement. What's more, the atmosphere is surprisingly welcoming and familial for such a sophisticated inn.

At the tip of the magical Pen Lan Peninsula, this luxurious collection of 15th- and 16th-century Breton stone buildings resembles a tiny village—albeit one surrounded by terraced gardens that promise grand vistas of the Baie de Vilaine (Vilaine Bay). Once you step through the 13th-century \"Portail de la Verité\" entryway, the public areas entice with Baroque ex-votos, Louis Treize chairs, rock-face fireplaces, and plate-glass windows; guest rooms sparkle with checked fabrics, veneered woods, and modern furnishings. Chef Maxime Nouail rules the restaurant, which has a straightforward, classical menu. For a different type of indulgence, head to the spectacular Aqua Phénicia, which has a full spectrum of seawater hydrotherapy facilities and a gigantic indoor pool.

The story goes that this 19th-century manor house was the birthplace of Impressionism and that its park inspired Monet and Sisley—neither of whom would have dismissed the welcoming mix of elegance and down-home Norman delights inside, where rich fabrics, grand paintings, and Louis XVI chairs are married with rustic antiques, ancient beams, and half-timber walls; the result casts a deliciously cozy spell. Guest rooms are opulent, with pastel colors, floral wallpaper, antiques, period accents, and all the modern conveniences. Those in the thatch-roof converted stables are quieter but have less character. Be aware, however, that the high prices have more to do with the hotel's reputation than with the amenities it offers. Under chef Matthieu Pouleur, the sophisticated restaurant, Les Impressionistes, selects the noblest regional products from land and sea; the Normandy-specific cheese board does justice to the region, as does the eight-course gastronomic menu. A second restaurant focusing on seafood, La Boucane, is located in a thatch-roof building painted by Claude Monet in 1867.

At one of Chamonix's most desirable hotels, most of the beautifully furnished guest rooms have private balconies, with many (such as Suite Martine) offering unsurpassed views of Mont Blanc. Choose between rooms in the original building or the Alpine lodge-style accommodations—with touches of contemporary rustic elegance—in the complex known as Le Hameau. A dip in the indoor-outdoor pool in the snow is a must, as is an après-ski massage in the superb hotel spa. In the dining room, Damien Leveau's cuisine is as memorable as the marvelous mountain vista. Expect perfectly prepared and presented classical fare based on exquisite ingredients—from white truffles in season to impeccable game or seafood delicacies. The cozy Quartz bar features live music most nights and a delightful afternoon tea.

This idyllic Relais & Châteaux property—a gracious country manor, smartly run by Séverine Pétilaire-Bellet and Axel Nérin—enchants on many levels, from its unique fleur-de-lis topiary and its superb restaurant to its wood-beamed cathedral guest rooms. The cuisine, under chef Philippe Augé, is of the highest standard and has earned the restaurant a Michelin star (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays except in July and August). A bistro offering more reasonably priced menus is open daily for lunch and dinner each day.

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.

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. 

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.

Capitalizing on the village's gorgeous bay views is just one of this lively, Art Deco–style boutique hotel's many virtues—it also has light-drenched guest rooms (some with private balconies), a spa with a steam room and solarium, two restaurants (one on the beach), and an irresistible wine bar. True to its name, the hotel sits right on Bestouan Beach, so fun in the sun is easy. There's also easy access to both the village and Calanques National Park.

Designed to evoke an Alsatian tobacco barn, replete with Havanese woods, this hotel has rooms named after famous cigars and a lovely country-luxe decor. For that quintessentially romantic moment, opt for breakfast (additional price) afloat in a boat dug out of a bamboo trunk, complete with wicker basket, white tablecloth, and personal punter.

Set at an altitude of 3,000 feet, this four-star Châteaux & Hôtels Collection escape has breathtaking panoramas of La Palud's countryside from the breakfast table, plus plenty of activities for non-hikers. You'll also find the right amount of post-day pampering for the whole family, including a spa and heated pool. Traditional cuisine makes up the daily changing menus (with vegetarian options), and the hotel also opened a second restaurant, Le Styx, in town.

As it's set in an enclosed hilltop garden studded with tall palms, mimosas, and greenery, this is the sort of place where the buzzing of cicadas is the only thing that interrupts the silence. Many of the guest rooms—modestly decorated in Victorian florals—overlook the sizable original pool; its presence helps make up for the quarter-mile hike down to the beach, but at these low prices, can you really complain?

"A river runs through it" is no exaggeration at this amiable hotel in a former mill, where a romantic garden is laced with water channels and shaded by plane trees and where terraces and some of the pleasant, light-drenched guest rooms overlook the Sorgue River or the shaded garden and pool. Breakfasts and dinners at the hotel's "bistronomic" restaurant, are served indoors or outside in the garden, where you can enjoy drinks throughout the day. The same is true of the pool area, which also has a whirlpool tub.

Discreet and contemporary sums up this seven-story town house steps from the hustle and bustle of the Champs-Élysées. Designer fabrics demonstrate an attention to aesthetic detail and comfort that will please even the most persnickety guests. Little in-room treats are a welcome touch, and the professional multilingual staff caters to all special requests. It's no surprise the hotel attracts an upscale clientele, as rooms and bathrooms are more than spacious, with higher floors boasting lovely city views. Le Bayadère restaurant serves top-notch French cuisine and offers around-the-clock room service. Head to the lower level with its ambient lighting and mirrors to enjoy the hammam, sauna, gym, and exclusive Relax Massage treatments in the spa.

A 17th-century Carmelite convent provides an intriguing backdrop for fashion designer Christian Lacroix's fantaisie interiors, which feature ultramodern color schemes, large (sometimes jarring) motifs, and furnishings in a jumble of periods and styles. The rooms go from a wildly imaginative style on the first floor to "exuberant Provençal style" on the second to a more restrained "monastic" style on the third. Many rooms overlook a quiet courtyard, and the downstairs spa and pool are a nice way to wind down from a day of touring—perhaps before your meal at Lou Marquès, the hotel's gastronomic restaurant. The hotel's central location on the main market street makes exploring Arles's famous Saturday marché a breeze.

Set amid acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, this luxury property sits in the shadow of mountains near Bonifato Valley. From the minute you step onto the honeycombed terra-cotta tiles of this historic 17th-century country manor—a former Genoese estate bestowed by King Louis XV—you'll see why it's part of the luxurious Relaix & Châteaux collection. Interesting artworks on the grounds include a statue of two women wandering through the garden. All rooms have a balcony or terrace. There are also apartments and villas. Amenities include an outdoor pool, a large indoor hot tub, and a modest sauna, steam room, and gym. The breakfast buffet is generous, ranging from wild strawberries and figs to local cheeses and cold cuts to five varieties of bread, including one made from chestnut flour.

The graceful stone archway of this 17th-century city mansion in St-Germain-des-Prés was the original entrance to the St-Germain Abbey, but now leads to a captivating boutique hotel that's the height of Left Bank style.