679 Best Hotels in France

A splashy, stylish property, Hôtel Littéraire Gustave Flaubert pays tribute to the town's titular native son, born in Rouen in 1821. The property takes its literary heritage seriously, with the author's face appearing on its coffee mugs, regular lecture events, and lines from Madame Bovary printed on the beds' headboards. 

The crown jewel of Left Bank hotels, this magnificent Art Nouveau behemoth has a long history of hosting illustrious painters and writers such as Matisse, Picasso, James Joyce, and many others. Occupied by German soldiers during World War II, the hotel later became a repatriation center when Paris was liberated in 1944. The hotel has undergone substantial renovations over the years and continues to be recognized as a world-class, five-star hotel, though other than the spectacular exterior and high, vaulted ceilings on the ground floor, there is little trace of the hotel's former, old-school Parisian charm. Today it draws travelers with deep pockets who love the Left Bank and state-of-the-art amenities like sleek, ultramodern rooms, luxury services, a wonderful spa and swimming pool, three restaurants, and one of the swankiest bars in town. 

Stay like a celebrity in old Hollywood–style glamour at this five-star Art Deco hotel, where the history is closely intertwined with that of the Cannes Film Festival, and accommodations include suites with sweeping sea views and beautiful rooms overlooking the pool, garden, or city. If you want something extra special, book one of the two penthouse apartments, among the largest in Europe and the film-festival headquarters of Swiss jeweler Chopard, whose star-studded rooftop festival parties are legendary. The Michelin-starred Palme D'Or restaurant is Top Chef Jean Imbert's love letter to cinema with memorabilia from iconic films like Star Wars and Titanic. Lounge on the private beach, La Plage du Martinez, designed by architect Pierre-Yves Rochon as an ode to 1930s Mediterranean chic. Get red-carpet ready at the Spa by Carita, part of the hotel's L'Oasis du Martinez wellness area, which offers face and body treatments and make-up services.

Chic, cozy, and welcoming, you couldn't land in a more charming Parisian boutique hotel.

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.

A centrally located budget hotel just a short walk from the château, Hôtel Okko Château is ultramodern without sacrificing warmth, comfort, or amenities. Rooms may be compact, but they are also functional, cozy, and immaculate. In the welcoming \"club\" room, guests can browse the Internet on a Mac while imbibing unlimited free soft drinks, tea, or coffee. At cocktail hour, predinner gourmet appetizers and your first cocktail or glass of wine are on the house. If that's not enough of a welcome, the staff goes out of its way to make your stay at the hotel, and in Nantes, an all-around pleasure.

A glamorous addition to the fabulous (if off-the-beaten-path) 9e arrondissement, the Parister flaunts its design creds in even the tiniest of details, from its gorgeous common spaces to its sparse but elegant rooms. Spring for a room with private terrace or one in a towering duplex; however, if your budget doesn't permit, you can enjoy a comparable view from the outdoor patio. The hotel has a super-stylish restaurant and bar. Have a drink after a dip in the adorable skylit pool.

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.

If you feel like being away from it all, but in a fairly self-sufficient setting with a good on-site restaurant and a chic bar with stupendous views, this is the place.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more welcoming, stylish, and reasonably priced hotel in an upscale neighborhood that rarely combines all three characteristics. At this 45-room boutique hotel, you can add the bonus of a beautiful rooftop terrace with Eiffel Tower views, a sauna, a Scandinavian bath, and a sunbathing deck. Pleasantly streamlined rooms are bathed in sunlight and sport sleek Art Deco–inspired decor and ample terrazzo baths. The chic bar (open Tuesday through Saturday) serves a small but delicious menu of cocktails and gourmet small dishes (designed by a top restaurant nearby), and the buffet breakfast is perfect.

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.

Festooned in luxury fabrics and 18th-century furnishings, this posh extravaganza, designed by France's überchic Jacque Garcia, put Bordeaux back on the world scene with its veritable army of restaurants and bars, along with a swanky Roman bath–inspired spa—all just steps from the city's Golden Triangle shopping district. If anyone can redefine and resurrect Bordelais style it is Garcia: for this complex of buildings, anchored by a historic palais, he took inspiration from the gilded Opéra National de Bordeaux, just across the square. Go all out and get a room high up with a theater view.

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.

A registered historic monument, this 17th-century, Basque-style building was once a staging post on the fabled pilgrims' route to Santiago de Compostela, and today it still makes a fitting resting spot if you're doing a modern version of the pilgrimage or just need a stopover on your way deeper into the mountains. Comfy bedrooms are complemented by wood beams and antique accents, and the lovely garden and outdoor pool are just right for relaxing. The rustic dining room combines inland game and fresh seafood from the Basque Coast in creative ways.

The chic Kimpton line's first Parisian outpost is located inside a stunning Art Nouveau landmark building—once part of the upscale Samaritaine department store—and each of the deco-inspired rooms is different: some offer balconies, others stellar views to the Eiffel Tower or the Opéra a stone's throw away. All come with luxurious interiors, featuring plush designer furniture, ample marble baths, top-of-the-line bedding, and original artwork. Amenities include a California-inspired indoor-outdoor restaurant, an indoor pool, a small spa, and a rooftop cocktail bar with jaw-dropping views of Paris.

Conveniently located on the main shopping street in Orléans, this charming family-run hotel a block from the train/tram station welcomes guests in rooms with fresh floral wall coverings, parquet flooring, and immaculate tiled bathrooms (many as large as the rooms). A rooftop garden terrace offers sweeping views of the city in warmer months, while the lounge is a comfy place for a coffee while perusing L'Abeille's collection of historic books and Joan of Arc memorabilia. The artworks in the rooms comes from the owner's father's family collection, a nice touch in a hotel full of soul.

A few miles west of Obernai, this blue-shuttered, flower-bedecked, 18th-century house treats diners to fine meals and accommodates overnight guests in impeccable rooms with sleek contemporary furnishings (opt for one in the main building, not the annex). Hotel amenities include a sauna and an indoor pool. The restaurant (reservations essential; closed Wednesday) is one of the region's top attractions. Here you can savor Patrick Fritz's sophisticated twists on regional specialties, including a delicate choucroute with fresh and smoked fish in beurre blanc. Don't miss the fruity red wine, an Ottrott exclusive.

Located just a seven-minute walk from Petite Venise, this glossy hotel has sleek, modern guest rooms decked out with wood, natural stone, marble, copper, and leather, creating a harmonious design scheme. All the rooms are equipped with balconies, and those at the rear look straight across the leafy Champs de Mars gardens while those at the front have an urban view. There's a swanky bar and lounge, and a gastronomic restaurant presided over by famed local chef Jean-Yves Schillinger.

Set in a redbrick, 15th-century hospital that is bisected by a quaint, white chapel, this upscale Marriott perfectly marries the architectural elements of a historical monument with the contemporary needs of 21st-century guests. Preserved from the past are aged wood-panel walls, 17th-century tapestries, statuary, and stained glass. Guests take advantage of the lovely glassed-in courtyards, Nespresso machines, and minimalist-style room furnishings. L'Hermitage's brasserie serves regional dishes, and the glass-roof bar is a nice place to unwind.

Once owned by the Baron de Chartrouse, this extraordinary 18th-century hôtel particulier is delightfully intimate and elegant, decorated with gold-framed mirrors, white-brocade chairs, marble writing desks, artfully hung curtains, and hand-painted wallpaper. White rooms look out onto a beautifully landscaped garden. To relax, stretch out by the pool, and listen to the birds chirp, or head to the spa for an essential-oil massage. Le Bistrot, open mid-May to mid-October (closed Monday and Tuesday), serves only three-course dinners.

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.

A Provençal dream come true, this exclusive property—part of the Maisons et Hôtels Sibuet collection—is amid a 57-acre vineyard and has rustic-chic common areas and guest quarters in a restored stone farmstead. Some rooms have private terraces, others a working fireplace; all are beautifully and eclectically decorated with antiques and original artwork. On-site amenities include a spa, a swimming pool, and a dining room where the food is so good that locals come from miles around for lunch, dinner, or afternoon tea. You can take in beautiful views from the terrace, indulge in a wine tasting, and explore bucolic paths on foot or by e-bike.

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.

This grand 17th-century castle—a listed historic monument—set on a gorgeous 100-acre estate is now one of the Loire's standout lodgings, where all the pomp and elegance has been lovingly preserved and tastefully enhanced with contemporary designer furnishings, lighting, and state-of-the-art amenities. At the hotel's gastronomic restaurant, Mémoire, you'll dine in splendor in the chateau's gilded and frescoed salons on dishes that feature ingredients from the domain’s own kitchen gardens and orchards. The Tata Harper spa, set in the former greenhouses, offers relaxing views of the gardens, plus a sauna, a hammam, and a full list of luxury treatments perfect after a day of swimming in the two pools, playing tennis, or biking or walking on the many wooded and garden paths.

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.