7 Best Hotels in Rouen, Normandy

One of Normandy's most magnificent hôtels particuliers (family mansions) is also Rouen's finest hotel. Long a landmark on the Place de la Pucelle, this storybook vision of a Gothic urban palace—with soaring stone pinnacles and a tower made for a sleeping beauty—was initially built in 1506 for William the Red, leader of the powerful Le Roux family. From the Cour d'Honneur (where guests can enjoy their sunset drinks), enter the front door to be fast-forwarded to the 21st century: the lobby is all slick monolithic stone with a vast glass atrium and a regiment of black leather sofas. Upstairs, the guest rooms range from minimalistic Modern and Tradition (with lovely touches of period woodwork) to the most expensive Prestige (in which the brickwork bathrooms are beauts). The property also has a gourmet restaurant, a café, and a terrace bar, as well as an expansive spa with an indoor swimming pool, sauna, and steam bath.

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. 

Established in 1880, the Dieppe remains up-to-date thanks to resolute management by five generations of the Guéret family who welcome guests to their fine restaurant and compact accommodations (Room 22 is the largest); all have modern color schemes, refurbished bathrooms, and flat-screen TVs. The restaurant, Café Victor, serves seasonal plates with an emphasis on fish, such as the sole meunière, but is best known for its pressed duckling, made using Michel Guéret's 1932 recipe—just be sure to reserve the dish 24 hours in advance. 

There are enough half-timber walls and beams here to fill a superluxe hotel, but the happy news is that this is a good budget option—even better, this 17th-century building is found on a narrow pedestrian street just behind Rouen's cathedral. The pretty Normand style begins in the lobby, extends to the large dining room—outfitted with grand 17th-century-style chairs and a historic fireplace—and crescendos in the flower-laden patio, a green oasis picturesquely framed with walls of timber and stucco. Guest rooms are petite but neat and comfortable; solo travelers get a small discount for a single room here.

In the jumble of streets near Rouen's cathedral—a navigational challenge if you arrive by car—this modern chain hotel has small, comfortable guest rooms decorated in breezy pastels; ask for one with a view of the cathedral. It's handy for exploring the old streets of the city center.

In the heart of Old Rouen, this cute hotel has practical and comfortable rooms that, while recently refurbished, retain their taste for faraway lands: picture lamps from Egypt, tables from Morocco, and 1940s English armoires. Room 32 has a view of the cathedral; Room 23 is the prettiest. Breakfast and lunch are served in the lovely terrace, weather permitting, or in the cozy little bistro (closed Sunday) off the reception area.

At the stylish Radisson Blu, well located between the train station and the old town, expect well-proportioned, modern rooms, friendly staff, and the chance for a relaxed nightcap at the Le Jahanne lounge.