93 Best Hotels in Provence, France

Although it's just outside Aix and amid 10 acres of woods, olive groves, and vineyards, with Cézanne-immortalized Mont Sainte-Victoire as a backdrop, this hotel eschews the rustic-country-inn aesthetic in favor of a sophisticated, deluxe-contemporary style. Rooms are handsomely appointed, and those on the ground floor have spacious private terraces overlooking the pool; upstairs suites have mountain views from the bathtubs. If you're staying a week or more, then rent one of the private villas—the final word in luxury, these four sleek, modern structures can each house up to eight people and provide every modern convenience, including a kitchen, dining room, terrace with tremendous views, and private heated pool. Guests in the hotel and lodges have access to the gleaming full-service Cinq Monde spa.

Featuring views of the port and the Cap Canaille, this cliff-side villa has shed its former Art Deco–style decor for a spiffy contemporary look featuring things like plush velvet chairs and huge modern baths. The gastronomic Les Belles Canailles restaurant, the more casual Rocco bistro, the superchic Le Loup bar, and the upscale Sisley spa all have fantastic sea views. Shaded by massive pines, the beautifully landscaped terrace has two pools that appear to spill into the sea. You can also take a plunge right into the cape from the hotel's namesake white rocks.

To say this sustainable hotel is unique is an understatement—where else in Provence can you stay in a luxury cave with a bathroom set into the rocks or in a round pigeon tower with sweeping village and countryside views? The 200-year-old farmhouse offers large but more conventional rooms and suites—complete with wood-burning stoves—that open onto a private terrace. The 7-acre property has lush flower, fruit, and vegetable gardens (to stock the excellent Jardin Secret restaurant); ancient trees; lavender fields (for the bees); a large pool; a small vineyard; and stunning vistas everywhere you look. The Bistrot restaurant, La TUF microbrewery, and O'Fadoli pastis bar round out the drinking and dining options.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 reasonably priced boutique hotel, in a beautiful historic building across from St-Charles train station, has contemporary rooms done in rich neutral tones and equipped with flat-screen TVs and iPhone docking stations. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and the Alex Hôtel's pancakes, omelets, croissants, and freshly squeezed orange juice enjoyed in the inner courtyard or the breakfast room should do the trick. And while you’re dining, you can check your email with an excellent Wi-Fi connection. It’s within walking distance from the Vieux Port and Le Panier, which is a good thing because there are no notable restaurants in close proximity.

Three blocks from Cours Mirabeau and the train station, this smart, spiffy, and cozily stylish hotel is a very handy option. Just a minute's stroll away is the Quartier Mazarin, an 18th-century district lined with some of Aix's most beautiful buildings and antiques shops. While the hotel is set on a busy avenue, noise and distractions disappear with just one foot inside the glowing red lobby, mightily warmed by the friendliness of staff. Upstairs, the guest rooms are stylishly contemporary with design lighting and comfy beds. A fitness and massage room are great for keeping in shape, and the Aix garden-courtyard has massive trees that would tempt Cézanne's own paintbrush—so try to book a room in the back to ignite your own imagination.

This boutique hotel on a cobbled old town street has 15th-century bones (it was once a private mansion) and a thoroughly contemporary spirit. Though much of its historical character was lost in the transition, you'll appreciate the comfortable, functional, amenities-filled rooms and the small but refreshing pool and sundeck. Enjoy an apéro on the rooftop terrace, which has stellar views of the cathedral and the town's pretty tiled rooftops.

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.

No-frills it may be, but this marine-theme beachfront hotel has everything you need for a more than agreeable stay, including comfortable, functional rooms—many with spacious balconies overlooking the sea—and friendly service that takes pains to assure your happiness. Expect a top-notch breakfast with fresh croissants, jams, fruit, cereals, and good coffee (and delightful Looney-Tunes cartoons projected silently on the wall). At lunch and dinner, the restaurant serves a limited menu of high-quality potted dishes and serviceable pizzas. There’s a nice bar, too, with specialty cocktails. 

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.

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.

Ancient meets modern at this 50-acre wine estate and gardens 9 km (5½ miles) from Orange, where you can stay in an elegant beamed aerie in the crenellated 16th-century castle or a chic contemporary abode in the stylish addition. It's not an easy choice as all of the hotel's bright, unusually spacious rooms—many with balconies or private garden terraces—are luxuriously outfitted with state-of-the-art amenities, up-to-date bathrooms, heated floors (in the contemporary side), and the comfiest beds imaginable. Every detail, from the original artwork to the lighting, is immaculate—and designed according to the principles of feng shui. What's more, it's all sustainable and organic, including the restaurant’s meals, which are made with vegetables from the kitchen garden. A beautiful spa and a program of wine tastings (of the estate's wines), culinary experiences, chamber music, and activities make this the perfect getaway for couples or families.

This hotel and wine estate in the heart of nature is billed as an “experimental” space, with everything from the joyful, primary-color decor schemes to the configuration and contemporary design of each room to the unconventional touches (skylights, raised sinks, platform beds) expressing uniqueness. Common areas invite conviviality, and a large pool, gardens, and outdoor terraces invite you to relax and enjoy the view. For a more private stay, book one of the three cozy wooden cabins with terraces or the two fully equipped houses, each with three bedrooms, their own grounds, and stellar views.

Chopin spent the night and George Sand kept a suite in this historic hotel overlooking the Vieux Port. Public rooms still have real antiques, burnished woodwork, Provençal style, and plush carpets, all comprising a convincing part of this intimate urban hotel's genuine old-world charm. Guest rooms are in the same style but have been updated to include all the modern comforts. Harbor-view rooms, with balconies high over the fish market, more than justify the splurge.

Set on sandy Les Sablettes Beach, part of the Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer Peninsula across the harbor from Toulon, this fully restored, Belle Époque–era hotel has bright, casually elegant rooms with a few classic nautical touches and lots of modern amenities. The ocean view from some rooms is spectacular, and nine suites have terraces with a private whirlpool. You can swim in the sea out front or in the hotel pool—perhaps before or after a treatment in the lovely Nuxe spa. The ferry to Toulon is a 10-minute walk away.

You might not guess that this friendly, family-run, shabby-chic hotel, convenient to both the train station and the Palais des Papes, is a budget option. It's full of welcoming touches like vintage art and colorful linens, and it's comfortable, functional, and easy on the wallet.

This eccentric and slightly threadbare inn in an elegant 18th-century house is the antithesis of slick, which, coupled with the location in the Quartier Mazarin, makes it a favorite with writers, artists, and musicians at festival time—and at any time with guests who appreciate the charm of novel furnishings and the music of the bells of St-Jean-de-Malte. Its large rooms are furnished gracefully enough with secondhand finds; some rooms even have original 18th-century painted door panels. The hotel also has six kitchenette suites; the two across from the Musée Granet and the one on the ground floor with a private garden are the best.

Like the views from its interconnected hilltop houses, prices at this sumptuous property are elevated—but, in return, you get a rarefied stage-set of medieval luxury. Antiques, bold fabrics, and cozy southern touches inform the book-filled salons and French-country-chic guest rooms, some with terraces looking out onto infinity. Unwind in the heated pool, indulge in the spa, or sample stylish French cuisine in the stone-vaulted dining room. Wine tastings and regional discovery packages encourage longer stays.

This classic, vine-covered 16th-century home once hosted Emperor Maximilian (as well as Victor Hugo and Napoléon Bonaparte), and some of its guest rooms are emperor size. Regally discreet, it is notable for its walled, tree-shaded courtyard and an interior filled with Aubusson tapestries, porcelain, and Provençal antiques. Rooms are not state-of-the-art and can seem more than a little grandmotherly, but it's all part of the old-world experience. Two suites have views onto the Papal Palace. The highly acclaimed restaurant, La Vieille Fontaine, is among Avignon's best.

This old private home has, fortunately, fallen into the hands of a loving and very hospitable owner, who has refinished 18th-century double doors and fitted rooms with restored-wood details, white-tiled bathrooms, and antique bedroom sets. Some rooms are more modern than others—ask for one overlooking place du Marché, where you can watch café life from your balcony. A generous breakfast buffet (€11) is served in the dining room.

This prosaic old town option has 12th-century exposed stone walls, a 15th-century spiral staircase, weathered wood everywhere, and homey touches like cream-color linens. Among the many pluses are good beds, flat-screen TVs, and free (although sometimes weak) Wi-Fi.

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.

"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.

Although the rooms are rather snug, this modest city hotel is right around the corner from the Quai du Port and is a good value. The interior design is simple and sufficient, even the street-facing rooms are quiet, and the service is prompt and friendly. Ask for one of the fifth-floor rooms with tiny balconies overlooking the port—or the crow's nest "nuptiale" double with private rooftop terrace.