29 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Paris, France

Set within the Domaine de Chantilly, the largest princely estate in France, Auberge du Jeu de Paume combines its stunning setting with old-world elegance and modern comforts to create a deluxe country retreat. All of the beautifully appointed guest rooms have elegant furnishings, spacious marble baths, and floor-to-ceiling windows—the last being particularly appreciated because many accommodations overlook the château grounds, the historic Grand Stables, and Le Nôtre–designed gardens. For dining, look no further than the hotel's gastronomic Table du Connétable or the Jardin d'Hiver bistro, both featuring the ambitious cuisine of chef Clément Le Norcy, in whose expert hands dishes like succulent lamb with parsnip and black truffle, or crayfish with egg ravioli, chervil, and sweet onion are raised to an art form. There's also a cozy bar for a snack, teatime, or just an apéro. Other on-site perks include a spa, pool, and steam room.

St-Germain's only Relais & Château hotel is a quintessential Île-de-France country retreat: surrounded by forest, it's rambling and solid, with shuttered windows and 18th-century-style furnishings. The fine restaurant (closed Monday) features chef Grégory Balland's deft hand in such dishes as sole with mushroom risotto or hare stuffed with olives and foie gras. Dining on the garden veranda can prove a most seductive experience.

You’ll enjoy the warmest welcome at this cozy B&B set in an 18th-century mansion in the heart of the city and an easy walk to restaurants and all the major sights. Beamed ceilings, old-fashioned armoires, Oriental carpets, sumptuous wallpapers, and rich colors create an old-world atmosphere equipped with all the contemporary amenities. Rooms offer beautiful views over the old city and the countryside, with large, well-equipped bathrooms. A fresh and copious breakfast is included in the very reasonable price.

This storybook 18th-century château (once the country home of Catherine Deneuve) has everything you need to experience the beauty and magic of the French countryside far from the hustle and bustle. And yet it's only a 50-minute drive from Paris and 35 minutes by car from lovely Vernon and Giverny, making it the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. Once here, there's little reason to leave the wooded 74-acre property, complete with flower gardens, an outdoor pool, woodland walks, and a farm fully equipped with livestock, orchards, and vegetable gardens. Rooms are the epitome of contemporary elegance, with views of the gardens or the nearby Eure River. The restaurants on the property, a gastronomic dining room run by chef Géraud Dupuis and Martin bistro, both make good use of the garden bounty. Round off your idyllic stay with a relaxing spa treatment at the Susan Kaufmann spa set in a former woodshed.

You'll find peace at these three charming cottages (and an elegant manor house split into two apartments) set in several 17th-century outbuildings of the Château de Courances in the château's splendid gardens. Each of these beautifully restored and decorated family-style cottages—a chic mix of antique and contemporary—sleeps between two and eight people and can be rented individually (for a two-night minimum) or together. La Régie, an impeccably refurbished manor house, is split into two light-drenched 1,150-square-foot apartments, complete with period antiques, restored original woodwork and floors, comfy living areas, spacious modern baths, a fully equipped kitchen, fireplace, and an outdoor terrace. Only 8 miles from Barbizon and 12 miles from Fontainebleau, this is an excellent base for visiting the area.

This beautifully designed hotel and gourmet restaurant just steps from the château entrance adds a welcome dose of chic to the Fontainebleau lodging and dining scene. Bright and uncluttered guest rooms display a contemporary elegance, and several of the ground-floor suites offer lovely garden terraces. The hotel is a short walk from the château, woods, and downtown Fontainebleau, and Gina, the beautiful in-hotel restaurant and bar—with a spacious terrace that's open in warmer weather—is an excellent choice for a gourmet lunch or dinner (closed Wednesday and Thursday).

Established in 1850, the superbly located Londres has been run with pride by the same family for four generations, and guests are treated to a warm welcome by owners who go out of their way to make your stay pleasant. Charmingly homey yet elegant, the ample-sized rooms are tastefully decorated with antiques and Oriental rugs; some have fireplaces, and six have balconies with marvelous views of the Fontainebleau palace entrance and the Cour des Adieux, where Napoléon bade his troops an emotional farewell (the best views are from Rooms 10 and 11 on the top floor), especially when the palace is lit up at night. A spacious private courtyard is cool and serene in summer. The hotel's stately 19th-century facade is a registered landmark.

Expect a warm welcome and loads of charm at this recently refurbished boutique hotel set in Chantilly's old coach house, an excellent alternative to the pricier offerings in town. Charming beamed ceilings are your only clue that the fully modernized building dates back to 1722. Everything else, including the comfy beds and spacious bathrooms, are fully in the 21st century.

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.

Set in the 17th-century quarters of Louis XIV's finance minister, this exquisite hotel—which actually abuts the château grounds—faithfully re-creates the "palace" experience, from bathing (your personal butler will draw your bath for you) to dining (with Alain Ducasse--designed menus) to the staff (dressed like footmen and -women). The gorgeous common areas and guest rooms—all with period antiques and bespoke fabrics and wallpapers—hew to the epoch, with the exception of the state-of-the-art amenities. Rooms are blessedly TV-free, but anything seems to be available for guests if you just ask (yes, that includes a television). The lovely Valmont spa includes a 50-foot indoor pool, sauna, hammam, and a small fitness area. France is full of château hotels, but this is the only one that offers views of Versailles's orangerie gardens from your bathtub and exclusive before- or after-hours visits to the palace minus the crowds.

Top chef and owner of Jardin des Plumes hotel and restaurant David Gallienne now runs this ultracontemporary six-room bed-and-breakfast in a 19th-century milkman's cottage set in the countryside overlooking the Seine River. The original decor would be quite at home in the pages of a design magazine, but there are still plenty of the cozy touches: fireplaces, antiques, comfy bedding, beautiful baths, well-appointed kitchens, and a charming on-site tearoom and spa. All rooms are bright and cheerful with views over the leafy yards. For privacy, romance, and calm—with your own private yard under pretty trees—this (and its mothership the Jardin des Plumes hotel) is your best bet in Giverny. The B&B is a 45-minute train ride from Paris and a 15-minute walk to Monet's gardens.

This may be Fontainebleau's costliest hotel, but it does promise old-world elegance, graceful service, and oodles of atmosphere. Housed in a 17th-century mansion near the palace, the spacious guest rooms conjure up the past through period furnishings, toile fabrics, and antique engravings, without skimping on any of the modern conveniences. You can't go wrong if you request one overlooking either the garden or the palace.

On Chartres' main square, not far from the cathedral, this Best Western Premier hotel in a converted coaching inn warmly evokes the 19th century; many guest rooms are outfitted with brick walls, attractive antiques, lush drapes, and modern bathrooms (the best are in a separate turn-of-the-20th-century building overlooking a garden, while the most atmospheric are tucked away in the attic). Downstairs, the stylishly decorated—and Michelin-starred—Georges Restaurant serves such delicacies as pheasant pie and offers prix-fixe menus. It's closed Sunday and Monday, but the hotel's brasserie La Cour is open daily.

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). 

A family-run hotel in a foursquare stone building, the Harlay is conveniently situated by the bridge linking the train station and downtown. Guest rooms are soberly decorated—the best overlook the River Oise and are soundproofed with double glazing.

The old Auvers-sur-Oise post office is the setting for this charming, functional hotel a two-minute walk from the Maison de Van Gogh and other sights in town. Cozy rooms, with spacious bathrooms, borrow from the great artist's palette for their pretty color schemes. Exceptional prices, welcoming service, and a bright, cheerful tearoom for breakfast, lunch, and teatime all recommend this small boutique hotel.

A great choice for families and travelers on a budget, this rustic-contemporary hotel just outside the palace grounds fills a much-needed niche in this upscale city. The chic lodge’s 30 raw-wood-paneled rooms—some with spacious garden terraces—are spare, bright, and serviceable and can sleep up to four people. Hostel-like dormers are well-suited for families, solo travelers on a budget, and groups, with shared rooms for up to six people starting at €26. The on-site bistro’s all-day hours and spacious terrace make it a pleasant spot to enjoy a well-priced menu of homemade wood-fired pizzas, copious salads, and traditional French favorites from breakfast to late-night drinks or snacks in a “no-fuss” atmosphere.

Just a short stroll from chez Monet, this beautifully refurbished 1880 manor house (the name means "Place to Idle") has reinvented itself as a more contemporary "hotel de charme." The cozy lobby, comfy spiffed-up guest rooms with views overlooking a leafy garden, and "bistronomic" restaurant make it a popular choice, so reserve in advance.

If you're wondering why horses are grazing outside your window, it's because this chic pastoral getaway is set on a horse farm deep in the beautiful Rambouillet countryside. Three contemporary chalets clustered around a lovely pond offer spacious rooms and private balconies, and the property is equipped for hiking, cycling (regular and electric), horseback riding, golf, ping-pong, volleyball, or just relaxing with a book. There's a small spa and a spacious verrière restaurant serving delicious gourmet fare sourced from the kitchen garden. The hotel provides transport from three local train stations.

Built in 1676, this unpretentious option is in a corner of the market square, close to the château and strongly recommended if you plan to explore the town on foot. Some rooms around the old stable courtyard have their original wood beams; several have been brought up to date and redecorated in pastel colors (the most spacious, No. 108, is also one of the few rooms with a bath rather than just a shower).

This Norman-style half-timbered inn with its stylish contemporary interiors, lovely gardens, and Michelin-starred restaurant make this a destination unto itself. All the better that it's a mere 10-minute walk from Monet's fabled gardens. Spacious, light-filled guest rooms pleasantly mix upscale design with Art Deco touches and provide a warm, welcoming retreat tucked away in a splendid setting offering plenty of peace and quiet. The chic one-Michelin-star restaurant, open for lunch and dinner (except on Monday and Tuesday), is a great asset. 

You will not find a hotel in Chartres as charming, welcoming, or well priced as this chambre d’hôtes a 10-minute walk from the cathedral. All three contemporary guest rooms are comfortably furnished and perfectly private, with ample baths and spacious outdoor terraces in a large, attractive garden. Breakfast is included in the price.  

Enjoy the pleasures of both village and countryside at this charming hotel a pleasant 20-minute walk from Versailles. A Relais & Château property, this sophisticated hotel features a large spa, both a bistro and a Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurant, and a magical lakeside setting (where Impressionist artist Corot once lived and worked). Rooms mix contemporary elegance with country touches, featuring elegant black-marble baths, some with spacious terraces. Be sure to request a room with a lake view. The hotel is close to Paris, the fabulous Sèvres museum and porcelain works, and Versailles. It's also a quick bus ride from La Seine Musicale, Paris's newest classical and contemporary music venue set on an island on the Seine.

Barbizon's best hotel offers unusually spacious rooms (all tastefully decorated in a contemporary style), a wellness area (with an extensive menu of spa treatments), and an indoor-outdoor pool, making it a good choice for couples or families. A top dining choice in town, the hotel's restaurant is a draw for both locals and nonguests alike.

Set at the far end of Disneyland Paris’s lake, the nautical-theme Newport Bay Club is the biggest four-star hotel in France—with the largest capacity in Europe—so don’t expect intimacy, but hallways are bright and spacious and rooms are quiet and light-filled (especially those with lake views) and some offer balconies. The hotel has an indoor-outdoor pool and plenty of dining options, including the Cape Cod buffet, the higher-end Yacht Club, and the pleasant Captain’s Quarters bar. Compass Club rooms get VIP passes to skip the lines at most rides, as well as breakfast, complimentary drinks all day, and teatime in the private club dining room included in the price. The park is accessible by shuttle (every 10–15 minutes) or via a 15-minute walk by the lake.

This elegant hotel, in a historic 18th-century mansion a few steps from the château, restaurants, and shopping, offers lovely period decor and expansive views of Paris from some of the rooms and a gastronomic restaurant. A sprawling outdoor terrace, authentic antiques, a pretty park next door, and a spa—not to mention prices far below those in nearby Paris—make this a romantic spot for a weekend getaway.

Ranging from superluxe to just barely affordable, Disneyland Paris has 5,000 rooms throughout several hotels, but your best bet on all counts may be the Sequoia Lodge—a grand re-creation of an American mountain lodge, just a few minutes' walk from the theme park. Past towering evergreens, you enter a charming lobby, replete with an open fire crackling on a giant stone hearth in the Redwood Bar. Guest rooms have natural wood furniture that's meant to evoke log cabins; book yours in the main Montana building (overlooking Lake Disney) rather than one of the smaller annex "lodges." For youngsters there's a children's corner, outdoor play area, and video-game room. For food, the choice is between the family-oriented, buffet-service Hunter's Grill and the more upscale Beaver Creek Tavern. As at all Disneyland Paris hotels, free transportation to the park is available. Note that room prices can fluctuate widely depending on season and school vacation periods—keep hunting to find lower-priced days.

Like a modern-day Versailles, this deluxe turn-of-the-20th-century hotel is a creamy white creation of imposing size, filled with soaring rooms (including the historic Salle Clemenceau, site of the 1919 Versailles Peace Conference). Part of the Waldorf-Astoria brand since 2014, it's a destination unto itself, with a health club (the pool is poised beneath a glass pyramid), a Guerlain spa, and a lobby glammed up with Murano chandeliers and high-back leather armchairs. The hotel headlines menus designed by superstar chef Gordon Ramsey and carries a Michelin star, though the chef himself is not in the kitchen. Soaring La Veranda bistro is a lively local favorite for its reliably good food, lovely vistas of the gardens, and wide terrace that's open in summer. As for the guest rooms, try to avoid the newer annex (the Pavillon Trianon), and insist on the full treatment in the main building, where rooms are spacious, many with balconies and lovely views of Versailles' gardens, though the decor is a bit somber and could do with refurbishment. A great advantage of the hotel is its setting two steps from Versailles's garden entrance and a pleasant 15-minute walk to the Grand and Petit Trianon, where you can buy your entrance tickets, thus avoiding the crowds at the main entrance.