2 Best Hotels in St-Germain-en-Laye, Side Trips from Paris

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.

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.