Ten 4-star hotels in France within a stone's throw of train stations

Need a break, but don't want to chase a connecting train? From Nice to Nantes, these 4-star hotels are just a short walk or cab ride from major train stations. Charming hotels, cosy homes or designer retreats: the perfect places to enjoy your trip.

Pierre Gautrand Published on 10/17/25 at 1:28 PM

Forget endless commutes and late arrivals: some of France's finest addresses are just off the platform. Whether you're heading for the sea, the countryside or the city, these 4-star hotels near train stations have been selected for their style and comfort. Ten inspired stop-off points, to be reached without detours.

Resort Barrière Lille - 5-minute walk from Lille-Europe and Lille-Flandres train stations

Beneath its glass-and-steel ocean liner exterior, the Hôtel Barrière de Lille offers a refined contrast. Designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, the elegant interior features leather, blond wood panelling and spacious, light-filled rooms, while the bay windows overlook the city and its belfry. Business travelers mingle with culture buffs: theater (some 60 shows a year), casino, spa and restaurants all vibrate with the same energy. Special mention goes to the "Junior Suite Exposition", one of the 142 rooms decorated by Lille artist Christopher Lecoutre. just a stone's throw from the train stations and the city center, this is the ideal base for savoring the art de vivre of the North, with a dash of international grand hotel.

from €445 per night
777 bis, pont de Flandres, 59777 Lille. Tel. : 03 28 14 45 00
See Gault&Millau's review of Resort Barrière Lille

New Hotel Le Quai - 10-minute drive from Marseille Saint-Charles train station

Facing the masts of the Old Port, this 4-star independent hotel boasts a sunny, well-traveled decor. Renovated by Caroline and Camille Antoun, daughters of owner Georges Antoun, it evokes a colonial logbook: exotic woods, woven lighting, jute carpets and scorched earth tones. In the 48 rooms, you'll find the spirit of Marseille, between the sea and elsewhere, with a unique light on the ochre facades of the port. In the morning, enjoy breakfast under the glass roof before setting sail for the Calanques, as the hotel is just a stone's throw from the pier.

from €120 per night
2, place Gabriel Péri, 13001 Marseille. Tel. : 04 91 99 23 23
See Gault&Millau's review of New Hotel Le Quai

yann Audic

Bloom House - 5 minutes from Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est stations in Paris

Between two stations, an oasis. Bloom House surprises with its gentle vegetation in the heart of a charcoal-colored neighborhood. Behind its contemporary facade, this 4-star hotel reveals a secret garden, a flower-filled patio, a zellige basin and a Mediterranean atmosphere enhanced by the cuisine of chef Raphaël Gerby. The interior, designed by the Wunder agency, is inspired by the South and the sun: bricks, woven fabrics, cement tiles, Anduze vases... In the 91 rooms, large bay windows open onto tree-lined balconies. And under the courtyard, an underground spa with an 18-metre swimming pool completes this urban vacation setting. just a stone's throw from the Canal Saint-Martin, the neighboring station district is inventing a new gentle way of life.

from 110 euros per night
23, rue du Château Landon, 75010 Paris. Tel. : 01 83 64 53 53
See Gault&Millau's review of Bloom House

adrien Ozouf

Hôtel de Sèze - 10 minutes by streetcar from Bordeaux Saint-Jean station

A house of stories. Opened in 1927 on the Allées de Tourny, the Boutique Hôtel de Sèze perpetuates Bordeaux elegance, combining classicism with a spirit of adventure. Its name pays homage to Raymond de Sèze, lawyer and defender of Louis XVI, whose original plea adorns the Salon des Illustres. The 58 rooms and suites, dressed in silk and velvet, evoke the far-flung ports of call of 18th-century shipowners. Dine at the Comptoir de Sèze, smoke a cigar in the cosy bar, then escape to the spa under vaulted ceilings carved out of blonde stone. And for those in the know: a private 4-hectare golf course just 15 minutes away.

from 190 euros per night
23, allée de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux. Tel. : 05 56 14 16 16
See Gault&Millau's review ofHôtel de Sèze

hôtel De Sèze

Mama Shelter Rennes - 8 minutes' walk from Rennes station

Housed in the former Hôtel des Monnaies, a stone's throw from Place des Lices, the Mama Shelter Rennes is a condensation of Breton energy. Behind its historic facade, interior designer Benjamin El Doghaïli has distilled an arty, local spirit that's true to the spirit of the chain: a mosaic counter in homage to Isidore Odorico, seaweed motifs in the lounges and carpets inspired by Bigouden headdresses. You can sleep in one of the 119 pop-comfort rooms, have lunch in the food court with its nine local stalls, take a dip in the superb indoor pool, then head to the rooftop for a cocktail overlooking the rooftops of the old town. The flagship of the group, this Mama exudes joy and Brittany.

from 150 euros per night
3, place de la Trinité, 35000 Rennes. Tel. : 02 57 67 70 00
See Gault&Millau's review of Mama Shelter Rennes

francis Amiand

Boutique Hôtel Cézanne - 15 min from Aix-en-Provence TGV station

Under the plane trees of Aix-en-Provence, Hôtel Cézanne has all the charm of a family home where you'd love to put down your suitcases for an endless summer. Between the Cours Mirabeau and the Mazarin district, its 55 soothingly decorated rooms blend linen, burlap and honey tones, in a luminous atmosphere inspired by the painter. In the shady garden, between the Ravel terracotta pots, you can enjoy an olive fougasse or a charcuterie board, far from the hustle and bustle of the city center. There's no restaurant here, but plenty of room service (soup of the day, savory tarts, poultry blanquette, beef parmentier, coquillettes risotto) and a cozy bar.

from 109 euros per night
40, avenue Victor Hugo, 13100 Aix-en-Provence. Tel. : 04 42 91 11 11
See Gault&Millau's review of Boutique Hôtel Cézanne

Hôtel La Pérouse - 10 min from Nice-Ville train station

Suspended above the sea, Hôtel La Pérouse reveals one of Nice's finest panoramas: the Baie des Anges as far as the eye can see. Hidden away on a hillside, this discreet refuge renovated by the Friedmann & Versace duo blends natural materials, made-to-measure furnishings and a Mediterranean spirit, with the spirit of the sea as a common thread. In the evening, dine under the lemon trees of Le Patio restaurant, before taking a dip in the rock pool. Then climb up to the rooftop for a last glimpse of the sea. A well-kept secret of 53 keys facing the Mediterranean.

from 180 euros per night
11, quai Rauba Capeu, 06300 Nice. Tel. : 04 93 62 34 63
See Gault&Millau's review ofHôtel La Pérouse

Le Manoir du Lys in Bagnoles-de-l'Orne - 15 min from Briouze station

Nestled in a forest clearing, Le Manoir du Lys looks like something out of a Norman fairy tale. A former hunting lodge transformed into a 4-star hotel, its 27 rooms open onto nature, the scent of wood and country-style conviviality are alluring. In the kitchen, chef Franck Quinton and his brigade create a forest cuisine where mushrooms and local produce are king. An indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, workshops and walks in the Andaine forest complete your stay. A bucolic haven where you can breathe, pick and savor, before getting back on the train.

from 115 euros per night
Route de Juvigny, La Croix Gautier, 61140 Bagnoles-de-l'Orne. Tel. : 02 33 37 80 69
See Gault&Millau's review of Le Manoir du Lys

thomas Mougeolle

Le B d'Arcachon - 200 m from the station (and 2 minutes from the beach)

With its feet almost in the sand, just a stone's throw from the Casino de la Plage, Le B d'Arcachon offers a peaceful face-to-face setting with the Bassin. Behind its immaculate facade, the 56 rooms and suites, dressed in light wood and sandy tones, open onto balconies bathed in light. You'll fall asleep to the rhythm of the waves, and wake up to the scent of iodine before strolling along the pier or to the market. The discreet, attentive welcome sets the tone: here, everything exudes Atlantic softness.

from 190 euros per night
4, rue du Professeur Jolyet, 33120 Arcachon. Tel. : 05 56 83 99 91
See Gault&Millau's review of Le B d'Arcachon

le B D'Arcachon

SŌZŌ Hôtel - 3-minute walk from Nantes SNCF station

Sleeping under stained-glass windows: the SŌZŌ Hôtel experience is both spiritual and design. Housed in a former 19th-century chapel, the 4-star hotel plays on contrasts between blonde stone and furniture signed by Starck, Panton or Eames. Its 24 rooms, bathed in colored light, exude a rare serenity and are divided into three categories (Experience, Temptation and Seduction). A wellness area with sauna, hammam and sensory shower extends the Nantes experience. Facing the Jardin des Plantes (7 hectares of greenery in the heart of the city), a singular refuge where contemplation flirts with the art of urban living.