Where to Stay in the French Riviera: The Best Hotels in Nice, Antibes, Cannes and Saint Tropez

The French Riviera is famous for its sun-drenched glamour, pastel seaside towns, and some of Europe’s most iconic hotels. Stretching along the sparkling Mediterranean coastline from Menton to Saint-Tropez, this celebrated corner of southern France offers a remarkable collection of places to stay, including luxury resorts, elegant waterfront hotels, and intimate boutique stays tucked throughout the Côte d’Azur.

Choosing where to stay in the French Riviera can completely shape the pace and atmosphere of your trip. Some travelers are drawn to the Belle Époque seaside elegance of Nice, while others gravitate toward the polished glamour of Cannes, the quieter old-world charm of Antibes, or the iconic beach club scene of Saint-Tropez.

This guide breaks down the best hotels in the French Riviera by region, outlining both the top luxury hotels and resorts as well as beautifully rated boutique hotels in each destination for a more understated (but still very chic) Côte d’Azur escape.

The Best Areas to Stay in the French Riviera

Nice

Elegant yet vibrant, Nice is often considered the perfect first base for a French Riviera itinerary. The city offers a beautiful mix of grand Belle Époque architecture, lively cafés, local markets, beach clubs, and easy train access to nearby towns like Monaco, Èze, and Menton. Staying in Nice places you in the heart of the Riviera while still offering a distinctly authentic southern French atmosphere.

Antibes

Antibes offers a softer, more relaxed side of the Riviera. Its charming old town, winding stone streets, Provençal markets, and scenic harbor create a slower pace than neighboring Cannes or Nice. This is one of the best areas for travelers looking for romantic boutique hotels, authentic local character, and beautiful villas tucked between the sea and the hills.

Cannes

Known worldwide for its famous film festival, Cannes feels polished, glamorous, and effortlessly upscale. Designer boutiques line La Croisette, private beach clubs spill onto the sand, and five-star hotels dominate the waterfront. Cannes is ideal for travelers seeking a more refined resort experience with excellent shopping, nightlife, and yacht-lined marinas.

Saint-Tropez

Saint-Tropez remains the French Riviera’s ultimate symbol of summer glamour. Known for iconic beach clubs, luxury yachts, glamorous nightlife, and secluded countryside estates, it blends Provençal village charm with a distinctly exclusive atmosphere. It is particularly well suited for villa stays, lavish resorts, and travelers planning a more indulgent Mediterranean escape.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Nice

From polished waterfront resorts overlooking the Promenade des Anglais to charming historic stays tucked just behind the city center, these are some of the most beautiful hotels in Nice.

ANANTARA PLAZA

A glamorous five-star stay in the heart of Nice known for its restored historic façade, elegant interiors, and panoramic rooftop overlooking the Mediterranean.

hotel le negresco

A true French Riviera landmark, Hotel Le Negresco is celebrated for its lavish interiors, world-famous façade, and unmistakably old-world glamour.

hotel du couvent

Set on the Promenade des Anglais, Le Méridien Nice is an upscale seaside resort known for its Mediterranean views, iconic rooftop pool, and prime waterfront location.

Boutique Hotels in Nice

For travelers who prefer to save their splurge for long seaside lunches, beach clubs, and day trips along the Côte d’Azur, Nice also offers a beautiful collection of boutique hotels that feel polished, intimate, and exceptionally well located without the larger price tag of the city’s grand waterfront resorts.

Le Méridien Nice

Set directly on the Promenade des Anglais, Le Méridien Nice is prized for its panoramic rooftop pool, sweeping Baie des Anges views, and one of the most effortlessly walkable waterfront locations in the city.

Hôtel Apollinaire

Hidden just behind Place Masséna, Hôtel Apollinaire Nice offers a quieter boutique feel than the promenade hotels, with sleek renovated interiors and a polished city-center location ideal for those spending most of their days exploring.

Hôtel de France

Just a short stroll from the Promenade des Anglais, Hôtel de France by AMMI stands out for its cheerful Riviera styling and intimate residential atmosphere, ideal for those who want beach proximity without committing to a larger resort.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Antibes

Set between a storybook old town and the exclusive peninsula of Cap d’Antibes, Antibes is home to some of the French Riviera’s most refined seaside resorts. From legendary waterfront hotels to elegant five-star retreats, these five-star hotels in Antibes offer a quieter and more sophisticated Côte d’Azur stay.

HOTEL BELLES RIVES

Blending Jazz Age glamour with a coveted waterfront setting, Hôtel Belles Rives is one of Antibes’ most storied stays, beloved for its private beach club and enduring Riviera sophistication.

Hôtel Sainte Valérie

Surrounded by flowering gardens in a quiet corner of Juan-les-Pins, Hôtel La Villa Sainte Valérie is a stunning Mediterranean villa retreat with a dreamy pool, polished interiors, and an unmistakably serene Riviera atmosphere.

Villa Miraé

More reminiscent of a private Mediterranean mansion than a traditional hotel, Villa Miraé stands out for its beautifully landscaped grounds, refined villa design, and exclusive residential feel.

Boutique Hotels in Antibes

For travelers seeking a quieter and more moderately priced stay, Antibes also offers a lovely collection of boutique hotels that feel peaceful, polished, and deeply rooted in the quiet luxury of the French Riviera.

HOTEL LA VILLA JUAN BEACH

Hôtel La Villa Juan Beach stands out for its bohemian Riviera styling, palm-framed heated pool, and sun-soaked boutique atmosphere that feels distinctly more playful than Antibes’ traditional seaside stays.

Boutique Hôtel Villa Fabulite

Tucked into a quiet residential pocket of Cap d’Antibes, Villa Fabulite feels more like a private Provençal guesthouse, with fragrant gardens, a secluded pool, and just a handful of polished rooms near the sea.

HOTEL LE PETIT CASTEL

Set inside a pastel 1920s villa between Antibes and Juan-les-Pins, Hôtel Le Petit Castel offers sunlit terraces, thoughtfully updated rooms, and a notably peaceful base away from the busier shoreline hotels.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Cannes

Lined with Belle Époque landmarks, designer boutiques, and the glittering Croisette waterfront, Cannes is home to some of the French Riviera’s most iconic luxury hotels and seaside resorts. From legendary palace stays to polished five-star retreats, these glamorous hotels in Cannes place you in the heart of the Côte d’Azur’s most cinematic destination.

Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes

Facing the Palais des Festivals, Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes is a five-star resort known for its polished Riviera interiors, private beach, and unmistakable connection to the city’s film festival scene.

Hôtel Martinez

With its Art Deco design, expansive private beach club, and bright contemporary design along the Croisette, Hôtel Martinez is ideal for those drawn to a more upbeat Cannes stay with a distinctly modern Riviera energy.

CARLTON CANNES

Carlton Cannes remains the city’s most celebrated palace hotel, offering grand Belle Époque interiors, sweeping Mediterranean views, and the full sense of old-world indulgence that has defined the Croisette for generations.

Boutique Hotels in Cannes

Beyond Cannes’ grand palace resorts, there is also a beautifully curated mix of smaller luxury hotels and boutique seaside retreats offering a more intimate, moderately priced stay — ideal for travelers who want polished Riviera style while saving the bigger splurge for beach clubs, shopping, and long dinners along the Croisette.

Hôtel Le Canberra

Set just off Rue d’Antibes, Hotel Le Canberra feels like a quieter pocket of Cannes, pairing deco-chic interiors with a bamboo-lined garden pool and an intimate boutique scale just minutes from the Croisette.

TIARA MIRAMAR BEACH RESORT

Tiara Miramar Beach Resort offers a far quieter Riviera escape, with a private cove beach, terraced sea-view pools, Mediterranean gardens, and panoramic rooms that feel completely removed from the bustle of the Croisette.

Cristal Hôtel & Spa

Cristal Hôtel & Spa offers a smaller, more intimate alternative to the city’s grand waterfront hotels, with newly renovated rooms and a rooftop spa with an indoor-outdoor pool that makes it an especially comfortable base in the center of town.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Saint Tropez

Saint-Tropez is home to some of the French Riviera’s best luxury hotels and resorts, many of them centered around expansive pools, private beach club partnerships, beautiful garden grounds, and a resort-style pace that makes the destination as much about the hotel experience as the town itself. For travelers deciding where to stay in Saint-Tropez, these properties offer the full polished Riviera escape the area is known for.

LOU PINET

Set just beyond the center of Saint-Tropez, Lou Pinet feels like a private garden retreat, with one of the area’s most beautiful resort pools, an excellent on-site Beefbar, and a quieter five-star atmosphere away from the town’s constant social buzz.

HOTEL BYBLOS

One of the most iconic hotels in Saint-Tropez, Hotel Byblos is instantly recognizable for its colorful Provençal courtyards, famous pool scene, legendary nightlife, and the glamorous social energy that has made it a Riviera favorite for decades.

Airelles Pan Deï Palais

Just steps from Place des Lices, Airelles Pan Deï Palais offers one of the most exclusive luxury stays in Saint-Tropez, blending the privacy of a glamorous villa-style retreat with the impeccable five-star service Airelles is known for.

Boutique Hotels in Saint Tropez

For travelers searching for the best boutique hotels in Saint-Tropez, the town also offers a beautifully curated collection of smaller design-forward stays that deliver the same polished Riviera charm, aesthetic interiors, and coveted locations — just without the full scale of Saint-Tropez’s larger luxury resorts.

Hôtel La Tartane Saint Tropez

Set between Pampelonne and the village, Hôtel La Tartane feels like a hidden Saint-Tropez retreat, with just 27 rooms, citrus-filled gardens, a beautifully styled central pool, and newly renovated interiors that channel an easy vintage Riviera mood

HOTEL DE PARIS SAINT TROPEZ

Right in the center of town, Hôtel de Paris Saint-Tropez offers a more contemporary take on Riviera luxury, with sleek interiors, a rooftop pool overlooking the harbor, and easy walkability to the port, boutiques, and restaurants.

Hôtel La Figuière

Set in Ramatuelle just a short walk from Pampelonne Beach, Hôtel La Figuière is a relaxed garden hideaway with bougainvillea-covered terraces, a charming central pool, and an easy Provençal charm that makes it a lovely lower-key base on the Saint-Tropez peninsula.

Final thoughts

Whether you’re drawn to the grand waterfront hotels of Nice, the polished glamour of Cannes, the timeless coastal elegance of Antibes, or the iconic resort scene of Saint-Tropez, the best hotels in the French Riviera offer an exceptional range of stays for every style of traveler. From lavish five-star resorts to beautifully designed boutique hotels that leave a little more room to splurge on beach clubs, long lunches, and unforgettable experiences, choosing where to stay in the Côte d’Azur ultimately comes down to the kind of Riviera escape you want to create.

And if Saint-Tropez is on your itinerary, my Ultimate Guide to Saint Tropez is a detailed digital travel guide packed with everything you need to know before visiting — including the best hotels, beach clubs, restaurants, boat tours, things to do, insider travel tips, helpful FAQs, and curated recommendations designed to make planning Saint-Tropez far more organized, far less overwhelming, and much more exciting.