Stays in Besançon

Cosy Diem Vauban is a one-bedroom aparthotel unit, so it suits a couple with one or two young children rather than a larger family. The fully equipped kitchen and dining area make meals at your own pace easy, and air conditioning and soundproofing help with naps and early nights. The balcony adds a little outdoor space. Besançon Viotte station is close, handy for arriving by train with luggage, and the Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology is within reach.

Domitys L'Art du Temps in Besançon is an aparthotel whose units have a kitchenette, a dining area and parquet floors, so a family can cook and eat at its own pace. The indoor pool keeps children busy in any weather, and the sauna, hot tub and garden give parents some downtime. Each unit also has a work desk and a private bathroom. Free private parking on site makes arriving by car easy. Guests rate it 8.7 out of 10 across 187 reviews.

For a family crossing eastern France by car, the AKENA solves the evening in one stop: park for free at the door, check into an air-conditioned, soundproofed family room, eat steakhouse and grill dishes in the restaurant, and be back on the A36 after breakfast. The front desk is open 24 hours, so a late arrival is not a problem. What it does not offer is a town around it: the hotel stands in a business park beside the motorway interchange, and the sights of Besançon, from the Vauban Citadelle to the loop of the Doubs, need the car. A sun terrace and a bar give adults somewhere to sit once the children are asleep.

Best Western Hotel Fontaine Argent is near Besançon-Mouillère station and offers air-conditioned family rooms with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. A buffet breakfast is served every morning, the sun terrace gives everyone somewhere to sit outside, and the lift helps with luggage. Secure bicycle parking is a plus for families cycling around Besançon, and private parking is available for a fee. I recommend it to families who want a proper family room and a practical base in the city.

Hôtel Restaurant Spa Le Sauvage occupies the former Clarisses monastery in Besançon's historic district, and I would choose it for a family stay with a sense of history. From its raised position there are views over a tree-lined park, the medieval walls, the city and the Doubs valley. Rooms have parquet floors and private bathrooms, some overlooking the garden. Breakfast can be taken in the dining room, on the terrace or in your room, and there is a spa.

Parking is often the hardest part of a city stop with children, and the Hôtel de Paris solves it with secure private parking in central Besançon. From there, the Museum of Time is within walking distance and the Vauban Citadel is close by, a good half-day for families. Rooms are air-conditioned with free Wi-Fi, and a breakfast buffet is served each morning. The train stations are well connected for those arriving without a car.

Hotel Restaurant Vesontio is about 5 kilometres from the centre of Besançon, a setting that suits families travelling by car, with free private parking on site. Its restaurant is the main draw: homemade dishes at lunch and dinner, served in an air-conditioned dining room, so nobody has to drive out again in the evening. Breakfast is a buffet with local produce. Rooms are brightly decorated with satellite TV, and WiFi is free. I would treat it as a relaxed base for exploring Franche-Comté by car.

B&B HOTEL Besançon Valentin offers air-conditioned family rooms and free on-site parking, and for a family travelling by car I would see it as an easy, practical base. The sun terrace and outdoor seating give children space, a coffee shop and bar cover snacks, and housekeeping is daily. Electric car owners can charge on site. It is a functional stop rather than a central address. An 8.4 score over more than 2,600 reviews is reassuring.

The ibis Besançon Centre Ville is a practical three-star 500 metres from Viotte station, with the Vauban Citadel and the Museum of Fine Arts within a 20-minute walk. Rooms are air-conditioned, with wooden floors and private bathrooms, and free WiFi throughout. Breakfast is a buffet that includes local pastries, and the snack bar helps with a light meal for children. The front desk is open 24 hours. More than 1,100 reviews give it 8.3.

The Hotel Du Nord gives families a central base in Besançon, with the Doubs River and the main sights within easy reach on foot. Rooms are straightforward, with en suite bathrooms, satellite TV and free Wi-Fi. The buffet breakfast includes regional specialities, a simple way for children to taste Franche-Comté produce before a day out. Parents can end the evening in the lounge bar. There are no leisure facilities, so plan the day outside.

Mercure Besançon Parc Micaud stands in the casino garden on the banks of the Doubs, directly opposite Micaud Park, in the centre of Besançon. The park across the road is a convenient place for children to run around before dinner. The hotel has 91 air-conditioned, non-smoking rooms with private bathrooms and flat-screen satellite TV. Parking is available, pets are accepted, and the L'Instant bar is open on site. More than 400 reviews give it 8.2.

Logis Hôtel Victor Hugo & Spa is near Besançon Viotte station and a short walk from the historic centre. Many rooms open onto a quiet inner garden, and the heated outdoor pool is the obvious draw for children. Parents also have a sauna and two hot tubs. Rooms are en suite with free Wi-Fi. I recommend it to families arriving by train who want a pool and some calm after a day in the old town.

Doubs Hotel stands 400 metres from the École-Valentin train station, on the northern edge of Besançon, which makes it an easy stop for families arriving by rail or car. Rooms have a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV and free WiFi, and a continental breakfast is served every morning. The terrace and the shared lounge give everyone a bit of space in the evening. Guests rate it 8.1 out of 10 across 315 reviews.

Family rooms with air-conditioning, parquet floors and a work desk make Temis hôtel Besançon practical for parents who need to answer emails while children rest. The garden and sun terrace offer outdoor space, and parents can use the sauna or fitness room in turn. The traditional restaurant serves French cooking at lunch and dinner. Free private parking and an electric vehicle charging station help families on a road trip.

Best Western Citadelle stands in the historic city centre of Besançon, a five-minute walk from the Doubs River and the Citadelle, which makes sightseeing with children easy on foot. Rooms are air-conditioned, with free WiFi and a private bathroom using solar-heated water. Rooms adapted for guests with reduced mobility are available, and breakfast is served daily. I would recommend it to families who want to leave the car parked.

Comfort Aparthotel Besançon Hauts du Chazal is a three-star aparthotel, and I find the apartment format useful for families: rooms are non-smoking, each has a kitchenette, and WiFi is free. There is a terrace and a snack bar on site for easy meals. The location is close to Micropolis and to several train stations, which helps if you arrive by rail. Pets are welcome, so the whole family can travel together.

Two restaurants under one roof make evenings easy at the Hotel Vauban in Besançon: one serves Italian dishes, popular with most children, and the other traditional meals. The Museum of Fine Arts is a short walk away, and the Citadel is a longer stroll for a family outing. Rooms are soundproofed, with a flat-screen TV and a minibar. Breakfast is offered as a continental or a buffet, and the front desk is staffed 24 hours.

The Campanile Nature Besançon Ouest Châteaufarine is 7 km west of the city centre, an easy stop for families driving through Franche-Comté. Secure parking and free high-speed WiFi make arrival simple, and the restaurant serves regional cuisine, so dinner with children needs no planning. A bar and a terrace give parents a quiet moment in the evening. Rooms are simple, with satellite TV and a private bathroom. Pets are accepted. Guests rate it 7.9 out of 10.

Families get room to spread out here: the aparthotel rents studios and apartments rather than standard rooms, and there is a laundry on site, which helps on a longer trip. I like the setting beside the Doubs River, with the city centre of Besançon about a 10-minute walk away. Parents arriving by car will value the garage, and the bike storage makes it easy to bring bicycles for rides along the river.

B&B HOTEL Besançon Chateaufarine is a modern two-star outside the historic centre, and I would point families with a car towards it for the free private parking and easy road access. Rooms are air-conditioned, each with a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a private bathroom, and WiFi is free. Pets are welcome, which helps when the whole family travels together. It is a place to sleep well rather than a place to linger.

Set in a park a short walk from Besançon TGV station and the city centre, this ibis Styles gives families green space and good access. The outdoor swimming pool with its sun terrace is a highlight in summer, and a children's playground keeps younger guests busy. Rooms are air-conditioned with free Wi-Fi, and the restaurant and bar mean dinner without leaving the hotel. Pets are welcome, and more than 5,300 reviews give an average of 7.8.

On the banks of the Doubs inside the La City business complex, this ibis puts families a ten-minute walk from central Besançon, while the Citadelle is about 35 minutes on foot. Secure underground parking helps those arriving by car. Rooms are air-conditioned, several are adapted for reduced mobility, and the buffet breakfast offers sweet and savoury choices. Bistro Régent serves lunch and dinner, and the front desk is open around the clock.

Just 100 metres from Gare de la Viotte, the ibis budget Besançon Centre Gare suits families arriving by train who want to reach their room straight away. Rooms are simple and air-conditioned, with a private bathroom and free WiFi. A buffet breakfast is served daily, and 24-hour access makes late arrivals easy. The city centre and its historic sites are about a 15-minute walk away, and pets are accepted.

Hôtel Siatel Besançon Chateaufarine is a functional three-star on the edge of Besançon, close to the A36 motorway, which makes it an easy stop for families driving through Franche-Comté. Free private parking is on site and rooms are soundproofed for a quiet night. The bar has a billiards table that older children enjoy, and the terrace is a pleasant place for a drink. Public areas are air-conditioned. Guests rate it 7.7 from more than 800 reviews.

I would pick Contact Hôtel Foch for families on a sensible budget who arrive by train. It stands steps from Besançon station and a short walk from the city centre. Rooms are well equipped, with city views, free WiFi, and the hotel has a bar and a buffet breakfast. Nearby parking is available, and pets are welcome. It is a practical base for exploring Besançon and the wider Franche-Comté region.

Brit Hotel Besançon l'Horloge is a modern three-star hotel, and I recommend it to families travelling by car, since private parking on site is free. Family rooms have a private bathroom, a tea and coffee maker, a desk, a TV and free WiFi, and a lift serves the floors. The buffet breakfast includes fresh pastries and fruit, the sun terrace and bar give parents a quiet moment, and pets are welcome.

Family rooms and an on-site restaurant serving traditional French dishes make this Campanile easy for parents on a road trip: no need to drive back into Besançon for dinner after a day out. It sits in École-Valentin, close to the A36 motorway, so it works well as an overnight stop or a base for the Doubs region. Rooms are air-conditioned with tea and coffee facilities, a night porter is on duty, and pets are accepted.

I would consider Hôtel Régina for families who want a central base in Besançon with some outdoor space. It has a sunny terrace and a garden, and free WiFi in the shared areas. Rooms have private bathrooms, bathrobes, coffee makers, hypoallergenic bedding and flat-screen TVs. Family rooms are available, and the hotel also offers wellness packages, which is a pleasant extra after a day of sightseeing on foot.

Hôtel Amarante is close to the Micropolis convention centre in Besançon, which makes it handy when an event or a show takes the family there. Rooms are en suite, some are accessible, and a buffet breakfast is served every morning. Private parking takes care of the car, and pets are accepted, a help for families travelling with a dog. WiFi is free in the public areas. Guests rate it 7.1 out of 10 across 205 reviews.