Aparthotels · Besançon
Aparthotels in Besançon for Longer Stays
Besançon sits inside a tight loop of the Doubs river, with Vauban's citadel on the rock that closes it, a fortress listed by UNESCO among his works. The city has a long watchmaking tradition, and the astronomical clock of Saint-Jean Cathedral is one of its best-known sights. Four aparthotels on this page offer studios or apartments, most with a kitchenette, which suits work trips, study visits and family stays alike. They are spread across the city, from the riverbank to the western heights, so location matters as much as facilities when you choose.
Besançon is a green, compact city with a strong sense of history. The Doubs wraps almost completely around its old centre, where stone buildings in shades of blue-grey and ochre line the streets. Vauban's citadel watches over everything from its rock. A large student population and the watchmaking heritage give the city a quiet, practical energy, more relaxed than larger regional capitals.
Updated October 13, 2026
Where to stay
Riverbank, Station or Quiet Heights
An aparthotel in Besançon gives you more space and, at most addresses, a kitchenette, which pays off on a stay of several nights. Domitys L'Art du Temps adds an indoor pool, sauna and hot tub; Cosy Diem Vauban, the best rated, offers a modern one-bedroom unit with a balcony near Viotte station; and the two Comfort Aparthotels provide practical bases by the Doubs or near Micropolis.
Comfort Aparthotel Besancon La City is the most reviewed address, with nearly two thousand reviews and a score of 7.9. It offers studios and apartments next to the Doubs, about a ten-minute walk from the city centre and 2 km from the train station. The listing mentions a breakfast room, bike storage, a laundry and a garage, and it welcomes families and pets. I see it as a functional base rather than a place with character, useful if you want to walk into the old town along the river and keep your car in a garage.
Comfort Aparthotel Besancon Hauts du Chazal, rated 8.1, offers non-smoking rooms with kitchenettes, a terrace and a snack bar, and its listing places it near Micropolis, the city's exhibition and congress centre, and several train stations. It accepts pets and suits families. Domitys L'Art du Temps is smaller but better rated at 8.7, with units that include a kitchenette, a dining area, a work desk and parquet floors. Guests have a sauna, an indoor swimming pool, a hot tub and a garden, plus free private parking, a combination that makes it the most comfortable option for a longer stay.
Cosy Diem Vauban has the highest score on the page, 9 out of 10, although on a smaller number of reviews. It is a modern one-bedroom aparthotel unit with air-conditioning, soundproofing, a balcony and a fully equipped kitchen with a dining area. The listing places it near Besançon Viotte station and the Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology, which makes it handy if you arrive by train and want to explore the old town on foot. For a couple or a solo traveller, it is the address I would look at first.
Besançon rewards a few unhurried days. The old town inside the river loop is compact, with the Grande Rue, the house where Victor Hugo was born and the cathedral within walking distance of each other, and the climb to the citadel takes you up to views over the whole bend of the Doubs. A kitchenette lets you shop at the local markets and try Comté and other Franche-Comté produce at home. Beyond the city, the Jura and the Swiss border are within reach for day trips, which is another argument for a self-catering base.
A traveler's take
I would choose Domitys L'Art du Temps for a stay of a week or more: the indoor pool, sauna and free parking make long evenings easy. For a short city break by train, Cosy Diem Vauban near Viotte station is my pick, with its balcony and full kitchen. The two Comfort Aparthotels are practical if you need a garage by the river or a base near Micropolis for an event.
Aparthotels
4 stays in Besançon
AparthotelsBesançon
Cosy Diem Vauban
Modern aparthotel with balcony and kitchenette in central Besançon
Why guests love itCosy 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.
AparthotelsBesançon
Domitys L'Art du Temps
Aparthotel with spa facilities and pet-friendly rooms in Besançon
Why guests love itDomitys 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.
AparthotelsBesançon
Comfort Aparthotel Besancon Hauts du Chazal
Apartment-style comfort with kitchenettes and a terrace in Besançon
Why guests love itComfort 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.
AparthotelsBesançon
Comfort Aparthotel Besancon La City
Family-friendly apartments by the Doubs River with full amenities
Why guests love itFamilies 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.
Besançon
Local tips
- 1Choose Cosy Diem Vauban if you arrive by train, since it is near Viotte station.
- 2Book Domitys L'Art du Temps for the indoor pool, sauna and hot tub after a day of walking.
- 3Pick Comfort Aparthotel La City if you want to reach the old town on foot along the Doubs.
- 4Stay at Comfort Aparthotel Hauts du Chazal if you are attending an event at Micropolis.
- 5Use the garage at La City or the free parking at Domitys if you travel by car.
- 6Climb to the citadel early in your stay for a view over the whole loop of the Doubs.
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Frequently asked questions
Aparthotels · Besançon
Hauts du Chazal, Domitys L'Art du Temps and Cosy Diem Vauban all list kitchenettes or a full kitchen. Comfort Aparthotel Besancon La City describes studios and apartments with a breakfast room and laundry, but its listing does not detail kitchen equipment, so I would confirm before booking.