City apartments · Besançon
City Apartment and Aparthotel Stays in Besançon
Besançon has one real aparthotel and two central hotels, and I would present them that way. Comfort Aparthotel Besançon La City offers studios and apartments beside the Doubs River, ten minutes on foot from the city centre. Hotel Du Nord and Hôtel de Paris are hotels in the middle of town, the second close to the Vauban Citadel and the Museum of Time. Together they let you choose between independence, a quiet riverside setting and a position within walking distance of the main sights, so the label matters less than what each place actually offers.
Besançon is a city in a loop of the Doubs River, dominated by the Vauban Citadel and known for its Museum of Time. It mixes historic weight with a lively student population, and the river setting gives the centre a calmer pace than its size suggests. It rewards walking, which suits a stay close to the old town.
Updated October 14, 2026
Where to stay
Choosing between studio, river and centre
Why does the choice matter in Besançon? The city sits in a loop of the Doubs, and the Citadel, the old centre and the train stations all pull in slightly different directions. Comfort Aparthotel Besançon La City gives you studios, laundry and a garage beside the river, a ten-minute walk from the centre and 2 km from the train station. Hôtel de Paris puts you close to the Citadel and the Museum of Time, with private parking. Hotel Du Nord keeps you central. I would choose by how you arrive and how much space you want.
Comfort Aparthotel Besançon La City is the listing I would pick for studio-style independence. It offers studios and apartments with free WiFi, a breakfast room, bike storage, a laundry and a garage, next to the Doubs River, and it welcomes families and pet owners. The city centre is a ten-minute walk away and the train station is 2 km from it, so I would plan the first leg of the trip rather than assume it is next door. Its 7.9 rating from nearly 2,000 reviews is the lowest here, so I would read the recent comments.
Hôtel de Paris is the stay I would choose for a first visit built around the sights. It sits in central Besançon, close to the Vauban Citadel and the Museum of Time, with air-conditioned rooms, free Wi-Fi, a breakfast buffet and secure private parking. The hotel is well connected to the train stations, which makes arrival simple. Its 8.6 rating from more than 2,100 reviews is the highest on this page. It is a three-star hotel rather than an apartment, so there is no kitchen, but the position and the parking are what you are paying attention to here.
Hotel Du Nord is the central, simple option, a two-star in central Besançon with comfortable guest rooms, en suite bathrooms and satellite TV. Free Wi-Fi, a lounge bar and a buffet breakfast with regional specialities are included, and the Doubs River and city attractions are within easy reach. Its 8.3 rating from more than 2,000 reviews makes it a steady choice for a short stay. I would pick it when you want a straightforward hotel in the middle of town and have no need for a kitchen, a garage or a studio layout.
For most visitors the decision comes down to three questions. Do you want a studio with laundry and a garage, even if it is 2 km from the train station? Then choose Comfort Aparthotel Besançon La City. Do you want to be near the Citadel and the Museum of Time, with private parking? Choose Hôtel de Paris. Do you want a plain, central room with a regional breakfast? Choose Hotel Du Nord. None of them offers a full kitchen, so I would not promise one, and I would pick the place that matches your arrival and your pace.
A traveler's take
For a first visit to Besançon built around the Citadel and the Museum of Time, I would choose Hôtel de Paris, rated 8.6 from more than 2,100 reviews, with private parking and good links to the train stations. If I were staying a week and wanted laundry and a studio, I would pick Comfort Aparthotel Besançon La City, beside the Doubs, and accept the 7.9 rating.
City apartments
3 stays in Besançon
City apartmentsBesançon
Hôtel de Paris
Central Besançon hotel with air-conditioned rooms and private parking
Why guests love itParking 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.
City apartmentsBesançon
Hotel Du Nord
Central Besançon hotel with a lounge bar and regional breakfast
Why guests love itThe 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.
City apartmentsBesançon
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 Comfort Aparthotel Besançon La City for studios and apartments beside the Doubs, with laundry and a garage.
- 2Check the 2 km distance from Comfort Aparthotel to the train station before arriving with luggage.
- 3Choose Hôtel de Paris to be close to the Vauban Citadel and the Museum of Time, with secure private parking.
- 4Pick Hotel Du Nord for a central, plain hotel with a breakfast of regional specialities.
- 5Travelling with a dog? Comfort Aparthotel Besançon La City is listed as pet-friendly.
- 6Use the bike storage at Comfort Aparthotel if you plan to ride along the Doubs.
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Frequently asked questions
City apartments · Besançon
Comfort Aparthotel Besançon La City offers studios and apartments with free WiFi, a breakfast room, bike storage, a laundry and a garage, next to the Doubs River. Hotel Du Nord and Hôtel de Paris are hotels with en suite rooms, so I would not count on cooking facilities there.