Best Family Hotels in Besançon
Updated 8 July 2026 · 22 real hotels
Besançon offers families a compact, walkable old town, a UNESCO-listed Vauban citadel with a zoo and natural history museum, and good road and rail connections. Hotels range from budget-friendly options near retail parks on the western edge of the city to centrally located properties steps from the historic loop of the Doubs river. Rates start around 72 € per night at properties rated above 4.4 out of 5.
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Besançon with the family: a city that rewards curiosity
Besançon sits inside a tight meander of the Doubs river, which means the old town is naturally self-contained and easy to explore on foot with children. The star attraction is the Citadelle de Besançon, a Vauban fortress perched above the rooftops that houses a zoo, an insectarium, an aquarium and two museums, all within a single ticket. Below the hill, the pedestrian streets of the historic centre connect Roman remains, the birthplace of Victor Hugo and the Musée des Beaux-Arts, one of the oldest fine-arts museums in France. Parks along the riverbanks give younger visitors room to run, and the city's tram and bus network makes it straightforward to move between the centre and quieter residential or commercial areas on the outskirts.
How to choose your base
Families who want to walk to the citadel and the old-town museums in the morning will find the Vieille ville (old town) the most convenient area. The Hotel Vauban and ibis Besançon Centre Ville are both located there, placing you within a short uphill walk of the fortress entrance. If you prefer more space, lower noise levels and easy car parking, the western district around Chateaufarine offers larger-format hotels such as the Campanile NATURE Besançon Ouest at 72 € per night, close to a large retail area that is handy for stocking up on snacks and supplies. Properties a few kilometres from the centre, including the B&B HOTEL Besançon Valentin and Hôtel Akena Besançon, suit families arriving by car who want lower nightly rates while staying within a short drive of attractions.
Our selection in Besançon
A real selection, real prices, from the most affordable to the showstopper.
| Hotel | Area | Rating | Price / night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accueil Hotel Besançon | Saint-François d'Assise | ★ 3.1 | 34 €/nuit |
| hotelF1 Besancon Micropolis | Saint-François d'Assise | ★ 2.6 | 34 €/nuit |
| ibis budget Besancon Nord Ecole Valentin | École-Valentin | ★ 3.4 | 46 €/nuit |
| Brit Hotel Besançon L'Horloge ★★★ | Besançon | ★ 3.9 | 51 €/nuit |
| Premiere Classe Besancon - Ecole Valentin ★ | École-Valentin | ★ 3.7 | 51 €/nuit |
| ibis budget Besancon Centre Gare ★★ | Besançon | ★ 3.9 | 53 €/nuit |
| Comfort Aparthotel Besancon Hauts du Chazal ★★★ | Saint-François d'Assise | ★ 4.2 | 58 €/nuit |
| Hotel Campanile Besancon Nord - Ecole Valentin ★★★ | École-Valentin | ★ 3.8 | 62 €/nuit |
| Campanile NATURE - Besançon Ouest Chateaufarine | Saint-François d'Assise | ★ 4.5 | 64 €/nuit |
| Hôtel Calisola | Beaupré | ★ 4.3 | 77 €/nuit |
Frequently asked questions
Which Besançon hotels are closest to the Citadelle for families?+
Hotel Vauban and ibis Besançon Centre Ville are both located in the Vieille ville, the old-town neighbourhood at the foot of the hill that leads up to the Citadelle de Besançon. From either property you can reach the fortress entrance on foot, avoiding the need to drive or park. Hotel Vauban is rated 4.5 out of 5 at 105 € per night, and the ibis is rated 4.4 out of 5 at 93 € per night.
What is the most affordable family-friendly hotel in Besançon?+
The Campanile NATURE Besançon Ouest Chateaufarine is the lowest-priced option on this list at 72 € per night, and it carries the highest guest rating at 4.7 out of 5. It is located in the Chateaufarine area to the west of the city centre, next to a large commercial zone with supermarkets and restaurants, and is well suited to families arriving by car. The Hôtel Akena Besançon follows closely at 74 € per night with a 4.6 out of 5 rating, situated about 9.3 km from the city centre.
Are there family-friendly activities beyond the Citadelle in Besançon?+
Yes. The Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie in the old town is one of the oldest municipal fine-arts museums in France and includes archaeological collections that appeal to older children. The banks of the Doubs river offer walking and cycling paths suitable for all ages. The Parc Micaud, a landscaped park beside the river, is a popular spot for a break between sightseeing stops. Besançon is also the birthplace of Victor Hugo, and a small museum marks the site near the old town centre.
Is it better to stay in the Besançon city centre or on the outskirts with children?+
It depends on how you are travelling. Families without a car benefit most from a central location such as the Vieille ville, where the main family attractions are walkable and the tram connects to other parts of the city. Families driving to Besançon may prefer an outskirts hotel like the Campanile Chateaufarine or the B&B HOTEL Besançon Valentin (rated 4.5 out of 5, 85 € per night, 5.5 km from centre), where parking is easier and rates tend to be lower. Either choice is practical because the city is compact and journey times between the outskirts and the old town are short.