OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the burden of metastatic melanoma in public and private hospitals between 2008 and 2013 in France. METHODS: The French national hospital database (PMSI) was analyzed to identify adults newly diagnosed with metastatic melanoma between 2008 and 2013.  Using the International Classification of Diseases 10^threvision codes for melanoma  (C43) and for metastasis (C77 or C78 or C79), the number of hospital admissions for metastatic melanoma was identified and thereafter the corresponding number of hospitalized patients was determined. Descriptive analyses were performed with a focus on hospital stays and patient characteristics. RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2013, 16 188 patients (median age at diagnosis 66 years [18 -103]; 54.6 % male) were hospitalized for metastatic melanoma, corresponding to 104 731 hospital admissions mainly in public settings (94.8%). We identified 27 523 (26.3%) hospital admissions for chemotherapy and immunotherapy and only 2 943 (2.8%) hospital admissions for palliative care. 24.0% of diagnosis related groups were classified as surgery procedures. Hospital admissions were mainly performed in three regions: Ile-de-France (18.6%), Rhône Alpes (13.1%) and Aquitaine (12.6%).  The mean length of stay was 3.2 days (SD: 7.1). 39.8% of patients had 1 site of metastasis, 18.0% had 2 sites of metastasis and 42.1% had at least 3 sites of metastasis. The most common sites of metastasis were lung in 36.8% of patients, liver in 28.8% of patients and brain in 27.8% of  patients. Death in a hospital setting was reported for 10.3% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis allows us to strengthen our knowledge regarding the burden of metastatic melanoma which represents a first step in assessing the cost of hospitalizations related to metastatic melanoma. Such analysis is useful for economic modeling especially with the arrival of innovative treatments.