Where to Stay in Florence, Italy | Best Areas and Hotels (Mid-Range to Luxury)

Headed to Italy and wondering where to stay in Florence? Discover my favorite areas to stay in the city center and the best hotels in each! I'll list luxury, mid-range, and affordable hotel options.

Florence holds a sweet spot in my heart. I studied abroad here and have returned 10+ times since. Art, incredible food, medieval streets, riverside views, and a stunning skyline...this Renaissance city is a must-visit.

Florence is a pedestrian city. Most of the city center is off-limits for cars unless you have a special permit. For this reason, it's essential to base yourself in the right area.

You'll want to stay in the city center. Locate the Duomo and pick a hotel within a 15 to 20-minute walk (any direction) from there.

Go farther than this, and you'll lose precious sightseeing time walking to and from the top sights and restaurants. Plus, you'll miss out on the experience of staying in a place where the atmosphere is.

There's something about being a 5-minute walk from the local cafe for your morning cappuccino and close to the picturesque streets surrounding the Duomo.

I've made a point to stay in various locations throughout the city and have my favorites.

This post will take you through the best areas to stay in Florence, Italy that are 15 to 20 minutes from the city center. You'll discover the best luxury hotels in each neighborhood as well as mid-range options.

This map shows the best areas to stay in Florence, Italy. Click the icon on the top left to see a list view of each pinned location. Select the top right button to enlarge the map (which will automatically save it to YOUR Google Maps). To access this map once saved, open Google Maps (on your phone/computer/tablet), tap the "You" icon at the bottom, scroll to the bottom, and select "Maps". Your newly saved map should be listed at the top.

• Purple - luxury hotels
• Black - mid-range hotels

South of the Duomo - Between the Ponte Vecchio and Ponte alla Carraia (red area)

Where to stay in Florence, Italy for first-time visitors and those looking to be close to the action and sights

The area below the Duomo, above the Arno River, and between the Ponte Vecchio (Ponte is "bridge" in Italian) and Ponte alla Carraia is as close to the action as you can get. This is a great base if you have limited time in Florence and want to be as close to sights and restaurants as possible.

Joggers will appreciate being minutes from the river. I jog to and through Cascine Park in the mornings. It's always filled with locals and tourists biking, rollerblading, and running. Just don't go at night for safety reasons...as is the case with most city parks.

It tends to be quite crowded around the Ponte Vecchio, which is why most of my hotel recommendations are around Ponte Santa Trinita and Ponte alla Carraia.

BEST luxury HOTELS IN FLORENCE: SOUTH OF THE DUOMO

• Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy
• Floren Luxury Hotel (modern boutique)

Best MID-RANGE HOTELS IN FLORENCE: SOUTH OF THE DUOMO

• Hotel Calimala Florence (trendy boutique)
• Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni
• NH Collection Firenze Porta Rossa

Affordable 3-star and 4-star options (under $300 during high season)

• Room Mate Collection Isabella, Florence

SEE ALSO: 

ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR VISIT TO FLORENCE – TRAVEL GUIDE

BEST VIEWS IN FLORENCE + MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE PLACES

FLORENCE VS ROME | WHICH IS BEST FOR YOUR TRIP TO ITALY?

BEST GELATO IN FLORENCE – TOP 5 FLORENCE GELATO SPOTS

A WEEK IN ITALY – 5 ITALY ITINERARY IDEAS

South of the Duomo - West of Ponte alla Carraia (blue area)

WHERE TO STAY IN FLORENCE, ITALY for an ideal location without city center noise

The area by the river and west of Ponte alla Carraia is just outside the busiest part of the city center. And by "just", I mean a few minutes walk.

This is where you'll find several 5-star hotels as this location is ideal. You'll be close to the action but far enough away to avoid the noise. Plus, many of these hotels have gorgeous river views.

You're also close to the train station, which makes day trips a breeze.

Top luxury hotels in Florence west of Ponte alla Carraia

• The St. Regis Florence (Marriott/Bonvoy family)
• The Excelsior, Florence (Marriott/Bonvoy family)
• 25hours Hotel Florence Piazza San Paolino - you can usually find a reasonable price here if booked in advance (under $300/$400). 25hours is a trendy, quirky hotel with a fantastic location and a nice gym/sauna. The hotel features a Dante theme, hence why the two room designs are heaven or hell. Be sure to pick the "heaven" room. The "hell" rooms are a bit too weird for my taste.

If you're willing to go a bit further, about 15 minutes from the city center, you'll find some nice hotels with reasonable prices.

The 15-minute walk to the city center is nothing. Though if I were a first-time visitor with a jam-packed itinerary, I might feel differently. 

Hotels a bit farther from the city center (15-minute walk)

• Teatro Luxury Apartments Firenze - Starhotels Collezione (brand new/spacious...I could live in these apartments)
• The Moon Boutique Hotel & Spa

North of the Duomo (purple area) 

One of the best areas to stay in Florence, Italy if you're a budget-minded traveler and prefer to be just outside the action

This is one of my favorite areas to stay for two reasons. 

One, I'm usually able to find a good hotel rate just north of the Duomo as most tourists prefer to be close to the Duomo, the train station, or the river. If you're having difficulty finding an affordable hotel, this area and across the river will be your best bet.

Two, this area is quiet...or at least less hectic than around the Duomo and other tourist hotspots. I enjoy the atmosphere in this neighborhood and always feel safe on my walks back to the hotel.

All but two of the hotels listed are a 10-minute walk from the Duomo:

• Hotel Spadai is closest to the city center, it's literally a stone's throw from the Duomo.
• The Hoxton is the furthest from the city center, being a 15 to 20 minute walk.

I've stayed in this area the most as I'm always looking for a hotel bargain that's close to the city center. 

Best mid-range hotels in Florence north of the Duomo

• Hotel Spadai
  
• The Hoxton - since this is a relatively new hotel, prices can be found for under $300 per night. The Hoxton is a fantastic addition to the Florence hotel scene. While there aren't any amenities like a gym or spa facilities, the room, common spaces, spacious patio, and connected coffee shop are a 10/10. This is a better choice for a repeat visit to Florence as it's a bit of a walk to the city center (15 minutes to the Duomo). I really enjoyed how quiet and authentic this area felt. 
• Hotel Rapallo

Affordable 3-star and 4-star options (under $300 during high season)

• Room Mate Luca
• Eco Urban B&B - I discovered this B&B (more of a small hotel than a B&B) on my last trip to Florence. I LOVED IT! It was modern, new, and on the lower end of the price spectrum for Florence. The close proximity to the train station was ideal for day-tripping. While many hotels around the train station have noise issues, this hotel was very quiet.
• The Market Urban Hotel - same family and similar to Eco Urban B&B

Santo Spirito (grey area)

Where to stay in Florence, Italy if this is a return visit or you're looking for a more local vibe

Those who have already visited Florence and are looking for something different will want to cross the river and look around the Santo Spirito neighborhood.

More locals live on this side of the river and the further you go, the more local (and cheaper) it will become.

I prefer to stick around the Santo Spirito neighborhood because there are a lot of great restaurants here and you're not far from the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens.

There are also a lot of AirBnBs on this side of the river for a great price.

Best luxury hotels in Florence across the river

• Hotel Lungarno - Lungarno Collection

BEST mid-range HOTELS IN FLORENCE ACROSS THE RIVER

• Ponte Vecchio Suites & Spa
• Oltrarno Splendid
  

Santa Croce (orange area)

There are two wonderful luxury hotels located in the Santa Croce area:

• Palazzo Firenze by Baglioni Hotels & Resorts (completely renovated and reopening March 2026)
• Hotel Bernini Palace

Santa Croce is a 15-minute walk from the Duomo and 10 to 15 minutes from the river.

The only downside of this area is that you are far from the train station. But, it's easy to get a cab and if you're looking for a luxury stay close to the heart of Florence, then Santa Croce is a nice option.

Summary of where to stay in Florence, Italy

I hope this post steers you in the right direction of where to stay in Florence, Italy. These are my personal favorite neighborhoods and some of the best hotels in Florence.

Just south of the Duomo and between Ponte Vecchio and Ponte alla Carraia is my top pick for first-time visitors since you're steps away from all the top sights.

South of the Duomo and to the west of Ponte alla Carraia is perfect if you're looking for a luxury stay. This area has several gorgeous hotels that are by the river and minutes from top attractions and the heart of the city.

North of the Duomo is great if you want a location a little less hectic. This is one of the best areas to stay in Florence for my budget-minded travelers. I almost always manage to find a good hotel deal in this neighborhood.

Santo Spirito is the perfect choice if you've been to Florence before and want to experience a different area. Santa Croce is a nice alternative if you can't find a hotel you like in any of the other neighborhoods. 

No matter which area you pick, you’ll be walking distance to the best sights and restaurants! 

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Where to Stay in Florence, Italy | Best Areas and Hotels (Mid-Range to Luxury)

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