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!
Florence has a sweet place in my heart. I studied abroad here and have returned many times since. Art, incredible food, medieval streets, riverside views, and an incredible 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 extremely important 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 where all 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 within 15 to 20 minutes of the city center. You'll learn 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 in the very top left to see a list view of each pinned location. Click the top right button to enlarge the map. Click the star to save to your own Google Maps account. To access this map once saved (after clicking the star), open Google Maps (on your phone/computer/tablet), click the menu button, go to "your places", select "maps", and you will see this map listed.
- Purple - luxury hotels
- Black - mid-range hotels
Duomo - Where to Stay in Florence, Italy | Top Areas + Hotels
Ponte Vecchio - Where to Stay in Florence | Top 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 always 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 get 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
Best MID-RANGE HOTELS IN FLORENCE: SOUTH OF THE DUOMO
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
Ponte Vecchio - Where to Stay in Florence, Italy | Top Areas and Hotels
South of the Duomo - West of Ponte alla Carraia (blue area)
WHERE TO STAY IN FLORENCE, ITALY to be minutes from the action, yet have a luxury/quiet stay
The area by the river and west of Ponte alla Carrraia 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 luxury 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.
If money was no object, this would be my first pick on where to stay in Florence, Italy.
Best luxury hotels in Florence west of Ponte all Carraia
- The St. Regis Florence (Marriott/Bonvoy family)
- The Westin Excelsior, Florence (Marriott/Bonvoy family)
If you're willing to go a bit further, about 15 minutes from the city center, you'll find some nice hotels with decent prices.
I've stayed at Sina Villa Medici several times and enjoy how calm the hotel is. 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)
- Sina Villa Medici (Marriott/Bonvoy family)
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 the hotels listed are a 10-minute walk from the Duomo except Hotel Spadai...which is literally a stone's throw away.
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
- 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.
Rooftop at Hotel Palazzo Guadagni - Where to Stay in Florence, Italy | Top Areas and Hotels
Santo Spirito (grey area)
Where to stay in Florence, Italy if this is a return visit or you're looking for a local vibe and a better price
Those that 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 get, 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
BEST mid-range HOTELS IN FLORENCE ACROSS THE RIVER
Views of Santa Croce - Hotel Bernini is down this street
Where to Stay in Florence, Italy | Top Areas and Hotels
Plaza Hotel Lucchesi rooftop views - Where to Stay in Florence, Italy | Top Areas and Hotels
Santa Croce (orange area)
There are three wonderful luxury hotels located in the Santa Croce area:
Hotel Lucchesi has a beautiful rooftop with a pool and incredible views of Florence.
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.
Piazza della Signoria - Where to Stay in Florence, Italy | Top Areas and Hotels
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 couldn't find a hotel you liked 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 | Top Areas and Hotels
How many days do you recommend to spend in Florence and Rome?
3 days in Rome to see the top sights and still have time to wander the neighborhoods. 2 full days in Florence for the top sights/museums + minimum of 2 days for day trips (Tuscany, Siena, medieval hill towns, Cinque Terre, etc.). Enjoy Italy!