Tuscany’s capital is a Renaissance wonderland of artwork and terracotta tiles. Florence is likely one of the hottest metropolis breaks in Europe, and it’s received the celeb standing to show it. You’ve received the Florence Cathedral, cobbled streets filled with impartial boutiques, and the Arno River operating by means of town heart. Florence is filled with artwork and tradition – however the place do you keep to see all the primary sights? How do you select the place to remain in Florence?
Finest Locations to Keep in Florence
Florence is a good looking metropolis to go to. There’s artwork and sweetness all over the place. In terms of the primary sights, you’ve the Etruscan Archaeological Museum, the bustle of Piazza del Duomo, and the grandeur of Palazzo Vecchio. You’ve received so much to stay up for.
The place to remain in Florence is totally different for everybody and each go to. Central Florence has almost ten totally different areas, every with a mixture of trendy boutique lodges and sights. You possibly can go native and keep away from the vacationers or pay the worth and be inside strolling distance of the whole lot. After numerous visits to town, we’ve whittled it down to 6 neighborhoods so that you can select from – we wish you to have the very best.
1. Centro Storico
Centro Storico is the center of Florence and its historical past. Image church buildings that date again centuries, slender streets, and views of the gorgeous foremost attraction within the metropolis: Florence Cathedral. Centro Storico is absolutely the hub of town, and everybody is aware of it. All the very best lodges get booked out over the summer season, and crowds of vacationers descend on the neighborhood year-round. Most of Florence’s foremost sights are condensed into this tiny pocket of historical past, and the temptation is an excessive amount of for many guests to withstand. It’s even UNESCO-recognized.
With this nice location, you’re inside straightforward strolling distance of sights just like the Uffizi Gallery, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Nationwide Museum of Bargello. The neighborhood is a vigorous mixture of main websites. You possibly can’t beat staying right here if you wish to discover on foot.
In abstract, Centro Storico is the place to remain in Florence in case you’re a first-time customer, dedicated to sightseeing on foot, or solely have a few days within the metropolis. It’s totally handy, with the added bonus of being completely attractive (primarily due to the Duomo’s terracotta domes).
Luxurious: Rocco Forte Resort Savoy
Rocco Forte Resort Savoy is a sublime 5-star lodge proper subsequent to the Uffizi Gallery. You possibly can guide rooms with distinctive views, together with certainly one of Piazza del Duomo or the well-known bell tower. Rooms don’t come low cost, however you’ll get world-class therapy in alternate.
Rocco Forte Resort Savoy is definitely the most effective luxurious lodges within the historic heart of Florence.
Mid Vary: Resort Della Signoria
Resort Della Signoria is a three-star property with a five-star location, simply steps from Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio. It gives a spread of rooms, together with a superior room with a non-public terrace.
This lodge is sweet worth for cash and a pleasure to expertise. The terrace room is unquestionably an important shout, providing a little bit of solace within the busy metropolis heart.
Funds: Dante’s Rooms
Dante’s Rooms is your easiest selection for price range lodging within the heart of Florence. You get all of the fundamentals: free wi fi, snug beds, and TVs in every visitor room.
Does it have a rooftop pool? No, however the cut price keep is definitely worth the trade-off. In the event you’re prepared to go for a extra B&B model expertise, Dante’s Rooms is a superb price range lodge selection in central Florence.
Execs Of Staying in Centro Storico
- Strolling distance from main sights just like the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, Piazza della Signoria, and Palazzo Vecchio.
- Loads of buzz and an thrilling ambiance.
- A lot of lodge selections.
Cons Of Staying in Centro Storico
- Heavy crowds.
- Lodges can include a hefty price ticket.
- You solely see the “foremost space”, with out the encircling countryside or suburban areas.
2. Santa Maria Novella
Santa Maria Novella is no-nonsense. The neighborhood is centered across the Santa Maria Novella prepare station. It is filled with in-and-out guests and, as such, has loads of budget-friendly lodging. It might probably get sketchy across the prepare station at evening, with drug use and the odd opportunistic lurkers able to bag snatch. However as a complete, the Santa Maria Novella district is the place to remain in Florence if you need an inexpensive and simple place to remain. You might be only a quick stroll into the historic metropolis heart and to all the primary sights, simply with out the expense of paying by means of the roof for extra central lodging.
Aside from the primary prepare station (very useful for day journeys), the neighborhood has the attractive marble Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. You too can try the antiques alongside Through dei Fossi, a well-liked procuring road, and a number of the metropolis’s extra budget-friendly nightclubs, like House Membership. There are museums, too, together with the Marino Marini Firenze Museum and Palazzo Strozzi.
We’d recommend staying within the lower-eastern area of Santa Maria Novella, away from the prepare station and alongside the Arno River. It has extra of a central enchantment and is a brief strolling distance from Centro Storico anyway, which is a pleasant contact. Santa Maria Novella is definitely the most effective neighborhoods if you need a extra budget-friendly various to Centro Storico with out sacrificing a lot for handy sightseeing.
Luxurious: Portrait Firenze
Portrait Firenze is a beautiful 5-star lodge simply 30 meters away from Ponte Vecchio. Portrait Firenze is the place to remain if you need luxurious with water views, they usually have superb lodge rooms with marble loos and home windows overlooking the Arno River.
This luxurious property is definitely the most effective lodges, centrally situated, providing tasteful decor and upscale rooms.
Mid Vary: Novella Home
Novella Home is filled with character, with a boutique lodge inside that includes patterned wallpapers and frescoed ceilings. It’s fantastically situated within the Santa Maria Novella district, inside a straightforward stroll of Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria.
Novella Home is ready in a Seventeenth-century constructing, which is simply the cherry on prime. It’s a historic spot and the most effective lodges if you need loads of character.
Funds: Foresteria Sociale Florence Middle by New Technology Hostel
Foresteria Sociale Florence Middle by New Technology Hostel is ideal for anybody who likes a cut price. The most affordable rooms are dormitory choices, with female-only and mixed-sex rooms obtainable. There are additionally costlier personal rooms with mid-range costs in case you desire privateness however nonetheless desire a hostel setting.
You too can entry a shared kitchen, loos, and laundry services.
Execs Of Staying in Santa Maria Novella
- It’s barely cheaper than Centro Storico.
- It’s nonetheless within the metropolis heart, which means you’re inside strolling distance of main sights.
- It has a enjoyable ambiance.
Cons Of Staying in Santa Maria Novella
- The realm across the prepare station and Piazza Santa Maria Novella might be sketchy at evening.
- You’re nonetheless within the metropolis heart, so the very best lodges might be costly.
- Santa Maria Novella nonetheless will get crowded with vacationers and native folks utilizing the prepare station.
3. San Niccolò
San Niccolò is a good looking place to remain in Florence. The historic neighborhood is a community of cobbles and twisting streets backed by artisan workshops earlier than exploding into open expanses of inexperienced areas and villa gardens. It completely balances historical past, tradition, and nature. And for these eager to dodge the crowds, it sits a secure distance away from Florence’s manic metropolis heart, overlooking the cityscape from throughout the Arno River.
San Niccolò is on town’s south financial institution, which is the alternative facet of the Arno River to Centro Storico and Santa Maria Novella. Due to this, you’ll need to plan some further journey time to achieve town heart and sightsee issues like the foremost attraction of Florence Cathedral. Nonetheless, it solely takes round 20 minutes to stroll from San Niccolò to Florence’s central vacationer district – how straightforward is that? You’ll cross over the enduring Ponte Vecchio bridge or Ponte alle Grazia, each of that are pedestrian-friendly.
There’s additionally a lot to see and do within the neighborhood itself. The Piazzale Michelangelo is a panoramic viewpoint overlooking Florence, with a bronze David duplicate standing guard. The Terzo Giardino and Villa Bardini are additionally nice locations for peaceable walks in serene nature.
San Niccolò is the place to remain in Florence if you wish to expertise a quiet tradition within the metropolis. It’s filled with gardens and serenity, with an opportunity to expertise Florence with fewer crowds.
Luxurious: Resort Lungarno
Resort Lungarno is one other stunning riverfront property. It’s situated only a quick distance from Ponte Vecchio and gives suites overlooking the water. The lodge is adorned with precious artwork, together with unique items by Picasso.
Onsite eating places and high quality eating choices can be found, and almost each visitor room or suite gives gorgeous marble loos.
Mid Vary: Serristori Palace Residence
Serristori Palace Residence is situated within the far west of San Niccolò. The Nineteenth-century constructing has a combination of luxury-furnished residences, providing you with the proper self-catering base.
Each condominium has a kitchen and laundry services. You additionally get entry to a small however fairly shared backyard. It’s a soothing base for visiting San Niccolò on a mid-range price range.
Funds: QK Costa58 House Tower
QK Costa58 House Tower is as budget-friendly as this neighborhood will get. Fortunately, the gorgeous setting of this property makes these further pennies worthwhile. Neglect reserving a cookie-cutter lodge with a swimming pool or rooftop terrace. As a substitute, you can be staying in an actual medieval tower. You enter the stone tower by means of basic wood doorways – an actual expertise.
The double room is your most budget-friendly choice and has nice views over town beneath.
Execs Of Staying in San Niccolò
- There are extra peaceable areas of nature and inexperienced area.
- There are artisan workshops, villas, and off-the-beaten-track tradition.
- You expertise fewer crowds.
Cons Of Staying in San Niccolò
- There are fewer lodges to select from.
- You might be farther from town heart.
- There are fewer main vacationer sights.
4. Santa Croce
Santa Croce is extensively hailed as essentially the most “charming” place to remain in Florence. It has tons of lingering heritage, being the ultimate resting place of big names like Galileo and Michelangelo. You might have bars and cafes, plus recent produce bought on the healthful road market of Sant Ambrogio. It’s a romantic and ever so barely eclectic neighborhood. You’ll discover monumental tombs of the late and greats on one road and al fresco eating and markets on the subsequent. We love its sense of road tradition and outside residing. And if you need someplace with historical past however laidback tradition, city Santa Croce is the place to remain in Florence.
Santa Croce sits east of town heart, lower than a 15-minute stroll from all of the central sightseeing and sights just like the Uffizi Gallery. The south border overlooks the Arno River, whereas the east borders the Florence ring street, offering swift entry for these driving or catching a taxi to the airport. It’s central sufficient to nonetheless be handy however far out sufficient to flee the stifle of different weekend metropolis breakers.
In Santa Croce itself, you’ve received the Florence Nationwide Central Library, Casa Buonarroti, the attractive Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze, and monumental tombs. It’s nice for artwork, literature, and academia. And whenever you aren’t embracing inventive historical past in Santa Croce, you might be looking for recent fruit and greens. The overall consensus is apt; Santa Croce undoubtedly has a “appeal”.
Luxurious: YiD Cantoria
When staying in Santa Croce, YiD Cantoria is by far your greatest luxurious choice. The gorgeous condominium has a non-public entrance and inside designs to die for. Fresco-style art work items adorn its partitions, and loads of wood notes. It’s a mixture between fashionable and conventional, and it sleeps as much as six folks – group journey, anybody?
You additionally get a non-public balcony with attractive road views. It’s a superb selection for anybody wanting privateness and independence in Santa Croce.
Mid Vary: Borgo Signature Rooms
Borgo Signature Rooms is a guesthouse in Santa Croce with splendidly adorned rooms. It’s the place to remain if you need aesthetically pleasing guestrooms on a mid-range price range. The combination of wood furnishings and art work is simply stunning.
As if all that wasn’t sufficient, you’re simply minutes from the Basilica di Santa Croce Firenze. Borgo Signature Rooms are lifeless centrally situated.
Funds: Bargello Visitor Home
Bargello Visitor Home gives guestrooms in a B&B model with quite a few shared areas, together with a cushty lounge space. Every room has a non-public ensuite with complimentary toiletries and a TV for downtime after sightseeing.
Bargello Visitor Home is likely one of the few budget-friendly lodging choices in Santa Croce, so snap it up whereas it’s obtainable.
Execs Of Staying in Santa Croce
- It’s central and inside strolling distance of all the primary sights, together with the Uffizi Gallery.
- It has a good looking market scene for laidback, genuine residing.
- There’s tons of fascinating historical past, particularly artwork historical past and monumental tombs belonging to Galileo and Michelangelo.
Cons Of Staying in Santa Croce
- It might probably get busy nonetheless.
- You continue to need to stroll a bit of longer than in case you stayed extra centrally (quarter-hour on common somewhat than 5 minutes or so).
- Lodging might be costly and promote out in peak months.
5. Santo Spirito
The Santo Spirito neighborhood is fashionable, with an electrical sense of nightlife. That is the place you may keep in Florence if you need events after darkish, and it has a classy assortment of vibrant bars that keep open lengthy into the early hours. Santo Spirito is a incredible place to embrace the native vibe and socialize in your journey to Florence. Oh, and it additionally has nice eating places, if these vigorous bars weren’t sufficient for you. Unsurprisingly, it’s thought of the most effective neighborhoods in Florence.
Santo Spirito is situated south of the river, like San Niccolò. Nonetheless, it’s barely extra central, situated simply off the steps of the Ponte Vecchio bridge. Due to this, you’re already on the outskirts of town heart and only a quick stroll to Florence’s foremost sights just like the cathedral and Piazza della Repubblica. It’s only a bit extra handy.
If you aren’t partying or strolling briskly over Ponte Vecchio for inner-city sightseeing, there’s a lot to do in Santo Spirito. The largest attraction within the neighborhood is Pitti Palace. Pitti Palace is an artwork gallery complicated inside a Renaissance royal palace and opens onto the Boboli Gardens.
Santo Spirito is undoubtedly the place to remain in case you like to occasion and expertise nightlife in new cities. Nonetheless, it’s equally a superb place to let your hair down in nature and admire art work – the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens are two of Florence’s most spectacular outer-city sights.
Luxurious: Brunelleschi Imperial Home
Brunelleschi Imperial Home is a good looking two-bedroom condominium in central Santo Spirito. The design is extravagant, with heat lighting and spectacular options like a stone hearth. You even get entry to a scorching tub. With all this on supply, the luxurious of self-catered lodging to slink again to for privateness, peace, and quiet after an extended day is sensible.
The condominium sleeps as much as six folks. You might have a spacious lounge and very good kitchen services, so it’s a good looking spot if you need spacious lodging in Florence.
Mid Vary: Resort Palazzo Guadagni
Resort Palazzo Guadagni oozes custom and sophistication. Its most eye-catching high quality is its stone rooftop terrace, adorned with stone columns. The entire property is adorned with antiques and frescoes. If you need someplace memorable to remain in Santo Spirito, that is the place to decide on.
Some rooms overlook the Pitti Palace, and a few bookings embrace a day by day breakfast (on the terrace, in fact). In the event you actually desire a memorable expertise, you may guide one of many rooms that includes an open fireplace. This can be a good choice in winter.
Funds: House in Florence
House in Florence is a standard little condominium with terracotta-tiled flooring and a wrought iron mattress body. Staying right here is equal to stepping right into a novel or TV present. The property’s barely fundamental, rough-around-the-edges attract provides it that genuine vibe. Consider Emily in Paris if Emily moved to Florence as an alternative.
This one-bedroom condominium has the whole lot a pair or solo traveler wants. You get a kitchen, front room, and a rest room with a fantastically tiled bathe. Quaint and mild on the pockets, House in Florence is a incredible budget-friendly choice in Santo Spirito.
Execs Of Staying in Santo Spirito
- It has a stylish bar scene for after-hours socializing.
- It’s only a quick stroll over Ponte Vecchio to achieve town heart.
- You’ve received stunning sights like Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens.
Cons Of Staying in Santo Spirito
- You continue to have a 15-minute stroll or so by way of the Ponte Vecchio to achieve the northern metropolis heart’s sights, just like the Florence Cathedral and Piazza del Duomo.
- It may be rowdy and busy in elements.
- There are fewer lodges, so guide prematurely for peak months.
6. San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo is a good looking neighborhood to the northwest of town heart. It’s proper on the cusp of being within the central historic district, making it one of the crucial handy locations you may keep in Florence. So, other than its location, what precisely makes San Lorenzo so particular? In a phrase: meals.
The entire neighborhood revolves round hospitality and culinary experiences. It’s the place you’ll discover the Mercato Centrale, promoting road meals from 9am till midnight seven days every week and a combination of low-light wine bars and upscale eating places. In the event you take a meals tour in Florence, San Lorenzo is the place guides will take you. So, in case you’re a foodie, you might as nicely skip that and simply guide to base your self there as an alternative.
It isn’t all meals on this culinary-focused neighborhood (though what could be incorrect with that?), and also you’ve received sights just like the Basilica di San Lorenzo and the Museo di Casa Martelli. You might be additionally lower than a 10-minute stroll from main sights just like the Piazza del Duomo, so you may simply spend your days sightseeing. This neighborhood is the place you may keep for leisurely sightseeing and culinary experiences within the galore.
Luxurious: Resort Cerretani Firenze
It doesn’t get extra attractive than Resort Cerretani Firenze on this facet of city. This 4-star lodge is simply 300 meters from Florence Cathedral, and a few of its rooms have views of the terracotta dome. Every room oozes class, with complimentary particulars like slippers and robes. You possibly can select from a combination of superior rooms and suites. Nearly each reserving features a complimentary day by day breakfast service, with 24-hour room service obtainable.
Resort Cerretani Firenze is ready in a Seventeenth-century constructing. It gives a lounge bar and onsite eating places, so mainly, the whole lot you want is inside its 4 partitions.
Mid Vary: B&B Lorenzo di Medici
B&B Lorenzo di Medici gives a spread of room choices, all together with complimentary day by day breakfast and considerate perks like a shuttle service to the airport. The inside design is recent and trendy – a stylish base to your time in Florence. It’s simply that good step between cheap costs and luxuries you crave. And whereas these are guestrooms, not residences, you continue to get useful facilities like a microwave, fridge, espresso machine, and toaster.
It’s straightforward to see why the opinions are sort to B&B Lorenzo di Medici. It’s a cool mid-range spot on this foodie neighborhood in Florence.
Funds Resort: Hostel Archi Rossi
Hostel Archi Rossi is likely one of the few typical hostel lodging in Florence, and it doesn’t fail expectations. It gives a enjoyable setting with white wrought iron beds in dormitories for as much as 9 folks. There’s hand-painted art work all over the place and a very sociable structure. It’s an important place to remain if you wish to follow a price range and make loads of buddies.
You additionally get a shared kitchen, which is nice for saving cash when consuming out. Hostel Archi Rossi is affordable and cheerful.
Execs Of Staying in San Lorenzo
- There are a whole bunch of meals experiences.
- You might be simply minutes from main sights.
- There’s a good looking church and historic sights.
Cons Of Staying in San Lorenzo
- It might probably get busy, particularly in peak seasons.
- It has fewer sights than different neighborhoods in Florence.
- Lodging might be costly.
Finest Areas to Keep in Florence: FAQ’s
By now, you’re nicely ready to make your ultimate resolution on the place to remain in Florence. You actually are spoiled for selection, and town has a number of the greatest lodges, too – simply considering of Resort Palazzo Guadagni’s rooftop terrace makes us need to head again to Florence!
Earlier than you make any ultimate selections, although, listed here are some widespread FAQs. This part will assist solidify your selection, particularly in case you’re visiting Florence for the primary time.
What a part of Florence is the very best to remain in?
Centro Storico is the very best a part of Florence in case you’re visiting for the primary time or simply for a weekend. It is because you’re proper in the course of the whole lot and only a nice stroll from sights like Piazza della Signoria, Florence Cathedral, and Piazza della Repubblica. It’s the center of town, which is superb for a time restrict.
The place ought to I keep in Florence for the primary time?
Once more, Centro Storico is the best choice for first-time guests to Florence. Its easy accessibility to central sights is unbeatable. It’s handy and thrilling for first-time guests to be so within the thick of it. E-book prematurely to keep away from steeper costs and peak instances, although.
The place to keep away from staying in Florence?
We wouldn’t suggest staying on the outskirts of Florence, particularly because it’s such a metropolis break-style vacation spot. In the event you’re visiting for a weekend, save your time on ridiculously lengthy public transport journeys simply to achieve town heart.
What’s the most stunning space in Florence?
San Niccolò is gorgeous. It’s filled with pretty gardens, wine bars that sprawl out in al fresco seating, and views of Florence’s cityscape from throughout the Arno River.
The place to not keep in Florence
Generally, wherever in central Florence is nice. The worst you’ll need to put up with is vacationer crowds and the opportunistic petty crime that may generally appeal to – like pickpocketing or bag snatching. As a complete, central Florence is secure and straightforward to navigate, with most locations accessible inside a brief strolling distance.
Nonetheless, we might rule out neighborhoods in Florence’s outskirts. Not solely are these areas extra liable to crime, however you’re additionally battling prolonged journey instances on public transport simply to achieve town heart to sightsee. It’s the very last thing you need. Listed here are just a few particularly to keep away from:
1. Peretola: The area across the airport is just too removed from town heart and has nearly fixed noise air pollution.
2. Le Piagge: A budget-friendly area that sadly struggles with low-level crime in northwestern Florence.
3. Galluzo: A reasonably disagreeable area within the south of Florence, most well-known for its massive jail facility.
As a substitute, if you need a extra suburban and off-the-beaten-track place to remain, head to San Niccolò. It’s set on the alternative financial institution of the Arno River, away from town heart, with extra inexperienced area and a laidback ambiance.
Why we love Florence
There’s no denying that Florence is likely one of the prettiest cities in Europe. We love its attractive structure and the cultural issues to do. Selecting the place to remain in Florence is simply the cherry on prime —good lodging is heaven-sent and helps you immerse your self much more deeply into town and its tradition.
In Florence, the neighborhoods have such particular person senses of character. You’ve received San Niccolò’s laidback greenery and Santa Croce’s market buzz. Or Santa Maria Novella’s no-nonsense price range lodging scene. Wherever you select to remain, we hope you’ve a incredible time.
