Where to Stay in Florence: The Best Neighborhoods For Your Visit

Posted: 4/10/24 | April 10th, 2024 With its iconic Renaissance architecture, picturesque streets, world-class museums, and incredible food, Florence is one of my favorite cities in Italy. I’ve been a handful of times over the years and it never disappoints. It’s also a compact and easily walkable city, so nothing is too far from anything else. That said, each neighborhood has its own unique feel and accommodation options. For that reason, it’s a good idea to choose a neighborhood that best suits your travel style and budget. To help you do just that, here’s my list of the best neighborhoods in Florence: Area Best for Best Hotel Centro Storico First-Time Visitors Santa Maria Novella Budget Travelers Santa Croce Nightlife & Foodies Oltrarno Local Vibes Table of Contents   Where to Stay for First-Time Visitors: Centro Storico This is Florence’s emblematic historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the iconic Duomo (cathedral), world-class art at the Uffizi Gallery, and bustling plazas like Piazza della Signoria. Stay here to be in the center of it all, with the main attractions just steps away. It’s also a good neighborhood if you’re looking to do some shopping. For luxury, head to Via de’ Tornabuoni, where all the high-end designers have storefronts, while Ponte Vecchio is the place to go if you’re in the market for jewelry. You’ll also have the largest array of accommodation options here. Just keep in mind that it gets incredibly crowded in the summer, and prices skyrocket accordingly. Best places to stay in Centro Storico: BUDGET: Emerald Palace – Offering affordable private rooms and dorms (including female-only dorms), Emerald Palace is an excellent no-frills option for budget travelers who don’t want to compromise on location. The rooms are spacious, with beautiful painted ceilings and terracotta floors, and everything (including the shared bathrooms) is kept sparkling clean. While there aren’t a ton of amenities here (though there is breakfast and a guest kitchen), it’s a friendly and affordable choice in the heart of the historic center. MIDRANGE: Hotel Davanzati – This cozy three-star hotel offers a lot of value, with a complimentary continental breakfast, afternoon tea, and an aperitivo hour with prosecco. The rooms are a bit dated in their décor, but they are spacious, with comfy beds, a desk, a flatscreen TV, and a wardrobe. The bathrooms are large too and have heated towel racks, as well as nice showers with excellent water pressure. The staff really go out of their way to help with anything you need too. LUXURY: Hotel Bernini Palace – It feels like you’re staying in a palace in this five-star hotel, set in a 15th-century building. The elegant rooms are spacious and feature wood-beamed ceilings, parquet or terracotta floors, glass chandeliers, antique furnishings, and plush beds with gilded headboards. They also have all the amenities you’d expect from a hotel of this caliber, including minibars, flatscreen TVs, desks, and air conditioning. There’s a complimentary breakfast buffet too, served in a room with a frescoed ceiling that used to be a meeting place for members of Italy’s parliament! Where to Stay for Budget Travelers: Santa Maria Novella Santa Maria Novella is a large area west of Centro Storico. It surrounds a basilica, piazza, and train station, all with the same name as the neighborhood. The area is great for budget-conscious travelers who appreciate the convenience of being both close to the historic center and the train station for onward travel. It’s also a good area for backpackers that want a traditional hostel experience, as all the best hostels in Florence are here. The area around Piazza Santa Maria Novella and south toward the river is a bit more upscale, while most hostels are concentrated just to the northeast of the train station. Just avoid staying right next to the train station, as it’s not the not the nicest section of the neighborhood. Best places to stay in Santa Maria Novella: BUDGET: Ostello Bello Firenze – This lively hostel has a cozy common room, guest kitchen, and bar where all guests get a free welcome drink. There’s also a rooftop terrace and lots of social events throughout the week (such as live music or parties). It’s a really easy hostel to meet people in. Plus, all dorm rooms have ensuite bathrooms and lockers and are filled with lots of natural light. It’s one of the best hostels in town. MIDRANGE: Hotel Alba Palace – This beautiful three-star hotel is decorated in a traditional Florentine style. Each room is unique, with historic features that include antique terracotta floors, arched ceilings, and exposed brick walls. The fantastic complimentary breakfast is served in a tranquil atrium with a glass ceiling. All rooms have a flatscreen TV, minibar, desk, Nespresso machine, hairdryer, and safe. While the bathrooms are small, there’s great water pressure

Where to Stay in Florence: The Best Neighborhoods For Your Visit