If you are planning your trip to Italy, Florence is most probably included in your itinerary and if it’s not, you should consider it.
Florence is one of the most famous cities in Italy and with a reason, it’s a very charming city to visit with so much cultural offer and historical places to see that it’s impossible to get bored.
While I was personally a bit disappointed with Florence and I had big expectations about it, I honestly thought it will be prettier and not as crowded as it was, but we were there in the high season in middle July, so it is completely normal to have crowds all over Europe. I still found it a lovely city you can love with time and I would go back to explore more.
Especially if you are into art, consider this is the city where Renaissance began during the 14th century, it hosts one of the biggest museums in the country, the Uffizi museum which gathers collections from Botticelli, Caravaggio, and Michelangelo.
If you are having a short time, there are good options to take a guided tour in the Accademia Gallery and see with your own eyes the David of Michelangelo, or to drive with a Hop-on-Hop-off bus to see the city from a double-decker bus.
Practical Information about Florence
– Currency: Euro (EUR).
– Spoken languages: Italian.
– Best time to visit from April to October but be aware that in summer temperatures can go very warm.
– How to get to FLORENCE: Via the International Airport Firenze-Peretola FLR, is the international airport of Florence, the second-busiest Tuscan airport in terms of passengers after Pisa International Airport.
To get to the city at a 10km distance, you can do by light-train, bus, taxi or local bus driving every half-hour.
Trains are a great way to travel in Italy too and Florence Central station is very well connected with Pisa, Rome, and Livorno
Are you planning your trip to PISA? You can FIND HERE the best neighborhoods to stay in Pisa and see the Leaning tower while enjoying the best food in the city and surroundings.
Booking your hotel in Florence
The biggest advantage in Florence is the size of the city, being medium size and very compactly organized, it’s very easy to find accommodation within walking distance to most of the major attractions located in the city center.
I would definitely save at least three full days to explore Florence and if you like art and museums leave one day to visit the Uffizi museum.
There are two main areas to choose to book your hotel in Pisa:
- The city center around the Duomo and San Lorenzo
- The area in the sides of the Arno river in Ponte Vecchio and Oltrarno
- The area around Santa Croce
- Staying in the Hills around Florence
Staying in central Florence
Florence city center is the perfect location if your plan is to visit the museums, churches, palaces and major sights.
With most of the famous attractions located here like the Cathedral and its beautiful Duomo, Piazza Della Signoria, the Uffizi museum, Santa Maria Novella, and Santa Croce churches, the Arno River and the famous Ponte Vecchio the city center is the best area to book your hotel.
You can walk within 30 minutes to any point in this area and is especially good to stay here if you don’t have much time to visit the city or you don’t want to stress too much thinking about transportation.
The only negative point of staying right in the city center is that some areas are always crowded, so it will depend on your nerves which place will suit better your preferences.
Florence is a wonderful place to enjoy if your budget is not restricted, with a great offer in luxury hotels and great dining options if you are willing to pay for quality, you will get it!
If you are traveling on a budget consider Florence is not a cheap city and budget accommodations are not the main offer in the city, so try to book your hostel in advance to fit your wallet.
We had a hard time when booking apartments in Italy.
It was very often hard to deal with the owners of the places that were definitely not what was shown in the pictures.
I would recommend you book hotels/hostels with a good amount of reviewsAre you wanting to learn more about Florence? You can BOOK HERE to see Florence from a comfortable and convenient hop-on hop-off bus tour. They cover 2 routes and you can get a 24, 48 or 72-hour ticket depending on how many days are you going to stay in Florence.
Staying in San Lorenzo and Duomo area
If you want to be in a place where all the action is happening, this is your place. You will see people all the time around this area as it’s here where the majority of the most famous attractions in Florence are located.
On the other side, you will find here also plenty of shopping and dining offers, including one of my favorites, the Mercato Centrale of San Lorenzo Market where you will find delicious food, handicrafts, clothes, and souvenirs to make everyone happy!
Luxury Hotels
Hotel Savoy is a great option if you want to stay in luxury right in the heart of Florence.
This 5-star hotel has elegantly decorated rooms combining traditional Italian design with modern artworks inspired by local fashion houses. Many rooms have views of the Brunelleschi’s dome, or of Giotto’s Bell Tower.
One of the great features is the Irene bistro serving Tuscan specialties with a modern twist.
Rates starting at $439USD per night
Hotel Brunelleschi is located very close to Santa Maria Novella Train Station in a pedestrian street and set in a restored Byzantine tower and Medieval Church.
Its elegant contemporary style rooms with parquet floors have air conditioning, an iPod docking station and a laptop-sized safe with a power socket.
The property has a private museum, a fitness center, a bar. and 2 restaurants, one serving local cuisine and the other one is a gourmet restaurant.
Rooms starting at $160USD per night
Mid-range Hotel
Firenze Number Nine Hotel & SPA is located a 2-minute walk from Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and 500meters from Santa Maria Novella Train Station.
This boutique hotel has a spa with Ayurvedic rituals, massages and beauty treatments, and a fitness center with group lessons and personal trainer, but definitely the best feature it’s its outdoor pool, especially if you are traveling in summer. Florence can be really hot then!
And if you are worried about the noises in the area, all rooms are completely soundproofed.
Prices starting at $95USD for a single room and $154USD for a double room.
Low Budget Hotel
Hotel Dali is located within a 6-minute walk from the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and 1.1 km from Uffizi Gallery
The rooms are very clean and having everything you need for a nice stay in Florence and It’s a good location if you are on a budget and driving as they offer free private parking.
Rooms starting at $47USD for a private room with shared bathroom
Plus Florence Hostel is the best for a budget you will find right in the city center and a 10-minute walk from Santa Maria Train Station.
The dorms are having air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, and a private bathroom which is super comfortable when staying in a hostel.
The best part of this hostel is all the services guests can enjoy, including a fitness area, a Turkish bath, sauna, and an indoor and outdoor pool with beautiful views of the city. It’s having a café offering drinks, snacks and ice creams and a restaurant serve pizza and other Italian dishes at dinner.
Rooms starting at $37USD for a private room and $12 USD to stay in a dorm.
Staying in Ponte Vecchio and Oltrarno
The Oltrarno is the area across the Arno River is considered the bohemian part of the city, frequented by artists, designers, and artisans, it’s also a more quiet area to stay if you don’t want to be directly where the crowds are strolling every hour, especially in summer.
On the other side of the Arno crossing the beautiful Ponte Vecchio is a good area to stay if you would like to explore a bit more further up the hill and experience the city center at the same time.
My favorite place to eat a quick but massive snack? The incredible Antico Vinaio with the best and biggest sandwiches in the Tuscany! I would seriously live in Florence just to have them every month.
Are you dreaming of learning to prepare the best Pizza and gelato with a professional Italian chef? You can BOOK HERE this cooking class in a Tuscany Farmhouse will teach you to make them at home while you sip a glass of Chianti wine or a cold beer.
Luxury Hotels
Portrait Firenze Hotel is located in the perfect spot right on the side of the Arno river and just 30 meters from the Ponte Vecchio, so you can imagine the views!
The suites are spacious and beautifully designed with some modern features like the full entertainment system including an iPad, iPod docking station, and a flat-screen TV and the bathroom is having Carrara marble.
The property has a restaurant with a menu designed by a Michelin-starred chef.
I’m sure you will have a perfect stay as they also include your own Lifestyle Assistant throughout the stay, how cool!?
Rooms starting at $618 for a classic room and $839 for a double room with a river view
Hotel Lungarno is less than 100 m from the famous Ponte Vecchio, directly along the banks of the Arno river, the perfect view to start your days while in Florence.
The property is owned by the Ferragamo family and is having a collection of original modern art and 20th-century artwork, including a Picasso and 4 Cocteau paintings.
The rooms are decorated with blue tones with bathrooms including Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries and Italian white marble, pure Italian luxury!
The Michelin-starred restaurant Lungarno’s Borgo San Jacopo offers traditional, yet creative cuisine and the Picteau Lounge Bar is the perfect place to enjoy a drink with a view.
Rooms starting at $508 for a classic room and $618 for a double room with a river view
Hotel Torre di Bellosguardo is the perfect place to stay if you want to be in Florence but overlook the city in this gorgeous classic property while feeling you are in the countryside.
At the villa, you will feel the romantic charm of the Renaissance with rooms are decorated in a classic style, with antiques in the decoration and furniture, and some are having a seating area and desk.
Rooms starting at $145 for a single room and $365 for a double room.
Mid-range Hotel
Hotel Torre Guelfa Palazzo Acciaiuoli In the heart of historic Florence, Just 100 m from Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery.
Located in a 13th-century building this hotel mixes classic charm with modern facilities.
Don’t miss a glass of wine with a great view from its tower, is the tallest in Florence!
Rooms starting at $85US per night
Hotel
The hotel is set in the 13th-century Rossi Tower next to a panoramic with a restaurant having city
.
Rooms starting at $110USD for a double room
Low budget Hotel/Hostel
Drom Florence Rooms & Apartments is located in a quiet area of the city, perfect if you want to experience a more local area while visiting the touristic areas during the day.
The rooms have air conditioning and some include cable flat-screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, and a private bathroom with a bidet and a hairdryer.
Prices starting at $51 USD per night for a room with shared bathroom
Hostel Santa Monaca is a good option if you are on a low budget and want to stay in a quiet and more local area of Florence like the Santo Spirito district.
The hostels have a nice terrace and fridge guests can use and rooms are equipped with a wardrobe.
Prices starting at $18 USD per night for a bed in a dorm with shared bathroom
Staying in Santa Croce to the east
The neighborhood of Santa Croce was my choice when staying in Florence as it’s far from the crowded areas of the city center having a local feeling and is very quiet.
It’s still at a short walking distance of all the main attractions and museums and lots of good gastronomic offer around. The views of the river will be just for yourself even during the busy summer days I have hardly seen many people walking around.
Luxury Hotels
Baglioni Relais Santa Croce is located in the historic center of Florence between the Santa Croce Basilica and the Cathedral.
The 5-star hotel is set in an 18th-century building and blends modern details with classic décor, including ceilings with beautiful frescoes and rooms decorated with antiques and fine fabrics. Some rooms are including a walk-in closet, and a bathroom with rain shower, and sauna or Turkish bath.
Prices starting at $399US for a double room
Mid-range Hotel and Apartments
Hotel Balestri is located on a side of the Arno river and just 400 meters to the Ufizzi museum and at a 10-minute walk to the Cathedral.
The boutique 4-star hotel has 50 beautifully decorated rooms with air-conditioned and some have a balcony and beautiful views of the river. It’s a pet-friendly hotel with no extra charges for your furry companions!
La Croce d’Oro Santa Croce Suite Apartments is located only 700 m from Uffizi Gallery and less than 1 km from Palazzo Vecchio,
The apartments have air-conditioned, kitchen, WiFi and beautiful views of the city. One great feature if you are traveling by car is they provide parking which, for hits location is a luxury.
Rent starts at $161US per night for a superior apartment with terrace
Carpe Diem B&B is located in a very quiet area of via Tripoli. This was the property I stayed when in Florence when it was not too many options during the high season and it was perfect.
The rooms are simple but spacious and include a kettle with some snacks and a private bathroom with a bathroom.
Prices starting at $111US for a double room with private bathroom
Low budget Hotel/Hostel
Blu Notte is just a 10-minute walk from the Uffizi Gallery and Florence’s Cathedral.
The property offers classic-style rooms with stylish décor and light colors, they come with free coffee and tea, chocolate, and biscuits, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, plus a private bathroom complete with a hairdryer and toiletries.
Prices starting at $77USD per night
Crystal Ship Apartment is located at a 5-minute walk from the cathedral and within 700 m of Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi museum, and Piazza Della Signoria square.
The studio is a good option when you want to have more independence and comes with air conditioning, offers free WiFi and includes a kitchenette, and a private bathroom with a shower.
Prices starting at $66US for a single room apartment
CoDe Rooms is a guest house located less than a 5-minute walk from Santa Croce.
Every room is themed with different decoration and has wood-beamed ceilings. They all have air conditioning and a flat-screen TV and a very nice city view. The bathrooms feature a hairdryer and free toiletries.
Prices starting at $59USD for a double room
Are you thinking about exploring Florence’s surroundings?
- I can recommend you this tour to explore the World Heritage Site of San Gimignano, Pisa, and Siena. You will also enjoy lunch with wine in Chianti!
- You can also visit two wine cellars and taste different kinds of Chianti Wine. BOOK HERE to visit one of the best-preserved medieval walls in Italy at Monteriggioni and eat some Tuscan sliced cold meats, bruschetta, and yummy salami.
Staying in Florence surroundings
When you are staying longer in Florence or doing a Tuscany road trip, perhaps you also want to experience a bit of life in the countryside.
There are different options to enjoy the areas around Florence and it will depend on your needs what you can choose.
Wanting a quiet stay near a lake? or perhaps a Spa &Wine weekend getaway? I have you covered with great ideas to start your Tuscany wanderlust search
Luxury Hotels
Grotta Giusti Resort Golf & Spa Tuscany is located 1-hour driving from Florence in a private park near Monsummano Terme.
The hotel is set in a 19th-century villa and features an outdoor thermal pool measuring 80m² (2461 ft²), with a waterfall, hydromassage jets, a natural cave with a steam bath, and an outdoor Bioaquam thermal circuit.
The rooms are decorated in traditional style with quality materials and some even have Carrara marble bathroom and access to the thermal waters.
The “La Veranda” restaurant serves classic Italian cuisine, regional specialties and a menu of light dishes. Breakfast is a buffet style. Parking is free. Guests at Grotta Giusti have a discount on the green fee at Montecatini Golf, 1.9 mi away.
Prices starting at $262USD for a double room
Mid-range Hotel
Castello Di Gabbiano is located 22km (14miles) from Florence and set in a working farm, which includes 100 hectares of olive groves and vineyards, with wine tastings included!
The hotel is set in a historic castle dating back to the 14th century. The rooms are keeping the Tuscan Renaissance style with rustic terracotta floors and wooden furniture.
I mean…how many days can you sleep in a real castle!!??
Prices starting at $154USD for a double room
Low budget Hostel
Villa I Barronci Resort & Spa is 20 minutes drive from Florence at a charming Tuscan-style residence with stunning views of the Chianti countryside, the perfect spot to relax a couple of days.
I Barronci offers free bikes to explore the surrounding olive groves and vineyards. , where you will find shops, restaurants, and cafés, is just 1.2 mi away.
The villa has bikes so you can explore the surroundings where olives and vineyards, and the town of San Casciano in Val di Pesa are the perfect places to get out in the area.
They feature a medium-size panoramic outdoor pool with a hydromassage area and bar service, private park, and heated pool. Their Spa includes a panoramic sauna, a Turkish bath, a sensory shower, and a hot tub, and treatments and massages at request. You will enjoy the best of Tuscan dishes and wines in the restaurant!
The rooms are simple but including traditional details in the architecture as stonework and exposed wooden beams, they all have air conditioning and a Plasma TV.
Prices starting at $52USD for a double room
Conclusion
Florence is definitely a city to include in your Tuscany itinerary and one of the most beautiful in the area.
Even if I was not impressed at the first moment, I started to really like the city after some days, it’s a very relaxed city with a nice vibe and a great gastronomic offer.
If you want to explore the city at its best search for the area most suiting to your needs so you can enjoy it fully!
I hope this guide helps you to organize the perfect stay and you have a great time while in Florence!
Planning your trip to Florence?
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