5 Best Areas to Stay in Florence for First Time Visitors

Before you venture to the birthplace of the Renaissance, here are the best areas to stay in Florence for first time visitors.

When planning a trip to a new place, figuring out where to stay and choosing accommodation is one of the most important and stressful tasks. Thankfully, deciding where to stay in Florence is made easy thanks to how compact and walkable the city is!

Of Florence’s handful of central neighborhoods, most areas are within walking distance to the city center and the Duomo district, putting visitors conveniently close to most of the city’s top attractions.

But while it’s true that you can’t really go wrong no matter where you stay, it’s still helpful to see what each neighborhood in Florence has to offer. And, of course, which are considered the best hotels in Florence.

What is Florence known for?

Florence is known as the birthplace of the Renaissance and is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in art, architecture, and history. The city is home to iconic landmarks such as the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and the Uffizi Gallery, which houses masterpieces by famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Botticelli.

Other things to do in Florence include admiring the beautiful Boboli Gardens or taking a stroll through the charming streets of the Oltrarno district. You should also take the opportunity to eat your heart out and sample Chianti wine, Florentine steak, and the traditional Lampredotto sandwich.

Where is Florence?

Florence is the largest city in Tuscany, nestled among the rolling hills of the Arno River Valley. It’s about 145 miles north of Rome and 50 miles southeast of Pisa.

The best ways to get to Florence are flying into the city’s international Amerigo Vespucci airport or taking the train from Rome and nearby cities.

florence David — David and all his glory at the Accademia Gallery

An Overview: 5 Best Areas to Stay in Florence

Florence is divided into several neighborhoods, each with unique character and attractions. Here are some of the central neighborhoods and what they’re most known for:

City Center/Duomo: Florence’s famous cathedral and dome
Santa Maria Novella: Central train station
San Lorenzo: Indoor Mercato Centrale
Santo Spirito/Oltrarno: Picturesque neighborhood across the river
Santa Croce: Florence nightlife

What is the Overall Best Area to Stay in Florence for First Time Visitors?

While the best area to stay in Florence is the city center near the Duomo, Florence is such a walkable city that you really can’t go wrong with any of its neighborhoods.

Especially in the neighborhoods listed above, most places are at most 20 minutes walking distance apart. The only big exception is the Piazzale Michelangelo, a famous square overlooking Florence on the city’s outskirts which is about a 30+ minute walk.

Best Hotels in Florence

As a popular Italian destination, Florence has many fabulous hotels to choose from, no matter your travel style or budget.

However, Florence is an extremely popular travel destination, and hotel prices during peak season (summer), are quite a bit more expensive than if visiting during the winter.

Hotels in Florence also book up very early during the summer, so I highly recommend booking far in advance (at least 6 months) for the best rates and availability.

Best Florence Hotels:

The Artists’ Palace Flore nce: A budget-friendly guesthouse with views of the Piazza San Lorenzo in a great location for it’s (relatively) affordable nightly rates.
Coderooms Guesthouse: a colorful and artsy guesthouse by the Uffizi with budget-friendly nightly rates.
Brunelleschi Hotel: a 4-star hotel housed in a historic church with rooftop Duomo views in the city center.
Four Seasons Florence: a 5-star with exquisite, palatial decor with exceptional amenities, including onsite dining, a spa, a hot tub, a pool, and more.

Best Hostels in Florence

For my fellow budget queens and kings, look to the best hostels in Florence! While some travelers are opposed to hostels, these options in Florence are actually pretty top-notch, with cool amenities at an unbeatable rate.

Here are the best Florence hostels:

YellowSquare Hostel Florence: a hostel with dorms and privates plus unique amenities like a rooftop pool, onsite bar, and a shared kitchen near the train station.
Ostello Bello Firenze Hostel: a basic hostel with family rooms, a terrace, and barbeque 4 minutes from the Mercato Centrale.
PLUS Florence Hostel: an insanely popular hostel in Florence with a rooftop, pool, and seasonal Turkish bath a 14-minute walk from the Fortezza da Basso.

5 Best Areas to Stay in Florence, Italy

Now that I’ve shared some of the best overall hotels, here is a deep dive into the best areas to stay in Florence for those curious where to stay.

1. Duomo City Center

The neighborhood around the Duomo is the historic city center and is the absolute best place to stay in Florence. It’s home to many of the city’s iconic landmarks and restaurants.

Things to Do and See in Florence’s City Center

The Duomo: Florence’s famous cathedral from 1496 with pink and green marble.
Uffizi Gallery: A famous art museum home to works by Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio
Palazzo Vecchio: A historic town hall with art and an observation tower.
Vecchio Bridge: A medieval bridge with historic jewelry stores.

Florence City Center Hotels

Il Tornabuoni by Hyatti: a very fancy and popular hotel in Florence known for its understated luxury.
Relais Piazza Signoria: an upscale hotel that overlooks the Palazzo Vecchio.
Room Mate Isabella: I stayed here and loved the central location, artsy and sophisticated interior, and reasonable winter rates (I paid $70/night in February).

The gorgeous Officini Profumo-Farmaceautica di Santa Maria Novella

2. Santa Maria Novella

This neighborhood is known for its stunning basilica, which houses works of art by Botticelli, Brunelleschi, and Ghirlandaio. The Santa Maria Novella train station is about a 10-minute walk from the Duomo.

Things to Do and See in Santa Maria Novella

Basilica di Santa Maria Novella: Gothic church with frescoes by Giotto and Masaccio.
Piazza Santa Maria Novella: a bustling square with cafes and restaurants.
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella: a beautiful pharmacy dating back to the 16th century that sells fragrances, soaps, and other beauty products.

Santa Maria Novella Hotels

Hotel Santa Maria Novella: a 4-star boutique hotel with a glam interior.
25hours Hotel Florence: a highly-reviewed hotel with an eye-catching and dreamy interior near the basilica of Santa Maria Novella.

3. San Lorenzo

San Lorenzo is famous for the Mercato Centrale, a bustling indoor food market, and the Medici Chapels, where members of the Medici family are buried. San Lorenzo borders the main city center and is less than a 10-minute walk to the Duomo.

Things to Do and See in San Lorenzo

Medici Chapels: the second largest dome in Florence
Mercato Centrale: large indoor market serving fresh food and bar drinks
Accademia Gallery: Art museum home to Michaelangelo’s David

San Lorenzo Hotels

Room Mate Luca: a high-quality hotel with artsy touches at a nice rate equidistant from the Santa Maria Novella train station and city center.
3110 ArtHotel Florence: a popular Florence hotel with colorful and fun decor a 20-minute walk from the Duomo.

Santo Spirito Florence — The streets of Santo Spirito

4. Santo Spirito/Oltrarno

Located about a 15-minute walk from the Duomo, Santo Spirito is a bohemian neighborhood across the Arno River that’s home to artisan workshops, trendy cafes, and a vibrant nightlife. Oltrarno is a famous picturesque area tucked along the Santa Spirito district that’s best known for its quaint streets and charming piazzas.

Things to Do and See in Santo Spirito and Oltrarno

Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens: an opulent palace with notable works of art and sprawling Italian gardens.
Basilica di Santo Spirito: a 15th-century church that acts as a prime example of Renaissance architecture
Wander the quaint streets of Oltrarno

Santa Spirito and Oltrarno Hotels

Exquisite hotels with elegant decor, historical beauty, and high-end touches (in other words, these hotels are BEAUTIFUL, and I couldn’t choose just one to recommend):
- Palazzo Ridolfi – Residenza d’Epoca
- Piazza Pitti Palace – Residenza d’Epoca
- Palazzo Bianca Cappello Residenza d’Epoca
Spirit of Florence Boutique Rooms: a stylish boutique hotel in Florence with reasonable nightly rates.

piazza santa croce — The Basilica of Santa Croce

5. Santa Croce

The Santa Croce neighborhood in Florence is known for its impressive Basilica di Santa Croce, the final resting place of some of Italy’s most famous artists and writers. Visitors can also explore the neighborhood’s lively Piazza Santa Croce, which is home to charming restaurants and a weekly market.

Things to Do and See in Santa Croce

Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence: Beautiful church where famous figures like Michelangelo and Galileo are buried.
Scuola del Cuoio S.r.l.: Leather school and store
Vivoli: oldest gelato shop in Florence
All’Antico Vinaio: famous focaccia sandwich shop

Santa Croce Hotels

Plaza Hotel Luchessi: a mid-range Florence hotel with a rooftop.
Hotel Bavaria: a relaxed guesthouse hotel that balances comfort with price and location.

There you have it! An ultimate guide to Where to Stay in Florence, Italy sharing the city’s best neighborhoods and places to stay. Share any questions or comments below!

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