Where to Stay in Florence: Best Hotels & Neighborhoods

If you’re planning your first visit to Florence, where you stay will shape the entire experience. Florence is compact and walkable, which means a well-chosen hotel puts the Duomo, the Uffizi, and the Ponte Vecchio at your doorstep. A poorly chosen one means commuting to the magic instead of living inside it.

We’ve visited Florence twice, once as a family on a tight budget, staying on the outskirts of the center and bussing in each day, and once just the two of us, splurging on a 5-star hotel steps from the Duomo. Both trips taught us something different about this city, and both inform this guide.

Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly B&B, a family apartment, or a luxury splurge, there’s a genuinely great option for you in Florence. This guide covers the best hotels by neighborhood and budget, with honest advice on where to stay, and where not to, based on our own experience.

Table of Contents

Where to Stay in Florence: The Quick Answer

If you want to skip the geography lesson and the overview of each neighborhood, here are five hotels we recommend. We have either stayed here or the hotel has an excellent location and review score. It was very hard to come up with this list, as there are A LOT of great hotels in Florence that get rave reviews.

B&B A Florence View: Mid-Range Hotel with Views of the Duomo

If you want to stay in the city center, have a view of the Duomo from your room, and not pay a small fortune, B&B A Florence View is a mid-range hotel that gets fantastic reviews. It is located next to the Baptistery and just steps away from the Duomo, an unbeatable location in Florence. Not all rooms have a view of the Duomo…to get the view, reserve the double or twin room with Duomo view.

Santa Croce 14 B&B: Highly Rated B&B in Santa Croce

This small bed and breakfast sits next to the Basilica of Santa Croce. It’s located east of the city center but still within walking distance of Florence’s top sights. This hotel makes our list for its near perfect reviews on Booking.com, its location, and its beautifully decorated rooms. Check out the King Room with Balcony…this room is huge and from your balcony you will have a gorgeous view of Piazza di Santa Croce.

Pietrapiana Boutique Apartments: A Great Pick for Families

This is our top pick for families, those who prefer an apartment stay, and those who will need parking. Pietrapiana Boutique Apartments is located in the Santa Croce neighborhood, east of the historic heart of Florence, but still within walking distance of the must-see sights.

This property offers a wide range of apartment types, ranging from small studios to two-bedroom apartments. It gets wonderful reviews on Booking.com.

I had a hard time narrowing down the apartments in Florence, and another one to consider is Geppi’s Apartments, which is located in Santo Spirito (on the south side of the Arno River), which also gets rave reviews and is a bit more centrally located.

Emerald Palace: Budget Property with an Excellent Location

For those traveling on a budget, this is our top pick in Florence. Emerald Palace has a fantastic location, within walking distance of the train station, Mercato Centrale, and the Duomo. Take your pick from a bed in a dormitory room to a one-bedroom apartment that can accommodate up to six people.

Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy: 5-Star Splurge in the City Center

This is where Tim and I stayed on our most recent visit to Florence, and it ranks among the best hotel experiences of our travels, which, given how much time we spend in hotels, is not something we say lightly.

The Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy sits on Piazza della Repubblica, steps from the Duomo and a short walk to the Uffizi. The photos below show the view from our room better than words can. The dome of the cathedral fills the window, close enough that we could watch people emerge onto the top and take in the same city we were looking out over. A lot of hotels in Florence can offer a Duomo view. What sets the Savoy apart is the service.

We drove into Florence to check in (our first time navigating the city by car), and by the time we arrived we were thoroughly frazzled. The streets are narrow, the one-way system is relentless, and we made at least one wrong turn that we’d rather not discuss. The bellhop greeted us warmly the moment we pulled up, handed me a bottle of water, unloaded our luggage, and took care of the car. That small sequence of gestures turned the whole arrival around.

At the end of our stay, we had souvenirs and wine we wanted to ship home. The staff handled everything, the packaging, mailing, all of it, without a second thought. We’ve since asked other high-end hotels to do the same thing and none have come close to pulling it off as seamlessly. It’s that kind of quiet, anticipatory service that you remember long after the trip is over.

If a 5-star splurge is in your budget, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Savoy. We’d stay there again without question.

The view from our room at the Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy

Here is the view in the evening

Understanding Florence’s Neighborhoods

Florence is a small, compact city, and that works in your favor. Nearly everything worth seeing is within walking distance of the historic center, and even the neighborhoods that feel a little removed are rarely more than 15 to 20 minutes on foot from the Duomo.

The Arno River divides the city into two distinct halves. North of the river is the historic city center, where you’ll find the majority of Florence’s museums, churches, and piazzas, plus the Duomo, the Uffizi, the Accademia, and Ponte Vecchio. This northern half breaks down into three main areas: Centro Storico (the historic heart), Santa Croce to the east, and Santa Maria Novella to the west near the train station.

South of the Arno is a different Florence entirely. The Oltrarno neighborhoods: Santo Spirito, San Frediano, and San Niccolò, have a more local, artisan feel, with better restaurants, quieter streets, and a vibe that’s noticeably less touristy. Boboli Gardens, Bardini Gardens, and Piazzale Michelangelo are all on this side of the river. It’s closer to the center than it looks on a map.

In this guide, we list hotels for four different areas of Florence. On the map below, each area has a different color. Here are the areas and the corresponding colors. The black markers are the top attractions in Florence.

Centro Storico (Historic City Center): Red
Santa Maria Novella: Yellow
Santa Croce & Sant’Ambrogio: Blue
Santo Spirito & Oltrarno: Green

How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.

Which Neighborhood in Florence Is Right for You?

Not sure which part of Florence fits your trip best? Use this table as a quick guide, then read on for more detail on each traveler type.

Your Travel Style	Best Neighborhood	Why
First-time visitor	Centro Storico	Steps from the Duomo, Uffizi, and Ponte Vecchio
Families	Santa Croce or San Marco	More space, quieter streets, walkable to sights
Budget travelers	Centro Storico or Santa Croce	Hostels and budget hotels exist; staying central saves time
Local vibe / foodies	Santa Croce or Oltrarno	Best restaurants, markets, and authentic neighborhood feel
Romantic couples	Oltrarno or San Niccolò	Quieter, charming streets, gorgeous views
Luxury splurge	Centro Storico	Florence’s best 5-star hotels are right in the heart of the city
Traveling with a rental car	Outskirts of center	Avoid the ZTL at all costs — ask us how we know

First-Time Visitors: Stay as close to the historic city center as your budget allows. On our first visit to Florence, we stayed in a small hotel on the outskirts of the center and took the bus into the city each day. It worked, but the bus commute added extra time to the day before we even started sightseeing. On our second visit, Tim and I stayed at the Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy, right on Piazza della Repubblica, just steps from the Duomo. Walking past that cathedral repeatedly, whether heading to museums, returning from dinner, or simply because it was there, was one of those travel experiences that is difficult to capture in words. Proximity to the great sights of Florence isn’t a luxury; it’s what makes the city feel magical.

Families: Florence is very walkable, which works in families’ favor. Santa Croce sits just east of the historic center and tends to feel a bit less chaotic than the area right around the Duomo. It has wider streets, a more residential feel, great restaurants, and easy walking access to the top sights. San Marco, north of the center near the Accademia, is another solid option, with a quieter, more neighborhood vibe while still keeping you close to everything.

Budget Travelers: Don’t assume you have to stay on the outskirts to make Florence affordable. There are hostels and well-reviewed budget hotels within walking distance of the historic city center, and we strongly recommend prioritizing location over room size on this one. Florence is a city where you spend your time outside, walking between some of the greatest art and architecture in the world. Your room is just a place to sleep. Staying central, even in a simple property, will make your days far easier and more enjoyable than commuting in from a cheaper area farther out.

Foodies and Local-Vibe Seekers: Head to Santa Croce or cross the Arno into Oltrarno. Santa Croce has the Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio, fantastic trattorias, and a neighborhood feel that the tourist-heavy center can’t match. Oltrarno, which includes the neighborhoods of Santo Spirito and San Frediano on the south bank of the river, is where Florentines actually eat and drink. The aperitivo scene around Piazza Santo Spirito on a warm evening is one of those things you don’t forget.

Romantic Couples: Oltrarno and San Niccolò are both excellent choices. Narrow streets, fewer crowds, beautiful views toward the hills, and some of Florence’s most charming boutique hotels. You’re a 15-minute walk from the Duomo, but it feels like a world apart.

Drivers and Rental Car Travelers: If you’re arriving in Florence with a rental car, read this carefully: the historic city center is a ZTL — a Zona a Traffico Limitato — meaning only residents and permitted vehicles can drive there. The cameras are everywhere and the fines arrive in the mail weeks later. On our first trip, navigating Florence by car was genuinely the most challenging driving experience we’ve had anywhere in the world, and we’ve driven in a lot of countries. If you have a rental car, either stay on the outskirts of the center where parking is manageable, or better yet, park outside the city and take a taxi or tram in. Only pick up your rental car on the day you’re actually leaving Florence for the Tuscan countryside.

Best Florence Hotels by Location

Florence divides neatly into four areas worth considering for your stay. For each one, we cover why it makes a good base, the pros and cons, and our recommended hotels across all budgets. At the end of this guide, you’ll also find picks by travel style: families, budget travelers, and those after the best views.

A note on how we chose these hotels: every property in this guide is highly rated, with most scoring 8.5 or above on Booking.com and many hitting 9.0 or higher. We rarely stay somewhere rated below 9.0 ourselves. Hotels are labeled luxury (5-star), upscale (4-star), mid-range (3-star), or budget (1-2 star or hostel).

Hotels in Centro Storico

The Historic Heart of Florence

For a first visit, this is our top recommendation. Centro Storico puts you in the middle of everything. The Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Uffizi are all within a short walk, and depending on your hotel, the cathedral dome might be visible right from your window. If your time in Florence is limited, the convenience of staying here is hard to overstate. You spend your energy on Florence, not on getting around it.

The trade-off is price, because this is the most expensive part of the city. Crowds and noise are higher here as well. The streets around the Duomo are busy during the day. And if you’re arriving by rental car, read our driving section carefully before booking here.

Top Experiences in the City Center: The Florence Cathedral, the Uffizi Gallery, Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, the Bargello.

Pros: Unbeatable central location, walkable to almost everything, Duomo views possible, great rooftop bars.

Cons: Most expensive neighborhood, touristy, extremely challenging to drive into. The ZTL restrictions and one-way street maze make this the hardest (and potentially most expensive, if you get a ticket) part of Florence to drive in.

The Florence Cathedral and the city center (photo taken from Palazzo Vecchio)

Piazza del Duomo at night

LUXURY: Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy. We stayed here on our most recent visit and it’s one of our all-time favorite hotel experiences. Read the full story in our Top 5 section above. The location on Piazza della Repubblica is unbeatable, the service is exceptional, and some rooms have a direct view of the Duomo dome.

The view from our room at The Savoy

Our hotel room at the Savoy

LUXURY: Portrait Firenze – Lungarno Collection. This hotel is located on the Arno River, just a short walk from the Uffizi Gallery. Some rooms have gorgeous views of Ponte Vecchio. From here, it is a short walk to most sites within Florence and some rooms can accommodate up to four people.

UPSCALE: B&B La Terazza Sul Duomo. It’s hard to beat this location since you can have a view of the Duomo from your room. Rooms are large and comfortable and breakfast can be served in your room. As a bonus, you get to enjoy views over Florence from the terrace on top of the hotel. This is an excellent choice for those who want a hotel with a great view of the Duomo without paying a small fortune.

UPSCALE: Granduomo Charming Accomodation. If you stay here, the Duomo will literally be on your doorstep. Some rooms look directly at the cathedral. Each room is a spacious apartment that can accommodate between 2 and 4 people. For families who want to be in the heart of Florence, this is one of our top picks.

MID-RANGE: Hotel Duomo Firenze. We are listing this hotel because it has a fantastic location on Piazza del Duomo, which means the Duomo is right outside your front door. Some rooms have a balcony with incredible views of the Duomo. Rooms are basic, but the view and the location is hard to beat, and this hotel gets very good reviews.

MID-RANGE: Relais Piazza Signoria. This highly rated hotel is located next to Piazza della Signoria, placing it in central Florence. If you want your own private terrace with an amazing view of Palazzo Vecchio, take a look at the Penthouse Apartment with View. The Penthouse Apartment can accommodate up to five people, making this a great pick for families.

MID-RANGE: B&B A Florence View. Located right in front of the Florence Cathedral, this small bed and breakfast has single, double, and triple rooms. Prior guests rave about the location on Piazza del Duomo, the staff, and the value for the money.

BUDGET: Emerald Palace Family Hostel. This hostel is located next to Basilica di San Lorenzo and a short walk from the Florence Cathedral. There are a wide variety of room types, from dormitory rooms to double and triple rooms and even a one-bedroom apartment. Some rooms have a beautiful view of the San Lorenzo cathedral.

Santa Maria Novella

The Most Practical Neighborhood for Train Travelers and Drivers

Santa Maria Novella is the large neighborhood that stretches from the main train station west to the Arno River, sitting just outside the historic city center. It doesn’t have the romantic pull of Centro Storico or the local vibe of Oltrarno, but it’s arguably the most practical neighborhood in Florence, especially if you’re arriving by train or traveling with a rental car.

Near the station you’ll find well-priced mid-range and budget properties that put you a 10-15 minute walk from the Duomo. Closer to the Arno, the neighborhood shifts considerably. This is where some of Florence’s grandest luxury hotels sit, with Ponte Vecchio views and rooftop bars above the river.

Top Experiences in Santa Maria Novella: Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, and it is a short walk to Mercato Centrale from the area near the train station and a short walk to Ponte Vecchio for hotels near the Arno River.

Pros: Close to the train station so if you are traveling by train, it is a short walk to your hotel; if you will have a car, you can park next to the train station and it is a short walk to your hotel; great for budget travelers as there are some very highly rated mid-range and budget hotels in this area.

Cons: Longer walk to the city center; very long walk to Piazzale Michelangelo (consider taking a taxi).

Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

LUXURY: The Westin Excelsior. This hotel sits on the Arno River. Rooms range from classic double rooms to luxurious suites with a view of the Arno River and Ponte Vecchio. Sitting on top of the Westin Excelsior is Cosimo Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, one of the nicest rooftop bars in Florence.

Cosimo Rooftop Restaurant and Bar Florence

The view from Cosimo, the rooftop bar on top of the Westin Excelsior

UPSCALE: 25Hours Hotel Florence Piazza San Paolino. This is one of the most unique hotels on this list. Rooms are creatively decorated (if you want to see what I mean, check out the Medium Inferno Room). This boutique property gets consistently excellent reviews for its design, location, and staff, and it’s a genuinely fun place to stay if you want something with personality.

UPSCALE: Florence Feel Apartment. If you like the idea of staying in a spacious, beautifully decorated apartment with a small kitchen and washing machine, this place is for you. It’s a bit far from the city center, but its location makes it handy for those traveling by train and those who will have a rental car, since you don’t have to drive into the city center. It is a 15-minute walk to the city center. These apartments can accommodate up to 5 people, so it is great for families.

MID-RANGE: Eco Urban B&B. Don’t let the three-star rating set your expectations too low. This environmentally conscious B&B near the train station looks and feels considerably more upscale than its category suggests. Rooms are beautifully decorated, clean, and quiet, and it gets some of the strongest reviews of any mid-range property in this neighborhood.

MID-RANGE: La Locandiera B&B. A well-reviewed B&B with spacious, colorful rooms and breakfast served to your room. Particularly praised for its staff and cleanliness. A reliable, comfortable choice in this price range.

BUDGET: Ostello Bello Firenze. One of the highest-rated budget properties in all of Florence, not just this neighborhood. Room types run from 10-bed dorms to private singles and a family room with its own bathroom. Guests consistently rave about the staff and the atmosphere.

BUDGET: Hotel Nizza. Positioned between the train station and the city center, this no-frills hotel gives you a quick walk to both. Rooms are basic but the reviews are excellent, making it one of the better options if your priority is location and value over amenities.

Santa Croce & Sant’Ambrogio

Local Neighborhood East of the City Center

Santa Croce and Sant’Ambrogio sit just east of the historic city center. They are close enough that you’re a short walk from the Uffizi and the Duomo, but far enough that the streets feel noticeably less touristy.

This neighborhood has a genuine local identity: the Sant’Ambrogio market draws Florentines rather than tourists, the restaurant scene is some of the best in the city, and the enormous piazza in front of the Basilica di Santa Croce is one of those spots where you can sit with an aperitivo and feel like you’re actually living in Florence rather than passing through it.

It’s also the best neighborhood in Florence for nightlife, which is worth knowing whether that’s what you’re after or not.

Top Experiences in Santa Croce & Sant’Ambrogio: Basilica di Santa Croce, Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio, Uffizi Gallery (short walk), Arno River

Pros: More local feel than the city center, less expensive, excellent restaurant and nightlife scene, convenient parking at Parcheggio Sant’Ambrogio for drivers so no need to navigate the ZTL.

Cons: Slightly more walking to reach the Duomo and northern sights than if you stay in Centro Storico; the area around Via dei Benci can be loud late into the night. If you’re a light sleeper, look for hotels on quieter streets away from the nightlife strip.

Santa Croce Basilica

UPSCALE: Santa Croce 14 B&B. Right on Piazza di Santa Croce, this property has some of the most enviable views of any hotel on this list. Some rooms look directly out over the piazza and the basilica facade. Rooms are large and beautifully decorated, and it gets near-perfect reviews on Booking.com. A strong pick if you want an upscale feel without paying city center prices.

UPSCALE: Pietrapiana Boutique Apartments. This boutique property offers 12 apartments, ranging from double rooms, small suites, and one and two-bedroom apartments. The rooms are beautifully decorated and this is a great choice for families. It’s also a good option if you will have a rental car, since it is a 6-minute walk to Parcheggio Sant’Ambrogio Firenze, a parking garage on the outskirts of Florence.

MID-RANGE: B&B Isola d’Arno. A well-located B&B within short walking distance of the Basilica di Santa Croce, the Arno River, and the Uffizi Gallery. Gets excellent reviews and represents good value for the location.

MID-RANGE: La Divina Dimora. This small property offers several apartments that are spacious, come with a small kitchen and washing machine, and can accommodate up to four people. It’s a great pick for families who will be in Florence for several days and want to do some laundry.

BUDGET: Hotel Santa Croce. Simple rooms, strong reviews, good location within easy reach of both the Santa Croce neighborhood and the city center. One of the better budget options in this part of Florence for travelers who prioritize location and value over amenities.

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Santo Spirito & Oltrarno

Florence’s Most Authentic Neighborhood

Cross the Ponte Vecchio and the city changes almost immediately. Santo Spirito and Oltrarno, the neighborhoods that make up Florence’s south bank, are where Florentines actually live, eat, and spend their evenings. The streets are narrower, the restaurants are better, the crowds are thinner, and the whole pace feels different from the tourist-heavy north side.

Piazza Santo Spirito is the heart of it, a beautiful, unpretentious square lined with wine bars and trattorias where locals gather for aperitivo as the light fades. It’s one of those Florence experiences that doesn’t make it onto every itinerary but tends to be what people remember most.

Add in Pitti Palace, Boboli and Bardini Gardens, and a short uphill walk to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset, and the south side of the river has a strong argument for being the best place to base yourself in Florence, especially on a return visit when you’ve already done the major sights.

The trade-off is that the Duomo, the Uffizi, and the Accademia are all on the north side, so you’ll be crossing a bridge multiple times a day. It’s a pleasant walk, but worth factoring in.

Top Experiences in Santo Spirito & Oltrarno: Boboli Gardens, Pitti Palace, Ponte Vecchio, Bardini Gardens, Piazzale Michelangelo, the Rose Garden

Pros: Best restaurant and wine bar scene in Florence; genuine local neighborhood feel; more affordable than Centro Storico; convenient base for Piazzale Michelangelo sunsets: you’re walking downhill on the way home.

Cons: The Duomo, Accademia, and most major museums are a 20-25-minute walk across the river; manageable, but worth noting if sightseeing efficiency is a priority.

The Arno River, Santo Spirito, and Oltrarno (photo taken from Cosimo, the rooftop bar of the Westin Excelsior, listed above in the Santa Maria Novella neighborhood).

The view from Piazzale Michelangelo

LUXURY: Hotel Lungarno – Lungarno Collection. Right on the Arno River near Ponte Vecchio, this is one of the most beautifully positioned hotels in Florence. There’s a rooftop terrace and a riverside terrace with sweeping views of the city, and many rooms share that same view. A genuinely special address.

The view of Ponte Vecchio from Hotel Lungarno

UPSCALE: Geppi’s Apartments. One and two-bedroom apartments accommodating up to four and eight people, with kitchens and washing machines. Guests consistently praise both the interior design and the hospitality. This is one of the better apartment-style options on the south side of the river.

UPSCALE: Piazza Pitti Palace – Residenza d’Epoca. Located in a historic palace, rooms are luxuriously decorated and very spacious. It is just steps away from Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens and a short walk to Ponte Vecchio.

MID-RANGE: FuordArno Bed & Breakfast. This property is located on the Arno River, near the Bardini Gardens and a short walk to Piazzale Michelangelo. From some rooms, you get a glimpse of the dome of the Duomo. It gets exceptional reviews on Booking.com.

MID-RANGE: Apartment La Casina. A single one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and a washing machine, very close to Piazzale Michelangelo. Exceptional reviews and a good pick for a couple wanting a home-away-from-home feel in a quieter part of the south bank.

MID-RANGE: Guicciardini 24. Modernly decorated, spacious rooms in a great location close to both Ponte Vecchio and Boboli Gardens. A solid mid-range option for anyone who wants to be at the heart of the Oltrarno without paying luxury prices.

Best Places to Stay in Florence: By Travel Style

Best Hotels with a View of Florence

View	Hotels
Duomo dome	Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy, B&B Terrazza sul Duomo, Granduomo Charming Accommodation, B&B A Florence View, Hotel Duomo Firenze
Arno River & Ponte Vecchio	Portrait Firenze, Hotel Lungarno, Westin Excelsior
Palazzo Vecchio	Relais Piazza Signoria
Santa Croce Basilica	Santa Croce 14 B&B

Hotels for Mid-Range Travelers

These are our top picks across all four neighborhoods for travelers looking for great value without sacrificing location or quality.

B&B A Florence View – city center
Relais Piazza Signoria – city center
Eco Urban B&B – Santa Maria Novella
FuordArno Bed & Breakfast – Oltrarno
B&B Isola d’Arno – Santa Croce

Hotels for Budget Travelers

Florence has some genuinely excellent budget options, particularly near the train station and in Santa Croce, where you can stay for less without ending up far from the action.

Emerald Palace – city center
Ostello Bello Firenze – Santa Maria Novella
Hotel Santa Croce – Santa Croce

Hotels for Families

Apartments dominate this list for good reason: space, kitchens, and washing machines make a real difference with kids. All of these accommodate at least four people.

Pietrapiana Boutique Apartments – Santa Croce
Geppi’s Apartments – Santo Spirito
Florence Feel Apartment – Santa Maria Novella
Granduomo Charming Accommodation – city center (next to the Duomo)
Relais Piazza Signoria – city center

Top Rated Boutique & Luxury Hotels

If budget isn’t the primary concern, these are the five properties we’d point you toward first, each with a distinct personality and exceptional reviews.

Rocco Forte Savoy Hotel – Piazza della Repubblica
Portrait Firenze – Lungarno Collection – Arno River, city center
Santa Croce 14 B&B – Piazza di Santa Croce
25hours Hotel Florence Piazza San Paolino – Santa Maria Novella
Hotel Lungarno – Lungarno Collection – Santo Spirito

How Much Does It Cost to Stay in Florence?

Florence isn’t cheap, but there’s genuine value to be found at every budget level if you know where to look. As a rough guide for a double room during peak season:

Budget (1-2 star / hostel): $50–$150 per night
Mid-range (3-star): $150–$300 per night
Upscale (4-star): $300–$500 per night
Luxury (5-star): $500+ per night

These are estimates. Suites, apartments, and Duomo-view rooms command a premium, and prices shift considerably by season. Shoulder season (April–May and September–October) offers meaningfully better rates than peak summer without sacrificing much in terms of weather or experience.

How Far in Advance Should You Make Your Reservation?

If you plan to visit Florence during the peak season, which is June through mid-September, we recommend making your reservations at least three months in advance, although 6 months is even better.

If you wait too long, you will have limited choices and may end up spending more to get a decent hotel.

Driving in Florence: Read This Before You Book Your Hotel

If you’re arriving by rental car, this may be the most important section in this guide.

The historic city center of Florence is a ZTL, a Zona a Traffico Limitato, meaning only residents and permitted vehicles can enter. The cameras are everywhere and the fines arrive in the mail weeks after your trip, sometimes months later. Even if your hotel is inside the ZTL and provides directions, getting there is its own ordeal.

We know this firsthand. Tim and I drove into Florence to check in at the Rocco Forte Savoy, our first time navigating the city by car, and despite having directions from the hotel, the experience was genuinely harrowing. The streets are narrow, the one-way system is confusing, and the direction of individual roads can apparently change day by day (this came from the doorman at our hotel, not something we’d ever encountered anywhere else). Of all the cities we’ve driven in across Italy and around the world, Florence is the most challenging by a significant margin.

Our advice: if you have a rental car, strongly consider staying outside the ZTL and parking once for the duration of your stay. Convenient paid lots include the garage next to the train station, Central Parking Firenze on the north side of the city, and Parcheggio Sant’Ambrogio on the east side near Santa Croce.

Hotels that we recommend if you will have a car are Florence Feel Apartment (in Santa Maria Novella) and Pietrapiana Boutique Apartments (in Santa Croce).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best neighborhood to stay in Florence for first-time visitors?

Centro Storico, the historic city center, is our top recommendation for a first visit. Staying here puts the Duomo, the Uffizi, and Piazza della Signoria within a short walk, and in some cases just steps from your front door. The trade-off is price. Centro Storico is the most expensive area in Florence, but if your budget allows it, the convenience and atmosphere are worth it on a first visit.

What is the best area in Florence for families?

Santa Croce is our top pick for families. It sits just east of the historic city center, close enough to walk to the major sights but with a slightly more relaxed, residential feel than the area right around the Duomo. Streets are a little wider, the neighborhood is less chaotic, and there are excellent apartment-style properties like Pietrapiana Boutique Apartments that give families the space and flexibility they need.

How far in advance should I book a hotel in Florence?

For peak season travel, roughly June through mid-September, we recommend booking at least three months in advance, and six months if you have a specific hotel or room type in mind. The properties with Duomo views and the most popular boutique hotels fill up quickly, and waiting too long means choosing between limited availability and inflated last-minute prices. For shoulder season travel in April, May, or October, you have a little more flexibility, but Florence is busy year-round and early booking is always the safer approach.

How do I avoid ZTL fines in Florence?

The ZTL is the restricted traffic zone covering Florence’s historic city center, and the camera enforcement is thorough; fines are issued automatically and often arrive by mail weeks or months after your trip. The simplest way to avoid a fine is to not drive into the center at all. If you’re staying at a hotel within the ZTL, contact them before you arrive. They can often register your license plate to authorize your entry for check-in. We drove into Florence to check in at our hotel and it was the most challenging city driving we’ve encountered anywhere in the world: narrow streets, a confusing one-way system, and road directions that can apparently change day by day. Our advice is to stay outside the ZTL, use one of the city’s paid parking garages (next to the train station, Central Parking Firenze on the north side, or Parcheggio Sant’Ambrogio near Santa Croce), and pick up your rental car on the day you’re actually leaving Florence for the Tuscan countryside.

Explore More of Florence & Tuscany

Planning the rest of your time in Florence or building a bigger Italy itinerary? These guides will help you make the most of your trip.

New to Florence? → Our Florence Itinerary walks you through the best way to spend two days in the city, with a detailed walking route and tips for first-time visitors.
Best things to do → Our Best Things to Do in Florence covers everything from the Duomo and the Uffizi to rooftop bars and hidden gems, based on multiple visits.
Just one day? → Our One Day in Florence Itinerary shows you how to see the city’s most iconic sights in a single well-planned day.
Day trips from Florence → Our Day Trips from Florence guide covers the best nearby destinations, from Siena and Pisa to the Tuscan hill towns.
Exploring Tuscany → Our Tuscany Itinerary helps you plan the perfect road trip through the region, whether you have three days or a full week.
For all of our Italy content in one place → Visit our Italy Travel Guide.

We hope this guide helps you find exactly the right base for your visit. But if you still have any questions about where to stay in Florence, let us know in the comment section below.

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Where to stay in Florence. Best hotels, B&B's and apartments, whether you want a view of the Duomo, a central location, or more.