Where to Stay in Florence (2027): Best Areas & Hotels

Florence packs Renaissance art, Brunelleschi's dome, the Ponte Vecchio and some of Italy's best food into a compact city you can cross on foot in half an hour. Each neighbourhood has its own character, so where you stay shapes your trip.

This guide explains the best areas to stay in Florence for first-timers, couples, food lovers, art and budget stays, with hotel picks and links to compare prices in each area.

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The best areas to stay in Florence at a glance

If you want…	Stay in	Why
First-timers	Duomo	The cathedral, Uffizi and main sights on foot	See hotels
Food & nightlife	Santa Croce	Restaurants, bars and the Sant'Ambrogio market	See hotels
Budget & day trips	Santa Maria Novella	Good-value hotels by the main station	See hotels
Art lovers	San Marco	Michelangelo's David and quieter streets	See hotels
Couples & views	Oltrarno	Pitti Palace, artisans and San Niccolò	See hotels
Local life	Santo Spirito	Piazza cafés, trattorias and wine bars	See hotels
A hilltop escape	Fiesole	Views over the city from the hills	See hotels

Hotels in Florence worth a look

Browse Florence hotels by star rating:3-star hotels 4-star hotels 5-star hotels

Couples

Brunelleschi Hotel

Duomo

Set in a restored Byzantine tower and medieval church a short walk from the cathedral, with its own small museum.

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Luxury

Hotel Lungarno

Oltrarno

A luxury riverside hotel owned by the Ferragamo family, a few steps from the Ponte Vecchio, with a Michelin-starred restaurant.

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Rooftop bar

Hotel Palazzo Guadagni

Santo Spirito

Set in a 16th-century palazzo on Piazza Santo Spirito, with a rooftop bar looking out over the city.

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Rooftop pool

Grand Hotel Minerva

Santa Maria Novella

On Piazza Santa Maria Novella, with a rooftop pool and terrace looking over the historic centre (the pool opens from April to October).

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Riverside

Hotel Balestri

By the Arno

A riverside hotel on Piazza Mentana, a short walk from the Uffizi and Santa Croce.

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Budget

Plus Florence

North of the centre

A hotel and hostel a short walk north of the centre, with private rooms, dorms and a free pool and sauna.

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Which part of Florence?

Florence's historic centre is small, and most of the sights lie within a short walk of the Duomo. North of the River Arno you'll find the Duomo, Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella by the main station, and San Marco. South of the river, the Oltrarno takes in the Pitti Palace, Santo Spirito, San Frediano and San Niccolò, and feels more local. Fiesole sits in the hills above the city.

Where to stay in the historic centre

Florence Cathedral · Photo: Niko Lewman / Unsplash

Duomo

Best for: First-timers, sightseeing, short stays

The heart of Florence, around the cathedral with Brunelleschi's dome, the Baptistery and Giotto's bell tower. Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi are a few minutes' walk away, so you can see the main sights on foot.

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Santa Croce

Best for: Food lovers, nightlife, couples

A lively area east of the centre around the Basilica of Santa Croce, where Michelangelo and Galileo are buried. It's full of restaurants and bars, with the Sant'Ambrogio food market nearby.

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Santa Maria Novella and San Lorenzo

Best for: Budget stays, day trips, food markets

The area around the main train station, the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella and the busy San Lorenzo market and Mercato Centrale food hall. It has lots of good-value hotels and is handy for day trips by train.

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San Marco

Best for: Art lovers, a quieter stay

A quieter area north of the Duomo, home to the Accademia Gallery with Michelangelo's David and the San Marco museum. It's a calm base just a short walk from the sights.

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Where to stay across the river (Oltrarno)

The Ponte Vecchio and the Arno · Photo: Ilse Orsel / Unsplash

Oltrarno and San Niccolò

Best for: Couples, a local feel, views

Across the Ponte Vecchio, the Oltrarno is home to the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens and to artisans' workshops. At its eastern end, the village-like streets of San Niccolò lie below Piazzale Michelangelo.

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Piazza Santo Spirito · Photo: Bruno Rijsman, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Santo Spirito and San Frediano

Best for: Local life, food, evenings out

The western Oltrarno centres on Piazza Santo Spirito, with its Renaissance church, cafés and evening bars, while neighbouring San Frediano has trattorias, wine bars and independent shops.

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Where to stay outside the centre

Fiesole

Best for: Peace and quiet, views, longer stays

A hill town above Florence, with a Roman theatre, cooler evenings and wonderful views over the city. The number 7 bus runs down into the centre.

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Florence holiday packages

Booking your flight and hotel together can work out cheaper, especially in the school holidays, and flight-inclusive package holidays from UK travel companies are ATOL protected.

Arriving in Florence and getting around

Flights from the UK take around two hours. Florence's small airport (FLR) is about 4 km from the centre and linked to Santa Maria Novella station by the T2 tram in around 20 minutes. Many UK flights use Pisa (PSA) instead, from where trains to Florence take around an hour.

The historic centre is compact and best explored on foot. You won't need a car in the city, and driving into the centre's restricted traffic zone (ZTL) without a permit leads to fines, but a hire car is handy for exploring Tuscany.

Book an airport taxi

Car hire in Florence

When to visit Florence

Florence has hot summers, with temperatures often above 30°C in July and August, and cool, damp winters. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times for sightseeing, though the city is busy for much of the year. To plan your days, see The best 3-day itinerary for Florence.

Things to do in Florence

Michelangelo's David: timed entry to the Accademia Gallery.
Uffizi Gallery: entry with an audio guide or tour.
Brunelleschi's Dome: climb to the top for views over the city.
Pasta cooking class: make fresh pasta, with wine.
Chianti wine tour: visit wineries in the Tuscan hills.
Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano: a full day trip with lunch.

Travel insurance for Florence

Book your cover as soon as you've paid for your trip, so you're protected if you need to cancel. Florence is in Italy, so take your GHIC too, but it isn't a substitute for travel insurance. Check your policy covers your belongings, as pickpocketing can happen in busy areas.

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Florence FAQs

Which is the best area to stay in Florence for first-timers?

Stay near the Duomo or in Santa Croce to walk to the main sights. Santa Maria Novella is handy if you're arriving by train or planning day trips.

Is the Oltrarno a good place to stay?

Yes. It's just across the Ponte Vecchio, quieter and more local than the centre, with great restaurants around Santo Spirito and views from San Niccolò.

Where should I stay in Florence on a budget?

Santa Maria Novella and San Lorenzo, near the main station, have the widest choice of good-value hotels and hostels.

How do I get from the airport to the city centre?

From Florence airport, the T2 tram reaches Santa Maria Novella station in around 20 minutes. From Pisa airport, trains to Florence take around an hour.

Do I need a car in Florence?

No. The centre is compact and walkable, and driving into the restricted traffic zone (ZTL) without a permit leads to fines. A car is only worth hiring for exploring Tuscany.

When is the best time to visit Florence?

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for sightseeing. Summer is hot and busy, with temperatures often above 30°C, and winters are cool and quieter.