We loved so many things about our trip to Florence. The Centro Storico’s museums, attractions, food, atmosphere and architecture more than lived up to the hype. But honestly, figuring out where to stay in Florence was our favorite part. Why? Because there was very little to actually figure out! It was so refreshingly easy to find a nice hotel room in a great area, especially when compared to places like Rome and the Amalfi Coast.
After doing some pre-trip research, we realized that Florence’s top attractions and neighborhoods were all within easy walking distance of each other. So we knew the exact area we booked our hotel wouldn’t matter as much as it might in other places. Then we started our hotel search and instantly found dozens of fantastic options with sky high guest ratings to suit any budget. That gave us fudge room to be a bit more picky and selective.
Here we are enjoying sunset over Florence
Hi, we’re Mark and Kristen Morgan. We left our scientific careers in 2018 to become travel writers and photographers, and since then our expert guides have helped millions of travel planners take better trips. Read more about us.
Why trust us with your Florence lodging? We travel the world for a living, so we’ve booked hundreds of hotels and know what to look for. During our 4-day, 3-night trip to Florence in May 2022 we explored the city from top to bottom, and we know the areas well.
It was our first time in Florence so we wanted to base ourselves near the city’s top attractions like the Duomo and Accademia. We usually avoid staying close to train stations in Italy because they can be a bit seedy or gritty but it’s not as bad in Florence, and we liked the idea of being able to walk to and from our hotel without paying for a taxi (there’s no metro or tram service in town).
It didn’t take long for us to settle on a B&B called Palazzo della Stufa Residenza D’Epoca. It had amazing reviews, a fantastic location opposite the Basilica di San Lorenzo and it was affordable. We loved our stay and highly recommend it for a first visit, but we would stay in a different neighborhood next time (we’ll show you where later).
In this guide we cut right to the chase and show you the 6 areas we’d consider staying in Florence, with pros and cons for each area based on our experiences, and a helpful map at the end. As always, we took every photo you’ll see in the guide. Okay, let’s begin!
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Our Favorite Hotels
If you’re in a hurry or don’t want to read this full guide, here are our top hotel recommendations for first time visitors to Florence based on a perfect blend of location, quality, value for money, previous guest reviews and our own experiences. They’re all affordable hotels that we’d happily book ourselves.
Hotel Calimala – We think 4 star hotel has everything. Sky high guest ratings, affordable prices and a perfect location in the heart of Florence’s historic center. Everything is within easy walking distance and it’s tucked away on a quieter street.
Santa Croce 14 – We love this top rated B&B because it has near-perfect reviews and seriously low prices for such an unbeatable location in the lively nightlife hub of Santa Croce. Finding availability is hard because it’s so popular.
Portanera – We’d definitely book this hidden gem adults only hotel located between the train station and historic center thanks to excellent ratings, cheap rates and much quieter surroundings. It would be a great spot to escape from the crowds at night.
Ponte Vecchio Suites + Spa – We think this slightly pricier hotel is a superb option in Oltrarno because it blends quality and value for money with a top location on the other side of the river. It would be our top choice in the trendy Santo Spirito neighborhood.
But we hope you love to research and learn about a place before you visit like we do, so keep reading to see what makes each of Florence’s popular neighborhoods a good or bad area to stay for your trip!
Insider Tip: If you see the words “Residenza d’Epoca” after any hotel listed in our guide, this essentially translates to Historic Residence (or Period Residence) which means the building has architectural or cultural heritage.
San Giovanni (Duomo)
Map showing the San Giovanni neighborhood’s location
Let’s kick things off with San Giovanni, which covers a massive central part of Florence’s touristy area and contains the Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica, Palazzo Vecchio and Uffizi Gallery. We think it’s the best place to stay in Florence if walking short distances to top attractions is your top priority (we highly recommend this guided walking tour of the Duomo, Accademia and Uffizi if you’re short on time).
San Giovanni is where we spent most of our three days walking, eating and visiting attractions. We loved the vibrant atmosphere, there were countless superb restaurants and it was endlessly attractive with historic narrow cobbled streets. This is the part of town you’ll gravitate towards the most.
What about downsides to San Giovanni? Well, we think noise (especially at night which could be a problem for light sleepers like us), heavy crowds and more expensive hotel rooms are things we would take into account if booking a hotel here.
Personally, we’d look for hotels on more secluded streets away from the main squares to avoid those potential issues. But if you want that lively atmosphere, actively look for hotels close to squares like Piazza della Signoria and Piazza della Repubblica.
We took this photo to show how busy it gets around the Duomo in San Giovanni
If we were doing Florence on the cheap and wanted this most central location, we’d look at Residenza della Signoria, Hotel Davanzati, Relais Piazza Signoria or our top choice Hotel Calimala. They all have excellent ratings for such reasonable prices.
If we visited with a lower mid-range budget we’d consider Hotel degli Orafi on the banks of the Arno with Ponte Vecchio views. And in the higher mid-range bracket we’d happily book Golden Tower Hotel or Hotel Brunelleschi – they’re quality hotels with amazing reviews on different sides of the historic center.
Finally, if we had cash to burn and wanted luxury, we’d book either Hotel La Gemma or the ritzy Hotel Savoy. They’re 5 star hotels with top ratings and very central locations.
Overall, you can’t go wrong with San Giovanni for a first time trip to Florence. It’s got the central location, the restaurants, the hotel selection and the atmosphere. It’s like Rome’s Centro Storico, perfect for a first trip but you’ll probably stay somewhere different the second time.
Pros
Lots of quality hotels
Plenty of restaurants
Central to attractions
Lively atmosphere
Cons
More expensive
Hotels book up quicker
Very touristy
Busier restaurants
San Lorenzo (Mercato Centrale)
Map showing the San Lorenzo neighborhood’s location
San Lorenzo covers the northwest area of Florence’s historic center. This area contains the Basilica di San Lorenzo, the Medici Chapels, Mercato Centrale and lively street markets. It’s also very close to the main railway station, Florence Cathedral and Accademia.
We stayed at Palazzo della Stufa Residenza D’Epoca in the heart of San Lorenzo and it worked out perfectly for what we wanted – close to the train station, close to attractions, and a bit quieter but still close to the action. We had views over the basilica from our room which was cool, and it was only a 4 minute walk to the Duomo.
Overall we thought the San Lorenzo neighborhood felt a bit more local compared to the touristy San Giovanni area. And we liked being on the border between the busy central area and the quieter streets north which had some lovely hidden gem restaurants. Another perk to this area was the amount of high quality, low price hotels we found when searching.
If we were to stay in San Lorenzo again we’d book in exactly the same area, the southwest side of the neighborhood close to the Duomo. But we’d definitely avoid staying on the west side near the train station because we’ve had a couple of close calls at rail stations in Italy a few times.
Our hotel looked directly over the Basilica di San Lorenzo
The Artists Palace and Solo Experience Hotel have excellent ratings, even lower prices and similar locations near the Basilia di San Lorenzo. We’d be choosing between those two lodging options if we stayed in this area on a tight budget.
If we had a mid range budget for San Lorenzo we’d happily book B&B Lorenzo de Medici near the Central Market, or one of Palazzo dei Conti or Palazzo d’Ambra which are located opposite each other on a quiet street.
With a bigger travel budget in this neighborhood we’d consider the affordable 5 star Tivoli Palazzo Gaddi (we ate at a great pizza place nearby called Ciro and Sons) or the highly rated 4 star Hotel Spadai.
Overall, we think San Lorenzo is a great choice for a first visit if you want high quality and lots of attractions on the doorstep but without being right in the middle of the action. We also think it would be a great place to stay with kids because it’s quieter at night. Stick closer to the Duomo and you honestly can’t go wrong.
Pros
Cheaper than San Giovanni
Easy rail logistics
More authentic and local
Florentine food markets
Cons
Markets noisy by day
Quieter at night
Less high-end
Avoid train station at night
San Marco (David)
Map showing the San Marco neighborhood’s location
San Marco is a long and narrow area to the northeast of Florence’s historic center and immediately east of San Lorenzo (the neighborhood outline is shaped a bit like the wing of an airplane). This is where you’ll visit the famous statue of David inside the Accademia Gallery and the Museo di San Marco.
When we walked around San Marco it had a more laid back vibe with a nice blend of locals, tourists and students (its home to Florence university). The streets were jam-packed around the Accademia when we visited, but otherwise the rest of this area was much quieter.
Would we choose to stay in this area? No, probably not. It’s not the most attractive part of Florence and it’s further to walk to all other attractions other than Accademia. Plus, it’s even further from the train station.
We took this photo of heavy crowds after leaving the Accademia Gallery in San Marco
If we were doing Florence on a shoestring budget we’d look at San Giuliano Inn first – it’s got top reviews, super low prices and a decent location not far from Accademia. It sells out rooms regularly so get in early. Our backup option would be B&B de Biffi which is closer to the Duomo.
With a bit more wiggle room in the budget we’d take a closer look at Palazzo Alfani (located directly opposite Accademia) and Residence Hilda which looks like a bit of a hidden gem.
On the higher end (but still cheaper than San Giovanni and San Lorenzo) we’d go for either Arte Boutique Hotel or Glimpse Hotel. Both look trendy, modern and very boutiquey.
Overall, we think the southern end of San Marco closest to the Duomo is a great choice for budget travelers looking to keep costs down without straying too far from the center. You also get more bang for your buck here, so it might work if you want a more luxurious hotel without breaking the bank. But we absolutely wouldn’t book a hotel any further north than the university.
Pros
Renaissance hub
Less touristy
Cheaper hotels
More budget eats
Cons
Heavy Accademia crowds
Lacks nightlife
Not as charming or boutiquey
Fewer quality restaurants
Santa Croce (Atmosphere)
Map showing the Santa Croce neighborhood’s location
Santa Croce is a large area to the immediate east of San Giovanni and the main historic center. It’s main attraction is the Basilica di Santa Croce which we very highly recommend visiting, and it’s on the opposite bank of the Arno to Florence’s famous sunset spot at Piazzale Michaelangelo.
We enjoyed walking by tons of leather shops, boutiquey stores, trattorias and wine bars tucked away along quiet cobbled streets in Santa Croce. But that was in the morning, and this is really a place to visit for a buzzy atmosphere, vibrant nightlife and trendy bars – so we’d like to do it properly in the evening. There’s also this highly rated food and wine tour nearby in Sant’Ambrogio that looks great.
We took this photo of Piazza di Santa Croce after trying a wine window on Borgo dei Greci
If we wanted to stay in this lively area on a budget we’d try to book Santa Croce 14. It has really high ratings and it’s affordable, but rooms book up well in advance so it’s hard to find availability. Our backup low-budget option would be B&B Isola d’Arno.
With a mid-range budget we’d be very tempted by the luxury apartments at La Croce d’Oro, but they also book up quickly so we’d have to get in early. Alternatives we’d consider include La Maison du Sage or Venere and Zefiro Apartments.
Borgo Signature Rooms looks like a nice affordable luxury hotel in the area, or if we wanted a massive splurge we’d treat ourselves at Palazzo Firenze.
Overall, we really liked Santa Croce and would happily stay there next time if we visited Florence with other outgoing couples, or as a family with grown up children who wanted a bit more atmosphere. But we wouldn’t stay there if we wanted a peaceful escape or with young kids.
Pros
Lively atmosphere
Great nightlife and dining
Very charming
Walkable to attractions
Cons
Very touristy
Loud at night
Less local
Expensive hotels
Santa Maria Novella (Train Station)
Map showing the Santa Maria Novella neighborhood’s location
Santa Maria Novella covers a vast area of northwest Florence but you should only pay attention a small portion of the neighborhood in the immediate area around the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, south of the main train station.
We wouldn’t book a hotel anywhere north or west of the train station on a first visit, or any other visit for that matter. Even if the hotels were much cheaper, we wouldn’t want to be based a long walk from the attractions and buzzing historic center of Florence.
So why stay in the area south of the train station at all? Well, because it’s super convenient for logistics if traveling by train, it borders San Giovanni and the busiest area but it’s less touristy, the basilica is lovely, and hotels are a bit more affordable. Florence’s main upscale shopping street (Via de’Tornabuoni) is also located here.
We took this photo in Piazza di Santa Maria Novella after visiting the Basilica
If we wanted to stay in Santa Maria Novella on a budget without kids, we’d book Portanera because it’s adults only, affordable and has sky high ratings. Our backup options would be 25hours Hotel and Assaporarte.
With a healthier budget we’d compare prices at Hotel L’Orologio, Cerretani Hotel, Casa G, the unique and boutiquey Leone Blu Suites, and Palazzo di Camugliano. They all look great so we’d decide based on prices for our travel dates.
Or if we wanted to lap up some luxury, we’d book The Excelsior which is expensive and a bit further out but looks lovely. Our backup option in this category would be The Place Firenze.
Overall, we think Santa Maria Novella works best if you want easy access to the train station and a quick walk to the main attractions, but you don’t want to stay in the more expensive touristy center. If we were using Florence as our base for a longer trip to Tuscany and planned to take trains to Pisa, Siena, Chianti etc then we’d definitely consider staying near the Basilica for instant access to the rail lines.
Pros
Perfect for transport
Easy to attractions
Close to Oltrarno
Bustling vibe
Cons
Busy at train station
Loud area (trains, buses)
Less charming
Quiet at night
Santo Spirito (Trendy)
Map showing the Santa Spirito neighborhood’s location
In Florence, the term Oltrarno means anywhere on the south bank of the Arno River, across the river from the historic center. But within Oltrarno there are various smaller neighborhoods like San Frediano, San Niccolo and the one we want to focus on here – Santo Spirito.
We’ll admit that we didn’t really know much about Santo Spirito before actually arriving into Florence, and we certainly didn’t consider staying there. But after we spent half a day exploring Palazzo Pitti, Boboli Gardens and countless narrow streets from the neighborhood’s east side to the west, we knew it was where we’d stay next time.
It’s more bohemian, trendy and artsy with a cool vibe and tons of locals mixing with tourists. But the secret is out and this area is getting busier with tourists by the year. Don’t expect to find many modern, polished hotels in this area. Lodging options in Santo Spirito have more of a grand, old-world, historic, B&B type feel with high ceilings and antique decor.
This is the part of Florence where you’ll take the best food tours (like this top rated sunset food and wine tour), eat at amazing restaurants and relax in cafes or bars with a more hip feel. And because we’ve done all the museums and attractions, that’s all we want to do next time we’re in the city.
The east side of Santo Spirito near Ponte Vecchio has easier access to Uffizi and Duomo, it feels safer and quieter, and it’s more upscale -so it’s better for families. Around Piazza Santo Spirito itself it’s pure chaos, noise, cafes and bars – so it would work well for friends or younger travelers. On the west side near San Frediano you’ll find a more local, trendy and cool area but it’s further from attractions.
We stopped in for a quick beer at a restaurant in Piazza Santo Spirito
On a tight budget we’d look at Borgo San Jacobo 15 near the Ponte Vecchio, Spirit of Florence in the main square or Toscanelli Residenza d’Epoca near the Pitti Palace. Or if we needed to seriously keep costs down we’d go to the west side of the neighborhood bordering San Frediano and book either Soggiorno Alessandra or B&B Stupido – they look great for such low prices.
If we were staying in Santo Spirito with a mid range budget we’d be spoiled for choice with lovely looking options. Ponte Vecchio Suites + Spa is close to the bridge and looks fantastic – then there’s Palazzo Ridolfi, Palazzo Martellini, Hotel Palazzo Guadagni and Soprarno Suites in the heart of the neighborhood, and finally there’s Oltrarno Splendid on the quieter west side.
And if we wanted to splash the cash for a special treat in Florence, we’d book the luxury 5 star Hotel Lungarno right on the river with Ponte Vecchio and Duomo views. It looks amazing!
Overall, we think Santo Spirito works for anyone looking for a more authentic, trendy and fun area to stay in Florence. Families should stay on the east side, groups of friends will be better near the main square and budget travelers will find great deals on the west side. We will stay in this area next time we visit the city, probably on the east side near Ponte Vecchio.
We want to close out Oltrarno by saying we understand why the Santo Spirito area gets compared to Trastevere in Rome, but it’s not exactly the same so don’t book here based on that assumption alone.
Pros
Authentic and local
Trendy, bohemian vibe
Amazing food scene
Bustling nightlife
Cons
Far from attractions
Loud at night
No modern lodging
Less polished/more gritty
Florence Neighborhoods Map
Map key:
- Green – Cheap hotels
- Red – Mid range hotels
- Blue – Luxury hotels
How to use this map: Click the map above to activate, then tap any hotel icon to see more information and book (hotel link in description). See a list of all hotels and arrondissements by clicking the arrow icon in the top left, or see a full version of the map by clicking the “view larger map” icon in the top right.
How to save this map: Click the small star next to the map title – this will add the map to your Google account. Open your Google Maps app, tap “saved”, then tap “maps” and open this map.
Where To Avoid Staying
Here’s Kristen enjoying sunset over the city from San Niccolo
San Niccolo – Some guides and forums we read online recommended staying in San Niccolo on the eastern side of Oltrarno (the area around Piazza Michaelangelo for the famous sunset spot). It would be quiet, charming and authentic with more of a feel like living in Florence instead of visiting. But there’s nothing going on at night, it’s a long way from the Duomo and other attractions, it’s very hilly and there are few lodging options so we wouldn’t recommend it for a first visit.
Sant’Ambrogio – Similarly, we found lots of suggestions to book a hotel further north from Santa Croce into Sant’Ambrogio. We looked into the area, and while there are lots of highly rated restaurants and a far more local feel, it’s not really a place you stay on a first visit to Florence. Maybe the second time, but it’s too far from the major tourist attractions to get our vote for first timers.
Outer Areas – We absolutely would not book a hotel in places on the outer edges of Florence like Campo di Marte, Careggi or Novoli. They’re too far from anything on a typical Florence itinerary. Even if they were the same price, we would rather book a low quality hotel in the historic center than a 5 star hotel in any of those areas.
Crowds – Florence is small and very busy so crowds are a problem, especially in summer. You can avoid the worst of the overcrowding by booking a hotel away from the Duomo and Piazza della Repubblica. Our advice would be stick to side streets or smaller piazzas instead.
Our Top Tips
Here’s Mark enjoying views from the top of the Duomo
Avoid weekends – Hotel prices are significantly lower on weekdays compared to weekends in Florence. We recommend booking your stay anytime between Sunday night to Friday morning.
Beat the rush – Book as far in advance as you possibly can to get the best rates. Last minute deals don’t work like they used to, and especially not in a place as popular as Florence.
Seasonality – Hotels here are way cheaper in the off season and shoulder seasons versus summer, especially July and August when tourism peaks. May and October are excellent times to visit Florence (we visited in May and the prices were reasonable).
And finally, we travel for a living so take a look at our guide on how to stop overpaying for hotels and book yourself a cheaper trip to Florence.
Next Steps
We he hope our guide helps you figure out where to stay when you visit Florence, but please let us know if you have any other questions in the comments box a little further below.
Still figuring out your plans for Italy?
Finally, if you’ll be visiting more places on the same trip, we recommend reading our Italy travel planning guide for helpful tips and advice.
Happy travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen spent 6 years traveling the world, visiting over 40 countries across 4 continents and more than 30 US states. They created Where Are Those Morgans in 2018 to help others plan the best possible vacations by writing authentic travel and hiking guides based on their real experiences.
Since the arrival of baby Maya in late 2024, Mark and Kristen’s extensive travels have slowed down but they still take plenty of trips. Where Are Those Morgans now helps millions of travelers each year to visit new places and hike new trails through information-packed blog posts and expert travel guidebooks. Read more about Mark and Kristen.
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