Florence is easy to explore on foot. When choosing accommodation, the main deciding factor is your itinerary: will you be spending your days in the city, going on day trips by train, or arriving by car?

For a first short stay, I’d choose between the historic centre and the Oltrarno district. If you’ll be travelling around Tuscany frequently, it’s worth staying near Firenze Santa Maria Novella station.

If you’re travelling by car, it’s more practical to stay in a hotel outside the city centre with secure parking.

Where to stay? A quick guide

• First time in Florence: the area around the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria or San Lorenzo. The sights are right on your doorstep
• Train trips and the airport tram: the area around Firenze Santa Maria Novella station (SMN)
• Restaurants and evenings out: Santo Spirito and San Frediano
• Arriving by car: Novoli or Scandicci, near the tram. If staying in the city centre, arrange access and parking in advance

Compare accommodation prices in Florence

Where to stay in Florence

Florence isn’t a big city, and you have two options to choose from: you can stay right in the heart of the city, just a few minutes’ walk from Florence’s main sights, or just outside the historic centre.

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Historic centre: explore the sights on foot

The area around Piazza del Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and San Lorenzo is best if you’re staying for two or three nights and want to focus mainly on Florence. You can easily return to your hotel during the day, and in the evening you won’t need to rely on public transport.

You’ll usually pay a premium for a location next to the cathedral or the Uffizi Gallery. You should also expect it to be busy in the streets around the main squares. If you can find an equally good room a few streets away, there’s no reason to pay extra just for a location right next to a landmark.

• 👉 Browse accommodation in the historic centre

Santa Maria Novella: the best base for day trips

Firenze Santa Maria Novella is the main railway station, right next to the historic centre. From the area around the station, you can walk to the Duomo in about 10–15 minutes. The T2 tram from Florence Airport also stops here.

I’d choose this area if you’re arriving by train with luggage, leaving early in the morning or planning day trips around Tuscany – for example, to Pisa or Siena.

Check the map for the exact street name: the name ‘Santa Maria Novella’ is also used for the wider neighbourhood, which may not be right next to the station.

• 👉 Search for hotels near Firenze SMN station

Oltrarno: atmosphere, crafts and nightlife

Oltrarno lies on the other side of the River Arno. Around Piazza Santo Spirito and in San Frediano, you’ll find workshops, bars and restaurants; you can easily get back to the city centre by crossing the bridge. Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens will be within easy reach.

It’s an excellent choice for those who want to stay in a lively part of the city. However, accommodation right on Piazza Santo Spirito or above a bar may not be quiet at night. Before booking, check the room’s location and reviews that mention noise.

• 👉Compare accommodation in Oltrarno

Santa Croce and Sant’Ambrogio: the city even after the museums have closed

The eastern part of the city centre is ideal if you want to be close to restaurants, the Sant’Ambrogio market and the Basilica of Santa Croce. You can walk to the Uffizi or the Duomo, though the SMN railway station is a little further away.

For nightlife, people mainly head to the area around Via dei Benci. If you’re looking for a peaceful night’s sleep, choose a room on a side street and check the reviews for the specific accommodation.

• 👉Search for accommodation in the Santa Croce district

Porta al Prato and Novoli: where to save money

Porta al Prato lies to the west of the railway station. In the area around the Leopolda tram stop, you can find cheaper accommodation whilst still being within reasonable walking distance of the city centre. The further west you choose a hotel, the more important its transport links to the centre will be.

Novoli is a more modern neighbourhood on the T2 tram route between the airport and the city centre. It makes sense if the hotel offers a significantly better price, you need parking, or you’re flying via Florence Airport. However, don’t expect to step straight out of Novoli onto the streets lined with Renaissance monuments.

• 👉Explore Porta al Prato
• 👉Explore Novoli

Be aware of Piazzale Michelangelo: a hotel may look close to the city centre on the map, but the walk back is uphill.

Stay here for the view, not necessarily to save money. You can visit the viewpoint without staying in the area – see the details under Piazzale Michelangelo.

Tips for the best hotels in Florence

To make it easier for you to choose the best accommodation, we’ve put together recommendations for specific hotels, selecting the best value options for each category from thousands of offers.

Cheapest accommodation

The lowest prices, starting at around 62 eur , are for ‘affitacamere’ accommodation – small guesthouses or private flats in ordinary residential buildings. There are plenty of similar options in the price range up to 82 eur ; from those with good reviews and en-suite bathrooms, we’ve selected the following, for example:

• La Tana Dei Leoni Affittacamere – a small guesthouse with small, clean rooms offering the best value for money and location. It is situated in the historic centre on the banks of the River Arno, but rooms are often fully booked
• Maison Étoile – a simple, clean guesthouse in the Porta al Prato district, about a 10-minute walk from the station and 20 minutes from the city centre
• Appartamento San Frediano – a private flat in a great location on the south bank of the River Arno, just a 10-minute walk from the city centre

Budget hotels

If you prefer traditional hotels with a reception, expect the lowest prices from 82 eur per night.

• Hotel Bodoni ** – among the cheapest in the historic centre, simple, clean rooms; prices sometimes drop below 74 eur
• Hotel Argentina *** – a modern hotel near the railway station and just 15 minutes from the city centre

High-quality hotel chains

If you like to treat yourself or are used to the standard you’re accustomed to from other hotels, take advantage of these tips from international hotel chains. Prices range from 156 eur to 205 eur per night for two, depending on the hotel’s location.

• Hilton Garden Inn Florence Novoli **** – a hotel in a quiet location near a park, further from the city centre, but with attractive rates starting from 123 eur
• Mercure Firenze Centro **** – with rates around 185 eur per night and a location right in the historic centre and near the railway station, it is virtually unrivalled in its category

Luxury and stylish hotels

Would you like to enjoy a trip to Florence in style, without compromising on anything, in a stylish or even luxury hotel? We’d recommend, for example, Hotel Pitti Palace **** one with a magnificent rooftop terrace overlooking the cathedral and the River Arno. The central location is faultless, and even prices around 185 eur are reasonable.

From the truly luxurious hotels, we’ve picked out the stylish Hotel Firenze Number Nine *****.

How much does accommodation cost in Florence?

As a rough guide, expect to pay around 100–180 eur for a room for two in a simpler hotel or guesthouse, and 180–300 eur for a comfortable hotel in a good location.

A bed in a hostel may work out cheaper. In the city centre or when demand is high, you may pay significantly more; conversely, during quieter periods, you can find a cheaper room.

The cheapest times are usually in January, February and outside the holiday season in late autumn. Easter, spring weekends and early autumn can be more expensive. For a hotel that suits you, it’s worth comparing several dates and, if possible, booking a room with free cancellation.

Check current prices on booking.com

Tourist tax: expect to pay per person

Florence charges a city tax per adult per night. For two people, this will therefore add more to the final price than the rate might suggest at first glance:

• 2* hotel: 4,50 eur per person per night.
• 3* hotel: 6 eur; 4* hotel: 7 eur; 5* hotel: 8 eur.
• B&Bs, guesthouses and holiday flats: 6 eur per person per night.
• Hostel: 4 eur per person per night.

The tax is charged for a maximum of 7 consecutive nights; children under 12 are exempt. Three nights in an apartment for two adults therefore costs 36 eur. Before paying for your booking, check whether the tax is already included in the price quoted.

What to look out for before booking

• Private bathroom: This may not be a given in budget rooms or ‘affittacamere ’. An ‘affittacamere’ is usually a smaller accommodation offering individual rooms for rent, rather than an entire flat.
• Lift and air conditioning: In historic buildings, check whether a specific room has both, particularly if you’re travelling with a suitcase or in summer.
• Noise: A room facing the square may have a lovely view, but it may also be subject to late-night noise below the windows. Read a few recent reviews.
• Arrival and departure: For apartments, check the check-in time, luggage storage facilities and any cleaning charges.
• View: A hotel’s roof terrace and a room with a view are two different things. The name of the room you’ve booked is what matters.

Are you travelling by car?

The historic centre lies largely within the ZTL zone, which has controlled access. If your hotel or car park is located within the zone, ask in advance for directions and the procedure for registering your number plate. Simply booking a room does not automatically entitle you to enter the zone.

If you don’t want to pay for central garage parking, compare hotels in Novoli with parking facilities or accommodation in Scandicci. The T1 tram connects Scandicci with SMN railway station. However, be sure to factor in the journey time and fare before deciding that a more distant hotel is actually better value.

If you’re only heading to Florence for a day whilst travelling through Tuscany, it might make more sense to stay overnight in the next town. Conversely, if you arrive late at Pisa Airport, take a look at our selection of accommodation in Pisa and continue on to Florence in the morning.