Deciding whether to vacation in Florence isn’t nearly as tough as deciding where to stay in Florence. But we’ve got your back: from the bustling streets of Santa Maria Novella to the captivating Renaissance-period architecture of City Center, we’re covering the best places to stay in Florence, Italy.
Can’t wait to jet off? Connect with Fora to book and plan your Florence vacation with expert travel advice and VIP hotel perks (at no additional cost).
The 4 best places to stay in Florence, Italy: Santa Maria Novella to City Center (a.k.a. Duomo)
A window to the past and one of the best places to stay in Italy: walking the beautiful and storied streets of Florence will have you tracing the steps of Renaissance greats like Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei and Lorenzo de' Medici. So where should you stay in Florence, the capital of Italy’s famous Tuscany region?
Read on to discover the four best neighborhoods in Florence. (Or if you’re thinking about broadening your Italy vacation, check out our guides to where to stay in Tuscany, plus things to do while you're there.)
1. Santa Maria Novella: where to stay in Florence for variety & convenience
Image courtesy of The Place Firenze
Making up much of the area west of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (a.k.a. the Duomo) and north of the Arno River, Santa Maria Novella is a bustling neighborhood favored by locals and travelers alike.
Santa Maria Novella is the gateway to Florence. You’ll find the city’s train station here, plus the rest of the city is easily accessible from the wide range of accommodation options Santa Maria Novella hosts. So in many ways, this is where to stay in Florence for convenience.
But there’s a lot to love here, too. You’ll find tons of great eateries, pubs and trendy shops throughout Santa Maria Novella — not to mention gorgeous examples of medieval and Neoclassical architecture as you travel eastward along the Arno River.
Wondering what to do around Santa Maria Novella? Check out our favorite things to do in Florence.
Where to stay in Santa Maria Novella, Florence: The St. Regis Florence, Helvetia & Bristol Firenze and The Place Firenze
Image courtesy of The Place Firenze
Santa Maria Novella has options for every budget, with hotels steadily becoming more luxurious the closer you get to City Center.
The Place Firenze and Helvetia & Bristol Firenze are luxe choices if you want to stay within walking distance of Florence’s most famous landmarks. Alternatively, The St. Regis Florence is just as opulent, but exchanges proximity to City Center (only by a few blocks) for scenic waterfront views of the Arno River.
Need help deciding where to stay in Florence’s Santa Maria Novella neighborhood? Book with Fora and we’ll help you narrow down your choices per your budget and preferences.
Fora Perks at The St. Regis Florence:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Fora Perks at Helvetia & Bristol Firenze:
$100 hotel / resort credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Fora Perks at The Place Firenze:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
2. Santa Croce & Sant'Ambrogio: where to stay in Florence for the best local experience
As opposed to Santa Maria Novella, the twin neighborhoods of Santa Croce and Sant’Ambrogio are found on the opposite side of City Center along the northern banks of the Arno.
The overall vibe here is similar to that of laid-back Santa Maria Novella, but whereas the latter serves as Florence’s transportation hub and thus brings in tons of travelers from all over, Santa Croce and Sant’Ambrogio emphasize the local experience as you move away from City Center. Together, the two neighborhoods offer a nice balance between the grandiose monuments in Florence’s heart and contemporary Florentine culture.
Pro tip: Florence is definitely a foodie city (just check out our foodie’s guide to Florence). But if you’re really looking for the best of authentic Florentine cuisine, Santa Croce and Sant’Ambrogio are excellent areas to start.
Where to stay in Santa Croce, Florence: Hotel Regency, Relais Santa Croce & more
Santa Croce has a similar range of accommodations as Santa Maria Novella, so there are options regardless of your budget.
That said, if you want the best of the best: Relais Santa Croce by Baglioni Hotels and Resorts, found just outside of City Center near the Santa Croce Cathedral, is a gorgeous five-star hotel that sources inspiration from the Renaissance. Another option: the five-star Hotel Regency offers a quieter atmosphere in a more residential part of Santa Croce. Both lavishly pamper guests, so location may be the more critical factor.
Can’t decide where to stay in Florence? Book with Fora for expert advice and complimentary VIP status.
3. San Frediano, Santo Spirito & Oltrarno: the best places to stay in Florence for nightlife
Image courtesy of Hotel Lungarno
While Florence doesn’t have quite the same caliber of nightlife as say, Milan (see where to stay in Milan), San Frediano, Santo Spirito and more broadly, the Oltrarno area are where to stay in Florence if you want to be in the middle of the city’s best nightlife neighborhoods.
Piazza del Carmine, Plaza Santo Spirito and Borgo San Frediano Street host tons of classy cocktail bars and lively pubs, all to the tune of live music and a friendly atmosphere.
The two neighborhoods also have an excellent gastronomy, with a great mix of traditional Florentine trattorias and international menus catering to fine palettes and quick-bite seekers, alike. Check out our insider guide to Florence for more intel.
Where to stay in Santo Spirito or San Frediano, Florence: Ad Astra, Hotel Lungarno or SoprArno Suites
Image courtesy of Hotel Lungarno.
From five-star hotels on the Arno River like Hotel Lungarno to trendy Italian boutique hotels overlooking quaint gardens like Ad Astra, Santo Spirito and San Frediano accommodate all travel styles.
SoprArno Suites is another option offering spacious rooms (great for extended stays) only a block away from Piazza dei Pitti and the Palatine Gallery, a gorgeous museum showcasing the Medici family’s vast art collection.
As always, you can book with Fora for help deciding where to stay in the Oltrarno area. (Need help deciding where to stay in Rome or other Italian cities, too? Read our guide.
Fora Perks at Ad Astra:
Welcome treat in room on arrival.
Upgrade & guaranteed late check-out.
Fora Perks at Hotel Lungarno:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Fora Perks at SopArno Suites:
Welcome treat in room on arrival.
Upgrade & guaranteed late check-out.
4. City Center / Duomo: where to stay in Florence for sightseers, first-timers & travelers who want to be in the middle of it all
City Center — or Duomo, after the neighborhood’s namesake landmark — exhibits the best of Florentine architecture and culture. This is where to stay in Florence if you desire unequivocal access to the city’s most stunning monuments. Chief among them, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
We can’t understate this: the Duomo is massive. Even if you’re only passively interested in architecture — one of the top reasons Florence is a contender among the best places to visit in Italy for first timers — the Duomo is an incredible work of art and engineering.
Beyond architecture, though, City Center is also home to world-class art museums like the Uffizi Gallery, upscale shops, world-class jewelers and an impressive variety of both Florentine and international gastronomy.
Even if you decide to stay elsewhere in Florence, you can’t miss visiting this part of the city. (Staying in Florence alone? Check out our guide to solo travel in Florence.)
Where to stay in Duomo, Florence: Hotel Savoy, Brunelleschi Hotel, Portrait Firenze & more
Image courtesy of Hotel Savoy, a Rocco Forte Hotel
Many of Florence’s best hotels are found in City Center — and note that you won’t find many budget options this close to the city’s heart.
We’d have to write a book to include all our favorites — and frankly, there’s no substitute for connecting with a real Fora Advisor for tailored recs — but a few hotels that stand out include Hotel Savoy, a Rocco Forte Hotel; Brunelleschi Hotel and Portrait Firenze. Each offers outstanding, luxurious amenities and posh decor in various sectors of City Center (and we can help you narrow down which area resonates with you best).
Fora Perks at Hotel Savoy, a Rocco Forte Hotel:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Fora Perks at Brunelleschi Hotel:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Fora Perks at Portrait Firenze:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Need help deciding where to stay in Florence, Italy? Book with Fora
Florence is one of the best places to visit in Italy, no question. But deciding where to stay in Florence can be a little overwhelming, especially for your first visit.
Want to take all the hassle out of booking and planning? Then connect with Fora and we’ll help you build the trip of a lifetime with expert travel advice while unlocking VIP hotel perks for you at no extra cost. There’s no better way to travel.
Not quite sure that Florence is the destination for you? Check out our guides to other awesome destinations in Italy: