Trip Report: Hotel Indigo in Florence, Italy

Getting there:

This hotel is very close to the train station and downtown tram, which is great to use if you’re coming directly from the airport like I was. I never felt unsafe — the area in general has a lot of hotels and tourists. It’s also around the corner from two buses that go to the Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset, which the concierge highlighted when I checked in. It’s a quick walk to both the Piazza del Duomo and the Arno, as well as a tobacco shop, souvenir spots and some places to eat (including a Five Guys, that was an interesting point).

Lobby and concierge:

July is, of course part of Italy’s high season, so the lobby and concierge services were just very busy overall. The lobby is very tastefully decorated, and they offer fruit-infused water from dispensers so that you can be refreshed as soon as you walk in off the hot streets of Florence! The concierge team was clearly overwhelmed by the hotel’s first high season (it just opened in the fall of 2023) but very welcoming and happy to help. The person who checked me in showed me a whole map, circling all the nearby spots and advising me on things to do without me asking. They also were a bit delayed in checking me in (I arrived about 20 minutes early and they weren’t ready until about 10 minutes after check-in time) and the manager personally delivered me a welcome amenity of almond biscotti to my room to apologize, even though it was really not a big deal and I was not bothered at all. Whenever I had a question, they were so happy to help out!

Amenities:

I’ll admit I didn’t totally check out the “fitness center” while at the Indigo, but I believe there is a small gym, and I saw people playing table tennis when I went down there to use the bathroom prior to checking in. There is also a restaurant and bar at the hotel, and I did spend aperitivo time there one night and had an excellent cocktail. There is outdoor and indoor seating — I chose outdoor and got a bunch of mosquito bites because I stupidly forgot to spray my ankles! The hotel also let me use the non-alcoholic mini-bar as much as I wanted to at no additional cost because I booked through Fora! This was absolutely key for me! Each day I came back to three snacks, two juice drinks, two tonic waters, a sparkling water, a still water and a full coffee/tea selection in the room.

Room:

I booked a king bedroom with a balcony, which was a lovely perk I didn’t use enough if I’m being honest! But I’m very glad I had it, particularly when I woke up early because of jet lag and was able to read outside and have coffee before it got too hot. The bed was extremely comfortable, 10/10 recommend, and the room had air conditioning! I actually loved the decoration of the room. I wanted to steal one of the decorative pillows (just to clarify, I did not!) I also loved having multiple surfaces in the room — a ledge with a plug for charging, a long bench, multiple chairs and a table. The balcony came with two chairs and a table, and there was a very large TV opposite the bed that I honestly never even used. The bathroom was fairly spacious, which was nice. No complaints! And a nice closet as well. The Internet was great. I had no issues.

Overall, I think this is a great option for people who are willing to walk a bit to get to the sites, or see being near the train station as a big perk. Being a Fora client is valuable here and I felt very well taken care of by the staff! The rates were really good for my budget, as well; it seems there are a bunch of date ranges in the next year you can stay there for under €200/night before taxes.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Florence. In need of further inspiration? Check out Sibley Slade’s guide, 3 Florence Churches You Must Visit.