Where to Stay in Florence: Your Area And Neighbourhood Guide (2024)

Tuscany’s capital is a Renaissance wonderland of art and terracotta tiles. Florence is one of the most popular city breaks in Europe, and it’s got the celebrity status to prove it. You’ve got the Florence Cathedral, cobbled streets full of independent boutiques, and the Arno River running through the city center. Florence is full of art and culture – but where do you stay to see all the main sights? How do you choose where to stay in Florence?

Best Places to Stay in Florence

Best Place To Stay in Florence DuomoBest Place To Stay in Florence Duomo

Florence is a beautiful city to visit. There’s art and beauty everywhere. When it comes to the main sights, you have the Etruscan Archaeological Museum, the bustle of Piazza del Duomo, and the grandeur of Palazzo Vecchio. You’ve got a lot to look forward to.

Where to stay in Florence is different for everyone and every visit. Central Florence has nearly ten different areas, each with a mix of stylish boutique hotels and sights. You can go local and avoid the tourists or pay the price and be within walking distance of everything. After countless visits to the city, we’ve whittled it down to six neighborhoods for you to choose from – we want you to have the best.

1. Centro Storico

Ponte Vecchi FlorencePonte Vecchi Florence

Centro Storico is the heart of Florence and its history. Picture churches that date back centuries, narrow streets, and views of the stunning main attraction in the city: Florence Cathedral. Centro Storico is the absolute hub of the city, and everyone knows it. All the best hotels get booked out over the summer, and crowds of tourists descend on the neighborhood year-round. Most of Florence’s main attractions are condensed into this tiny pocket of history, and the temptation is too much for most visitors to resist. It’s even UNESCO-recognized.

With this great location, you are within easy walking distance of attractions like the Uffizi Gallery, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, and the National Museum of Bargello. The neighborhood is a lively mix of major sites. You can’t beat staying here if you want to explore on foot.

In summary, Centro Storico is where to stay in Florence if you’re a first-time visitor, committed to sightseeing on foot, or only have a couple of days in the city. It is utterly convenient, with the added bonus of being totally gorgeous (mainly thanks to the Duomo’s terracotta domes).

Piazza della Signoria FlorencePiazza della Signoria Florence
Piazza Del Duomo in Florence sunrisePiazza Del Duomo in Florence sunrise

2. Santa Maria Novella

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Santa Maria Novella is no-nonsense. The neighborhood is centered around the Santa Maria Novella train station. It is full of in-and-out visitors and, as such, has plenty of budget-friendly accommodation. It can get sketchy around the train station at night, with drug use and the odd opportunistic lurkers ready to bag snatch. But as a whole, the Santa Maria Novella district is where to stay in Florence if you want a cheap and straightforward place to stay. You are just a short walk into the historic city center and to all the main sights, just without the expense of paying through the roof for more central accommodation. 

Apart from the main train station (very handy for day trips), the neighborhood has the gorgeous marble Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. You can also check out the antiques along Via dei Fossi, a popular shopping street, and some of the city’s more budget-friendly nightclubs, like Space Club. There are museums, too, including the Marino Marini Firenze Museum and Palazzo Strozzi.

We’d suggest staying in the lower-eastern region of Santa Maria Novella, away from the train station and alongside the Arno River. It has more of a central appeal and is a short walking distance from Centro Storico anyway, which is a nice touch. Santa Maria Novella is easily one of the best neighborhoods if you want a more budget-friendly alternative to Centro Storico without sacrificing much for convenient sightseeing.

Piazza San Marco square and church in Florence Piazza San Marco square and church in Florence
Where to Stay in Florence, ItalyWhere to Stay in Florence, Italy

3. San Niccolò

Piazzale-Michelangelo-view-FlorencePiazzale-Michelangelo-view-Florence

San Niccolò is a beautiful place to stay in Florence. The historic neighborhood is a network of cobbles and twisting streets backed by artisan workshops before exploding into open expanses of green spaces and villa gardens. It perfectly balances history, culture, and nature. And for those wanting to dodge the crowds, it sits a safe distance away from Florence’s manic city center, overlooking the cityscape from across the Arno River.

San Niccolò is on the city’s south bank, which is the opposite side of the Arno River to Centro Storico and Santa Maria Novella. Because of this, you will need to plan some extra travel time to reach the city center and sightsee things like the major attraction of Florence Cathedral. However, it only takes around 20 minutes to walk from San Niccolò to Florence’s central tourist district – how easy is that? You’ll cross over the iconic Ponte Vecchio bridge or Ponte alle Grazia, both of which are pedestrian-friendly.

There is also plenty to see and do in the neighborhood itself. The Piazzale Michelangelo is a panoramic viewpoint overlooking Florence, with a bronze David replica standing guard. The Terzo Giardino and Villa Bardini are also great places for peaceful walks in serene nature.

San Niccolò is where to stay in Florence if you want to experience a quiet culture in the city. It’s full of gardens and serenity, with a chance to experience Florence with fewer crowds.

View of Florence city from Michel Angelo square on the hill.View of Florence city from Michel Angelo square on the hill.

4. Santa Croce

piazza santa croce florencepiazza santa croce florence

Santa Croce is widely hailed as the most “charming” place to stay in Florence. It has tons of lingering heritage, being the final resting place of huge names like Galileo and Michelangelo. You have bars and cafes, plus fresh produce sold at the wholesome street market of Sant Ambrogio. It’s a romantic and ever so slightly eclectic neighborhood. You’ll find monumental tombs of the late and greats on one street and al fresco dining and markets on the next. We love its sense of street culture and outdoor living. And if you want somewhere with history but laidback culture, urban Santa Croce is where to stay in Florence.

Santa Croce sits east of the city center, less than a 15-minute walk from all the central sightseeing and attractions like the Uffizi Gallery. The south border overlooks the Arno River, while the east borders the Florence ring road, providing swift access for those driving or catching a taxi to the airport. It’s central enough to still be convenient but far out enough to escape the stifle of other weekend city breakers.

In Santa Croce itself, you’ve got the Florence National Central Library, Casa Buonarroti, the gorgeous Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze, and monumental tombs. It’s great for art, literature, and academia. And when you aren’t embracing creative history in Santa Croce, you can be shopping for fresh fruit and vegetables. The general consensus is apt; Santa Croce definitely has a “charm”.

Piazza di Santa Croce FlorencePiazza di Santa Croce Florence
Basilica-di-Santa-Croce-di-FirenzeBasilica-di-Santa-Croce-di-Firenze

5. Santo Spirito

Pitti-Palace-FlorencePitti-Palace-Florence

The Santo Spirito neighborhood is trendy, with an electric sense of nightlife. This is where you can stay in Florence if you want parties after dark, and it has a chic collection of vibrant bars that stay open long into the early hours. Santo Spirito is a fantastic place to embrace the local vibe and socialize on your trip to Florence. Oh, and it also has great restaurants, if those lively bars weren’t enough for you. Unsurprisingly, it’s considered one of the best neighborhoods in Florence.

Santo Spirito is located south of the river, like San Niccolò. However, it’s slightly more central, located just off the steps of the Ponte Vecchio bridge. Because of this, you are already on the outskirts of the city center and just a short walk to Florence’s main attractions like the cathedral and Piazza della Repubblica. It’s just a bit more convenient.

When you aren’t partying or walking briskly over Ponte Vecchio for inner-city sightseeing, there’s plenty to do in Santo Spirito. The biggest attraction in the neighborhood is Pitti Palace. Pitti Palace is an art gallery complex within a Renaissance royal palace and opens onto the Boboli Gardens.

Santo Spirito is undoubtedly the place to stay if you love to party and experience nightlife in new cities. However, it’s equally an excellent place to let your hair down in nature and admire artwork – the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens are two of Florence’s most impressive outer-city attractions.

Boboli-Gardens-FlorenceBoboli-Gardens-Florence
Palazzo-Strozzi-FlorencePalazzo-Strozzi-Florence

6. San Lorenzo

Mercato-di-San-Lorenzo-FlorenceMercato-di-San-Lorenzo-Florence

San Lorenzo is a beautiful neighborhood to the northwest of the city center. It’s right on the cusp of being in the central historic district, making it one of the most convenient places you can stay in Florence. So, apart from its location, what exactly makes San Lorenzo so special? In a word: food.

The whole neighborhood revolves around hospitality and culinary experiences. It is where you’ll find the Mercato Centrale, selling street food from 9am until midnight seven days a week and a mixture of low-light wine bars and upscale restaurants. If you take a food tour in Florence, San Lorenzo is where guides will take you. So, if you’re a foodie, you may as well skip that and just book to base yourself there instead.

It isn’t all food in this culinary-focused neighborhood (although what would be wrong with that?), and you’ve got attractions like the Basilica di San Lorenzo and the Museo di Casa Martelli. You are also less than a 10-minute walk from major sights like the Piazza del Duomo, so you can easily spend your days sightseeing. This neighborhood is where you can stay for leisurely sightseeing and culinary experiences in the galore.

Uffizi-Gallery-FlorenceUffizi-Gallery-Florence
Basilica-di-San-Lorenzo-FlorenceBasilica-di-San-Lorenzo-Florence

Best Areas to Stay in Florence: FAQ’s

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By now, you are well prepared to make your final decision on where to stay in Florence. You really are spoiled for choice, and the city has some of the best hotels, too – just thinking of Hotel Palazzo Guadagni’s rooftop terrace makes us want to head back to Florence!

Before you make any final decisions, though, here are some common FAQs. This section will help solidify your choice, especially if you’re visiting Florence for the first time.

Popular Area in FlorencePopular Area in Florence

What part of Florence is the best to stay in?

Centro Storico is the best part of Florence if you’re visiting for the first time or just for a weekend. This is because you are right in the middle of everything and just a pleasant walk from attractions like Piazza della Signoria, Florence Cathedral, and Piazza della Repubblica. It’s the heart of the city, which is excellent for a time limit.

Where should I stay in Florence for the first time?

Again, Centro Storico is the best option for first-time visitors to Florence. Its easy access to central sights is unbeatable. It’s convenient and exciting for first-time visitors to be so in the thick of it. Book in advance to avoid steeper prices and peak times, though.

Where to avoid staying in Florence?

We wouldn’t recommend staying on the outskirts of Florence, especially as it’s such a city break-style destination. If you’re visiting for a weekend, save your time on ridiculously long public transport trips just to reach the city center.

What is the most beautiful area in Florence?

San Niccolò is beautiful. It’s full of lovely gardens, wine bars that sprawl out in al fresco seating, and views of Florence’s cityscape from across the Arno River.

Where not to stay in Florence

Where not to stay in FlorenceWhere not to stay in Florence

Why we love Florence

The Planet D in FlorenceThe Planet D in Florence

There’s no denying that Florence is one of the prettiest cities in Europe. We adore its gorgeous architecture and the cultural things to do. Choosing where to stay in Florence is just the cherry on top —good accommodation is heaven-sent and helps you immerse yourself even more deeply into the city and its culture. 

In Florence, the neighborhoods have such individual senses of character. You’ve got San Niccolò’s laidback greenery and Santa Croce’s market buzz. Or Santa Maria Novella’s no-nonsense budget accommodation scene. Wherever you choose to stay, we hope you have a fantastic time.

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