Where to Stay in Florence: Best Areas & Hotels for Every Budget

Imagine a city skyline decorated with a thousand shades of burnt orange.

Cobblestone streets with vintage vespas, scenes from everyone’s Pinterest board, manifest on every turn. At the heart of the city, a monumental dome with Renaissance grandeur ascends above the horizon.

This is Florence, my first love.  

I fell in love with the city before ever visiting. I saw pictures of the Ponte Vecchio all over travel blogs. I read about the incredible collection of art at the Uffizi Gallery in art history textbooks. I was captivated with the Renaissance capital of Italy before even stepping foot in its historic splendor.

I had a huge crush on Florence, even though we’d never formally met.

When I made the decision to move to Florence, after seeing the textbook come to life on a day trip from Rome in 2019, I knew I had the opportunity to explore everything Florence had to offer. 

From the monumental historic landmarks, like Santa Maria del Fiore and its dome, to the city’s unique modern aspects, woven into its decorative Renaissance past, I became well acquainted with the city that captured my heart. What began as a small crush turned into a lasting admiration for a city so beautifully preserved in medieval history. 

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Florence’s rich history, beautiful art and architecture, and delectable food scene, makes it an incredible place to visit for all types of travelers. Whether you’d prefer to check-off historic museums and landmarks or would rather embark on a local food tour, Florence has something for everyone!

Despite being a relatively small city, Florence has many neighborhoods, each with their own culture. Whether you prefer to choose from a list of the best boutique hotels in Florence, or would rather choose a homey, affordable hotel near the city center, there are many hotels and hostels to choose from in Florence!

I’ve compiled a list of the best neighborhoods in Florence – including a map of the Florence – with pros and cons for each area!

Here are my recommendations for the best hotels in Florence! This guide is great for first-time travelers, or anyone looking for options for their next trip to the Renaissance capital of Italy!

Florence Neighborhood Map

Wondering where to stay in Florence for the first time?

Download my personalized map of the best neighborhoods in Florence, Italy — complete with my top hotel and hostel recommendations — to help you plan the perfect trip to the Renaissance capital!

Where to Stay in Florence, Italy

Recommendations from a Traveler Who Lived There

A Breakdown of Florence Neighborhoods

The Heart of Florence – Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria

The place to journey into Florence’s artistic and architectural heritage 

The heart of Florence (blue on my downloadable map of Florence neighborhoods) is a great place for first-time visitors to stay! Centrally located with access to some of the city’s most incredible museums like the Uffizi Gallery and Bargello, the historic heart of Florence is my top recommendation for travelers visiting Florence for the first time. 

I lived in Florence just on the outskirts of Santa Croce, but I always found myself venturing into the historic city center. 

There are endless restaurants in Florence city center, all within walking distance of the Piazza del Duomo. Brunelleschi’s mind-boggling dome towers over the city center, giving travelers endless photo opportunities at all times of day (and night!).

Climbing to the top of Giotto’s Campanile, the old bell tower adjacent to Santa Maria del Fiore is arguably one of the best things to do in Florence! Who wouldn’t love a bird’s-eye view of the orange rooftops?

Here are my top recommendations for the best hotels in Florence’s city center!

Santa Maria Novella

The budget-friendly area in Florence, accessible to regional transportation

Florence’s Santa Maria Novella neighborhood (red on my downloadable Florence neighborhood map) boasts the magnificent Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, a masterpiece of Florentine Gothic architecture. Founded by Dominican monks, this monumental church houses an extraordinary collection of art and frescoes that date back to the 14th and 15th centuries, offering a breathtaking glimpse into the city’s rich religious and artistic heritage.

The Santa Maria Novella neighborhood is located near Florence’s busy transportation stations – bus and train – making it a great place to stay in Florence for budget travelers or travelers visiting the city for a short time.

If you’re planning on staying around Florence’s busy transport stations, I recommend looking for accommodations closer to Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, or near the Arno River! 

Additionally, make sure to stop by the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica, one of Florence’s oldest pharmacies dating back to the 13th century! Today, Officina Profumo Farmaceutica sells a variety of unique fragrances which make a great souvenir for your trip to Florence!

Here are my recommendations for the best hostels and hotels in Santa Maria Novella!

San Marco

Best neighborhood in Florence for local markets and street side views of the Duomo

The San Marco neighborhood of Florence (green on my downloadable map of Florence) has a truly local vibe compared to the historic city center. 

Florence’s San Marco area offers visitors close access to Galleria dell’Accademia – which houses the monumental David statue by Michelangelo. At the heart of San Marco is Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, which offers incredible street views of the Duomo. Did I mention my favorite sandwich shop, Un Caffè, is located just along the outskirts of this piazza?

The local university, Università di Firenze, gives San Marco a youthful, lively vibe. There is a variety of local cafés, bars and trattorie to choose from! San Marco is one of the best places to stay in Florence! Outside the hustle and bustle of the touristy city center, you’ll discover the local side of Florence!

Here are my recommendations for the best hotels in San Marco, Florence!

Santa Croce and Sant’ Ambrogio

Florence’s vibrant, lively neighborhood with endless local bars

The Santa Croce neighborhood (yellow on my downloadable Florence map) is located on the east side of the historic city center in Florence. Offering travelers endless boutique and luxury hotels options, beautiful piazzas with monumental basilicas, and vibrant nightlife, Santa Croce is a great area to stay for adventurers hoping to experience the historic Florence charm during the day, and party with the locals during the nights. 

The Basilica di Santa Croce, a decorative Italian gothic cathedral, stands at the heart of this local neighborhood. Everyday I had the opportunity to walk by Piazza di Santa Croce on the way home to my homestay and each time I passed by the monumental basilica, I was baffled by its magnificence. 

Not only are there a variety of incredible bars and local restaurants in the Santa Croce neighborhood, just north of the Piazza di Santa Croce is Sant’Ambrogio, a less-touristy part of Florence buzzing with locals and off-the-beaten-path adventurers. 

Sant’Ambrogio neighborhood is home to Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio, a local market offering a variety of local flavors including coccoli, a fried Italian bread ball served with stracchino and prosciutto!

My favorite street in Florence, Borgo la Croce, is a great place for an afternoon stroll to experience the local side of Florence!

Here are my recommendations for the best hotels in Santa Croce!

Santo Spirito and Oltrarno – Pitti Palace and Beyond

The quieter, less-touristy part of Florence across the River Arno

Not many travelers consider crossing beyond the Ponte Vecchio, and exploring Florence’s less-touristy Santo Spirito and Oltrarno neighborhoods (purple on my downloadable map of the best neighborhoods in Florence)! Just south across the Arno River is a whole different side of Florence – the quieter, local side of the Renaissance capital of Italy!

I journeyed south beyond the Arno River quite frequently when I lived in Florence, often visiting my favorite café, La Cité, for a hot cup of tea, or venturing up the stairs to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset (two of my FAVORITE unique things to do in Florence!).

If you prefer to stay in the off-the-beaten-path areas in Florence, I highly recommend looking into hotels and hostels south of the Arno River. You’ll be close to Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, getting first pick for a picnic spot with incredible views of Florence’s skyline. 

There are a variety of amazing local restaurants and cafés in the Santo Spirito and Oltrarno areas, and the hotel and hostel options are some of the best in Florence!

Here are my recommendations for the hostels and hotels on the south side of the Arno River!

Enjoy your stay in Florence!

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