Where to Stay in Florence (Best Areas & Places)

6 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Florence

The Arno River runs through the heart of Florence and divides the city in two. The main city center is located on the north side and neighborhoods like Oltrarno are across the bridges to the south. The city’s districts are all a short walking distance from each other. It takes under 30 minutes to get from San Marco in the north to Oltrarno in the south.

San Giovanni

👉 Best Area For First-Time Visitors | ✨ Best San Giovanni Hotels: Hotel Spadai • Relais Piazza Signoria • Hotel degli Orafi • Hotel Davanzati

San Giovanni is the heart of Florence and the best place to stay for first-time visitors. Here, you’ll be close to all of the best things to do. The Uffizi Gallery, Duomo, Bargello National Museum, Palazzo Vecchio, and Ponte Vecchio are just a quick stroll away no matter which hotel you choose. 

Many of the top restaurants in Florence are within reach and there are great bars nearby like La Petite and La Terraza Rooftop Bar. San Giovanni is also home to the well-known Florence shopping street of Via de’ Tornabuoni and its gaggle of luxury stores. 

However, there’s one major downside – San Giovanni is extremely crowded because it’s home to Florence’s top sites. Don’t expect serene, quiet streets. 

My pick for the #1 overall best hotel in Florence, Hotel Spadai, is right on the edge of the San Giovanni neighborhood. It’s located on a street just off the Duomo and close to absolutely everything. 

The hotel rooms at Hotel Spadai are immaculate and come in a range of sizes. The staff goes above and beyond to make you feel at home. There is even a rejuvenating wellness center with full body massages, hot tubs, and a sauna. 

The area has other gorgeous accommodations like Relais Piazza Signoria off the bustling Piazza della Signoria. This luxurious hotel offers views of Palazzo Vecchio, one of the most famous landmarks of the city. Plus, they allow furry friends to stay for no extra charge.  

Pros of Staying in San Giovanni Neighborhood:

• Centrally located 
• Super close to famous museums and sites
• Delicious restaurants ranging in price
• A mix of rooftop terrace bars and cocktail bars 

Cons of Staying in San Giovanni Neighborhood:

• Pricey
• Noisy
• Difficult to find accommodations in high season 

Santa Maria Novella

👉 Best Area For Day Trips & Central Location | ✨ Best Santa Maria Novella Hotels: 25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino • 7Florence B&B • Hotel L’Orologio

Santa Maria Novella is the perfect place for travelers who want to take advantage of day trips around Tuscany but still be able to explore the best of Florence.

This neighborhood is home to the Santa Maria Novella Station so you can easily catch a train to nearby places like Siena, Bologna, Cinque Terre, and Chianti. And because Santa Maria Novella is centrally located, places like the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Uffizi Gallery are just over 10 minutes away on foot. It’s the best of both worlds.

I recommend a stay at Hotel L’Orologio. It has a prime location right next to the beautiful 744-year-old Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, which inspired the neighborhood’s name. It’s just a stone’s throw away from the train station.

Hotel L’Orologio is great for business travelers, too, as the hotel can handle car rentals, laundry, food, and amenities like meeting rooms. 

Pros of Staying in Santa Maria Novella Neighborhood:

• Right in the city center 
• Near top attractions 
• Range of luxury and cheaper hotels 
• Close to the train station

Cons of Staying in Santa Maria Novella Neighborhood:

• Extremely busy 
• Very touristy

Oltrarno

👉 Best Area For Families & Luxury Hotels | ✨ Best Oltrarno Hotels: Soprarno Suites • Piazza Pitti Palace • Palazzo Ridolfi Residencia d’Epoca

The neighborhood of Oltrarno is an easy stroll across River Arno, away from the chaos of busier areas in central Florence. It’s the perfect place to stay when visiting Florence with kids because it’s calmer yet still within reach of attractions just across the Ponte alle Grazie bridge.

Unlike most of Florence, this neighborhood has easy access to green spaces such as The Boboli Gardens and Giardino Bardini. Oltrarno has a tamer nightlife scene with classy gems like Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina wine bar and the alluring Rasputin cocktail bar. 

This area is the best place for luxury travelers to stay in Florence thanks to its range of high-end hotels. Piazza Pitti Palace makes you feel like royalty as it’s located right across from Pitti Palace, a Renaissance castle that’s now one of the best art museums in Florence.

The hotel grounds were used for influential families in Florence back in the day. They’ve maintained that opulent energy with detailed room designs and luxury amenities including breakfast in bed. 

Pros of Staying in Oltrarno Neighborhood:

• Away from the touristy city center
• A calmer atmosphere that’s good for families
• Laidback nightlife scene with cute cocktail and wine bars 
• Top-notch luxury hotels
• Near greenery like Boboli Gardens and Giardino delle Rose

Cons of Staying in Oltrarno Neighborhood:

• Somewhat far from major attractions (but still walkable)
• Few budget hotels 
• A 15-20 minute walk into the city center

Santa Croce

👉 Best Area For Affordable Food & Fun Nightlife | ✨ Best Santa Croce Hotels: Pietrapiana Boutique Apartments • Locanda De’ Ciompi • Santa Croce 14 B&B • Hotel Balestri

Santa Croce is a historic neighborhood nestled right next to San Giovanni that has excellent nightlife. For this reason, it’s the best neighborhood for backpackers and partiers.

There are cocktail bars like FUK and Bitter Bar, along with rowdier joints such as The Book Pub and Off The Hook. You can even catch some live music at Jazz Club Firenze in Santa Croce.

Santa Croce has particularly affordable restaurants serving up the fresh and delicious food you crave in Italy. Il Giova, for example, is a tiny, authentic restaurant with Italian staples like risotto and tagliatelle al funghi for as little as 8€ a plate.

Unfortunately, the neighborhood’s affordability does not extend to its accommodations because Santa Croce is in high demand. However, early bookers can find some gorgeous stays here, such as Santa Croce 14 B&B.

Hotel Balestri features a bar terrace overlooking the Arno River, providing great views over Florence in the evening. It’s just a short walk from points of interest like Ponte Vecchio and can accommodate pets or provide childcare for an extra fee. 

Pros of Staying in Santa Croce Neighborhood:

• Beautiful, historic architecture
• Plenty of affordable cafes and restaurants 
• Rich nightlife scene with a range of bars and clubs

Cons of Staying in Santa Croce Neighborhood:

• Difficult to find cheap accommodations 
• Loud on the weekends

San Marco

👉 Best Area For Peaceful Atmosphere | ✨ Best San Marco Hotels: Hotel Orto de’ Medici • Boutique Hotel Hugo • B&B La Marmora 39

San Marco is a quiet neighborhood just north of the city center where the Accademia Gallery with Michelangelo’s David statue is housed. The famous museum generates foot traffic with its 1.5 million visitors a year, but it’s still a fairly calm place to stay.

The authentic Florentine neighborhood is within walking distance from the heart of the city without being tainted by crowds or noise. At almost all times of the day, there is a peaceful lull over San Marco, which is great for relaxed or introverted travelers.

There are a ton of trendy vintage stores around San Marco, such as Melrose Vintage, Street Doing Vintage Couture, and Rewind Vintage Selection. It’s also close to authentic Italian restaurants, like Il Vezzo and Trattoria Mario.

Since it’s more of a residential district, there aren’t very many hotels to choose from in San Marco. You can find a couple of stylish hotels scattered around the neighborhood, though. 

Just take B&B La Marmora 39 for instance. This adorable bed-and-breakfast accommodates your every need, from booking public transportation tickets to arranging special meals for guests with dietary restrictions. 

Pros of Staying in San Marco Neighborhood:

• Authentic, quiet neighborhood 
• Includes the famous Accademia Gallery
• Lots of adorable vintage and thrift shops
• Easy access to the city center without being too close

Cons of Staying in San Marco Neighborhood:

• Few attractions besides the Accademia Gallery 
• Not many hotels to choose from
• Limited nightlife

San Lorenzo

👉 Best Area For Shopping | ✨ Best San Lorenzo Hotels: Palazzo della Stufa Residenza D’Epoca • Martelli 6 Suite & Apartments • Ostello Bello Firenze

San Lorenzo has a diverse shopping scene where you can dive into Florence’s 700+ years of leather-making history. At the outdoor San Lorenzo Leather Market, you’ll find rows of vendors selling an array of colorful handmade products like bags, wallets, jackets, and shoes.

It’s also home to Il Mercato Centrale, the biggest food market in Florence. The ground floor of the Central Market is like wandering around the coolest grocery store ever, with tons of local products. Up the stairs there is a food-hall space with spots to eat and drink. 

For budget travelers, San Lorenzo offers accommodations like Ostello Bello Firenze. It has spacious rooms that can fit 1-7 people, a rooftop terrace, and rotating events – perfect for families or social butterflies. Just book in advance as this hotel sells out fast in the high season. 

San Lorenzo is sandwiched between the Santa Maria Novella Train Station and San Marco and San Giovanni neighborhoods. Its location makes it a good anchoring point to explore Florence and other places around Tuscany as well.

Pros of Staying in San Lorenzo Neighborhood:

• Il Mercato Centrale and the outdoor leather market
• Near Florence’s main train station 
• Best hotels for a range of budgets 
• Walking distance to other cool Florence neighborhoods
• Amazing restaurants with reasonable prices

Cons of Staying in San Lorenzo Neighborhood:

• Accommodations sell out fast
• Lots of tourists

Tips for Staying in Florence

Stay in San Lorenzo or San Marco if You’re On a Budget

Unlike many cities, the prices in Florence don’t necessarily get cheaper the further you get from the city center. The Oltrarno neighborhood across the Arno River actually has some of the most expensive Florence hotels.

Conversely, many of the city’s best budget hotels are located near the middle of the city in neighborhoods like San Lorenzo and San Marco. This is great for budget travelers because you can save money and be close to everything. 

Compare Hotel vs Hostel Rates

Florence’s low season occurs from November to March and is the best time to visit Italy for cheap accommodations, including hostels. Budget travelers can find a hostel dorm room for as little as 20€ a night during this time. 

However, hostels get much more expensive during the busy season with the rest of Florence’s accommodations. During these times, a hostel dorm averages over 125€ and there are plenty of private hotels close to that price.    

Make Reservations at Popular Restaurants

Florence is one of the most popular cities to visit in Italy with over 15 million visitors passing through every year. That’s why it’s so important to make reservations, especially at the city’s top restaurants. 

Some of the best places to eat in Florence have very small restaurant spaces and limited tables, like Il Latini and Il Vezzo. Make a reservation as soon as you get to Florence or even before you arrive to ensure you nab a table. 

Avoid Staying Directly Next to the Major Museums

As you’re deciding where to stay in Florence, steer clear of the blocks with popular museums. Staying right next to these tourist attractions can be incredibly busy and crowded.

Hotspots like the Accademia Gallery and the Uffizi Gallery tend to accumulate pulsing lines of tourists outside. Staying just a few blocks away from major attractions means having the convenience of being close without the chaos.

Have Your Photo ID Ready When Staying at Airbnbs

Don’t be surprised when your accommodation host asks to see a photo of your passport. Hotels and Airbnb hosts in Italy are required by law to ask guests for their passport details. The goal is to monitor who is coming in and out of the country for safety reasons. 

In fact, you should be more suspicious if your host never asks for your passport info. It likely means they’re not registered with the proper authorities. 

FAQs

What are the best areas to stay in Florence with a car?

There are not many good places to stay in Florence with a car. All the main neighborhoods around the city have limited public parking and narrow streets with lots of pedestrians. Visitors who must have a car in Florence should find a hotel with parking services for a fee. For example, Hotel Spadai offers private parking for 45€ per day. 

What are the best areas to stay in Florence on a budget?

The best areas to stay in Florence on a budget are San Lorenzo and San Marco. San Lorenzo is near the city center with tons of hotels to choose from, including budget options like Ostello Bello Firenze. San Marco is just outside the city center and offers slightly reduced prices as it’s away from Florence’s main attractions and the nightlife scene. 

What is the best zone to stay in Florence?

The best place for first-time visitors in Florence is the San Giovanni neighborhood. This is the city center and you’ll be near all the famous attractions. Families might prefer the quieter alternative of Oltrarno. Visitors hoping to explore the Tuscan region should try to stay near the train station in Santa Maria Novella. 

Should I stay in Florence or outside?

Staying inside Florence is better for first-time visitors as it’s convenient and everything is a short walk away. Staying outside Florence allows for a more authentic, less hectic experience. Neighborhoods outside the city center, like San Marco, also have cheaper prices. 

How many days do I need in Florence?

Three days in Florence is the perfect amount of time to get an introduction to the city. Since Florence is a fairly compact and walkable city, you can visit all the main attractions and museums on foot in about two days. On the last day, you can take a quick day trip to nearby Bologna, the wine towns of the Chianti region, or Milan. 

Can I walk everywhere in Florence?

It’s possible to walk everywhere in the city center of Florence. The city’s neighborhoods are all close to each other and it’s very pedestrian-friendly. It takes less than 30 minutes to walk from the San Marco neighborhood across the Arno River to the Oltrarno district. Plus, all of Florence’s major attractions are along the way.

***

That’s the end of my guide to where to stay in Florence. Which neighborhood is your top choice? Next, read my guide to the best things to do in Florence.

–Lea Rose Allbaugh contributed to this article.