Are you going on holiday to Florence? See which locations and cities are the best, cheapest and most practical for accommodation in Florence.
Where to stay in Florence
Florence is not big and you have a choice between 2 options, You can stay in the heart of the city at just a few minutes walk from Florence's main sights, or outside the historic centre.
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Historic Centre
The historic centre of the city is where all the important sights are located, and you can walk from one end to the other in around 30 minutes. So it doesn't really matter which part of the historic centre you stay in, decide on price and standard of accommodation rather than location.
You won't go wrong if you stay in the Oltrarno district south of the Arno River, where you'll find plenty of artisan shops, but especially the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. If you're looking for livelier nightlife, look for accommodation near Via dei Benci and Piazza Santo Spirito, where there are plenty of pubs and discos open late.
All of these locations are within the same development and are no more than 15 minutes' walk from each other.
Outside the historic centre
If you're looking to ease your wallet, consider staying outside the historic centre, where you can also experience the life of a true Florentine. We recommend accommodations near Piazzale Michelangelo in the Gavinana district on the south bank of the Arno River, which are still within walking distance of the historic center. The city centre can be reached in about 15-20 minutes on foot. Here you will find classic hotels at more affordable prices between 73 eur and 110 eur, the downside being the greater distance from the train station.
Then look for the largest number of cheap private apartments, guesthouses and hostels in the Porta al Prato district to the northwest of the main station in the modern part of Florence.
By the station
A specific location is the Santa Maria Novella neighbourhood near Florence's main train station.
In a way, it can be included right in the historic centre, but if Florence will serve as a starting point for travelling around Tuscany, accommodation as close to the station as possible will certainly come in handy.
Tips for the best hotels in Florence
To make it easier to choose the best accommodation, we provide tips on specific hotels, selecting the best value for each category from thousands of offers.
The cheapest accommodation
The lowest prices starting at around 55 eur offer affitacamere type accommodation, i.e. smaller guesthouses or private apartments in ordinary apartment buildings. There are a large number of similar offers, in the price range 73 eur, with good ratings and private bathrooms we choose for example the following:
- La Tana Dei Leoni Affittacamere - Guesthouse with small clean rooms with the best price/location ratio. Located in the historic centre on the banks of the Arno River, it often sells out
- Maison Étoile - a simple, clean guesthouse in the Porta al Prato district about 10 minutes walk from the station and 20 minutes to the centre
- Appartamento San Frediano - a private apartment in a great location on the south bank of the Arno just 10 minutes' walk from the centre
Cheap hotels
If you prefer classic hotels with reception, expect the lowest prices from 0 eur 0 eur per night.
- Hotel Bodoni ** - One of the cheapest within the historic centre, simple clean rooms, price drops somewhere below 66 eur
- Hotel Argentina *** - modern hotel close to the train station and 15 minutes from the centre
Quality hotel chains
If you like to indulge or like the standard you're used to from other hotels, use these tips from multinational hotel chains. Prices range from 139 eur 183 eur per night for two, depending on the location of the hotel.
- Hilton Garden Inn Florence Novoli **** - A hotel in a quiet location by a park away from the centre, but with attractive prices from 110 eur
- Mercure Firenze Centro **** - with prices around 165 eur per night and a location right in the historic centre and by the train station is almost unbeatable in its category
Luxury and stylish hotels
Do you want to enjoy your trip to Florence with everything without compromising on style or even luxury? We would choose, for example Hotel Pitti Palace **** with a magnificent roof terrace overlooking the cathedral and the Arno River. The central location can't be faulted and even the prices around 165 eur are reasonable.
Of the really luxurious hotels, we'd choose the stylish Hotel Firenze Number Nine *****.
Hotel prices in Florence
The average price for a hotel room in the historic centre of the city is around 0 eur 18 eur 257 eur per night. Slightly cheaper tend to be private apartments where, with enough advance notice, you can get a night from 103 eur.
Outside the centre, you can get a room of the same category for 0 eur 0 eur 128 eur. The cheapest hostels start at 33 eur per night for 1 bed in a shared bedroom.
Very popular in Florence are the so-called affitacamere, typically classic apartments set aside for rent, usually on one floor of a regular apartment building. A night in such accommodation costs from about 51 eur.
In Florence, the earlier you book your accommodation, the cheaper it can be.
If you book a regular hotel at the last minute (i.e. 1-2 months in advance), expect to pay double the price compared to booking 4 or more months in advance.
Expect to find the cheapest accommodation in Florence in January, February, March and autumn. Conversely, the most expensive tends to be around all holidays, especially before Christmas and Easter.
