Best Hotels in Florence: Where to Stay for Every Budget
Florence is one of those cities where the right hotel changes everything. You are not just booking a bed. You are booking a door that opens onto cobblestones a few blocks from the Duomo, a terrace with views you have to earn in most cities or a quiet courtyard that makes the whole trip feel like it was meant to be. This guide covers the best hotels in Florence across every style and budget, from grand luxury properties to small B&Bs with character.
We lived in Florence for a year after leaving the US in 2017. It was our first home abroad and the city we know better than almost anywhere. Via Roma was our street. We walked to the Mercato Centrale for groceries, knew which bars did the best aperitivo and watched the tourists come and go while we figured out how to be locals. These picks come from that time, from multiple return visits, from stays we have done ourselves and from friends and family we have hosted and sent to the city. It is what we would tell you if you asked us over a glass of Chianti where to book.
Florence hotels occupy Renaissance palazzos, converted monasteries and noble family residences. Unlike Venice where you pay a premium for canal views, in Florence you can stay in actual historic properties within walking distance of everything.
| Quick Florence neighborhood notes: Duomo and Centro Storico. The center of everything. Walk to all the major sights, highest prices, busy streets. Worth it for first timers. Santa Croce. Slightly east of center, less crowded than the Duomo zone, excellent restaurants and a great local feel. Oltrarno. South of the Arno, the artisan and gallery side of Florence. Quieter, more residential, still walkable to everything. Santa Maria Novella. Around the train station. Convenient for arrivals and departures, slightly less atmospheric but solid mid-range options. Lungarno. Along the river. Some of the best views in the city. Worth paying a small premium if a river view matters to you. First-time visitors: Stay in Duomo/Centro Storico or Santa Croce. Return visits: Explore Oltrarno for quieter, more local feel. Florence is served by Florence Airport (Peretola/FLR, 20 min to center) or Pisa Airport (1 hour). Most hotels offer airport transfers. |
Florence hotel prices peak during spring (March-June) and fall (September-October). Book 3-4 months ahead for these periods. July-August is hot but you’ll find better availability and lower rates. Many hotels offer last-minute deals in November-February except around Christmas.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend hotels we’d stay at ourselves.
Luxury Hotels in Florence
For travelers who want world-class service, historic settings and hotels that feel like part of the trip.
1. Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
Friends have stayed here – consistently excellent reports
Rating: 5 stars
Location: Via del Serragli area, near the Arno, with extensive private gardens
Why Stay Here: This is the most extraordinary hotel in Florence and one of the most extraordinary in Italy. It occupies two historic Renaissance palaces and sits within the largest private garden in Florence. If you are going to splurge once, this is the place. We have had friends stay here and the reports are consistent: exceptional service, beautiful rooms and a sense of calm you cannot find at most properties this central.
Price Range: $$$$$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
2. Palazzo Vecchietti
On our bucket list
Rating: 5 stars
Location: Near Piazza della Repubblica, steps from the Duomo
Why Stay Here: An elegant small luxury hotel inside a restored 16th-century palazzo. Only 13 apartments, which means the service is personal and attentive in a way that larger properties cannot match. You are in the heart of the historic center without being in a generic luxury box. This is on our personal bucket list for our next Florence visit.
Price Range: $$$$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
3. Hotel Brunelleschi
On our bucket list
Rating: 5 stars
Location: Piazza Santa Elisabetta, steps from the Duomo
Why Stay Here: Built into a genuine Byzantine tower and medieval church, this is a property with real bones. The location is remarkable. You step outside and the Duomo is right there. The tower suite is the kind of thing you remember for years. One of our bucket list properties because there is simply nothing else quite like staying inside a piece of Florence history at this level.
Price Range: $$$$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
4. Villa Cora
On our bucket list
Rating: 4 stars
Location: Oltrarno, in a private park near Boboli Gardens and Porta Romana
Why Stay Here: A 19th-century neo-Renaissance villa built by Baron Oppenheim as a love letter to his wife. This is grand, opulent Florence at its most extravagant. Each floor has a different design theme – the second floor is a tribute to Empress Eugénie with roses everywhere, the third floor is Oriental-inspired, original frescoes by Angelo Pietrasanta and Luigi Samoggia throughout. The villa has the only year-round heated outdoor pool in Florence, set in gardens with over 100 varieties of roses. Underground tunnels connect the villa to the spa and pool restaurant. This is Leading Hotels of the World territory with a guest list that includes Tchaikovsky and Japanese emperors. Not understated in any way – this is full baroque, frescoed, velvet-canopied four-poster bed luxury. If you want to feel like 19th-century Florentine aristocracy, this is the hotel. On our personal list for a future stay.
Price Range: $$$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
5. The Place Firenze
Guests of ours have stayed here
Rating: 5 stars
Location: Near Santa Maria Novella, close to the train station
Why Stay Here: Small luxury in the truest sense. Only 20 rooms, a stunning courtyard garden and service that feels genuinely personal rather than corporate. Friends have stayed here and raved about how calm and well-appointed it is. If you want five-star treatment without the scale of a grand hotel, this is an excellent pick.
Price Range: $$$$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
Boutique and Character Hotels in Florence
For travelers who want personality, history and smaller properties with a real sense of place.
1. Borghese Palace Art Hotel
We have stayed here, great art-filled palazzo experience
Rating: 4 stars
Location: Via Ghibellina, steps from the Duomo and Santa Croce
Why Stay Here: We stayed here on our first trip to Florence before we moved, around 2015, and it set the tone perfectly. The rooms are filled with art, the building is a genuine historic palazzo and the location puts you a short walk from both the Duomo and Santa Croce. It is a smart pick for first timers who want character over generic comfort.
Price Range: $$$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
2. NH Collection Porta Rossa
We have stayed here
Rating: 4 stars
Location: Via Porta Rossa, between Piazza della Repubblica and Ponte Vecchio
Why Stay Here: One of the oldest hotels in Florence, operating in a building that has been welcoming guests since the 13th century. The location on Via Porta Rossa is excellent. It is quiet enough to feel away from the crowds and close enough to walk to everything in ten minutes. We have stayed here and appreciated that it delivers on both history and comfort without being stuffy about it.
Price Range: $$-$$$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
3. Hotel Pitti Palace al Ponte Vecchio
Rating: 4 stars
Location: Oltrarno, steps from Ponte Vecchio and Pitti Palace
Why Stay Here: The Oltrarno is our favorite side of Florence and this property puts you right in the middle of it. Walk to Ponte Vecchio in two minutes, reach Pitti Palace on foot and have the quieter, more residential Florence right outside your door. A solid boutique option for travelers who have been before and want to explore beyond the Centro Storico.
Price Range: $$-$$$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
4. Hotel Kraft
On our research list
Rating: 4 stars
Location: Near the Teatro Comunale and Santa Maria Novella
Why Stay Here: A Florence institution with a loyal following. The rooftop pool is a genuine plus in summer, rare at this price point in the center. Good mid-range to upper-mid option for travelers who want a reliable, well-located hotel with more personality than a chain. We have researched this one extensively as a potential option for return visits.
Price Range: $$-$$$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
Apartment Style and Serviced Apartments in Florence
For travelers who want more space, kitchen access and a residential feel, especially for longer stays.
1. Forte 16 View and Spa
We have stayed here multiple times, our top return-visit pick, very dog friendly
Rating: 4 stars
Location: Near Forte di Belvedere, Oltrarno with views over Florence
Why Stay Here: This is our go-to when we return to Florence. The apartments are spacious, the indoor pool is a real luxury and it is one of the most dog friendly accommodations we have found anywhere in Italy. Some units have sweeping views over Florence. If you are staying more than a few nights or traveling with a dog, this is our strongest recommendation on this list.
Price Range: $$-$$$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
**Traveling with a dog to Florence? Forte 16 is our top pick – we’ve stayed multiple times with our dog and the staff treats four-legged guests exceptionally well. Indoor pool access year-round.**
2. Soprarno Suites
Rating: 4 stars
Location: Oltrarno, Via Maggio
Why Stay Here: A beautifully designed apartment hotel on one of the Oltrarno’s most elegant streets. Via Maggio is lined with antique shops and strong restaurants. The suites feel like staying in a curated Florentine apartment rather than a hotel. A strong option for couples or design focused travelers who want residential charm without sacrificing comfort.
Price Range: $$-$$$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
3. Residenza dell’Oriuolo
Rating: 4 stars
Location: Near Santa Croce, short walk from the Duomo
Why Stay Here: One of the better value apartment style options in the centro storico. Well located between Santa Croce and the Duomo with spacious rooms and a flexible layout. A practical choice for families or longer stays when you want a kitchen and extra room without leaving the historic center.
Price Range: $-$$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
Great Locations and Good Value in Florence
For travelers who want strong positioning and comfort without luxury pricing.
1. C-Hotels Ambasciatori
We have stayed here
Rating: 4 stars
Location: Via Alamanni, next to Santa Maria Novella train station
Why Stay Here: Clean, comfortable and professionally run. Being next to the train station makes arrivals and Tuscany day trips simple. Not glamorous and not trying to be. If you are moving around by train and need a reliable Florence base, this is a straightforward and solid choice.
Price Range: $$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
2. B&B Il Salotto di Firenze
Right across the hall from our old apartment on Via Roma, those Duomo views are the real deal
Rating: 4 stars
Location: Via Roma, steps from the Duomo
Why Stay Here: This one is personal. When we lived on Via Roma this B&B was directly across the hallway from our apartment. The Duomo views are extraordinary and completely real. The location is as central as it gets for this price point. For travelers who want to wake up in the heart of Florence without paying five star rates, this is a smart find.
Price Range: $$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
3. Hotel Davanzati
Rating: 3 stars
Location: Via Porta Rossa, Piazza della Repubblica area
Why Stay Here: A well run family owned three star that consistently outperforms its category. Central without inflated pricing and known for warm service. Frequently cited as one of the best value hotels in Florence. A smart booking for travelers who prioritize location and character over luxury branding.
Price Range: $-$$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
4. Hotel Il Perseo
Rating: 3 stars
Location: Near Santa Maria Novella train station
Why Stay Here: Clean, friendly and dependable. An easy location for getting in and out of the city and a practical choice for short stays or Tuscany day trips. Not a destination property but a reliable one.
Price Range: $ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
5. Hotel Degli Orafi
Rating: 4 stars
Location: Lungarno degli Archibusieri, on the Arno next to the Uffizi
Why Stay Here: If location is the priority and you want river views without ultra luxury pricing, this is the answer. Steps from the Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio with rooms overlooking the Arno. A strong choice for travelers who know Florence and want to prioritize position.
Price Range: $$-$$$ per night
Check Rates on Booking.com | Expedia
Florence rewards you for choosing well. The city is compact and location matters more than people expect. Being ten minutes closer to the Duomo changes your entire rhythm. Choose the neighborhood first, then book the hotel that fits your budget within it. Any of these options will give you a proper Florence base.
Read More About Florence
Looking for more ideas? Read our Florence Travel Guide for top landmarks, family favorites, food and planning tips.
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