Where To Stay In Florence, Italy: The Best Neighborhoods & Hotels

Florence is one of the most popular cities among travelers when visiting the incredible country of Italy. While it is relatively small, it can be hard to determine which area and hotel to stay in for the kind of trip you are looking for. In this guide we will go over where to stay in Florence: the best neighborhoods & hotels.

When I visited Florence I stayed in 3 different hotels in 3 different neighborhoods. I also took time out of each day to visit all of Florence's' neighborhoods. After getting a feel for each one, and, of course researching a ton I have determined that these 5 are the very best!

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1. Duomo

The Duomo neighborhood is the absolute best neighborhood to stay in for first time visitors in Florence. In the Duomo Neighborhood you will find all of the cities main attractions (Uffizi Gallery, The Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, and more) and you will come across some of the best hotels in the Renaissance city.

Now if you have been to Florence before, or simply hate crowds, avoid the Duomo Neighborhood as it is very busy and crowded pretty much all the time.

Best Hotels In Duomo

🛎️Budget - Hotel Orto de' Medici (I stayed here & loved it)

🛎️Middle Range - Solo Experience Hotel

🛎️Luxury - Hotel Lungarno

2. Santa Maria Novella

Located just north west of the Duomo neighborhood, Santa Maria Novella is a lovely alternative to the Duomo neighborhood. Especially for first time visitors to Florence who wants to stay in a quieter area and is on a budget.

Santa Maria Novella is residential, but it is so close to the historic center (the Duomo Neighborhood). So you can easily just stay in the cheaper quieter area and walk a few minutes to see the sights.

Best Hotels In Santa Maria Novella

🛎️Budget - Hotel Leonardo da Vinci

🛎️Middle Range - Santa Maria Novella

🛎️Luxury - Dimora Palanca Boutique & SPA (I stayed here)

3. Santa Croce

The Santa Croce Neighborhood is located just southeast of Duomo. This charming neighborhood is less busy then Duomo but more busy than Santa Maria Novella. Santa Croce is home to plenty to do and also has a cool local flare.

What I noticed in this neighborhood was all of the amazing restaurants and cafes, so if you are a fellow foodie, Santa Croce is a great option!

Best Hotels In Santa Croce

🛎️Budget - Hotel Santa Croce

🛎️Middle Range - LE RÊVE DE NAIM Firenze

🛎️Luxury - Numeroventi

4. Oltrarno

Located on the other side of the Arno, The Oltrarno Neighborhood is my favorite in Florence. This neighborhood is historic, yet hip with cool cafes, art galleries, and unique boutiques. There are also plenty of things to do in Oltrarno, like Pitti Palace or Piazzale Michelangelo.

If I were to visit Florence again, I would definitely stay in the Oltrarno Neighborhood! The Oltrarno Neighborhood is great for longer stays or people looking to explore Florence more locally.

Best Hotels In Oltrarno

🛎️Budget - Palazzo D'Oltrarno

🛎️Middle Range - Art Hotel Villa Agape (I stayed here, my favorite hotel in Florence)

🛎️Luxury - Hotel Torre di Bellosguardo

5. Fiesole

Fiesole is a small suburb of Florence, and is actually older than the Renaissance city. Located about 30 minutes outside of the historic city center, Fiesole offers a peaceful and tranquil place to stay in the Florence area. If you want a taste of the Tuscan countryside without venturing too far out of Florence, Fiesole may be the place for you.

What I loved most about Fiesole was the views, food, and peacefulness. While in Fiesole I didn't feel like I was in a city, or even near one, but in the middle of Tuscany.

Best Hotels In Fiesole

🛎️Budget - B&B Le Cannelle

🛎️Middle Range - FH55 Hotel

🛎️Luxury - Il Palagio Vecchio

🍷Read Next - Fiesole Travel Guide

Where To Stay In Florence, Italy: The Best Neighborhoods & Hotels Wrap Up

Florence is an incredible city with so much to do and see. We hope that this guide to Where To Stay In Florence, Italy: The Best Neighborhoods & Hotels helps you choose the perfect place to stay in Florence. If you liked this post be sure to checkout our Florence Travel Guide, our Fiesole Travel Guide, What To Pack For Florence, our tips for Studying Abroad In Florence, and our Pisa Travel Guide.

Happy Travels,

Daisy