Florence, Italy is one of the most beautiful regions in the world. This Central Italian city is notable for functioning as a major hub of culture and economy for centuries and is in fact considered by many to be the birthplace of the Renaissance.
The city of Florence is a popular place to visit for tourists from all over the world. There are plenty of museums, galleries, restaurants, and landmarks throughout the city to see and the historic city center itself has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you’re planning a trip to this impressive destination you have likely realized that there is something incredible around every corner but you might be wondering where exactly you should stay when you visit. Florence has several neighborhoods that are perfect for visitors, each with its own unique benefits. This list highlights seven of the best neighborhoods and areas to stay in when you visit Florence and will help you make your decision about where to stay.
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1. San Lorenzo
The San Lorenzo neighborhood, located in the heart of Florence, is sandwiched between San Marco and Santa Maria Novello and abuts the Duomo. The neighborhood is densely packed with historical sites that are a must-see for anyone visiting Florence. It’s a vibrant neighborhood with a variety of budget hotels and restaurants. It tends to be a little noisier at night due to its thriving nightlife culture so this is not the place to stay if you want a quiet place to stay.
Some of the best things to see in San Lorenzo include the Basilica di San Lorenzo, the first basilica ever built in Florence. This architectural wonder is the final resting place for many members of the infamous Medici family. If you’re interested in the Medicis, you can also visit the Palazzo Medici Riccardi in San Lorenzo.
Top Hotels in San Lorenzo:
2. Centro Storico
Centro Storico is the best place to stay for first-time travelers as it’s very close to some of the most iconic sights. You’ll be able to get around easily when you stay here without having to spend too much time navigating public transportation or hiring a car service.
There are many incredible sights to see in the area. One of the major highlights is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, first built in 1296, which is one of the most iconic monuments of this area. You can climb 463 steps to the top to enjoy an amazing view of the historical city. You can also see the original iconic Michaelangelo statue, David, when you visit the Galleria dell’Accademia.
Top Hotels in Centro Storico:
3. Santa Croce
The art-filled Santa Croce church is one of the few completely authentic neighborhoods in Florence that haven’t been influenced too heavily by tourism. A limited number of tourists venture out this way so if you stay here you can truly get the experience of feeling like a local. The neighborhood also has a thriving nightlife so you can enjoy it any time of day.
One of the highlights of Santa Croce is the Piazza Santa Croce, one of the borders of the area. It is a major public square that is lined with important buildings such as the Basilica of Santa Croce that gives it its name.
Although there are many hotels at differing price points in this area, if you have the opportunity to treat yourself to luxurious accommodations stay at the Baglioni Relais Santa Croce. This upscale hotel has fine dining, a piano lounge, and some of the rooms come with balconies that provide fantastic views of the surrounding area.
Best Hotels to Stay in Santa Croce:
4. Sant’Ambrogio
The lively Sant’Ambrogio neighborhood, roughly extending from via Pietrapiana to piazza Beccaria and encompassing some of the streets and squares jutting out from these main drags, is the eastern end of the historic center. The Sant’Ambrogio Market, a historic go-to spot for neighborhood shoppers stocking a smorgasbord of meats, cheeses, fish, fresh produce, and more, is its most famous monument and claim to fame. You can round off your day in Sant’Ambrogio by sampling some delicious local cuisine under the stars at any of the sidewalk cafes.
La Maison du Sage is a classic hotel that offers breakfast services included in the cost of the room. The unique room layouts and designs have a midcentury modern edge as well as all of the modern amenities. It’s also a great option for budget-conscious travelers.
Best Hotels to Stay in Sant’Ambrogio:
5. The Oltrarno
This vibrant Florence neighborhood lies south of the River Arno. It includes a portion of Florence’s historic center as well as many notable sites such as the Santo Spirito di Firenze church, Palazzo Pitti, Belvedere, and Piazzale Michelangelo. This area is perfect for the traveler who wants to see some of the city’s incredible history but would like to avoid some of the heavily trafficked areas that are more popular among tourists.
One of the best hotels in the Oltrarno is the Hotel Palazzo Guadagni. The rooms are beautiful but the major reason to stay here is to gain access to the stop floor terrace where guests can enjoy a meal while soaking in charming views of Florence.
Amazing Hotels in Oltrarno:
6. Piazza della Signoria
The fantastic neighborhood of Piazza della Signoria is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Florence. The Uffizi Gallery, the Bargello sculpture collection, and the Ponte Vecchio are all within walking distance. It’s definitely a more tourist-heavy area, but it still offers winding cobblestone streets and all of the historic charm you could want.
Grand Hotel Cavour Florence is one of the best hotels in the area, offering sleek and modern guest rooms, some of which come with city views. Guests who stay here can also sip some local line at the rooftop bar that provides incredible cathedral views.
Top Hotels near Piazza della Signoria:
7. San Niccolò
San Niccolo is Florence’s oldest district and one of the Florentines’ favorite historical areas due to its tranquil atmosphere. Located at the foot of Florence’s southern hills, this neighborhood provides a less touristy retreat for those who want to soak in what living like a local is really like.
One of the best hotels near San Niccolo is the Hotel Bernini Palace, a historic hotel that offers luxurious accommodations in a building that dates back to the 15th century!
Top Hotels in San Niccolo:
Video Guide: 7 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Florence
Travel resources for planning a trip to Florence
To make planning a trip to Florence easier, we included some of our recommended travel resources below. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in each destination during your trip to Florence.
Flights:
Agoda: Search thousands of destinations around the world & quickly compare prices to find amazing deals on the best flights.
CheapOAir: You can find airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages all on one site!
Kiwi.com: What we like about Kiwi is the fact that they are able to create combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offer them in a single itinerary. Also, Kiwi has what they called “Nomad” which helps you find the best way of visiting multiple destinations, saving you time and money.
JetRadar: You can search and compare airfares from 726 airlines and dozens of travel agencies and systems.
Hotels:
Agoda: Agoda is one of the world’s largest online travel accommodation platforms with a network of over 2,000,000 vacation rentals and hotels worldwide.
Hotellook: They have more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.
Transportations:
Airport Transfers: KiwiTaxi, Viator
Train: EuRail, Trainline or RailEurope
Bus: Flixbus: Very affordable (as low as $6) and convenient way to transfer between cities in Europe.
Car Rentals: AutoEurope, EconomyBookings, or GetTransfer (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)
Bike Rental: BikesBooking (Bikes & scooter rentals)
Transportation Comparison: Omio (search, compare, and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)
Tours & Activities:
TakeWalks (WalkofItaly): This is our favorite site for walking tours & day trips.
Tiqets: Great site for entrance tickets. It offers directly bookable, instantly available, and completely mobile tickets for museums, shows, and attractions all over the world.
Musement: They have good activities and tours in Italy and Spain, also many great day trips you can choose from.
GetYourGuide: A large number of tours, excursions, and other travel activities
Viator: The largest one. It has everything from tours, attractions, shore excursions, and private guides in over 2,700 destinations worldwide. It also has many transportations and transfers options and some unique experiences we didn’t find anywhere else.
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Need help planning a trip to Florence?
Want to plan a trip to Florence and other cities in Europe but don’t know where to begin? If you find this type of multi-city trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!
At MultiCityTrips, multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries such as a trip that include visiting multiple cities, countries throughout Europe are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize your multi-city European trip and craft your European vacation package at the best price.
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