Where to Stay in Florence

Florence’s historic center, or Centro Storico, is its medieval and Renaissance heart, nestled between the River Arno and Ponte Vecchio to the south and the Duomo to the north. You’ll be steps from all the action on the bustling narrow streets, including the incredible museums, palaces and churches. For a newcomer, there’s really no better place if you want to immerse yourself in the historic sights and major attractions. That includes Accademia Gallery with Michelangelo’s statue of David, Pitti Palace and Ponte Vecchio. It’s ideal for high-end shopping and you’ll find many dining options. While there are tourist traps, there are plenty of fabulous authentic venues too. When it comes to accommodation, it runs the gamut from budget-friendly to luxurious. You’ll find most of the five-star hotels here along with boutique hotels with coveted river views. You’ll need to book well in advance to score one, but there are some reasonably priced vacation rentals too. 

There’s plenty of nightlife throughout Florence, but if that’s one of your top priorities, Santa Croce, Santo Spirito, and San Frediano are where it’s really happening. Trendy Santa Croce is the heart of nightlife in this city, with everything from bars with a wide range of craft brews and cocktails to film screenings and live music venues. The popular Via de’ Benci, which is the street that links the Arno riverside to Santa Croce square, branches out into the adjacent streets with countless restaurants, pubs and bars. Locals and visitors from just about every continent fill them on any given night. If you like wine, Via Fiesolana and neighboring Borgo Santa Croce and Via De’ Neri are packed with wine bars for sampling tasty local wines and places for dancing the night away. Santo Spirito and San Frediano are similarly lively with a great mix of venues, especially at Piazza Santo Spirito and Borgo San Frediano.

Good food can be found throughout the city, but in the historic center you’ll have to avoid the tourist traps to seek out the authentic and delicious. The greatest range of dishes at reasonable prices can be found in Santa Croce, Santo Spirito, and San Frediano. Santa Croce offers many fabulous cafes and the only 3-Michelin-star restaurant in Florence, Enoteca Pinchiorri. Mercato Sant’Ambrogio offers outstanding gourmet street food, and if you’re up for dinner and a show, head to Teatro del Sale. Charming San Frediano is just outside the historic center, yet it’s a great place to escape the masses with options to suit all budgets and tastes from food stands featuring pasta dishes with boar meat and casual pizzerias to fine dining eateries. Santo Spirito is an authentic neighborhood for experiencing real life in Florence with fabulous local cafes, wine bars, bakeries and trattorias serving home-cooked Tuscan fare. 

The best neighborhood for families in Florence depends on what you hope to see and do, the type of setting you prefer, and most likely, the ages of your children as well. Those with younger kids might appreciate the San Niccolo/Piazelle Michelangelo area as it’s more residential and quieter than the city center as well as being home to picturesque parks like Giardino delle Rose, providing a family-friendly oasis. Many of the hotels have gardens and some even have pools, a great way to relax while the younger ones splash around in between sightseeing. The Sant’Ambrogio and Santissima Annunziata neighborhoods are good alternatives that also remain quiet at night. If you want to explore all the major historic attractions and enjoy close proximity to the station for easy day trips throughout Tuscany and beyond, Santa Maria Novello is a good choice. It’s located between the city center, the Arno River and the main train station. 

The best areas for those who want to experience more local flavor are Santa Croce and Sant’Ambrogio, just north of the Arno. Santa Croce is less touristy as well as being one of the top neighborhoods for foodies and those who prioritize nightlife. It’s home to the old Jewish quarter and boasts a fabulous local market along with several enticing attractions. That includes Basilica di Santa Croce which has become the Pantheon of Florence as a resting place for many Florentine greats like Galileo and Michelangelo. Sant’Ambrogio lies north and offerings an outstanding food scene with restaurants serving authentic Tuscan cuisine and the fantastic Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio with its abundant fresh produce. There’s some good nightlife in both neighborhoods which tend to attract the cool, young and hip, with live music venues and great bars, in and around the market. Hotel options run the gamut from reasonably priced to upscale.

San Lorenzo and San Marco are located east of the train station and north of the Duomo. They are an ideal base for those who want to be close enough to explore the many attractions in the historic center and enjoy day trips to other destinations in Tuscany. These up-and-coming neighborhoods that were formerly impoverished, particularly closer to the train station, are especially ideal for food enthusiasts. San Lorenzo is home to the Mercato Centrale where you’ll be able to sample a wide range of local eats, including tasty bites at gourmet food stalls and delectable dishes at authentic trattorias. Indulge in everything from artisanal pizza and panini to chocolate and gelato. You’ll find some enticing attractions here too, most notably the Galleria dell’Accademia, home to David, Michelangelo’s masterpiece, and the gorgeous monastery of San Marco. There are quite a few budget-friendly accommodation options in the area, including stylish hotels, along with some luxury palace hotels.

One of the most aesthetically pleasing and romantic neighborhoods in Florence, San Niccolò sits along the Arno east of Santo Spirit. Tranquil Piazzale Michelangelo rises on the hills that lie just south. It’s part of Oltrarno, home to a wealth of gardens, galleries, and shopping venues, along with some fun street art along Via San Niccolo and spectacular city views that can be enjoyed by climbing Torre San Niccolo. There’s plenty of tasty food and drink with everything from more casual eateries to elegant dining and cocktail bars. The primarily residential area of Piazzale Michelangelo boasts a replica of David in the square that it was named after along with picturesque gardens. For those who want a less touristic experience with the historic center in reach, San Niccolo/Piazzale Michelango is ideal. It’s a quieter area and while accommodation tends to be pricey, it’s possible to find something for every budget.

Located northeast of the city center, Santissima Annunziata is the area around the Renaissance Piazza della Santissima Annunziata. The graceful square hosts a medieval-era basilica with a Renaissance façade, the church of the Annunziata. It’s fronted by a gorgeous loggia with arches and columns designed by Brunelleschi. This is also where you’ll find one of the most famous museums in Florence, the Galleria dell’Accademia, which displays Michelangelo’s David. There are a wide range of dining options here, particularly toward the west and south areas near San Lorenzo, San Marco and the city center. If you head to the square by walking down Via dei Servi with the Duomo at your back, you’ll pass many small shops, markets, restaurants, a bakery and cafés like the historic Robiglio dal 1928 that opened nearly a century ago. Luxury accommodations include five-star options like the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, along with high-end boutique hotels set within historic buildings.