Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. The entire historic center is a picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site, there is art everywhere, and the food here is insanely delicious.
I have been visiting the city on and off for sixteen years, and every time I visit I am blown away by how beautiful it is. Being here makes you feel like you have stepped back in time.
Because Florence is such a popular destination, there are tons of hotels here. Some of them are great, some not so great. Over the years I have stayed in many different hotels in the city. To help you plan your visit, here is my list of the best hotels in Florence:
1. Hotel Alba Palace
Located next to the cloister of the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, this beautiful three-star hotel is decorated in traditional Florentine style. Each room is unique, with soft yellow walls and historic features like antique terracotta floors, vaulted ceilings, and exposed brick walls. The free breakfast is fantastic and offers a lot of variety (like pastries, yogurt, cakes, cold cuts and espresso drinks). And best of all, it’s served in a peaceful glass-roofed atrium.
All rooms have a flat-screen TV, minibar, desk, Nespresso machine, hairdryer and safe. The beds are comfortable and the windows are soundproof, so you’ll get a good night’s sleep here. The bathrooms may be a bit small, but the showers have excellent water pressure, a bidet, towel warmers and free toiletries. In addition to classic rooms with a double bed, there are also cheaper rooms with single beds for solo travelers. Overall, it’s an affordable choice in one of the better neighborhoods in the city.
2. Hotel Davanzati
This cozy three-star hotel in the heart of the historic center (just one block from Ponte Vecchio) offers a lot for the money. The free continental breakfast is quite varied and includes fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal, pastries and cold cuts. There are also social hours with free drinks and snacks, including afternoon tea and cakes, and an aperitivo with prosecco and savory bites.
The rooms are decorated with pastel-colored walls with historical drawings and maps hanging on them. All rooms are quite spacious and have comfortable beds, a desk, a flat-screen TV, and a wardrobe. The bathrooms are also large and have heated towel racks, as well as showers with excellent water pressure. The staff really go out of their way to help you with anything you need. (Note, though, that there is no elevator, so it’s not the best choice for those with limited mobility.)
3. The Place Firenze
This five-star hotel is located right on Piazza Santa Maria Novella in a restored 17th-century building. The hotel has an outdoor terrace right on the piazza, offering Tuscan specialties, drinks, and an excellent breakfast buffet in the morning (included in the stay). There is also a small rooftop terrace with incredible views and free access to a gym just a few minutes away.
At this award-winning boutique hotel (there are only 20 rooms here), each room is individually decorated in pastel colors and features unique artwork, chandeliers, and custom-made furniture. Rooms also have plenty of natural light, and amenities include a minibar (stocked with free soft drinks and snacks), a flat-screen TV, and a large work desk. Sleek marble bathrooms include a bidet, complimentary luxury toiletries, and fluffy bathrobes and slippers. Showers have good water pressure, and some rooms also have separate deep soaking tubs. You won’t want for anything here, but if you do, the exceptionally helpful staff will do everything they can to provide it for you. It’s the most exclusive hotel in town, and the place to stay if you’re looking to splurge in Florence.
4. La Maison du Sage
This three-star hotel is located right on Piazza di Santa Croce in the heart of the lively Santa Croce district. The boutique hotel has an eclectic design, with interesting artwork and walls painted in cheerful pastel colors. I particularly like the cool wooden Art Deco furniture. There’s also an excellent breakfast buffet with pastries, juice, eggs, ham, cheese, and fresh fruit.
The spacious rooms are filled with light and have the same chic design as the rest of the hotel. All rooms have hardwood or parquet floors and include a minibar, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a Nespresso coffee machine, and a kettle for tea. Bathrooms are large and feature walk-in rain showers (some with separate tubs), heated towel racks, and a bidet. This is a great choice for travelers staying near the Centro Storico but want a more local experience. It’s a really beautiful property that offers above-average value for money.
5. Hotel Palazzo Guadagni
This three-star hotel is housed in a 16th-century Florentine palace right on Piazza Santo Spirito in the trendy Santo Spirito district. The elegantly decorated rooms retain many features from their aristocratic era, such as high ceilings, large windows, antique furniture, frescoed ceilings, and fireplaces. In-room amenities include a minibar, flat-screen TV, and safe. The large and tiled bathrooms offer heated towel racks, a bidet, fluffy bathrobes, and slippers.
But my favorite part of this hotel is the rooftop terrace with its stunning views over the city. A fantastic free breakfast buffet is offered in the mornings, and in the evenings you can watch the sunset over the red rooftops with a drink in hand. It feels much more luxurious here than a typical three-star hotel. I think this is the perfect choice for intrepid travelers who want to experience local Florentine life across the Arno.
6. Hotel Bernini Palace
This 5-star hotel is housed in a 15th-century building, and true to its name, it feels like a palace. The large lobby is decorated in a mix of Italian and Moroccan styles, and features vaulted ceilings and doorways. I really like that the free breakfast buffet is served in a room with a lot of history (it used to be where Italian parliamentary presidents met) and a beautiful frescoed ceiling.
Elegant rooms feature wood-beamed ceilings, parquet or terracotta floors, glass chandeliers, antique furniture, and comfortable beds with gilded headboards. Rooms are spacious and have all the amenities you’d expect from a hotel of this caliber, including minibars, flat-screen TVs, desks, and air conditioning. The marble bathrooms are also huge and include a bidet, fluffy robes and slippers, and a hairdryer. This is the best place to stay for luxury in the heart of Florence (it’s just a five-minute walk from the Duomo).
Florence is one of my favorite cities in Italy. It’s not only one of the most stunning cities in Italy, but in all of Europe. Just choose one of the hotels from the list above for your stay. If you do, you’ll have a fantastic visit to this picturesque city!