The Best Part Of Our Stay In Florence
We stumbled upon Casa Botticelli when we were desperate to get out of a different hotel which turned out to be a nightmare. Thank goodness for Casa Botticelli -They rescued us and made our visit to Florence very special. We just loved everything about this hotel. Everyone made us feel so welcome. They just wanted us to enjoy our stay and to feel comfortable. It took two years for the owner to restore and redecorate. She is an antique dealer so you can imagine how tasteful it is. The hotel is decorated with such love and warmth that you don’t ever want to leave. The breakfast, dining area and sitting area was our favorite. I can’t say enough about this hotel. I highly recommend to stay. You will not regret it!!More
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Best Areas To Stay In Florence For First Time
The best areas to stay in Florence, Italy for both first time and returning tourists are the neighborhoods around centro storico and Duomo. But there are also many others areas to book hotels such as Santa Croce, San Lorenzo, Santa Maria Novella, Ponte Vecco, and Florence Hills. In this blog, I will help you to decide where to stay in Florence without a car, with a car, and the safest neighborhoods for families, couples, nightlife.
Florence is the capital city of the Tuscany region, central Italy. It is famous for its Renaissance art and architecture. It is also a great base to do a day trip to Siena, Lucca, Pisa by bus, and an arranged tour of the Tuscan countryside.
Florence is generally a safe city for tourists with low crime rate but as any famous destination, you should be aware of pickpocketing, purse snatching in crowed places, and keep extra an eye on the areas around train stations at night.
The areas around Duomo and Piazza della Signoria is the best place to stay in Florence for first time tourists. It is the Renaissance heart of Florence where you can find some of the best hotels of the city and the top tourist attractions.
| Best Area for first time: | Duomo Florence City Center |
The Boboli Gardens A Nice Quiet Place To See In Florence
- The perfect place to take a break from the city is at italys premier gardens, Boboli Gardens.
- A nice, natural place to breathe in some fresh air.
Why its so awesome: The Boboli Gardens are behind the Pitti Palace and offer awesome natural views. They once belonged to the Medici family but are now a public park thats full of classical and Renaissance sculptures and hidden grottos where you can relax and destress from the rush of the city.
What to do there: When you find yourself getting tired of the crowds, head to the Boboli Gardens for a little restoration. Wander around and check out the sculptures including the Boboli Obelisk from Egypt and check out the grottos as well. The Grotta di Buontalenti is particularly amazing, with a fairy tale feel and appearance that youll love.
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Why Stay In Santa Maria Novella
- This is the best area to stay in Florence for convenient transport links and day trips.
- You can easily take a shuttle to Florence or Pisa airports.
- Very practical area if youre travelling with a lot of bags .
- Visit the impressive Medici Chapels, the final resting place of the Medici family.
- Mercato Centrale, a huge market, is just around the corner. A great place to shop for authentic food or souvenirs.
Best For Fantastic Food And Cool Cocktails
Meet the epicenter of Florences bar and club scene and summer festival hub. Even better, the citys hipster central is only a short stroll from the blockbuster sights in the historic center, yet rarely mobbed by an over-zealous tourist crowd. Florences most legendary chef Fabio Picchi rocked up here in the 1970s to open his fine-dining restaurant and neighboring trattoria Cibréo, and the neighborhood has lived up to its reputation of culinary excellence and innovation ever since . Be it takeaway pizza or panini, tripe from a truck, brunch or gastronomic dining, this is your hood, foodies!
Intimate street inject Santa Croce with buckets of local vibe and this is the neighborhood where Florences burgeoning craft coffee and cocktail scene was pioneered. Accommodation options are surprisingly thin on the ground, but worth the hunt. Beware of rooms facing cafe- and bar-ringed piazzas they can be noisy until late.
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Handpicked Accommodations For Families
One thing to consider when youre traveling with a family group is flexibility.
That is why the best option would be to look for an apartment or a place centrally located, depending on the familys purpose of travel. Staying in a central place will give you easy access to almost everything for you and your familys trip to Florence.
Also, you might want to consider properties with self-catering services like a kitchen. I always find this option helpful when traveling with kids.
Best Part Of Florence To Stay: Areas And Neighborhoods
Florence is a smaller city than many think. Furthermore, almost all the tourist attractions are concentrated in the historic center, or are within walking distance from it. Many Florentines do not have a car because we dont need it: you can go almost anywhere on foot or by bicycle.
Therefore, the best area to stay in Florence is in the historic center: in this way you will be close to everything you want to see and you wont have to take public transport to get around. The historic center is between the Arno river and the ring made up of large avenues.
The Oltrarno district is also an excellent solution: its a neighborhood of Florence that is still very authentic and very close to the center, which can be reached on foot by crossing the river.
The historic center and Oltrarno are the most comfortable areas to stay in Florence, but also the most expensive. To save something, you can decide to stay on the edge of the center or just beyond the ring of avenues. Even more suburban neighborhoods are even cheaper, but youll have to take public transport to get to the center.
Map of best part of Florence to stay
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Final Thoughts On Where To Stay In Venice
Venice is a spectacular city. History, culture and art burst through the streets, alleys and canals, enchanting travellers with its stunning sights, incredible food, and wondrous atmosphere. No matter your age, style or budget, Venice is well-deserving of a place on every travellers bucket list.
In this article, weve highlighted the five best areas to stay in Venice and broken them down by interest and budget. If youre still not sure where to stay in Venice, heres a quick recap of our favourites.
We_Crociferi is our pick for the best hostel. Located in the Cannaregio district, this hotel has a great variety of landmarks, restaurants, bars and shops right on its doorstep.
Another fantastic option is the Hotel ai Cavalieri di Venezia. This awesome four-star hotel is located in trendy Castello and offers easy access to incredible bars, restaurants, galleries and museums.
San Marco& san Lorenzo: Best Places To Stay In Florence On A Budget
If youre looking for areas in Florence to experience the city without spending too much, San Marco and San Lorenzo are both ideal choices.
Just north of the Duomo, these neighbourhoods are full of museums, historic churches, and vibrant restaurants just what you need to follow your Italy itinerary or tick off unique experiences from your Italy bucket list!
Here you can visit the famous Galleria dellAccademia which houses the David statue by Michelangelo. The Church of San Marco is another one of Florences beautiful sites to explore.
San Lorenzo has many street stalls where you can buy authentic Florentine leather goods without paying the high prices that are common in the touristy city centre.
San Marco, on the other hand, is a colourful neighbourhood full of family-run restaurants where you can taste a variety of delicious dishes at affordable prices.
The Duomo of Florence and Battistero of San Giovanni in front of it
San Marco & San Lorenzo Accommodation Options
Budget: The Hotel Lorena in the San Lorenzo district is close to the city centre. This affordable accommodation is surrounded by churches and plazas. The rooms are bright and comfy with lovely wood panelling.
Check out prices and availability at Hotel Orto de Medici here!
Palazzo Pitti in Florence, Italy
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Handpicked Accommodations For The Design Lover
If you are into design and boutique hotels, youll have a hard time to decide where to start in Florence. Being home of great artists, you got plenty of options to choose from.
Let me remind you that Florence is 100% history. Therefore, it is hard to find fresh and modern decoration on the design accommodations. Expect classic furniture and deco combined with modern services.
La Specola Anatomical Collection A Fascinating Educational Place To Visit In Florence
John Mosbaugh
- This display is part of the Natural History Museum and houses the biggest collection of wax figures in the world.
- There are also some slightly strange examples of taxidermy.
- Not too many people see this collection, so youll be able to enjoy it without the crowds.
Why its so awesome: When you explore Florence, you absolutely must see this collection. Its the largest collection of wax anatomical figures in the world and the oldest public museum in Europe.
It started as part of the Medici familys private collection and opened in 1775. It contains waxed figures of women with their insides pulled out, which were a favorite of the Marquis de Sade, and Clemente Susinis wax models. These are incredibly rare, fragile figures which can only be seen in a few museums throughout the world.
The human anatomy is quite special to Italy, as it was Leonardo da Vinci who first observed the structure of the human body and the role of each body parts mechanical activity. His detailed drawing of muscles, and his studies of internal organs, are the foundations of what we know about the human anatomy.
If you find this interesting, the Leonardo da Vinci museum is just a short walk away from the Duomo and is an interesting 30-minute activity.
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Best Hotel In Dorsoduro: Pensione Accademia Villa Maravege
Based in a buzzing area, this Pensione is within walking distance of Venices best bars and restaurants, as well as the citys most famous tourist attractions and historic landmarks. It has a lush and relaxing garden and a staff available 24/7. It is comprised of 27 well-appointed rooms with wonderful views of the city which makes it one of the best hotels in the area.
Best Hotel In Santa Maria Novella: Porta Faenza
Conveniently located at the centre of Florence, Porta Faenza is an ideal base for families in Santa Maria Novella. This three-star hotel has a coffee bar, on-site restaurants, and a stylish lounge bar. Rooms are spacious, comfortable and come in a variety of sizes to cater to any family!
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Best Hotel In San Spirito/san Frediano: Horto Convento
Hotel Convento is a stunning four-star hotel in Florence with an excellent location. Its close to restaurants, bars, and several popular tourist attractions. The hotel comes complete with a garden and terrace, and each room enjoys an ensuite bathroom. This is one of the best luxury hotels in Florence for its location and amenities.
Where To Stay In Florence: Neighborhood Guide + Best Hotels
An insiders guide to the best area to stay in Florence and Florence neighborhood guide to help you pick the best place to stay in Florence on your first visit.
If you are planning more than a few hours in Florence, chances are you are looking for a good place to spend a night and wondering about the best neighborhood to stay in the city.
Florence has a wide array of hotels catering to all types of visitors and most of them cluster in the city center, the area with most of Florence must-see sites.
This is the best area in Florence to stay for sightseeing and no matter where your hotel ends up being, you are likely to find yourself walking distance from all the main attractions.
However, different neighborhoods in Florence have different styles and feel so it is worth getting familiar with them to pick the best place to stay in Florence for your specific needs and group.
This is our overview of the best areas to stay in Florence, based on your own first-hand experience of the city.
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Final Thoughts On The Coolest Places To Visit In Florence
Florence is a beautiful, historical city that is worth visiting, even if it does suffer from some pretty horrendous crowding.
Dont let this put you off visiting the city because it contains some of the most beautiful tourist attractions and artworks in the world.
Instead, know what you want to see before you get there and plan your trip carefully to avoid the crowds as much as possible.
With my easy guide, youll be able to identify the best ways to see the most amazing places to visit in Florence without the aggravation or stress of standing in line for hours at a time. Want more Tuscan goodness, check out the day trips from Florence.
If you want to make sure to visit Florence but youre pushed for time, why not consider a day trip from Rome.
In The Hills Above Florence
- The Villa Tolomei is a small, five star, hotel converted from a beautiful 14th century villa, set in 20 peaceful hectares of olive groves and vineyards. Some of the 20 hectares are wonderful gardens, and the hotel has a lovely pool and terrace, with incredible views of Florence. Inside the hotel has retained some of its frescoes, and a sense of calm. Many of the rooms have a view too, as does the fantastic Tuscan restaurant.
- The Torre di Bellosguardo is a another beautiful villa in a hilltop spot overlooking Florence. Once a private residence, this charming building retains many of its luxurious features, like frescoes, domed ceilings and fancy carved wood, but its been comfortably converted into a 16 room hotel, and now also features all the mod cons. Its also seriously romantic, if sunlit terraces, lily ponds, cavernous conservatories and incredible views of Florence are your cup of tea!
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Santo Spirito & San Frediano
Best For: Returning Visitors, Families These two neighborhoods, in the Oltrarno are removed from the intense crowds of the city center. If youre a returning visitor who wants a more relaxed pace, youll find it here. What the area lacks in big sites, it makes up for in hip bars, lively restaurants and artisan boutiques. If youre coming with your family, stay closer to Santo Spirito. Youll appreciate having green space close by where your kids can run around, and a playground in nearby Piazza Tasso. There are plenty of restaurants in the neighborhood, and when you want to see the famous sites of Florence, little legs have a quick walk over one of the bridges.
Good To Know: If youre focused on the most kid-friendly hotels , book the Four Seasons Firenze. Youll have a longer walk to the main sites, but the green space, pool, and kids activities at the Four Seasons are worth it.
Nearby Attractions:
Avoid It If: You Need To Be in The Action
Luxury:5-star luxury on the river. Relaxing, quiet, elegant atmosphere. Sit on the outdoor terrace and have an aperitivo, dine at its Michelin-star restaurant.
Mid-Range:AdAstraA unique villa hotel with an artistic touch, it has a terrace and rooms with views of the private Torrigiani Gardens. It offers some quiet and tranquility in the middle of the busy city a perfect refuge after a busy day exploring Florence.
Excellent value 3-star hotel. Simple, clean décor. Some rooms have views of Florence or the Arno.
It’s My First Visit To Florence Which District Should I Stay In
If it’s your first time in Florence, it is recommended to be in the Santo Spirito, the Down Town or Santa Croce districts.These three areas are close to the main attractions and the heart of Florence. The only downside to these areas is that they are the most popular, and accommodation will sell out first or be more expensive.If you are visiting in the summer months when accommodation options are a bit more limited, you want to be at least based within the SS67 ring road.For slightly cheaper accommodation options look to the San Marco district where the bulk of the low-cost hotels and guest houses are found.
Insight: The most popular districts in Florence are those close to the historic centre, however, younger people nowadays tend to live outside the centre in the areas such as Novoli or Scandicci. These areas have recently become increasingly fashionable while offering great value accommodation.
Choose your location before looking for accommodation!
Always choose the location you’d like to be based in before looking for accommodation in Florence. This may sound obvious, but it is all too easy to be sucked in by an amazing discount or outstanding reviews without really considering which area you will be staying in.
A little more about Florenceâ¦
For a business trip to Florence
When people think about Florence, a business trip may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, should you be visiting for a business trip, then there are plenty of options.
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