Best neighborhoods to stay in Florence: Discover the best places to stay in Florence with this guide

Are you planning your weekend in Florence but haven’t booked a place to stay yet? Which part of the city is the best to stay in? Where are the most charming neighborhoods and restaurants that are not touristy? Choosing the right accommodations is an important part of planning a trip.

Here are some suggestions to help you choose the best neighborhoods to stay in Florence.

Where to stay in Florence? Here are the 5 best neighborhoods to stay in Florence that are close to the city center

The center of Florence is very small. Historically it was divided into 4 neighborhoods:

• Santa Maria Novella,
• Santa Croce,
• Santo Spirito,
• San Giovanni.

Each neighborhood has its own character and unique atmosphere.

In Santa Croce you can find many restaurants scattered throughout the narrow streets of this neighborhood.
Santa Maria Novella is very close to the train station; it is an elegant part of Florence where you will find boutiques and antique stores.
In the San Giovanni area and in San Lorenzo you can still find many Italian residents. These neighborhoods are truly authentic and quieter than “this side of the Arno”.
San Giovanni and San Lorenzo are centrally located and convenient, a short walk both to the station and to Mercato Centrale.

Let’s take a look where to stay in Florence.

The 5 most charming and convenient areas near the center of Florence

Santa Maria Novella

The Santa Maria Novella neighborhood is located next to the main train station in Florence. It is an elegant part of town dominated by the Santa Maria square which is in front of the Dominican basilica. If you decide to stay here you will be in a most convenient location: the station is around the corner and the Duomo can also be reached in 5 minutes.

Moreover, Florence’s most beautiful boutiques and antique stores can be found here. You can find the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella in via della Scala, and walking along via dei Fossi you will find wonderful antique shops. In Borgo Ognissanti there are design furniture shops and in via della Vigna Nuova clothing and accessories.

There is no shortage of hotels here either. The nicest ones (maybe not the cheapest) look onto Piazza di Santa Maria Novella. Hotel Minerva, for example, is one of the nicest hotels in Florence. Thanks to a restoration, the convent of San Paolino in Piazza San Paolino has been transformed into 25hours Hotel Florence. Even if you don’t stay here, I suggest trying their restaurant which offers innovative and delicious cuisine. On the other hand, if you are looking for a historic trattoria, you can find the Osteria dei Centopoveri in via del Porcellana and trattoria Buca Mario in Piazza degli Ottaviani. For the best steak in Florence (bistecca fiorentina) I suggest I’Tuscani in Piazza San Pancrazio. As you can see, the Santa Maria neighborhood has a lot to offer.

San Lorenzo

The Central Market can be found in the heart of the San Lorenzo neighborhood. It is probably for this reason that this area has such character and a vibrant community. I live here. The area offers great conveniences: the station is near and so is the market, but also the Duomo and major sites of interest.

Today San Lorenzo is also multicultural and because of this you will find the best Chinese and Indian restaurants in this neighborhood.
In San Lorenzo there are many hotels. My clients have always enjoyed their stay at Palazzo dei Conti in via dei Conti, at the Hotel Spadai in via Martelli and at the Globus Urban Hotel in via Sant’Antonino.

San Lorenzo will also spoil you from a culinary standpoint. You can choose to have lunch on the ground floor of the Central Market at da Nerbone, a historic trattoria or in Piazza del Mercato Centrale at one of the best Napolitan pizzerias in town: Da Michele. If you love fine dining there is also Konnubio in via dei Conti. If you are looking to try a typical family style trattoria, go to Cafaggi in via Guelfa or Trattoria Mario in via Rosina, only a few steps from the Central Market. For people with celiacs disease I recommend Risotteria Melotti in via dei Servi or Quinoa, located in the cloister of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Santa Croce

Santa Croce is one of Florence’s most characteristic neighborhoods. Since it’s located at the edge of the historical center, it is quieter than the Santa Maria Novella and Central Market areas.

Santa Croce is a bit further from the train station, so it is somewhat less convenient for arrivals and departures; however, it’s the perfect choice for those wanting to be further from the chaos. Furthermore, Santa Croce has a strong identity thanks to the presence of the Sant’Ambrogio market, the focal point of daily life in this neighborhood.

There is also no shortage of hotels in Santa Croce. The Hotel Monna Lisa in Borgo Pinti is very charming. Hotel Balestri is located on the Lungarno Generale Diaz, which offers panoramic views of the city.

The food in Santa Croce is also excellent. In the area of the Sant’Ambrogio market (in via Andrea del Verrocchio) you can find Cibrèo, the historic restaurant that was run by Fabio Picchi, the famous chef and gastronomer. Also, in via Torta there is Cucina Torcicoda. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a place to have breakfast or a midafternoon snack, you might want to pop into Melaleuca on Lungarno delle Grazie.

Oltrarno

The Oltrarno area has always been known for being the real Florence. If you want to stay in an area where the Florentines actually live and experience daily life in Florence, this is the right place for you. The train station is not so near, so you will probably choose to take a taxi to reach your hotel, but the added distance will be worth your while as the atmosphere is truly Florentine.

The Oltrarno neighborhood was historically a working class neighborhood. In the Middle Ages workers that were responsible for the production of wool settled here. Even today you can find many artisan shops and artists’ workshops. At the same time the Medici also chose this area of the city as their home at Palazzo Pitti.

Today they still coexist: workers with the elegant and the refined.

In fact, In the Oltrarno neighborhood you have the choice of staying in a historical palace such as Palazzo Guadagni in Piazza Santo Spirito, Palazzo di Bianca Cappello in via Maggio or Palazzo Martellini, also in via Maggio.

You will find many typical restaurants, like Casalinga in via dei Michelozzi or I’Brindellone in Piazza Piattellina. The best gelato can also be found here, Gelateria della Passera in Piazza della Passera.

Piazza Leopoldo

Staying in the historical center surely has its advantages, but for those arriving by car who are looking for a parking in Florence or for visitors who want to spend less on a hotel, the hotels outside the city walls are a good alternative.

You can reach various neighborhoods quickly and easily with the tram (T1 and T2), such as S. Jacopino, Isolotto, Novoli, Rifredi. In my opinion, the nicest and most practical area to stay outside the center is Piazza Leopoldo and the Piazza Dalmazia area, both easily reached with the T1 tram. You can stay at the Leopoldo Residence in via Giovanni Fabbroni in the Piazza Leopoldo area. For your convenience you can also find a Coop supermarket and other services.

You might ask why I only write about hotel accommodations, residence, and historic homes. Florence has become saturated with apartments for tourist rentals. Unfortunately, because there has been no regulation of such short term rental properties, a housing crisis has resulted in Florence, not unlike the situation in Barcelona, Venice, Paris and many other cities. The result is both a housing crisis and a social transformation of the city. For this reason I choose to propose and promote a more sustainable and responsible tourism to my clients.

Are you looking for a tour guide in Florence? Contact us to book a tour! We would be happy to organize your stay!