A guide to choosing the right area and accommodation for your trip
Florence Essentials
The information we share with our guests every day.
A first visit to Florence often begins with a list of places to see: the Duomo, the Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti. Choosing where to stay also means thinking about how you’ll spend the time between visits.
You might want a private room to return to after a day of exploring, or an apartment where you can have breakfast and spend time with family or friends.
Both the location and the spaces you stay in shape the experience. Here’s how to find your way around the main areas of the historic centre and choose the accommodation that suits your trip.
At a glance
Start with your plans: choose an area that’s convenient for the places you want to visit and for returning for a break between outings.
Consider Oltrarno too: it’s part of the historic centre and worth considering for your first visit.
Think about how you’ll use your accommodation: a private room, a guesthouse with a shared kitchen or an apartment each offer different possibilities.
Look beyond the number of guests: separate bedrooms, bathrooms and shared spaces can make a difference when you’re travelling with others.
Which Area of Florence Should You Choose?
For a first visit, staying in the historic centre puts many of Florence’s best-known sights within walking distance and makes it easier to return to your accommodation for a break.
The centre includes different neighbourhoods on both sides of the Arno. Your choice will depend on the places you want to visit and the surroundings you’d like to make part of your stay.
Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and Santa Croce
Staying in this part of Florence means having monuments, museums, squares and streets to explore around you.
It’s a convenient location if your first visit will focus on the city’s major sights, while leaving room for smaller discoveries: a coffee, a workshop or a walk without a fixed itinerary.
For families and groups, being able to return between sightseeing and dinner can also make it easier to accommodate everyone’s pace.
Oltrarno: Palazzo Pitti and Santo Spirito
Oltrarno is part of Florence’s historic centre, across the Arno from the Duomo. Around Palazzo Pitti, Santo Spirito and the surrounding streets, you’ll find artisan workshops, squares and restaurants alongside places to visit.
It’s worth considering for a first trip, too. You can spend part of the day at Palazzo Pitti or the Boboli Gardens, then cross the river to explore other parts of the centre.
Oltrarno has a lively neighbourhood atmosphere and may suit you if you’d like to make this side of Florence part of your daily walks.
Santa Maria Novella
The Santa Maria Novella area can be particularly practical if you’re arriving by train or planning day trips that depart from the station.
Alongside convenient transport connections, it offers a place to stay in the historic centre, with the square and Basilica of Santa Maria Novella as a starting point for exploring.
When choosing, look at the accommodation’s exact location in relation to both the station and the places you want to visit. Your plans will help you decide how useful this location would be.
Your arrival plans can also help you choose. If you’re flying in, read our guide to getting from Florence Airport to the city centre. If you’re travelling by car, take a look at where to park in Florence before planning your route to the accommodation.
Apartment, Hotel or Guesthouse?
Once you’ve considered the area, think about how you’ll use your accommodation. Are you travelling as a couple, with children or with friends who have different routines?
The type of accommodation can make certain parts of the day easier and give you different spaces to share.
An Apartment: Space to Spend Time Together
An apartment can be a good choice for families and groups who want to share their stay while keeping the flexibility to organise their own days.
A kitchen lets you prepare breakfast or a meal according to your own habits. The living room becomes a place to gather, talk about the day or decide what to do next.
Separate bedrooms and a shared living area can also be useful when not everyone wants to follow the same schedule: some can rest while others continue spending time together.
When choosing, look at the layout of the rooms and sleeping arrangements as well as the maximum number of guests. It will help you picture how you’ll use the apartment.
A Hotel: Services That Fit Your Routine
A hotel may suit you if you’re looking for services such as breakfast on site or a reception desk you can turn to during your stay.
What’s offered varies between hotels. To compare them, start with the services you’ll actually use and check which are included.
A Guesthouse: A Private Room with Added Independence
A guesthouse can be an option if you want a private room without needing an entire apartment.
Where available, shared spaces give you more ways to enjoy your stay: a kitchen where you can prepare something, a table to sit at or a lounge for a break.
It’s an option to consider, particularly for couples and solo travellers who value independence alongside direct contact with the people looking after their stay.
How to Find the Right Accommodation for You
Before comparing lots of properties, identify the three things that matter most for your trip.
For a family, these might be a kitchen, separate bedrooms and a shared living area. For a couple, a private room in an area they’ll enjoy exploring on foot. For a group of friends, several bathrooms and a living room where everyone can gather.
These priorities will make it easier to read descriptions and compare your options. If you have specific needs relating to beds, mobility or arrival times, discussing them directly with the property will help you plan with clear information.
Our Residences in Florence’s Historic Centre
Le Residenze a Firenze offers two apartments and a guesthouse, suited to different ways of experiencing the city.
Residenza Covoni: A Place to Come Together
On Via Ghibellina, Residenza Covoni accommodates up to seven guests, with three bedrooms, four bathrooms and a spacious living room. From the living room, views of the Bargello and the Duomo add another perspective on Florence.
It’s an option for families and friends who want a place to spend time together beyond sightseeing. Around the table or on the sofa, the living room gives everyone space to gather while enjoying their own pace.
Residenza De’ Boni: An Apartment in the Duomo Area
Residenza De’ Boni accommodates two to six guests, with three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, an additional guest toilet and a living area with a kitchen and views of the Duomo.
It can suit families and small groups looking for a central apartment where days out in Florence can alternate with time spent together at home.
Residenza Benizzi: A Private Room in Oltrarno
Near Palazzo Pitti, Residenza Benizzi offers private rooms, a fully equipped shared kitchen and a lounge, with daily room cleaning. Views vary by room, from Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens to the rooftops of Oltrarno.
For couples and solo travellers, it combines the privacy of your own room with the freedom to use the shared spaces: prepare breakfast, sit at the table or take a break before heading out again.
Our Advice
When choosing where to stay for your first visit, start with the people you’re travelling with and how you’d like to spend your days.
Explore our residence pages to see the rooms, sleeping arrangements, access details and services. If you’d like help comparing them, contact us and tell us how many people are travelling and what matters most to you. We’ll help you find the most suitable option.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A Note from Le Residenze a Firenze
Choosing where to stay is one of the first steps in planning a visit to Florence. That’s why we’ve dedicated a guide to the subject in our Florence Essentials: series: practical tips and useful information to help you plan your stay with greater confidence and fewer surprises.
