Hotels in Florence

Staying in Florence

Compact and on the north bank of the Arno, the historic centre of Florence has the Duomo at its heart, with the Uffizi and Piazza della Signoria a short walk towards the river. Cross the Ponte Vecchio and you are in the Oltrarno, where the streets are quieter and the artisans work. Santa Maria Novella station is on the western edge of the centre, so trains drop you close to most hotels. Trains are how most people reach Florence, as the page's links from Bologna, Milan, Pisa, Rome and Venice suggest. From the station you can walk to a hotel in the centre with a wheeled case, or take a taxi from the rank outside. The city's own airport is small and lies to the north-west; many visitors fly into Pisa instead and take the train in. Choosing a hotel here is about noise and steps. Rooms around the Duomo and Signoria are close to everything and busy late into the evening. The Oltrarno and the streets near Santa Croce are calmer. Staying near the station suits an early train onward, and the walk to the sights is still short. Check whether your room is up several flights, since many palazzi have no lift.