Elizabeth Palumbi fell in love with traveling while studying abroad in Florence, Italy. These are her top hotels for soaking up the magic of Florence.

These hotels are the top recommendations from the Safarist community and have been personally vetted and endorsed by our team of hospitality experts.

Hotel Continentale - Lungarno Collection

Fashionistas will find rich pickings among the designer stores of elegant Via Tornabuoni, and there are also lots of good shopping opportunities in the streets between the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio to the south.

The focal point of the area, the Duomo, is one of the most famous sights in all of Italy...The Ponte Vecchio [bridge] spans the Arno River and connects the two sides of Florence. Originally built in 1345, it still follows the very old tradition of containing shops. Since the 1590s, it has been home to goldsmiths and jewelers exclusively.

Also known as San Giovanni, the part of the centro storico that covers the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria is the very heart of the city. This area is packed with sites, including the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Repubblica, and the banks of the Arno.

Duomo

These hotels stand out for value, hospitality, and/or design but are generally under the radar.

Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy

Hotel degli Orafi

These hotels have been recommended by industry-leaders including but not limited to Condé Nast, Goop, Travel + Leisure, and more, and have been featured in "Best of Lists" by travel experts we trust.

Glance Hotel In Florence

..one of Florence’s most unique shopping experiences is Officina Profumo Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella, which claims to be the oldest pharmacy in the world. Tracing its roots back to 1221, the shop is all dark wood and elaborate frescoes. The deliciously scented candles and lotions are not cheap, but makes for excellent presents

These two medieval parishes stand side-by-side, part of Florence’s ‘centro storico’, and take in a swathe of the city from the northwest bank of the Arno to the main train station and the San Lorenzo market. Stuffed with historic palazzi, museums and churches, both neighbourhoods nonetheless have a more earthy side.

Santa Maria Novella is the neighborhood where you’ll find the train station and basilica of the same name. The western part of the neighborhood beyond the train station is primarily residential, but the area around the basilica is home to some upscale hotels, restaurants, and bars.

San Lorenzo

Hotel Milu Florence

25hours Hotel Florence Piazza San Paolino

Santa Maria Novella

Ponte Vecchio Suites & Spa

...this zone lies on the south bank of the river and is the hipper quarter, the artisan epicenter, and the side of town where much of the classic Florentine soul still resides...independent designers, boutiques and craftsman workshops...buzzing cafés, live performers, and weekly themed markets are what defines the area.

If you want to really experience local life in Florence, you’ve got to pay Oltrarno a visit. Just a short wander from the city’s centre, you’ll find this vibrant neighbourhood, full of artisanal boutiques, trendy eateries and plenty of people-watching spots. Culture lovers will admire the art galleries here, and nature people will find ample parks and gardens to explore.

...[it has changed] a lot over the past decade-plus; artisan studios and workers’ neighborhood trattorie are being replaced by generic Aperol Spritz spots and run-of-the-mill shops, but if you know where to look (and hint: it’s not where the long lines are), you’ll find Florentine traditions and long-standing independent shops quietly humming on