Fabulous Florence and Five Affordable Luxury Hotels in the Centre

In a building that dates back to the nineteenth century, the Hotel Palazzo Ognissanti is a perfect combination of historic architecture and modern design. And thanks to its proximity to Santa Maria Novella train station and the Arno River, it’s the ideal place to start exploring the city on foot or by public transport.

All of the city’s main attractions are less than 15 minutes away on foot, making this a very convenient hotel with all the added comforts and facilities you would expect of a four-star establishment. You’ll be from breakfast espresso and pastries to the Duomo in no time.

Affordable Luxury tip: Looking to get to Florence’s far-reaching green space? Rent a Mobike (starting at €0.50/30 minutes) and follow the Arno westward to the Parco delle Cascine or eastward to the beach at Spiaggia sull’Arno. You can pick up the bikes by downloading their App and drop it off where you please within the city limits.

Just a three-minute walk from Piazza Santa Maria Novella you will find Hotel Unicorno, a three-star hotel offering its guests everything they need for a comfortable and enjoyable stay. (Psst… that means air conditioning at the ready for those stifling August afternoons)

With the train station so close by, getting to the hotel is easy if arriving to Florence by train, and it also makes an excellent base if you want to visit nearby Tuscan cities. Hotel Unicorno is located on a historic street packed with artisan shops in Florence’s city centre, and all the main monuments are within a pleasant few minutes’ walk.

Affordable Luxury tip: If you’re coming to Florence over the first weekend of the month, you could save a few euros by taking advantage of free admission to state museums on the Sunday. The Gli Uffizi, Galleria dell’Accademia and the Museo Archeologico are just some of the sights with open doors on first Sundays.

The boutique Hotel Paris is situated in the historic centre of Florence on Via dei Banchi, which dates back to 1324. The hotel itself is spread over two very prestigious Renaissance-era palaces, linked by a passageway.

In each of the two palaces are well-preserved pieces of history, you won’t be able to concentrate on the breakfast with just detailed frescoes looming above. The hotel’s 67 beautifully decorated rooms come in varying sizes, but all can accommodate up to four people. Hotel Paris is only 300 metres from the Duomo and is an excellent spot to start exploring the city each morning (that is after loading up at the breakfast buffet, included in your room rate).

Affordable Luxury tip: For a sampling of the finer tastes of Florence, wander from stall to stall at the Mercato Centrale. From sage butter gnocchi to fresh mozzarella, if you’re not wobbling on the way out of this covered market, you haven’t done it right.

For years, this hotel was the “home” of famous Italian actors coming to Florence to perform. Today, it still holds on to that romantic, dreamy feeling from the past.

Il Poeta Dante is located just a few metres from the Basilica di Santa Croce—right in the heart of the city—from which you can reach the Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio in just 10 minutes on foot. In this hotel, the day starts with a lavish breakfast that will satisfy all tastes and set you up nicely for a day discovering the many wonders that Florence has to offer.

Affordable Luxury tip: Can’t be bothered with the Galleria dell’Accademia and a €12 advance ticket price? See Michelangelo’s David al fresco in the Piazza della Signoria along with sculptures by Jean de Boulogne and Benvenuto Cellini.

Residenza Borgo Albizi is a B&B situated in the heart of Florence’s historic centre, just 300 metres from Piazza Duomo and Piazza Santa Croce. The rooms of this hotel are inside the Torre degli Albizi, a striking tower with historic charm and tastefully decorated in a welcoming, elegant style.

Residenza Borgo Albizi is as central as it gets. This means you can comfortably enjoy Florence on foot—especially at night where a lively street scene of restaurants, bars, and traditional trattorias unfolds.

Affordable Luxury tip: Some of Florence’s best meals aren’t found in the white tablecloth establishments, heck some of them don’t have seats! Hot-off-the-press panini for under €4, an espresso taken standing for €1 or a primo of fresh pasta at a café for under €10 are just some of the ways to get a taste of Tuscany without going over-budget.