Destination guide · Italy
Florence,
hotel by hotel
In the city or in the hills above it — the four Florence hotels I recommend, who each one is for, and how to pair the city with the Tuscan countryside.
Destination guide · Italy
In the city or in the hills above it — the four Florence hotels I recommend, who each one is for, and how to pair the city with the Tuscan countryside.
The first Florence decision isn’t which hotel. It’s whether you want to sleep in the city or above it.
Stay in the center and you walk out the door into Florence — the Duomo, the Uffizi and the Oltrarno all on foot. Stay in the hills and you trade that for quiet, gardens and a view of the whole city, with a walk or a shuttle into town.
I’ve stayed at Collegio alla Querce and toured Four Seasons Firenze and Villa San Michele in person, and I’m a preferred partner of Four Seasons, Auberge and Belmond — so my clients get an upgrade when available, daily breakfast and a hotel credit, at the same rate as booking direct.
Two in the city, two in the hills — all four are hotels I’d book for my own family.
Riverside boutique (Lungarno Collection)
The Florence hotel for travelers who came to be in Florence. Cross the bridge and you’re at the Uffizi in minutes, while the Oltrarno side keeps you among the artisans and wine bars where Florentines actually live.
Keith’s notes
Boutique scale, boutique facilities. No resort pool or garden here — for that, it's the Four Seasons Firenze. The city is the amenity.
The Oltrarno side is the right side. Quieter at night, better at aperitivo hour, and still two minutes from the bridge.
Transfers and drivers, arranged. I arrange private transfers from Florence’s airport or Santa Maria Novella station, and drivers for days in Chianti, Siena or the Val d’Orcia, so nobody has to navigate Tuscan back roads or park in a hill town.
The verdict
Ponte Vecchio views, steps from everything — the Florence hotel for travelers who came to be in Florence.
Palazzo resort (Four Seasons)
A Renaissance palazzo set in sprawling private gardens that feel impossible this close to the Duomo, with Michelin-starred dining on site and refined, formal service. My pick for families and for anyone staying long enough to want a resort in the city.
Keith’s notes
It's a walk to the core sights. About ten minutes to the Duomo — a gentle stroll for most, worth noting if you want to be on top of the postcard.
The palazzo rooms vary wonderfully. Frescoes here, garden views there — tell me what matters and I'll request the right one.
Families, this is your Florence hotel. The garden and pool make it the city's easiest luxury stay with kids — a rarity worth planning around.
The verdict
Resort-like calm inside the city center — the only Florence hotel where the garden competes with the art.
Modern hillside retreat (Auberge)
A brighter, more modern take on Florence, about a 30-minute walk from the center, with an impressive art collection and sweeping views from almost every room. I’ve slept here, so I can tell you which rooms and views to ask for.
Keith’s notes
You’re above the city, not in it. It’s about a 30-minute walk into Florence — a scenic one. If you’d rather step straight out into the streets, look at Four Seasons Firenze.
Deciding between the two? I’ve stayed here and toured both Four Seasons Firenze and Villa San Michele. Here’s my Four Seasons vs Collegio and Collegio vs Villa San Michele side-by-sides.
Transfers and drivers, arranged. I arrange private transfers from Florence’s airport or Santa Maria Novella station, and drivers for days in Chianti, Siena or the Val d’Orcia, so nobody has to navigate Tuscan back roads or park in a hill town.
The verdict
Quiet, light and a view — a countryside feel in the hills, with Florence a scenic walk away.
Historic hillside retreat (Belmond)
A renovated 15th-century former monastery built into the Fiesole hillside, with terraces stepping down the slope and a private shuttle into town. Spring through fall, when the terraces and pool are the point, is when it sings.
Keith’s notes
You're above the city, not in it. The shuttle makes it easy, but if you want to walk out into the streets, look at Hotel Lungarno — my riverside pick steps from everything.
Privacy varies by room. There's less privacy than you'd expect at this level. I'll make sure you're in a private room — the most secluded garden suite overlooks the parking lot, but only the chapel room is more private.
Lots of stairs up to the pool. The pool is a real climb from the rooms — worth knowing if anyone in your group has mobility concerns.
The verdict
The best views in Florence, from a renovated 15th-century monastery — the city's most romantic address isn't in the city at all.
Most of my Italy clients do two or three nights in Florence, then move out into Tuscany — a restored borgo, a castle or a wine estate — for the slow part of the trip.
Borgo Pignano even runs a sister house in Florence, and I’ve stayed at both, so the city and the countryside can come from the same family. My Tuscany guide covers the estates hotel by hotel.
“Florence in May, then Tuscany” is a complete answer. I’ll take it from there.