Where to Stay in Florence: Best Areas Without a Car

We definitely know we want to base ourselves in Centro Storico (historical center) when we go to Florence, right? Everybody does.

Great! But what if I told you that Centro Storico isn’t just where the Duomo is, but it extends to Ponte all’Indiano, an hour walk away from the Duomo?

That’s right… Don’t go proudly telling anyone you’re staying “in Centro Storico” because it makes very little sense. It’s HUGE, and there are little neighborhoods within, which most people mistakenly think are NOT part of the area.

Where you choose to stay among those neighborhoods depends on what kind of environment you prefer and which attractions you want closer to you.

As someone who spent over a week dragging my poor legs around from dawn till dusk everywhere in Florence only a few months ago, I know these neighborhoods well enough to pass that knowledge on to you.

So here’s my personal guide to where to stay in Florence, in Centro Storico, specifically, from one walking cultural traveler to another.

I’ll also mention the must-see sights in each area, ambience, pros and cons, along with best-reviewed hotel options.

First, Let’s Bust This Neighborhood Myth

Centro Storico (Historical Center) is often talked about as if it’s just the area around where the Duomo Complex is.

That is in a way correct, but it actually covers the entire map I’m about to present to you, from the furthest northern sub-neighborhood of San Lorenzo to the other side of the river (Oltrarno).

Meanwhile, the area around the Duomo is just a sub-neighborhood, called San Giovanni. Now that we’ve established this fact… where inside Centro Storico should you stay?

Exactly.

Sub-Neighborhoods inside Florence’s Historical Center

Now that we’ve established the fact that everything you want to see around Florence is inside Centro Storico, let’s look at the sub-neighborhoods you can base yourself in on the trip.

On this map, I’ve outlined the entire District 1, or Centro Storico, so you can see how massive it is.

Inside that outline, I’ve included seven different sub-neighborhoods that are walkable to anything you want to see, with a few attractions in the immediate area.

Santa Maria Novella (pink) actually extends northwest way beyond Centro Storico, but I’m only including the tiny part of it inside the center.

• 💜 San Lorenzo (Best for shopping and foodies)
• 💚 San Giovanni (Best for first-time visitors)
• 🩷 Santa Maria Novella (Central location but quieter than the first two)
• 🩵 San Marco (Amazingly peaceful atmosphere)
• 💛 Santa Croce (Most affordable accommodation)
• 💙 San Frediamo & Santo Spirito (Best for local feels)
• 🧡 San Niccolò (Villa-style accommodations)

1. San Lorenzo: For Shopping and Food

This is not the city center, but it’s first because this was where I stayed and absolutely loved!

It’s only a few minutes walk north of the Duomo Complex, but without that level of buzz around your accommodation.

You’re also super close to Mercato Centrale, which means you can pop inside to pick up a jar of truffle honey to bring home whenever you want.

Basilica di San Lorenzo, the Medici family church and one of my favorites in the city, is also steps away from you if you stay in this area.

Trattoria Sergio Gozzi (Yum!) and the oldest bakery in the city are also in this area.

The only thing that could count as a downside is the San Lorenzo outdoor market that runs along the streets in the neighborhood.

These are mostly carts selling leather goods. You’ll hear noises at around seven in the morning when they assemble, and again at around nine at night when they leave.

Pros and Cons of Staying in San Lorenzo

• ✅ Minutes from Santa Maria Novella station
• ✅ Super central but not overwhelmingly touristy
• ✅ Multiple foodie spots in the area 🤤
• ❌ The outdoor market can feel a bit chaotic at times

Recommended Stays in San LOrenzo

• (4★) B&B Lorenzo de’ Medici: Sparkling clean, modern rooms, great staff
  • Check price on Booking
  • Check price on Agoda
• (4★) Central View Boutique: Amazing host, lovely rooftop area
  • Check price on Booking
  • Check price on Agoda

2. San Giovanni: Best for First-Time Visitors

If you don’t mind a bit of crowd, and this is your first time in Florence, I’d a hundred percent recommend staying in San Giovanni, literally the home of the Duomo Complex and Palazzo Vecchio.

San Giovanni is comprised of two main parts, Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo Complex) as the religious center, and Palazzo Vecchio as the political center.

Walking between the two takes three minutes, and you also have Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery right on the southern edge of this neighborhood.

The vibe around here is, as you would have guessed, lively to say the least and chaotic from late mornings well into the night. If you love it, then you love it.

I didn’t mind the vibe, but accommodation prices exceeded my budget a bit for this trip. 😅

Pros and Cons of Staying in San Giovanni

• ✅ Central to everything
• ✅ Easy walk to all major landmarks
• ✅ Potentially great view at the right accommodations
• ❌ Noise and crowd can be overwhelming
• ❌ Higher price than most other areas

3. Santa Maria Novella: A Bit Quieter, Central Option

This large neighborhood can feel confusing because it stretches far northwest. But a small slab of it overlaps with Centro Storico and is excellent for walkers.

We’ll only talk about the small slab, since anything too far out is irrelevant to our “no car” nature.

I initially thought the neighborhood would start where Basilica di Santa Maria Novella is, but it goes so far east, it’s right up to the city center itself, which is amazing.

Staying here, you’ll be closer to Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, Piazza della Repubblica, as well as foodie gems like Buca Mario and Trattoria Sostanza.

Pros and Cons of Santa Maria Novella

• ✅ Quieter than the center and San Lorenzo
• ✅ Amazing restaurants in the area
• ✅ Imagine walking the streets with no mass tour groups around 🥹
• ❌ Can be a little far away from most attractions if you stay too far west

4. San Marco: For Peace-Lovers and Introverts

This is where Michelangelo’s David is. Did I convince you to stay here? Just kidding 😂

I’m not gonna lie, next to everything else Florence has to offer in other mini-neighborhoods I’ve talked about so far, David is the only thing that makes this area exciting for a nerd like me.

But if some real quiet (and I mean QUIET) is your jam, then you’ll want to consider basing yourself in this area.

If you look at the map I made above, you’ll also see that this is the neighborhood that stretches the furthest north. I recommend sticking to the souther part of it, so you won’t have to walk too far to get anywhere.

Pros and Cons of Staying in San Marco

• ✅ More affordable rates than other areas
• ✅ Super close to Michelangelo’s David
• ✅ Very quiet at most time of day
• ✅ Local vibe, minimal tourist groups (except in front of the museum)
• ❌ Can be too far of a walk if you stay in the northern parts

5. Santa Croce: Most Affordable Accommodations

You’ve probably guessed from the name. Basilica di Santa Croce is the biggest attraction in this neighborhood.

If you want to have easy access to the church (along with the 300 important men buried there) and its statue of Dante out front, staying in this area means you’re only steps away.

The area doesn’t light up much unless you’re in the immediate area of the church.

Visiting during the holiday season will be different, though, since Piazza di Santa Croce is home to the city’s Christmas market!

My favorite wine window at Ristorante Pietrabianca is also in this area. I can’t speak to the quality of their food because I haven’t tried, but this wine window is one of the authentic ones around Florence.

You’ll find out soon enough, but dozens of these wine windows are made especially for tourists 😂

While Florence will never be truly “affordable” to some, this area has the highest concentration of affordable accommodations compared to the others I’ve talked about so far.

Not all of them have great reviews, though.

Pros and Cons of Staying in Santa Croce

• ✅ Super affordable accommodation
• ✅ More local environment
• ✅ Slightly less crowded than Duomo area
• ❌ Could mean excessive walking if you stay too far east

6. San Frediano & Santo Spirito: Best for Local Feels

Moving across the river to what people call Oltrarno, which means across the Arno River. But there are also mini-neighborhoods within this side.

I’ll group two together for this one, since together, they feel like the heart of this side of town.

One of the most important churches in Florence is here, Santo Spirito. I could spend days sitting in that church even though I’m Buddhist (😅). In front of that church is also a local market that I love strolling through.

Walking west of Santo Spirito into San Frediano, you’ll also find the best Florentine Steak at my favorite restaurant, Antico Ristoro di Cambi.

And yes, staying on this side of the river automatically means peace and quiet, unless you stray too close to Palazzo Pitti. So, avoid that area.

Pros and Cons of Staying in This Area

• ✅ Feels very local
• ✅ Still walkable to everything
• ✅ Amazing restaurants and local churches in the area
• ❌ Might be considered “sleepy” if you prefer livelier environments

7. San Niccolò: Villa-Style Accommodations

I didn’t personally stay in this area, but I walked past it on my way up to Piazzale Michelangelo, and wish I had.

The quiet streets, with eccentric jewelry and perfume shops mixing with local produce, felt very charming.

Not counting the tourists storming by this area to catch the sunset between 4-6 PM, this neighborhood remains fairly quiet throughout the day.

Most accommodations are guest houses or bed and breakfast that feel more like villa-style Italian homes than hotels, too.

If you base yourself in this tiny slab of land on Oltrarno, you’ll be steps away from Giardino delle Rose and Piazzale Michelangelo. You’ll have to climb a bit of hills, of course.

Pros and Cons of San Niccolò

• ✅ Artistic vibes, quiet, local
• ✅ More villa-style accommodations
• ✅ Still only a 15-minute walk to the Duomo Complex
• ❌ Loud crowds rush by this area around sunset everyday.

Looking For Things to Do in Florence?

I’ve got you on those, too! While the list of things to do in Florence could go on forever, I’ve condensed it down to the top 15 that I really enjoyed.

Of course, you can’t skip the Duomo Complex. It’s just a bit tricky to visit if you wanna see all six attractions in the square, so make sure to check out my guide before you’re done planning!

First time in Italy? Don’t forget to read up on my cultural tips for first-time visitors before you go. Below are some more Florence posts that might interest you 👇

Check out my Italy Cultural Travel page for guides on Bologna, too.

Get Ready For Your Trip to Italy

Lastly, here are some resources to help you get ready for your trip.

• Make sure you have travel insurance. I always use SafetyWing or Heymondo.
• Stay connected in Italy with this eSIM
• Must-have Apps: City Mapper, WhatsApp

Grab My Trip-Planner Template

To help streamline your planning process, I’ve decided to share the template I’ve created and have personally used to plan my own trips. You can grab a copy of it for free below!

FAQs About Staying in Florence Without a Car

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