15 Chic Boutique Hotels In Florence Italy

This post reviews the best boutique hotels in Florence.

If you’re looking for a fantastic Florence boutique hotel where you can spend your downtime, you’ve come to the right place.

Thanks to the former rulers of the city, the Medici family, Florence is filled with extravagant, historic palazzos, many of which have been artfully converted into stunning retreats where you can relive the city’s Renaissance heyday in style.

We stay somewhere different every time we visit the Tuscan capital, but there are just so many cool hotels in Florence that it sometimes feels like we’ve barely scratched the surface.

You can live out your dreams of residing in a lavish ducal residence or unearth a reasonably priced hideaway that’s filled with plenty of local character – it all depends on your budget.

No matter whether you are on the hunt for the most stylish, the most traditional, the most outrageous, or the most romantic hotels in Florence Italy, we’ve got you covered!

Top Pick Of Boutique Hotels In Florence Italy

Top Rated Florence Boutique Hotels

Don’t be fooled by star ratings. Some of the best boutique hotels in Florence are very light on facilities, which has relegated them to the ranks of the 3-stars, but what they lack in spas and restaurants, they make up for in having supremely polished, aesthetically pleasing rooms.

#1 Palazzo Bianca Cappello Residenza d’Epoca – A Gorgeous Classic Hotel Florence Italy.

The Palazzo Bianca Cappello is an utterly fantastic 15th-century building with a spectacular façade. Inside, you’ll find one of the best design hotels in Florence.

LOCATION | The property is south of the Arno, a short walk to the Pitti Palace. The iconic Duomo is about 15 minutes away via the Ponte Santa Trinita. For a nearer religious edifice, the Basilica di Santo Spirito, constructed in the 1400s, is right behind the building.

FACILITIES | Facilities at the Palazzo Bianca Cappello are scant, as the focus is mainly on providing a fabulous residential experience rather than a full-service hotel. However, they do offer breakfast, parking, and laundry services for a fee.

ROOMS | If you’ve ever wondered what it must have been like to be a noble during the Renaissance, this is your opportunity. The spacious, high-ceilinged suites (between 323 and 700 square feet) have been opulently decorated with one-of-a-kind pieces, mixing the traditional with the contemporary in the most convivial way imaginable.

#2 25hours Hotel Florence Piazza San Paolino – An Unforgettably Designed Boutique Hotel Florence Italy.

With its subtle elegance, the 25hours Hotel Florence Piazza San Paolino features bold design leaps that make every space feel unique and memorable.

LOCATION | The hotel is within a 10-minute walk of all the downtown attractions, including the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella with its stunning frescoes and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its Brunelleschi dome.

FACILITIES | If you want boutique hotels in Florence with a few more amenities, this place has a spa with a Finnish sauna, a two-floored fitness centre with workout machines and space for yoga, a shop, a communal lounge with TV, and three F&B venues. Breakfast and bicycles are available for an additional fee.

ROOMS | The rooms at the 25hours Hotel Florence Piazza San Paolino are inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy. That means some of them are terrifyingly decorated in blood red with the words “Welcome to Hell” scrawled across the glass doors of the bathroom, invoking the Inferno section of Dante’s epic poem.

While this may appeal to some guests, we much prefer the Paradiso-oriented options, which are clad in a clean, pure white.

#3 Leone Blu Suites – Aesthetically Apparelled Palace For A Romantic Escape.

Housed in the 15th-century Ricasoli Palace, the Leone Blu Suites are a decadent collection of nine suites, each one outfitted with a mixture of traditional furnishings and more modern facets that combine to make this one of the most romantic hotels Florence has to offer.

LOCATION | Situated beside the Arno, this hotel is about 10 minutes walk to Florence’s main square, Piazza della Signoria, where you’ll find the Palazzo Vecchio.

FACILITIES | A private butler is on call to help meet your every whim, including customising your suite, arranging tours, and even organising a private wine tasting in the palazzo. Both a continental and a British breakfast are included as part of the room rate, but you’ll have to go elsewhere for lunch and dinner.

ROOMS | The high-ceilinged suites at the Leone Blu are crammed with artwork and pieces of antique furniture. Each one is a sizable affair, with the smallest option around 590 square feet and the largest a whopping 1,450 square feet. Try to secure a room overlooking the river if you want to wake up with stunning views.

#4 Palazzo Ridolfi – Historical Rooms With Modern Comforts.

The Palazzo Ridolfi has the same owners as the Palazzo Bianca Capello (located just opposite), but it offers more of a spectrum in terms of elaborateness and size.

LOCATION | The Pitti Palace is a brief stroll away, while the Uffizi Gallery is across the Arno but still only around a 10-minute walk.

FACILITIES | Private parking, breakfast, and a laundry service are available for an additional fee, though for other amenities, you’ll have to head elsewhere.

As with several of the other boutique hotels in Florence we’ve listed here, the focus is more on the accommodation experience rather than the facilities, though that doesn’t take away from the Palazzo Ridolfi being one of the most charming hotels in Florence.

ROOMS | While the historical character of the building has been preserved, the furniture and design details tend to be simpler than in the suites that form the Palazzo Bianca Capello. That’s particularly true in the smaller rooms, which still have distinctive design details but offer less va-va-voom.

#5 Casa Botticelli – Art-Filled Hideaway Boutique Hotel In Florence Italy.

Living up to its name, the Casa Botticelli incorporates a mixture of art forms into its interiors, including mosaics, sculptures, sketches, paintings, frescoes, and antique furniture.

LOCATION | Right on the doorstep of the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens, the property is just under 20 minutes from the Basilica of Santa Croce and just over 20 minutes to the Piazzale Michelangelo, which boasts some of the best panoramas of Florence.

FACILITIES | A complimentary breakfast is served in an elegant dining room, while laundry and private parking are available for an additional fee.

ROOMS | There are just a handful of beautifully appointed rooms at the Casa Botticelli, each one individually decorated. Rooms are relatively modest, 215 square feet to 322 square feet, though the room layout and furniture have been cleverly manipulated to make maximum use of the floor plan.

Best Luxury Boutique Hotels Florence Italy

If you’re someone who values a soothing spa treatment at the end of a long day, these luxury boutique hotels in Florence are fully outfitted to create an oasis of calm in the middle of what can often be a frenetic city.

Just sit back and let the Jacuzzi bubbles, massage therapists, and pore-cleansing steam rooms work their magic.

#6 Palazzo Portinari Salviati Residenza D’Epoca – One Of The Best Florence Romantic Hotels.

This 15th-century home was formerly the residence of the lady who inspired Dante’s greatest poetry, Beatrice Portinari. Today, it’s one of the most glamorous boutique hotels in Florence.

LOCATION | Lovers of Italy’s most famous bard will find Dante’s House Museum just behind the Palazzo Portinari Salviati. A couple of blocks over is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Giotto’s Campanile. The Palazzo Vecchio is a 5-minute stroll away.

FACILITIES | We love hanging out in the Salotto Portinari, a stunning atrium with a glass roof that is a great place to grab lunch or an afternoon drink. For dinner, you must indulge at least once in a meal at the Michelin-starred Chic Nonna, whose watchwords are sustainable, simple, and seasonal.

There’s also an underground spa with a heated indoor pool, Finnish sauna, steam room, and relaxation area that guests can use for free for two hours a day.

ROOMS | A total of 13 suites are on offer at the Palazzo Portinari Salviati, all of them impeccably, expensively adorned with plush curtains, period furniture, and marble bathrooms. Even the smallest rooms here are a sizable 400 square feet and come with a seating area and a desk.

#7 San Firenze Suites & Spa – One Of The Best Boutique Hotels Florence For A Private Spa Experience.

Very few hotels offer a private spa experience just for two, but that’s the unique selling point of the San Firenze Suites & Spa, a centrally located hotel with plenty of glamour.

LOCATION | Just off the Piazza della Signoria, this property is right in the heart of town. For the gourmands, it’s surrounded by numerous trattorias and gelaterias, while for the history buffs, there’s a good variety of niche museums dotted about the vicinity.

FACILITIES | The private spa features a Jacuzzi bath, a sauna, a Turkish bath, and a relaxation area, as well as the option to upgrade your experience with a couples massage.

A complimentary continental breakfast can be enjoyed in the communal breakfast room, or you can order it to your room for no extra charge. There isn’t a gym on-site, but guests do get access to the fitness area at the Ponte Vecchio Suites & Spa for free.

ROOMS | Every room here comes with a view, though each one is decorated in its own individual colour palette. Some supply a spa bath, while others feature a rain shower, but all of them come with Acqua di Parma toiletries.

#8 Helvetia & Bristol Firenze – 5-Star Hotel In The Midst Of Shopping Country.

While it’s less historic than some of the other boutique hotels in Florence, Helvetia & Bristol Firenze still has style in spades. The 5-star spot supplies both period 19th-century rooms as well as more up-to-the-minute stays.

LOCATION | This hotel is engulfed in upmarket stores, from international brands to local artisans. The Piazza della Repubblica is just around the corner, providing ample al fresco dining opportunities.

FACILITIES | The breakfast room, café, and restaurant with bar are all flashy dining options dishing up distinctive dining experiences.

Our favourite place here, though, is the spa, which takes inspiration from the Roman baths that once occupied the area. It’s an extensive space with a caldarium, a frigidarium, and a tepidarium, alongside more modern swimming and relaxation areas.

ROOMS | There are 89 rooms split between two areas. In the Helvetia wing, Italian artisans have dressed the rooms with 19th-century period pieces and bold colours, whether scarlet red, pistachio green, or amethyst purple.

The Bristol wing, designed by Anouska Hempel, takes a more contemporary approach to its décor, with lots of subtle steel grey and navy blue.

#9 Hotel Spadai – A Splash Of Modern Comfort In The Heart Of Renaissance Florence.

Boasting a private spa and central location, Hotel Spadai is another fabulous choice for couples.

LOCATION | A few minutes north of the Piazza del Duomo, the Hotel Spadai is near two important 15th-century monuments to the Medici family: Palazzo Medici Riccardi, the first palace the family commissioned, and the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the church where all the major members of the Medici clan are buried.

FACILITIES | Like the San Firenze Suites & Spa, Hotel Spadai has a private spa for two, including a sauna, a Turkish bath, a hot tub, and relaxation cots where you can snuggle up. A buffet breakfast is available in the mornings, while the lounge bar supplies light meals and booze throughout the rest of the day.

ROOMS | Rooms here are on the more compact side, with standard and comfort options coming in at 140 square feet and 160 square feet respectively. If you’re travelling to Florence with that special someone, we recommend plumping for a junior suite with a hot tub where you can canoodle with champagne and strawberries.

#10 Ponte Vecchio Suites & Spa – Contemporary Rooms And A Seductive Private Spa.

As its name suggests, the Ponte Vecchio Suites & Spa is found a stone’s throw from Florence’s famed medieval bridge.

LOCATION | A sister hotel to the San Firenze Suites & Spa, the Ponte Vecchio Suites & Spa is situated on the other side of the Arno River, a short walk from the Pitti Palace, the Duomo, and the Uffizi Gallery.

FACILITIES | The private spa for two supplies a sauna, a Turkish bath, a Jacuzzi, and a lounge area with herbal teas, as well as massages. Located beside the spa is a free fitness centre with a selection of essential workout equipment.

Breakfast is included, but for other meals, there are lots of options just outside the hotel – we recommend the Trattoria De’ Guicciardini, a backstreet hideaway with delicious pasta and a superb Bistecca alla Fiorentina.

ROOMS | The smartly modern, understated suites here range from 322-square-feet standard rooms for two with bathtubs, kitchenettes, and a seating area to four-person, family-friendly executive suites that are spread over 528 square feet and encompass a sitting room, a marble bathroom, and a kitchen corner.

Best Mid-Range Boutique Hotels In Florence

Our last category of boutique hotels is perfect for those in search of something a little more affordable that will still look fabulous on Instagram. Most of these properties strive for originality, though without the same degree of finesse as the top-rated boutique hotels in Florence.

#11 Hotel Pendini – A Delightfully Quaint Stay.

Everything about the Hotel Pendini is thoroughly charming, from the breakfast room with views of the city centre to the compact rooms that exude the pensione atmosphere of late 19th-century/early 20th-century Florence.

LOCATION | Right off the Piazza della Repubblica, this 3-star spot is a short walk to three of the city’s most important religious buildings: the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, and the Basilica of Santa Croce.

FACILITIES | The complimentary breakfast is served in a chandeliered salon, while the cosy foyer bar pours drinks until 11 p.m. Private parking and laundry services can be procured for an additional cost.

ROOMS | While the Hotel Pendini may not be amongst the most luxurious boutique hotels in Florence, we are smitten with its consciously old-fashioned accommodation, which boasts floral wallpaper as well as finely carved escritoires and chests of drawers.

Keep in mind that lodgings here are on the small side, though, with even the family suite for four people coming in at 290 square feet.

#12 Boutique Hotel La Casa di Morfeo – Individually Appointed Rooms In A Striking Townhouse.

La Casa di Morfeo is a bed-and-breakfast-style operation that offers rooms, none of which share anything in common beyond air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, and other common hotel room accoutrements.

LOCATION | To the eastern side of Florence city centre, this boutique occupies the first floor of a large mansion. The Basilica of Santa Croce is very close by, while the cathedral square is around 15 minutes on foot. A museum dedicated to Michelangelo that occupies the famed artist’s former home is on the doorstep.

FACILITIES | A complimentary continental breakfast is served in the little breakfast room, but otherwise, the hotel is short of facilities. Staff can, however, arrange for beauty treatments in your room, as well as procure tours, airport transfers, and champagne for celebrations.

ROOMS | Only nine rooms exist at La Casa di Morfeo, each one with a different colour scheme and individually curated pieces of furniture. The smallest room is around 194 square feet, while the largest squeezes in a double and two singles into a 377-square-foot space.

#13 Boutique Hotel Hugo – Family-Friendly Accommodation.

Bearing in mind that Hotel Hugo is classed as a mere 1-star hotel, there’s really very little not to like about the place – aside from, perhaps, the size of the rooms.

LOCATION | Further north of the centre than the other boutique hotels in Florence that we’ve listed, this modest spot is around 20 minutes walk to the Piazza della Signoria and 15 minutes to the Piazza del Duomo. The San Marco Complex and the Accademia Gallery, however, are a very short distance away.

FACILITIES | A complimentary breakfast is served in a wicker-dominated room whose plant motif gives the whole space a kind of garden party vibe. Paid private parking is also available.

ROOMS | Following a similar theme to La Casa di Morfeo, Hotel Hugo contains 10 rooms, none of which share colour schemes or furniture with any of the others.

The five doubles and two singles are all very affordable, but it’s the three triples that have the best decor – our favourite is the gold-and-blue triple outfitted with snazzy, foliage-covered wallpaper.

#14 Serristori Palace Residence – A Darling Aparthotel To Suit Groups Of Several Sizes.

There are a dozen different apartments to choose from at the Serristori Palace Residence, which provides space in abundance while keeping the facilities to a minimum.

LOCATION | Overlooking the Terzo Giardino, this palazzo is right on the southern bank of the Arno, 10 minutes from the Uffizi Gallery.

FACILITIES | There’s a small communal garden behind the property where you can relax on comfy-casual furniture. No meals are served, so you’ll have to fend for yourself on the food front, but the management can help you out with laundry and room cleaning.

ROOMS | All apartments feature a fridge, a dishwasher, a microwave oven, a coffee machine, cooking equipment, and a crockery. The studio is still a pretty sizable 485 square feet, though your largest option is 753 square feet.

Our pick of the bunch, however, is the slightly smaller split-level three-bedroom apartment (700 square feet), which comes with a living room that opens out onto a terrace with views of the city centre.

#15 Morandi alla Crocetta – A Personality-Filled Pensione.

If you’re looking for a characterful place to stay, the Morandi all Crocetta is bursting with winning, homely charm.

LOCATION | Not far from the University of Florence, this hotel has several green parks within walking distance, as well as being well located to reach the Accademia Gallery and the very centre of town.

FACILITIES | Breakfast is available for a fee, served in either the late 1800s-style breakfast room or the privacy of your own lodgings for no extra cost. Pets can stay with you for free, which is great, though the paid parking here is convenient.

ROOMS | Unique pieces of antique furniture decorate each of the 12 rooms, taking you back to a simpler time when bedsteads and wardrobes were unashamedly ornate. Some rooms boast rather sweet little patios that are perfect for enjoying your morning repast.

Boutique Hotels In Florence Italy: FAQ

What is the best area for tourists to stay in Florence?

If you’re visiting Florence first time, the best area to stay is the Historic Centre, also known as “Centro Storico”.

This UNESCO World Heritage neighbourhood of Florence is a treasure trove of Renaissance-era landmarks, including the awe-inspiring Duomo, the iconic Uffizi Gallery, and the enchanting Ponte Vecchio. By staying in Centro Storico, you’ll have the convenience of exploring these attractions on foot, surrounded by a myriad of charming restaurants and shops.

How much does it cost to stay in a hotel in Florence?

Hotel prices in Florence can vary significantly based on factors such as location, season, and amenities offered. Budget-conscious travellers can find accommodations starting at around €50 per night outside of the city centre, while mid-range hotels typically range from €100 to €200 per night.

For those seeking luxury or boutique options in prime locations like the Centro Storico, prices can start from €300 per night and go upwards. It’s important to note that prices tend to rise during peak tourist seasons, so we recommend booking in advance.

Why are hotels in Florence so expensive?

As a premier tourist destination, the city is globally renowned for its rich history, Renaissance art, and breathtaking architecture. This immense popularity, coupled with the preservation efforts of its historic structures, restricts the availability of accommodation and consequently drives up costs.

Additionally, during peak seasons like summer and holidays, prices tend to surge as the city becomes flooded with tourists.

Where to avoid staying in Florence?

While Florence is generally a safe city, we recommend avoiding the area and the vicinity of the Santa Maria Novella train station during the evening hours. This area tends to get rowdy and lacks the refined atmosphere found in other parts of the city.

Furthermore, the peripheral regions, such as the airport area or the industrial outskirts, do not offer much in terms of tourist attractions. Thus, they may not be the most convenient options for tourists seeking a fulfilling experience.

How many nights do you need in Florence?

The number of nights you should spend in Florence depends on your personal interests and the pace at which you like to travel.

As a general guideline, a three-day visit allows you to explore the most famous sights such as the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia Gallery, the Duomo, and the Ponte Vecchio, while also leaving some time for leisurely strolls and a few dining experiences.

Boutique Hotels In Florence Italy: Final Word

If there’s one thing you can say about boutique hotels in Florence, it’s that they always leave an impression.

In some cases, that impression may be one heavily shaded by the fires of hell (yes, we’re talking about the 25hours Hotel Florence Piazza San Paolino), but at least you can guarantee your stay in the Tuscan capital will be memorable in more ways than one.