Cheap hotels in Florence: where to stay on a budget
Florence is small enough to walk end to end in half an hour, which means “outside the centre” barely exists as a penalty. That makes it one of the easier Italian cities to visit cheaply, as long as you avoid the two peak seasons. This guide covers where the value is and how to compare offers properly.
By The Hotella editors · Updated
The best-value hotels in Florence are around Santa Maria Novella station, in San Frediano and the Oltrarno, and towards Campo di Marte and Rifredi — all within walking distance or a short bus ride of the Duomo. Travel midweek and outside April–June and September–October, and compare the total including the tourist tax paid at the hotel.
Where the value is
Santa Maria Novella is the practical budget base: trains, buses and the airport tram all meet there, and the hotel supply is large enough that prices stay competitive.
The Oltrarno — San Frediano and Santo Spirito — gives you a real neighbourhood, cheaper restaurants and a short walk over the river into the centre. For most visitors it is the best combination of price and atmosphere.
Campo di Marte, Rifredi and Novoli are ordinary residential districts where a room costs a good deal less. Add a bus ticket and ten minutes each way.
When Florence is cheap
November to February, excluding Christmas and New Year, is the low season, and the museums are pleasant without queues. July and August are hot and busy but often cheaper than the spring peak.
Weekday nights are cheaper than weekends, and the difference over three nights is usually worth shifting the trip for.
What to check before booking
Air conditioning in summer, whether the hotel is inside the restricted traffic zone if you are driving, and whether breakfast is included. Many cheaper hotels occupy one or two floors of an old palazzo — charming, but check for a lift.
The live price box on this page shows a current total for real dates in Florence, fetched when the page loads.
Step by step
1. Use the station district
The streets around Santa Maria Novella have the city's densest supply of ordinary hotels at ordinary prices, and the Duomo is a ten-minute walk. Check the specific street — some are much nicer than others.
2. Cross the river
San Frediano and Santo Spirito in the Oltrarno are the local half of Florence: workshops, small restaurants and hotels that cost less than the same standard on the north bank, five minutes from Ponte Vecchio.
3. Go one bus ride out for the biggest saving
Campo di Marte, Rifredi and the streets towards Fiesole are residential and clearly cheaper, with frequent buses and, from Campo di Marte, trains into the centre.
4. Avoid the two peaks
April to June and September to October are the high seasons in Florence. Late autumn and winter, outside Christmas, cost far less for the same hotel.
5. Compare the total for the stay
Florence charges a tourist tax per person per night at the hotel, and breakfast is often separate. Compare the total for your exact dates — the figure this site shows.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is the cheapest area to stay in Florence?
- Campo di Marte, Rifredi and Novoli are the cheapest, a short bus or train ride out. Around Santa Maria Novella station and in San Frediano you pay a little more and can walk everywhere.
- Is Florence expensive for hotels?
- It is expensive in spring and early autumn and reasonable the rest of the year. The city is small, so staying slightly out saves money without costing much time.
- Which month is cheapest in Florence?
- November, January and February, outside Christmas and New Year. April to June and September to October are the peaks.
- Do Florence hotels charge a tourist tax?
- Yes, a tax per person per night based on hotel category, collected at the property and normally not included in the online rate.
- Is it better to stay near the station or across the river?
- The station area is cheapest and most practical for arriving by train. The Oltrarno costs slightly more and is far more pleasant in the evening — for most visitors, worth the difference.