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The Top 5 Hotels in Greater Florence in 2021

Note: If you’re looking for our most recent recommendations, check out the 2023 list of our favorite hotels in Florence .

This year's World's Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three-year period. We hope that this year's honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world.

The Athens of the Middle Ages. The Cradle of the Renaissance. Florence , the capital and most populous city of Tuscany , has many nicknames — including, for T+L readers, one of the best cities in Europe. This longtime center of history and art has always been a popular destination, and that shows no signs of changing. It's only fitting, then, that a place of renown would have hotels to match.

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey , T+L invites its readers to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities.

In a city known for its well-preserved medieval and Renaissance architecture, it only makes sense that many of the best hotels in Florence occupy historic spaces. Villa San Michele, a Belmond Hotel, which takes the second spot on this year's list, is located in a 15th-century monastery — with a façade widely attributed to none other than Michelangelo. Readers loved it for its secluded location in the hills of Fiesole, as well as for the top-notch service, romantic atmosphere, and Tuscan cuisine from chef Alessandro Cozzolino.

Like the Belmond, many of this year's reader-favorite hotels are operated by large international brands. But one independent property stands out: Brunelleschi Hotel, a boutique hotel that comes in at No. 3. "Best location in town," said one reader, praising the central location near the Duomo. "Wide range of rooms, outstanding breakfast, and helpful and welcoming staff. Catullo at the front desk is a treasure." Part of the property, which encompasses both a Byzantine tower and a medieval church, was indeed once owned by the Florentine architect after whom the hotel is named. Another respondent admitted, "I cannot wait to go back to Florence just to stay there."

Despite the tough competition, the city's top property claims the title for a second year in a row. Read on for the full list of the best hotels in Florence, as voted by T+L readers.

1. St. Regis Florence

This grand property on the banks of the Arno is located inside a 15th-century palazzo designed by Filippo Brunelleschi — remembered by history for such works as the Pazzi Chapel and the distinctive Duomo of the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral. In the St. Regis's 80 rooms and 19 suites (including one designed by Bottega Veneta creative director Tomas Maier) visitors will find jewel-toned textiles, plush headboards, rococo mirrors and chandeliers, and countless other ultra-Italian touches. Managed by St. Regis since 2011, the palazzo has actually operated as a hotel since the 19th century, playing host to visiting figures, including Queen Victoria.

Score: 97.52 More information: marriott.com

2. Villa San Michele, a Belmond Hotel

Score: 96.52 More information: belmond.com

3. Brunelleschi Hotel

Score: 96.32 More information: brunelleschihotelflorence.com

4. Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Score: 92.14 More information: fourseasons.com

5. The Westin Excelsior, Florence

Score: 91.50 More information: marriott.com

See all of our readers' favorite hotels, cities, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards for 2021 .

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23 Best Hotels in Florence

For a small city, Florence has an astonishing variety of places in which to lay your sightseeing-weary head. Established international brands such as Belmond, St. Regis, and Four Seasons guarantee luxury, immaculate service, and a plethora of facilities. Stylish boutique hotels offer very personalized service and a discreet atmosphere, and charming, sometimes quirky B&Bs, often housed in lovely old palazzi, have bags of character and competitive prices. And while the pandemic put the brakes on tourism for a couple of years, there has since been a flurry of activity with new openings around every corner, and the visitor numbers to fill them .

It pays to do your research ahead of time and decide what you want, and where you want to be: Florence’s main sights are largely clustered in the compact Centro Storico, where the narrow cobbled lanes and pretty piazzas are awash with tourists most of the year. Choose a hotel in the center of the city if you want everything on your doorstep, but not if you are averse to crowds. Hotels on the banks of the Arno have rooms with wonderful river views, but they come with a hefty price tag. There are funkier places to stay in the uber-hip Oltrarno neighborhood, which is south of the river and home to a slew of interesting restaurants , independent boutiques, and a vibrant nightlife scene. Or head for the hills surrounding the city, where you’ll find some fabulous villa hotels—most with lovely gardens and pools—which offer the best of both worlds, especially in high season; you are within easy reach of the sights, yet removed from the worst of the crowds, heat and humidity. Here are our picks for the best hotels in Florence.

Read our complete Florence travel guide here .

Every hotel review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider properties across price points that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination, keeping design, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind. This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Hotel Savoy, A Rocco Forte Hotel Arrow

A drink on the terrace of the Hotel Savoy, overlooking the promenading crowds and vintage carousel in the Piazza della Repubblica, has long been a signature Florence experience. And it still is—though the setting is now new and improved. The iconic Rocco Forte property, first opened in 1893, re-opened in April 2018 after a six-month renovation with interiors re-imagined by Olga Polizzi (Director of Design for Rocco Forte Hotels, and sister of hotelier Sir Rocco Forte) and Laudomia Pucci (Image Director of the Emilio Pucci fashion house, and daughter of its founder.) With the renovation, the hotel reduced its number of rooms from 102 to 80; suites also come with upgraded amenities (like Illy espresso machines and, in some cases, balconies) and prime views (though most rooms look out onto the Duomo, the Piazza, or a charming side street), while all accommodations have a residential-style feel, shelves lined with books and flea market-sourced objets, interactive TVs, and top-of-the-line bedding.

Hotel Palazzo Guadagni Arrow

This is one of Florence’s most charming three-stars. Renaissance-era Palazzo Guadagni stands on buzzing Piazza Santo Spirito, the focal point of life in this authentic Florentine neighborhood. Formerly the quirky Pensione Bandini (where E. M. Forster’s Lucy Honeychurch would have been quite at home), it has legions of long-standing fans, the sort of independent travelers who enjoy the echoes of old Florence and opt for timeless atmosphere over five star services. The lack of restaurants isn’t a problem as there is a wide choice of eating options in the immediate neighborhood. The breakfast buffet is laid out in a powder blue dining room with background classical music; it adds to the feel that you are part of an Edwardian novel. The loggia bar has a menu of cocktails, wines, and snacks in the evenings.

25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino Arrow

The multi-million euro restoration of this monastery complex (and erstwhile bank headquarters) that concluded in 2021 gave a much-needed facelift to the central yet rather scruffy muddle of narrow streets around the church of San Paolino and its eponymous piazza. The café, retro Companion bar, and San Paolino restaurant have become popular hangouts with a mixed Florentine crowd, the Cinema Paradiso (brick vaulted ceiling, fireplace, and vintage sofas), holds regular screenings, the Sala delle Celeste Armonie with billiard table and selection of vinyl albums is a regular venue for meetings, and the Stanza di Bacco and adjacent wine cellar hosts private dinners.

Hotel La Gemma Arrow

If you want to know what happens when a high-style Italian family puts their heads together on a hospitality project—in this case, four siblings and their mother; one with a background in fashion and another an expert in real estate—Hotel La Gemma is the result. It is a serene, design-minded oasis—for a town known for its ancient history, this is no dusty relic. Much like the rest of the hotel, the rooms feel like velvet-padded jewel boxes. The family loves the decadence of the Art Deco period—minimalism is not in their vocabulary—and the plush, willowy bends of everything in the room speak to that. Take advantage of the supremely convenient location to beat the hordes to the Duomo or Uffizi in the morning, if those are on your list. —Megan Spurrell

Portrait Firenze Arrow

On the Ponte Vecchio on the water, so not quite in the throes of the tourist crowds, Portrait Firenze is slick and stylish, modern with a twist of Florentine style. Inside are luxurious, contemporary designed suites that feel like you have stepped into a movie set where you are the fabulous protagonist in an equally fabulous film about being gorgeous and Italian. Design is modern Italian: think high quality materials, dark woods, light metals, all by Italy's top design firms—as well as hand-crafted pieces from Ferragamo. It's also super high-tech, but with white glove service. Everything is seamless, easily explained, and catered to you. You feel like you have your own personal concierge. Between that standard of attention and the view, it's worth it.

The St. Regis Florence Arrow

There’s no shortage of elegant hotels in Florence , but something about The St. Regis keeps it a perennial favorite. It might be that, for a palazzo of 15th-century frescoes and crystal chandeliers, it is just so cozy, full of stained-glass-lit nooks in which to disappear for hours with a copy of La Repubblica . Of course, the Renaissance never feels far away. Filippo Brunelleschi, the brains behind the Duomo , designed the original palazzo in the early 1400s, and it became a hotel in 1866. If the exquisitely detailed cherubs on the ceiling of the Salone delle Feste ballroom could talk, they might tell tales that the wonderful staff here are mostly too tactful to divulge: of Botticelli and Amerigo Vespucci (the explorer who gave America its name), but also of Madonna and Keith Richards. Still, it’s not just the great and the good who are treated exquisitely: Clothes are magically unpacked and ironed, tickets awarded to skip the queues for the Diocesan Museum or Santa Maria del Fiore’s dome. Rooms, all brocades and canopied beds, mostly have views of the River Arno, while the Winter Garden restaurant is at the reverential end of Italian cooking, with dishes served under a great glass ceiling. Still, this is also a hotel that can let its hair down. Last Christmas, during the nightly Champagne ritual that kicks off with a waiter popping a bottle with a saber, a giant teddy bear was given pride of place by the fire. This is a hotel where the royal treatment is for everyone. —Sara Magro

Il Tornabuoni Arrow

Located on Florence’s most elegant thoroughfare, Il Tornabuoni is a magnet for fashion mavens and travel types looking for a quieter address. Crisp and stylish interiors by Milanese Andrea Auletta give the property’s original bones new life without making the place feel cookie-cutter. The lovely frescoes in the Il Magnifico suite, for example, are delightful in their whimsy. The Lucie Gourmet restaurant feels like eating inside an Art Deco jewelry box, with its gilded mirrors and gemlike pinks and teals, while the Butterfly Terrace gives great views over the city—don’t miss an Aperol following sightseeing or a shopping spree. —Ondine Cohane

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze Arrow

Unlike most other Four Seasons, the Firenze property stands out for its amazing, historic location. Set on 11 acres in a lush garden, it has a two-level, free-standing building on site that houses the spa, as well as a state-of-the-art gym and yoga studio. On the grounds is a lovely outdoor pool, and families should know that the Four Seasons children's program is robust and well-prepared. Slightly off the tourist trail in the Gherardesca gardens, rooms reside in two buildings: The Palazzo della Gherardesca, a converted 15th-century palace; and the Villa, a former 16th-century convent, now a 37-room hotel-within-a-hotel, with its own concierge. It's timeless and impeccable.

Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni 1 Arrow

Tornabuoni is a medieval tower in the very heart of Florence, within five minutes' walking distance of the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, and Ponte Vecchio. Renovated rooms give classical Tuscan design an update without abandonining tradition. You'll find hand-painted walls, restored parquet floors, rich pops of color, lovely brocades, modern four-poster beds, and, perhaps best of all, great views over one of Italy's most picturesque cities. Buffet breakfast is served on the sixth-floor terrace, which has a gorgeous view, and includes the usual—cereal, yogurt, fruit, pastries—plus grilled vegetables, quiches, eggs, and bruschetta. The Tower, the hotel's restaurant, is a popular spot for destination weddings. The view alone is worth it, but the top-quality service and style are an added bonus.

Soprarno Suites Arrow

The Oltrarno's boho, artisanal vibe makes it Florence's hottest neighborhood, and the SoprArno—occupying the top three floors of a townhouse—fits right into the hipster landscape. Rooms are filled with fabulous vintage finds, retro furniture, and original artwork that play off the townhouse's original architectural elements, including exposed wooden beams. All rooms are individually themed; for example, Viaggiatore, which means traveler, has gorgeous framed maps alongside well-designed furniture and huge beds. More guest house than hotel, don't miss breakfast—an excellent buffet with fresh pastries, fruit, and expert coffee—which is served in the ground-level Sott’Arno café, which is owned by SoprArno team Betty Soldi and Matteo Perduca. A local favorite, it's known for its great panini and gets busy in the afternoons and evenings.

The Social Hub Florence Arrow

Offering great facilities, a young vibe, and a location that is in easy reach of the central sights, the well-priced Social Hub (formerly The Student Hotel) is not just for students. Occupying an entire corner block on the ring road that circles the west of the city center, the spot burst onto the scene in 2018. The 19 th -century building (20,000 square meters of ex-office space incorporating a spacious courtyard garden ) houses both long-term student accommodation and hotel rooms whose keen prices attract a real mix of savvy backpackers, older independent travelers, families, and hip young business folk. The bars and restaurants also attract locals who don’t want to battle with the traffic and parking problems in the centro storico. The neighborhood sits northwest of the city center, an area of imposing 19 th century palazzi (mostly converted into business premises), swirling traffic, and few residents, but it’s only two tram stops from Santa Maria Novella train station from where there is easy access to everything you will want to see and do.

Grand Hotel Minerva Arrow

A rooftop heated pool with 360-degree views of Florence’s Duomo and other city icons? Sign us up. But there’s more: Art Deco-appointed rooms in a stately but welcoming 13th-century palazzo that was designed by modern genius Carlo Scarpa in the 1950s and given a light but essential spruce up by Piera Tempesti Benelli, and a perfect address on the pedestrian-only Piazza Santa Maria Novella with its magnificent white-fronted church.

Yes, it’s close to the city’s main train station—but even more importantly, in our opinion, it’s only a couple of minutes walk to lotion and potion superstar Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella for presents to take home and goodies for our own boudoir. — Ondine Cohane

Dimora Palanca Arrow

Artsy old Villa Azalea had sat empty and neglected for years before the present owners swept away the dated frills and chintzes in favor of the cool, sophisticated look that is Dimora Palanca today. They restored the overgrown garden and converted the ex-lemon house into 18 bedrooms. Outside, the lovely garden with tables, loungers and big white umbrellas, is a world away from the trafficked road on the other side of the high wall, and at the end of a long days’ sightseeing, an aperitivo or dinner here is a treat.

Milu Hotel Arrow

Milu is a capsule design hotel made up of two 15th-century palazzos with a sleek, contemporary aesthetic in an ideal spot on Via Tornabuoni. The Superior Double room is quite intimate—small but breathable—with minimalist decor and colorful accents. Bathrooms are state of the art. Rooms have an espresso machine and a minibar filled with beer, soft drinks, water, and snacks. The common room, which has a gorgeous view of the neighborhood, hosts a complimentary breakfast buffet. A favorite among fashion editors, this place has a cool factor that's unmatched elsewhere in Florence. Israeli owner Carmen Ilan is an established artist and the hotel is filled with her site-specific pieces and installations plus works by other artists which are all for sale.

Villa Cora Arrow

Old-world opulence is ingrained in this restored 19th-century mansion overlooking the Boboli Gardens. Built in 1868, the villa has been home to aristocrats from Napoleon III’s widow, Eugenie, to an Egyptian pasha, and the remarkable staff sustain this noble aura with warmth and professionalism. The 46 rooms and suites fill three buildings on the estate, with the most lavish on the piano nobile of the main villa. Though a chauffeured car is at guests’ disposal for the short ride to Florence’s center, you may never feel the need to leave Villa Cora. It has two terrific restaurants—the elegant gourmet Il Pasha and a luminous garden restaurant next to the heated white-stone pool—as well as two bars, one with an impressive selection of cigars, and a full-service spa with a sauna, steam room, and massive whirlpool bath.

The Place Firenze Arrow

Erstwhile JK Place and Italy’s original townhouse hotel, this stylish and cultivated urban bolthole—now The Place—lies a stone's throw away from the train station and shares piazza space with the glorious church of Santa Maria Novella. A stay here feels like being the guest of an extremely cultured collector friend. The hotel was redone under local architect Luigi Fragola in 2021, but long-standing fans will be pleased to hear that the clean, contemporary aesthetic hasn’t essentially changed too much although Fragola has added pops of color (forest green, regal purple) and flashes of brass and velvet to the neutral background palette. Minibars are stocked with complimentary soft drinks and room service will deliver tea and coffee at no extra charge.

Riva Lofts Florence Arrow

Riva Lofts is an early 20th-century stone building that's been converted into urban retreat in Isolotto, a suburban neighborhood on the outskirts of the city center. This is an architect's fantasy loft; it's a minimalist space that highlights the building's original architecture (exposed brickwork, arches). Design elements include midcentury furniture, gorgeous built-ins, and fireplaces. There's also a gorgeous pool, complete with contemporary art sculptures amid the surrounding greenery, and a well-stocked honesty bar. This is a great retreat from hot, crowded Florence. The pool alone is worth it.

Villa San Michele, a Belmond Hotel Arrow

Located in the hills outside of Florence (in Fiesole), Villa San Michele is another of one of those fairytale properties, this time in the form of a 15th century monastery-turned-villa. Everything about it feels like a dream, from the drive to the property, to standing on its grounds and admiring the architecture. Rooms are monastery chic: understated luxury with beautiful architecture. There are vaulted ceilings, beautiful glass window panes, period furniture. Less is absolutely more here. Bathrooms are beautiful marble with separate showers and large sunken tubs. The view is the wow factor, though—along with the superb staff. There is a lovely pool where you can get a massage, and a 24/7 gym kitted out with TechnoGym machines, and cooking classes also are on offer. You'll want for nothing here.

Helvetia & Bristol Firenze – Starhotels Collezione Arrow

Facing Piazza degli Strozzi and steps from Pizza della Repubblica, you'll find traditional Florentine charm with a location in the heart of the city's action. Shoppers, take note: you're by Via Tornabuoni, not to mention some of the city's most popular sites. As for your stay, rooms feel traditional without being dated, with crisp bed linens next to covered headboards and brocaded window treatments. Rooms are spacious, especially for this part of the city; and the on-site dining includes a bar with street-side seating, for taking a break with coffee and watching the local foot traffic. You won't get a ton of bells and whistles beyond the quiet elegance and location—but in Florence, what more do you need?

Ottantotto Firenze Arrow

This renovated historic "palazzetto" in Florence's less touristy Oltrarno neighborhood has just seven rooms, each decorated with different floral and botanical printed fabrics, antique decor, and funky-cool furniture. Our favorite rooms overlook the shady, stone-paved garden. They've got all the basics: free Wi-Fi, satellite TV, air conditioning (not always a given in Europe), and laundry service. There's an honesty bar in the living room stocked with drinks and snacks, and having breakfast in that garden is just dreamy. This is an elegant, unfussy hotel for people who want to see the cooler side of Florence.

Villa La Massa Arrow

The hotel and its extensive grounds—comprising a 12 th century Medici villa, its outbuildings and 62 acres of parkland—stand on a quiet bend in the river Arno, four miles east of Florence. There’s nothing to see or do in this semi-rural, under-the-radar neighborhood aside from admiring the gentle countryside, so guests tend to hop on the complimentary shuttle bus into Florence for entertainment or to stay put and enjoy the pool, spa and lovely gardens. On warm summer evenings, a regular program of events and live music at the pool bar and restaurants draws in the locals. Riverside restaurant Il Verrocchio is a lovely spot for dinner, especially on a warm summer evening, and the chef makes good use of produce from the kitchen garden and the estate’s own olive in his menus of creative Tuscan and pan-Italian dishes.

Hotel Lungarno Arrow

Hotel Lungarno is on prime real estate—steps away from the River Arno. No, really: You can literally step into it from the hotel entryway. Each room comes with its own unique art, and many have views of the water; downstairs, restaurant Borgo San Jacopo has one Michelin star. You book this hotel for the location, but you leave feeling like you've discovered a hidden gem, one where the typical Florence tourists aren't as likely to be found and where you can escape the hectic life of the city.

Ad Astra Arrow

Ad Astra feels like a little-known Florentine secret: a gorgeous private apartment on the first floor of an aristocratic urban villa just 10 minutes from the Ponte Vecchio. Expect lavish flourishes and 21st-century design. Individually decorated rooms feature classic elements with contemporary touches: original molding with rich accent colors, Italian furniture (midcentury to the '70s), artisanal lighting and woodwork, and framed art hand picked by the owners (from Pucci scarves to original prints). A breakfast buffet includes local products; enjoy it in the luminous salon or out on the terrace, which offers views of the delightful Torrigiani gardens. The lounge has complimentary coffee and tea throughout the day; there's also an honesty bar with wines and spirits. This oasis in the middle of Florence is a worthy stay, especially in the hotter months when hordes of tourists clutter the streets.

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The best hotels in Florence

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Home to the greatest concentration of art in the world, Florence has no shortage of spectacular creative and architectural delights. The opulent array of hotels in Florence offer an equally incredible dose of culture; many have handsome Renaissance features and interiors brimming with priceless objects d’art. The city’s best addresses are dotted throughout the city – whether you’re after a hotel smack in the centre or a more peaceful retreat in the surrounding hills. You’ll also find delightful guesthouses with bags of charm that won’t break the bank, some tucked away in the Oltrarno, Florence’s stylish boho district that lies to the south of the river. And without further ado, we present the best hotels in Florence , according to the editors of Condé Nast Traveller.

How we choose the best hotels in Florence

Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We’re always looking for beautiful design, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve.

Casa G Firenze

Best for: style and location

This modern Florentine hideaway is the embodiment of a hidden gem hotel, offering style along with an enviously slap-bang central location just minutes from the Duomo. Casa G’s discreet entrance may not give much away to the average passer-by, but those in the know can slip upstairs to discover an 18th-century palazzo that has been carefully transformed into the city’s most elegant bed-and-breakfast. Frescoed ceilings, deep bathtubs to sink into, and sweet turtle-shaped motifs are a given in each of the 15 bedrooms – along with calming colour palettes punctuated by pops of rich red and pistachio green. For the ultimate sleepover, bag yourself one of the two split-level suites – both of which are cavernous in size and guarantee prime views onto the cobbled streets below. Come morning, guests can graze on charcuterie boards and homemade cakes at the breakfast buffet (this is Italy, after all) before heading out to explore the city. After pounding the pavement all day, kick back in the communal living room (decked out with shiny gold fixtures and velvety fabrics), or one of the relaxed patio spaces. And while the service is distinctly hands off – check into your bedroom via an unique code, and pour yourself a drink from the honesty bar – the Casa G team can help secure tables at some of the most sought-after restaurants in the city, along with arranging pasta-making classes and history tours of Florence. Gina Jackson

Address: Via dei Rondinelli, 7, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy Price: From about £229

Hotel Calimala, Florence

Best for: a boutique bolthole

Calimala West is the youthful follow-up to its experienced big sister, Calimala East. In the thick of the action but tucked in a quiet, cobblestone street, the 19th-century Gothic building has had a just-right renovation with its original, ancient walls left exposed and a bold interior scheme that mixes primary Bauhaus colours with Art Deco silhouettes. There’s a glam yet friendly all-day lobby bar, and the charming Italian squad of staff don’t miss a beat. They’re friendly and efficient without going overboard. The breakfast offering is fabulous — jump around the corner to the original location for a buffet or wander downstairs for something more low-key, where gourmet sandwiches are available to grab and go. The hotel restaurant Angel Roofbar & Dining is unmissable — a buzzy, youthful offering with Italian-meets-Mediterranean flavours. Carli Philips

Address: Calimala, Via dei Lamberti, 5 - 50123 Firenze Price: From about £185

The St Regis Florence

Featured on our 2022 Gold List of the best hotels in the world

Best for: the royal treatment

There’s no shortage of elegant hotels in Florence, but something about The St Regis keeps me coming back year after year. It might be that, for a palazzo of 15th-century frescoes and crystal chandeliers, it is just so cosy; full of stained-glass-lit nooks in which to disappear for hours with a copy of La Repubblica . Of course, the Renaissance never feels far away. Filippo Brunelleschi, the brains behind the Duomo, designed the original palazzo in the early 1400s, and it became a hotel in 1866. If the exquisitely detailed cherubs on the ceiling of the Salone delle Feste ballroom could talk, they might tell tales that the wonderful staff here are mostly too tactful to divulge: of Botticelli and Amerigo Vespucci (the explorer who gave America its name), but also of Madonna and Keith Richards. Still, it’s not just the great and the good who are treated exquisitely: my clothes have been magically unpacked and ironed while I’ve been given tickets that skip the queues for the Diocesan Museum or Santa Maria del Fiore’s dome. Rooms, all brocades and canopied beds, mostly have views of the River Arno, while the Winter Garden restaurant is at the reverential end of Italian cooking, with dishes served under a great glass ceiling. Still, this is also a hotel that can let its hair down. Last Christmas , during the nightly Champagne ritual that kicks off with a waiter popping a bottle with a sabre, I found myself saying ‘C in cin’ to a giant teddy bear given pride of place by the fire. This is a hotel where the royal treatment is for everyone. Sara Margo

Address: Piazza Ognissanti, 1, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy Price: Doubles starting from about £410

Grand Hotel Minerva

Best for: a pool with a view

A rooftop heated pool with 360-degree views of Florence’s Duomo and other city icons? Wait, sign me up now. But there’s more: Art Deco-appointed rooms in a stately but welcoming 13th-century palazzo that was designed no less by modern genius Carlo Scarpa in the 1950s and given a light but essential spruce up by Piera Tempesti Benelli, and a perfect address on the pedestrian-only Piazza Santa Maria Novella with its magnificent white-fronted church.

Yes, it’s close to the city’s main train station –but even more importantly, in our opinion, it’s only a couple of minutes walk to lotion and potion superstar Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella for presents to take home and goodies for our own boudoir. Ondine Cohane

Address: Grand Hotel Minerva grandhotelminerva.com, Piazza Santa Maria Novella 16 , Florence Price: Doubles starting from £250.

Riva Suites

Best for: contemporary architecture fans

This labour of love from the Nardi family (patriarch Claudio is a famed Italian architect) had them take a former 1800s mill on the edge of Florence and transform it into an architectural showcase, with spectacular airy lofts with exposed brick, soaring ceilings, and views onto icons like the Duomo and Arno.

Free bikes quickly get you into the city centre, but staying in Isolotto’s residential neighbourhood and sequestering away from the tourist hubs is refreshing. If you're here in summer, the pool alone is worth the booking. When Italy generally goes through a heatwave, Florence hits even higher temperatures, and this pool becomes a god’s save, especially with kiddos in tow. The one-of-a-kind contemporary art sculptures around it are just one of the property’s bonuses as well. Ondine Cohane

Address: Riva Suites rivalofts.com, Via Baccio Bandinelli 98, Florence Price: Doubles from £120.

La Gemma Hotel

Best for: a group of friends

Just off Florence’s swanky Via Tornabuoni, this new boutique arrival has all the elements for the perfect BFF trip (or mother-daughter getaway, for that matter) to the Renaissance city; the tucked away, exquisitely restored, 19th-century palazzo is only a stone’s throw from Florence’s best shopping but feels secluded from the main thoroughfare’s tourist crowds, it’s a quick hop to Instagram-musts like the Ponte Vecchio and Santa Maria Novella, and the design makes you want to stay in for a slumber party, and a romcom in bed. We love elements like the standalone bathtubs under the nest-like skylights, the terraces for a glass of wine and maybe a sneaky cig, the custom plush king-size beds, and Gio Ponti iconic ceramics.

Don’t miss a treatment at the hotel’s small but chic Allure spa, and be sure to book a table at the property’s Luca restaurant, where two-starred Michelin chef Paolo Airaudo has taken Florentine classics and given them a contemporary twist — expect decadent dishes like Lobster risotto and goat flan with cherry. Ondine Cohane

Address: La Gemma Hotel, Via Dei Cavalieri 6R, Florence Price: Doubles starting from £378.

Hotel Savoy

Best for: good vibes, people-watching

If you could harness the energy given off by the interiors at the Savoy, you could power all of Florence. They are irrepressibly, irresistibly uplifting – the design equivalent of a stranger with a beautiful laugh. Just overhearing that person’s laughter makes you want to laugh too. Thanks for the good vibes go to Olga Polizzi (sister of hotelier Sir Rocco Forte) and Laudomia Pucci (daughter of fashion legend Emilio Pucci), old friends who share a passion for vividly patterned fabrics, contrasting textures and certain not-always-entirely-obvious colour combinations (fuschia, minty green, cadmium yellow). The balance is nicely maintained and the effect is invigorating without ever becoming hectic. The jazzy elements also sit well alongside more traditional ones – the marble-and-mosaic-forward bathrooms, for instance, which elsewhere might be merely predictable but here, in context, seem playful, almost ironic. There is an engaging sense of self-awareness about it all.

The restaurant, Irene, is fabulous – Tuscan classics done to perfection in an intimate space that works equally well morning, noon or night, with a terrific terrace spilling right onto the Piazza della Repubblica for prime people-watching. (You could hardly be any more in the thick of it.)

Just one criticism: no spa. However, there are  lots of books – good books, proper books, in nice editions – to encourage you to relax by using your head rather than merely lying back and drifting off while someone else rubs it.

Do ask the concierge team to arrange a personal walking tour – the guides are great and even if you know the city well, you’ll see something new and learn something astonishing. Steve King

Address:   Hotel Savoy, Piazza della Repubblica 7, 50123, Firenze FI, Italy Price: Doubles from about £430 (low season) and £580 (high season)

Helvetia & Bristol Firenze

Best for: centrality, wallpaper, pastries

Usually when people refer to a hotel as a “classic” or a “grande dame” or a “beloved institution” there’s an implication that the place in question is not merely old but also preserved in amber. Invariably only the old part is true, because in order to become and remain a classic, a hotel has to change over time. Such is the case at the Helvetia & Bristol, which has had its ups and downs since opening in 1894. More ups than downs, however, and a giddy rush of them since its acquisition by the Starhotels group in 2016. Its 64 existing rooms have been gorgeously revivified in swathes of silk and velvet – much of it woven just across the river at the Antico Setificio Fiorentino, an 18th-century textiles factory, a visit to which will only deepen your appreciation of your splendid digs.

A whole new wing in what used to be the Florence headquarters of the Banca di Roma next door opened in 2021, with 25 Anouska Hempel-designed rooms, each of them a tone-poem in lustrous shades of grey. Also new is LA SPA – the largest spa in the city centre – which combines the authentically ancient (real-life Roman ruins) with the bracingly modern (the “Secret of Longevity” facial treatment, for instance, conceived to banish unwanted signs of antiquity). There's also a fabulous bar, restaurant and café run by the proprietors of Sant’Angelo-based Cibrèo. Pastry-making megastar Iginio Massari has an immaculate shop in the same building – though you don’t need to leave the hotel to enjoy the fruits of his labours, which are also available for breakfast in the ravishing, radiant Winter Garden.

One thing about the Helvetia & Bristol that hasn’t changed and never gets old: its fabulous location opposite the Palazzo Strozzi, between the Via de’ Tornabuoni and the Piazza della Repubblica.  Steve King

Address:   Helvetia & Bristol Firenze – Starhotels Collezione, Via dei Pescioni, 2, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy Price: Doubles from about £400 (low season) and £700 (high season)

Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence

Best for: a bird’s eye view of the city

On a hillside in Fiesole, this Belmond property set in a 15th-century monastery breathes history. Its beautiful Renaissance façade was inspired by the work of Michelangelo, while its interiors blend historical features and contemporary furnishings. The reception is housed in the monastery’s former church, with lofty ceilings and rich velvet fabrics in deep hues. The cloisters have been transformed into a welcoming lounge area with stone columns and leafy plants, and at the two restaurants occupying the loggia each table has unobstructed views of the city below.

At the back of the property, the gardens’ multi-level lawns and terraces offer fabulous vistas. There’s a wonderfully sized swimming pool to while away the afternoons far from the tourist crowds, and historical forest trails on Monte Ceceri, where the hotel lies. It was allegedly from these shaded woodlands that Leonardo da Vinci staged the first test of his “flying machine”.

Address: Belmond Villa San Michele, Via Doccia, 4, 50014 Fiesole FI, Italy Price: Doubles starting from £730

Il Tornabuoni

Best for: shopping

Located on swanky Via Tornabuoni, Florence’s smartest thoroughfare, Il Tornabuoni is a stylish hotel set in a 13th-century palazzo. At this Hyatt property, colour-coded floors incorporate vivid tones including deep blues, fuchsia and bright yellows. Decorating the walls are lively depictions of exotic flora and fauna that are a nod to the Renaissance period, including butterflies, monkeys, beetles and parrots. The palazzo’s original features have been preserved where possible, including an original fireplace in one of the rooms, and wonderful ceiling frescoes in others.

The vibrant décor continues at the ground floor restaurant Il Magnifico, where elegant brass fittings complement a backdrop of verdant foliage and lively depictions of fauna. At the rooftop bar Butterfly Terrace, guests sip cocktails as they soak up views of the city skyline, before heading to the hotel’s Lucie Gourmet restaurant, decked out in bold hues of peacock blue and pink.

Address: IL Tornabuoni Hotel, Via de' Tornabuoni, 3, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy Price: Doubles starting from £345

Portrait Firenze

Best for: Ponte Vecchio views

This all-suite property owned by the Ferragamo family celebrates the 1950s and 1960s when Italian high fashion took off and Florence became a magnet for celebrities. Black and white photos of movie stars line the walls (there’s even a framed receipt for Marilyn Monroe’s Ferragamo shoes), while floor-to-ceiling windows present spectacular vistas of the Arno and the Ponte Vecchio – make sure you ask for a river-facing suite.

At the ground floor café, tables spill out onto the Lungarno – sit back with a coffee and watch life go by, or step onto the embankment to be inexorably diverted to nearby attractions. The hotel also offers Vespa rental, so you can zip around Florence and soak up a little dolce vita on two wheels.

Address: Portrait Firenze, Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli, 4, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy Price: Doubles starting from £510

Best for: a sophisticated boutique

Ring the doorbell and you’ll be granted access to this immaculately refurbished townhouse (formerly JK Place), just as if you were arriving at a (wealthy) friend’s house. The Place aspires to be your Florentine home away from home, with bespoke furnishings made by Florentine artisans and local artworks in the communal areas. Soft tones of green and cream echo the colours of the façade of Santa Maria Novella, which lies across the square.

The 20 rooms combine elegance and sophistication with modern technological touches, including gorgeous green and white marble bathrooms. The restaurant delivers al-fresco dining on one of the city’s most beautiful squares, spotlighting flavourful dishes (Tuscan Calvana beef; handmade black tortelli stuffed with prawns and zucchini) served on stylish Richard Ginori china, paired with a great selection of local Tuscan wines.

Address: The Place, Plaza di Santa Maria Novella, 7, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy Price: Doubles starting from £430

Best for: affordable comforts

This delightful little boutique hotel is tucked away in the Oltrarno, a short sashay from Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. Spread out over four floors, the seven rooms tastefully blend classic and modern, with cotto floors, antique furnishings and original features. The headboard in Room three is fitted into a huge original stone mantlepiece – marrying fun touches such as playful botanical and floral prints.

The soft lighting and books scattered here and there create an inviting feel, and there’s a lovely little garden shaded by an age-old medlar and palm tree where breakfast is served year-round (under a heated awning in winter ). As reception is only manned until mid-afternoon, you’re mostly left to your own devices when here – there’s an honesty bar in the lounge area, while to check in, you’ll be given a code to enter the front door and open the locker box that holds your room key.

Address: Ottantotto Firenze, Via dei Serragli, 88, 50124 Firenze FI, Italy Price: Doubles starting from £140

Best for: sophisticated, retro vibes

This friendly boutique hotel enjoys a fabulously quiet location in the largest private garden within the city walls. Sadly, the leafy 17-acre Giardino Torrigiani is closed to the public (the Marchese Torrigiani lives on the ground floor), although you can admire the grounds over a breakfast brioche (or a glass of vino come evening) from the lovely terrace.

The owners have done the place up in a contemporary-retro design scheme, adding curios, reclaimed furniture and quirky vintage pieces from the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies, carefully sourced from flea markets across Europe . In the lounge, a wrap-around 1960s optician’s display cabinet serves as a bar counter, while all manner of knick-knacks and upcycled pieces decorate the rooms, from a retro cinema spotlight to a framed vintage Pucci scarf. Rooms are exceptionally spacious, and all come with claw-foot baths, lending a decadent touch.

Address: Ad Astra, Via del Campuccio, 53, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy Price: Doubles starting from £120

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Best for: Renaissance splendour

Spread out over two large Renaissance buildings, this opulent hotel is set in the Giardino della Gherardesca, a wonderfully peaceful 11-acre spot shaded by centuries-old sequoias, maples and conifers, interlacing paths and lawns dotted with statues and fountains. Interiors are adorned with exquisite artistic and cultural artefacts; in the 15th-century courtyard lobby, intricate stuccos and bar reliefs are depicting classical and mythological events. The rooms are no less sumptuous – think rich fabrics and antique furnishings; and some have vaulted ceilings and intricate frescoes.

Service is top-notch, lead by professional yet amicable staff who call guests by name. Facilities are some of the very best in the city; there’s a delightful outdoor swimming pool – something many hotels in Florence lack despite the summer heat – an excellent spa and plenty to keep little ones entertained, including a kids’ club and playground. To top it all off, there’s Michelin-starred dining at Il Palagio, where seating is in a delightful garden setting in the summer months .

Address: Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, Borgo Pinti, 99, 50121 Firenze FI, Italy Price: Doubles starting from £860

Villa La Massa

Best for: peace and tranquillity

You can just picture a wealthy Florentine family during the time of the Medicis retreating to the villa’s breezy, riverside location following a hectic day pacing the streets of Florence. Sister to Lake Como’s famed hotel Villa d’Este, this 13th-century villa has a quiet location 8km to the east of Florence on the banks of the River Arno, immersed in a 25-acre park dotted with olive, lemon and cypress trees. The grounds are home to a delightful swimming pool, children’s play area and an attractive spa.

Rooms are spread out over five buildings, some exuding traditional, Renaissance décor, with four-poster beds, tapestries, and elegant fabrics; others have a decidedly more contemporary feel, with bespoke furnishings in earthy tones made by local artisans. In the evenings, Il Verrocchio’s riverfront terrace is a wonderfully tranquil spot to enjoy Mediterranean and Tuscan specialities to the soothing sounds of water softly murmuring below.

Address: Villa La Massa, Via della Massa, 24, 50012 Candeli FI, Italy Price: Doubles starting from £445

Hotel Lungarno

Best for: 20th-century art

This restored 16th-century residence houses an outstanding private art collection that includes an original Picasso, a handful of Jean Cocteaus, and over 450 other works mostly by Italian artists. It has a superb riverfront location, and light floods in through large windows. Ivory fabrics, navy blue carpets and dark wood fittings create a subtle nautical feel, giving the impression you’re on a boat slowly cruising down the Arno.

The all-day Picteau Bistrot and Bar is laid out to resemble a living room overlooking the river, while at Michelin-starred restaurant Borgo San Jacopo, the design takes inspiration from 1950s glamour, with great Ponte Vecchio views from the tiny terrace.

Address: Hotel Lungarno, Borgo S. Jacopo, 14, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy Price: Doubles starting from £405

Soprano Suites

Best for: vintage designs

This bolthole set in a 16th-century palazzo exudes a similarly unpretentious vibe to its sister-hotel Ad Astra, blending whimsical vintage pieces and upcycled objects with original features (ceiling frescoes; exposed beams). There are wooden seats rescued from an old train, vintage typewriters, a table made from a water tank, and an electric selection of artworks trimming the walls.

Most of the 13 rooms and suites are generously sized, and have towering ceilings (some frescoed) lending a sense of space and grandeur. The cosy lounge area has lots of fun market finds and shelves lined with books, creating a decidedly welcoming and laidback vibe, where jazzy tunes and all-day coffee and tea inviting guests to linger.

Address: Soprano Suites, Via Maggio, 35, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy Price: Doubles starting from £105

Best for: sumptuous interiors

Villa Cora is a peaceful retreat tucked away in a leafy residential area to the south of the city, away from the crowds of central Florence. The 19th-century villa has lavish interiors blending original fittings (splendid boiserie; glittering Murano chandeliers; elaborate frescoes) and a bold, rather gaudy choice of contemporary furnishings (velvet plum armchairs; crystal glass table).

The grounds are lovely, dotted with lush rose bushes, and there’s an inviting heated swimming pool shaded by oak and yew trees. Head up to the rooftop terrace to soak up captivating city views or make the most of the hotel’s hillside location and walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo, the city’s most romantic viewpoint.

Address: Villa Cora, Viale Machiavelli, 18, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy Price: Doubles starting from £255