Nice & Cozy Hotels in Florence for First-Time Visitors, Including New Places

Florence has a way of drawing even the most famous into its orbit. As the city hums with nearly 5 million annual visitors, a familiar name slipped quietly through its streets: Stanley Tucci, filming his new docuseries. One day he was lingering over lampredotto sandwiches and a glass of Vin Santo—“perfetto,” as he called it—right where locals go for an honest bite and a glimpse into the soul of the city.

It’s moments like these—unscripted, rich with texture—that remind us Florence isn’t just Renaissance paintings and imposing domes. It’s a place you fall for in fragments: a rooftop you weren’t expecting. A frescoed courtyard hiding behind an unmarked doorway. The way sunlight glints off the Arno at dusk.

All the while, the city pulses. In 2025, Florence takes measures to temper the crowds—banning tour-group carts and regulating short-term rentals—so the quiet parts have a chance to breathe. It’s still a busy place, but now there’s room to wander—airspace for discovery.

And while boutique hotels—like the freshly opened Collegio alla Querce (super expensive with over $3,000 per night), nestled above the Duomo with restored frescoes and landscaped gardens—offer fresh eyes on the city, the greatest pleasure often lies in falling into the right door, even without a map.

Hotel Brunelleschi

• Rooms from $505 per night (Classic Executive Room)
• Book now

Hotel Brunelleschi proudly sits in the city’s center, just a stone’s throw from Piazza Duomo. It was created within a glorious circular Byzantine tower that dates back to the 6^th century. Since opening its doors to guests in 1988, it’s now home to 96 rooms and suites, two restaurants, a gym, and even a private museum. It has received recognition through winning various awards and earning a four-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide. It’s even been celebrated in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.

For a room, you can stay here for $505 a night, and suites start at $900. During your stay, try the food at Brunelleschi’s two restaurants. The Osteria Pagliazza has cuisine inspired by Florentine and Tuscan traditions, like ravioli and risotto dishes. Or, you may wish to visit the Michelin Star restaurant, Santa Elizabetta, where dishes like cannelloni pasta cost $64, or roasted lamb at  $74. If you’ve eaten out in the city and fancy a cocktail or two, head to the Tower Bar.

The hotel offers exclusive experiences for exploring the city, particularly helpful for first-time visitors, like the Dan Brown tour or queue skipping at the Uffizi Gallery. The concierge team is also on hand to introduce you to museums, monuments, and events around the city.

“This hotel is fabulous on every front. The staff are amazing, they couldn’t do enough for you and are always smiling. The breakfast buffet was beautiful and catered to every requirement. The restaurant food was to die for, and the location was excellent.”AngesWal, TripAdvisor

Hotel La Gemma

• Rooms from $500 a night (Signature Room)
• Book now

Hotel La Gemma is surrounded by art and history, just steps from Piazza della Repubblica, Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and other landmarks. It’s new, opening its doors to guests in 2023, but has already made a name for itself by being featured in major publications like Architectural Digest and Condé Nast Traveler’s full review.

Spread across five floors, this 19th-century hotel has 39 rooms and suites available. If you book the signature room, you can stay here for $500 a night, though you’ll need to upgrade to get a view of the Duomo. 

It’s no secret that the food in Florence is delicious, but you don’t need to leave the hotel to experience some fine cuisine. Lucas Ristorante is led by a Michelin-starred chef, Paulo Airaudo, and offers some traditional Italian dishes. Three tasting menus are available: four courses for $151, seven for $181, and 11 for $216. Also, try food from La Gemma Café, like beef ragù tagliatelle or a club sandwich.

To top it all off, the hotel has the Allure Wellness & Spa, where you can indulge in the hydrotherapy pool and aromatic saunas or treat yourself to a treatment. Rituals, like Madera Wood Therapy, and massages, like the aromatherapy massage, are available.

“Such a treat. If you want the perfect trip to Florence, book La Gemma. It’s most definitely not an “Instagram trap”. Yes, aesthetically it’s perfection, but it doesn’t stop there. Staff are so attentive, food and drinks are incredible (the breakfast – wow), and the rooms are 5-star luxury. Oh, and don’t miss the spa!”LW, Google

Hotel Torre di Bellosguardo

• Rooms from $496 a night (Double Room)
• Book now

If you’re looking for a hotel that’s a little more secluded, then Hotel Torre di Bellosguardo may be more suitable. It offers delightful sweeping vistas of Florence and the Tuscan countryside, and it’s still only 10 minutes by car from the center. Like Hotel La Gemma, this stay features in Architectural Digest’s Best Florence Stays. It also received a full review from The Times and earned a Michelin Key.

There are 16 elegantly designed rooms and suites available, each with Tuscan medieval and Renaissance architecture. Stay in one of the double rooms for $496 a night; if you’re looking for a suite, these start at $554. Book Casa Rosa, the hotel’s apartment, for larger parties.

While you’ll want to explore the city, there’s much to see on the estate. Extensive gardens surround the building, and there is a pool on a hill, where you can soak in the views. There is even a small farm that you can visit with animals, like donkeys and ponies.

“An absolute gem. The perfect place to retreat from the heat and crowds of Florence. Amazing views, beautiful building, fabulous gardens, and wonderful pool. Old world luxury – you are transported to a bygone era that rarely exists in today’s homogenised world. I can’t wait to go back.” Montgomerie, TripAdvisor

Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni

• Rooms from $473 a night (Classic Room)
• Book now

Our final hotel is located on one of Florence’s most exclusive streets, Via Tornabuoni, famous for boutiques like Gucci, Dior, and more. The building dates back to the 13^th Century and has since been carefully restored. It’s been recognized a few times by Condé Nast Traveler, such as being awarded one of the Top 10 Hotels in Europe in the Readers’ Choice Awards. Appetito Magazine also called it ‘Heaven in Florence’.

Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni has 25 rooms and suites available, and prices start at $473 a night. Upgrade to a room or suite with a view, like the deluxe double overlooking the Duomo for $519 or the Panoramic suite with views over the Arno River for $829.

Guests highly recommend the food here. Breakfast includes locally sourced ingredients from Tuscan farmers, so enjoy fresh fruit, bread, and jams to kick off your day. The Tower Restaurant offers dishes inspired by Florence, with sweeping vistas of the city’s skyline. However, the standout feature of this hotel is the panoramic bar, and the terrace offers some unforgettable views of the city.

“I had an incredible stay at Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni 1. Everything about this historic residence is exceptional. It has breathtaking views across the city from the breakfast terrace, and I had a breathtaking view along the Arno from my room.” Beatrice Sayers, Google

New Boutique Hotels in Florence With History & Design to Stay in 2026

• Collegio alla Querce (2025) – 16th-century former school, restored frescoes, hillside gardens, Auberge Resorts polish.
• The Hoxton Florence (2025), next to Piazza della Libertà – Renaissance palazzo with modernist design, courtyard café, funky playful interiors.
• W Florence (2025) – Bold retro-inspired style in a 1960s landmark, rooftop bar with Duomo views. Good to earn points with the Marriott card.
• The James Suite Hotel Firenze 1564 (2025) by Hilton – 14-suite palazzo from 1564, theatrical yet intimate, deeply tied to history. Remember your hotel credit card.
• Ruby Bea Hotel (Opening in 2026) – A New nice hotel in Florence, inspired by Dante’s Beatrice, with a geometric design, artistic terrace, and library bar.

Florence is a city you’ll carry with you long after you’ve left, and these hotels, with their rich Renaissance history and outstanding views, can be part of that experience. Once you’ve wandered the cobbled streets, you’ll soon understand why people keep coming back.