Tuscany is famed for its breathtaking countryside and beautiful Renaissance cities, and no city is quite as inviting as Florence. The Tuscan capital city sees millions of tourists each year, aiming to explore everything it has to offer. So, when the time comes to embark on your journey, you want to set base in the best luxury hotels in Florence.
The Centro Storico is a great location to stay and explore the most popular attractions, including Florence’s best museums, like the Uffizi Gallery. The historic center also holds other city icons, such as Florence’s Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio. Alternatively, you can stay in Oltrano, which offers a more laid-back atmosphere with fewer tourist crowds.
Each of these Florence hotels boasts opulence, comfort, and a unique experience fit for royalty. You certainly won’t be disappointed.
Florence Luxury Hotels
You might wonder what makes Florence’s luxury hotel scene so worthwhile. These 5-star accommodations immerse guests in a world of unbeatable comfort and offer all-inclusive experiences that provide an authentic and insider experience of this brilliant city.
From the city center, near Florence Cathedral, to the hilltop town of Fiesole, with scenic views of the city below, each hotel is in the best destination imaginable. Combine that with Michelin-star restaurants, relaxing spa treatments, impeccable furnishings, and personalized service, and you’ve got an unforgettable stay.
With so many excellent options, choosing hotels for your stay can be challenging. This guide has done all the hard work, narrowing down the top ten best hotels in Florence that give the royal treatment.
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
The Four Seasons Hotel Firenze is a member of one of the world’s most famous hospitality providers and is perfect for first-time visitors wanting to explore the city. It sits in the city center, just a stone’s throw away from Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery, and Piazza Duomo (grab these skip-the-line tickets for a tour of the Duomo).
The hotel stands in the Giardino della Gherardesca, one of the largest private gardens in Florence. The lush garden is adorned with hedges, fountains, gazebos, and intricate statues. It has a small Ionic temple and a large swimming pool, creating a tranquil escape from the busy city.
The rooms in the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze are split between two historic buildings: the 15th-century Palazzo della Gherardesca and the Palazzo del Nero. Each has its charm, with Baroque frescoes, antique decor, comfortable furnishings, and sweeping city views. Additionally, the hotel offers plenty of modern amenities, including a large LCD TV, concierge services, and fully equipped marble bathrooms.
What’s more, the hotel offers a full-service spa with several soothing treatments to help you feel pampered. For a more exciting experience, guests can rent a luxury or classic sports car and will be provided with a custom itinerary for the day.
If that’s not enough, there are also a few fine-dining options. From the Michelin-starred restaurant Il Palagio to the Atrium Bar, each is dedicated to giving you the best of Florentine food and drinks >> Check Availability and Prices.
LISTEN: To our podcast on the Top 5 Experiences to have in Florence.
Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy
The Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy in Florence city center, established by Hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, is another fantastic addition to your itinerary and one of Italy’s most romantic places. This stylish hotel is in the Piazza della Repubblica and is built in a classic Rennaisance style that leaves you breathless.
Timeless elegance is evident throughout, with rooms sporting lavish details, like silken fabrics, intricate paintings, and detailed floral wallpapers. Rooms even have small private terraces that allow visitors to enjoy the views of Santa Maria del Fiore and the piazza below.
The hotel’s restaurant and bar are among the best amenities in Hotel Savoy, perfect for winding down after a long day. Irene Restaurant is headed by chef Fulvio Pierangelini, who takes Italian cooking to the next level, providing mouthwatering and authentic dishes. The bar is also excellent for a nightly champagne ritual or cocktail run.
Visitors can also monitor their fitness by trying the fully functional gym and activity sessions, including morning yoga and dance classes. When you’re done, you can head to the spa suite and try a relaxing massage and other treatments to reward your hard work.
A luxury stay at this hotel wouldn’t be complete without its exclusive experience packages. The hotel offers guests a choice between different packages and itineraries catered to various audiences, from families and couples to solo travelers >> Check Availability and Prices.
Villa Cora
Villa Cora is more than a simple boutique hotel – it’s like stepping into a fantasy world. The 19th-century building, designed by Pietro Camparini, boasts an eclectic and grand style in the heart of a luscious garden. The hotel has unbeatable views of the city skyline and the Boboli Gardens nearby.
Villa Cora has welcomed several high-profile visitors, including French pianist Claude Debussy, and it’s no wonder why. Each corner of the hotel is decorated immaculately with period furniture, pops of color along the walls and ceilings, and laminated wooden floors. Of the 43 rooms and suites, each has a unique style and careful attention to detail.
Villa Cora also offers exceptional culinary delights. Le Bistrot Restaurant is great for a delicious lunch or dinner. The Santa Garden Cocktail Club, the Il Salotto del Santa aperitif bar, and the Bellevue rooftop terrace are also a must-try.
Once outdoors, visitors will be greeted with a large outdoor pool surrounded by a beautiful Italian-style garden. The serene atmosphere is essential for those trying to kick back and relax after a long day. Alternatively, you can try out the hotel spa.
You can use the different hotel concierge experiences, from guided tours of Florence to rafting along the River Arno. This accommodation is only a couple of miles from the city and the Santa Maria Novella train station, making travel quick and easy >> Check Availability and Prices.
Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel
Nestled on a hillside in Fiesole, with Florence’s best views, you’ll find the Villa San Michele. The Belmond Hotel is already a well-known brand, but if you combine that with the location, you will find one of the best places to stay in Florence, Italy. The hotel is housed in a 16th-century monastery, making it a one-of-a-kind.
The hotel’s front facade and exterior are exquisite, with terrace gardens lined with bright wisteria, greenery, and uninterrupted city views below. The best of all, however, is the Leonardo Woodland surrounding the hotel, where Leonardo da Vinci had tested his first flying machine.
Choose between rooms, suites, or even the private La Limonaia Villa, which has a heated pool, garden, and kitchen facilities. In addition to the comfortable furnishings and amenities, guests are provided with a daily breakfast buffet, serving anything from fresh pastries to Prosciutto Bazzone.
Villa San Michele is equipped with a fully stocked gym with state-of-the-art equipment to meet all your fitness needs and pilates and yoga classes. Then, consider visiting the Salus Regina spa suite, which offers a selection of massages and treatments.
As the cherry on top, the villa’s in-house restaurants – La Loggia, Ristorante San Michele, and the San Michele Grill – all serve the most delicious and classic Florentine delights >> Check Availability and Prices.
EXPLORE: More of Tuscany in the Best Day Trips from Florence.
Hotel Lungarno
Hotel Lungarno is a fabulous accommodation in Santo Spirito, perched alongside the Arno River and only a few hundred feet from the Ponte Vecchio. The iconic old bridge of Florence is just one sight nearby, along with the Piazza della Repubblica to the south and the Palazzo Pitti.
The roots of Hotel Lungarno span back to 1967, but it has since undergone complete renovations and improvements into the luxury locale it is today. Inside, the aesthetic of each room exudes calmness and tranquility, with a simple white and blue color scheme throughout.
Some of the 63 rooms and suites offer private terraces looking out to famous historical sites and the river while also giving a sense of modern comfort and elegance. The hotel certainly showcases a passion for art in its decor. Artistic masterpieces by popular Italian painters, including Bueno and Guidi, are scattered throughout.
Hotel Lungarno offers an exclusive and extensive collection of fine-dining restaurants that combine authentic cuisine with modern twists. The Borgo San Jacopo, next to the hotel, is a Michelin-star restaurant headed by Executive Chef Claudio Mengoni. It serves an amazing array of gourmet cuisine rooted in traditional ideas.
Also, visit the Picteau Bistrot & Bar on the ground floor. Indulge in spectacular Mediterranean dishes here while surrounded by a collection of art pieces by Picasso and Jean Cocteau >> Check Availability and Prices.
The St. Regis Florence
St. Regis Florence is by far one of the best hotels in Florence, Italy. The 5-star hotel is located in a historic building that dates back to the 18th century and once belonged to the noble Giuntini family. Designed by the legendary architect Brunelleschi, it sits along the Arno River and offers guests a view of the city and the Tuscan hills in the distance.
St. Regis is the epitome of royal living, from the colorful antique furnishings made with high-quality materials and fabrics to the crystal chandeliers in almost every room. Each room has a different style and is just as breathtaking as the last, with frescoes, mixed-texture flooring, and intricate paintings.
Start your mornings at the Balconata breakfast bar, serving a tasty yet elegant breakfast daily below a great glass ceiling. For lunch and dinner, visit the Winter Garden Restaurant and Bar. Both are set in a dining room with columns, intricate archways, and grand decor.
The Salone delle Feste ballroom sits in the same building, the hotel’s event venue, popular for weddings and other social events. It’s hard to describe how gorgeous this room is. It’s adorned with golden-detailed frescoes, intricate wall art, and exquisitely detailed cherubs on the ceilings.
In addition, St. Regis has all the modern amenities you’ll need, from high-speed Wi-Fi to a fully equipped fitness center and spa services >> Check Availability and Prices.
Helvetia & Bristol Firenze
If you’re a fan of more eclectic and colorful decor, then Helvetia & Bristol Firenze is right up your alley. Combining the historic building and the glamorous renovations over the years, this hotel has become one of the best in the center of Florence.
Guests are greeted with immaculately designed rooms, each with different bright color palettes, breathtaking decor, marvelous chandeliers, and comfortable beds. Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, minibars, concierge services, and any other amenities you could need are all available.
To escape the hustle and bustle of the city, find a retreat in La Spa, the hotel’s private spa. Offerings include face and body treatments, saunas, pilates and fitness classes, and perhaps the best of all, a modern take on Roman baths.
Culinary delights await you here among the hotel’s eateries. Enjoy a daily breakfast by the Maestro Massari, which serves the most delectable pastries and cakes. The Cibrèo Ristorante & Cocktail Bar is terrific for a five-star lunch or dinner experience, serving classic Florentine cuisine with a sophisticated and gourmet twist.
The hotel experiences are catered to every guest and are perfect additions to your Florence itinerary. Whether you want to explore the streets of the city, try some unique craft workshops, or go on personalized guided tours, Helvetia & Bristol has it all >> Check Availability and Prices.
Portrait Firenze
The Portrait Firenze is another prestigious member of the Lungarno Hotel collection. It offers a perfect view of the Ponte Vecchio and Arno River below. Plus, it’s only a few minutes from must-see attractions, like the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella and Palazzo Strozzi.
The interior of Portrait Firenze boasts excellence in every aspect and a minimalistic, modern aesthetic. The bright white walls and simple, neutral decor contrast beautifully against the dark wooden floors, giving the hotel a lifted contemporary feel.
Visitors can choose between 37 rooms and suites, each individually crafted to make them feel special. In addition to sizeable comfortable bedding, large TVs, and lovely wall artwork, most rooms also have a clear view of the surrounding area.
Portrait Firenze is home to the award-winning Caffè dell’Oro, a contemporary Italian café with a 1950s style, vintage furnishings, and an unbeatable view. Indulge in Chef Antonio Minichiello’s creations, which blend fine-dining cooking with unique plating and flavors. It offers all-day dining, from breakfast, lunch, and dinner to a late-night aperitif.
Guests of Portrait Firenze, are rewarded with exclusive rewards and discounts. Most notable is the White Iris Beauty Spa, where you can treat yourself to deluxe Salvatore Ferragamo bath products >> Check Availability and Prices.
Grand Hotel Minerva
The Grand Hotel Minerva is set in the Piazza Santa Maria Novella, with a remarkable view of the magnificent white-fronted church just a few steps away. The hotel’s major design influences are from Edoardo Detti and modern genius Carlo Scarpa in 1958. However, in more recent years, it’s been given a light but essential spruce up into the contemporary wonder it is today.
There are 97 rooms and suites to choose from, and while each is exceptional in its own right, the frescoed rooms make this accommodation unique. Imagine a large suite adorned with calming tones, pops of red or green, and the most magnificent paintings on the ceiling.
This same artistic styling is evident throughout the hotel, with a vast collection of paintings, framed sketches, and sculptures scattered throughout each room. Hotel Minvera’s private collection includes pieces from major artists, such as Giuseppe Chiari, Emilio Greco, and Carlo Carrà.
At the top of this grand building is a rooftop heated pool with a panoramic view of the city and a morning and evening pool bar. Stepping away from the rooftop terrace, you can head to the La Buona Novella restaurant for amazing culinary offerings or the Bistrot Bar for a nightcap.
Top it off with some self-care at the hotel gym, which features premium equipment, or take a dip in the large plunge bath to soothe those muscles after a long day’s exploration >> Check Availability and Prices.
IL Tornabuoni Hotel
Yet another hidden gem in Piazza Santa Maria Novella, and the final on the list, is the IL Tornabuoni Hotel. The 5-star hotel is a member of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, one of the world’s most trusted and prestigious hotel providers.
Enter the epitome of the modern Renaissance, with each room and corridor exuding a blend of historical elegance and contemporary touches. Each of the 62 suites has a distinct style, some with clean and neutral palettes and other colorful art deco-appointed rooms. Either way, comfort and glamor are guaranteed.
Staying at the IL Tornabuoni Hotel is a food lover’s dream. Have your pick of four prestige spots, each with a different vibe but all dedicated to celebrating Tuscan food and wine. IL Magnifico Restaurant is the top pick for a stunning lunch or dinner made from fresh, local ingredients. If you enjoy a sweet morning pastry and a cup of coffee, try IL Magnifico Cafè.
The Butterfly Terrace is the prime setting for drinks overlooking the city, especially during sunset. The terrace bar offers a gorgeous selection of cocktails and a specially curated wine list. Couple that with soft music in the background, and you have the perfect night.
To top it all off, guests can visit La Cave. While technically, it is a multifunctional space where guests can host various events, it’s also a wine cellar. Here, you can arrange to enjoy private wine tastings, sampling local Tuscan wines and some international varieties >> Check Availability and Prices.
DISCOVER: Where to experience the incredible local wines in our podcast on the Wine Bars of Florence.
Wrapping Up Florence – Hotels for a Luxurious Stay
There you have it – the best hotels in Florence for the most incredible, splurge-worthy experience in the Rennaisance city. These exclusive accommodations blend rich history and modern elegance with ancient touches only Italy can provide. Plus, they’re near some of the loveliest hidden gems in Florence, and who wouldn’t want that?
Whether you choose the Hotel Savoy in the historic center or the breathtaking Villa San Michel in Fiesole, these elegant hotels are bound to satisfy you. And who knows? Maybe they inspire you to try Rome’s luxury hotels next.
For more tips and tricks, check out some of these helpful Florence guides:
- Florence Travel Guide
- Best Boutique Hotels in Florence
- Where to Stay in Florence
- Top Florence Hotels With Pools
Our team of writers and creatives at Untold Italy are experts in keeping you informed and inspired about travel in Italy. Our team collaboration involves writers, photographers and editorial staff dedicated to sharing accurate Italy travel information.
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