Last updated August 11, 2026
Rhododendrites / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Florence
Santa Croce sits just east of the Duomo, centered on the Basilica di Santa Croce and its piazza. It's within easy walking distance of the historic center's main sights but has a slightly different character, with artisan workshops on some side streets and a concentration of bars and restaurants that draw an evening crowd.
A mix of daytime sightseeing around the basilica and a livelier bar and restaurant scene at night, particularly along Via de' Benci and around Piazza Sant'Ambrogio. It's generally a bit less dense with tour groups than the streets immediately around the Duomo.
Best for visitors who want to be near the historic center's main sights without staying in the most crowded streets, and for anyone who wants an active evening scene within walking distance of their hotel.
Consider another neighborhood if you want the quietest possible nights — some streets near the bar cluster around Via de' Benci and Piazza Sant'Ambrogio can stay lively into the late evening, especially on weekends.
Our take An 18th-century palazzo with frescoed ceilings on Via Ghibellina, between the Duomo and Santa Croce — a genuinely special building for anyone whose budget stretches to it.
Our take A plain, well-kept 3-star that trades hotel facilities for a genuinely central address — the kind of place that works if you're out all day.
Our take A reliable, long-running hotel right on the Arno, with a rooftop pool and terrace that's genuinely rare at this price point in Florence.
Our take A well-located 16th-century palazzo just off Piazza Santa Croce, with a rooftop terrace and bar that's rare at this scale, and staff who often know returning guests by name.
Everything in the historic center is within easy walking distance from here, and Santa Maria Novella station is about a 20-minute walk or a short bus ride away.
Florence's historic center is a camera-enforced limited traffic zone (ZTL): non-resident vehicles that enter without prior authorization can be fined, even for a brief drop-off. If you're driving to Florence, plan to park outside the ZTL or at your hotel (if it can register your plate) and get around the center on foot.
