Florence is one of Italy’s most visited cities, and it is easy to see why. Even if you are not an art enthusiast, you will marvel at the Renaissance masterpieces which grace the walls of this city’s famous museums. The cobbled streets of the medieval city are a pleasure to walk, and even more so while enjoying some of the city’s amazing gelato. This is a city that is routinely full of students, not to mention budget-seeking backpackers, so you will find lots of hostels here as well as cheap hotels in Florence.
Unlike many popular tourist cities, Florence has lots of budget accommodation options right in the city center, within easy walking distance of basically everything you will want to see and do in the city. Of course, there are more expensive luxury hotels throughout the central area, but it does not take much to find the cheap hotels in Florence, either. And because getting around Florence’s main attractions is easily done on foot, once you are settled into your centrally located room you should have no need of anything but your favorite walking shoes to get from sight to sight.
Florence is clearly most famous for being the birthplace of the Renaissance, and the long lines during the summer to get into the Uffizi Gallery and Accademia are evidence that much of the art that was born in this city remains there. But even if you are not into art, Florence provides all kinds of distractions – from leather shopping to great food to even better gelato, not to mention the nightlife that always goes hand in hand with any city that has a large student population. If the crowds do not frustrate you, this is a city that will capture your heart.
A few of the cheap hotels in Florence that are worth checking out are Hotel Axial (on pedestrian street Via del Calzaiuoli, steps from Duomo, free WiFi, breakfast included, on-site bar), Hotel Europa (steps from Duomo, 19 rooms, some with view of Giotto’s tower, family-run hotel, breakfast included, internet access available), Hotel Montreal (near train station, WiFi available for a fee, breakfast included), Hotel Nazionale (near train station, 9 rooms, breakfast included & served in the rooms, some rooms offer view of Duomo), and Hotel Margaret (website in Italian only but proprietors speak a little English, family-run hotel, near train station, 5 comfortable rooms).