Fortunately, you don’t need to spend a huge amount of money on your accommodation to enjoy a wonderful visit to Florence. There are plenty of great low budget accommodation options that are well located and provide you with all the facilities that you need to be comfortable while you’re exploring the Florentine art, history and culture.
It can be a little daunting to find cheaper accommodation in a city which is more famous for glamor, style and the Renaissance, however there’s still lots to choose from! From hostels to B&Bs, mid range hotels to rental apartments, there’s an excellent range of budget accommodation for you to take advantage of during your stay in the wonderful Tuscan capital.
I live an hour away from Florence in the hill town of Volterra. Whenever I am in Florence, I am always in the lookout for budget accommodations.
Best Budget Accommodations In Florence.
The following are some of the best budget accommodations. When selecting the best budget friendly accommodations I took into account location, amenities, quality, characteristics of the properties and the ease of using local public transport.
Oltrarno Apartments.
Located on the Piazza de Nerli, right in the heart of Florence and within a stone’s throw from the best museums, galleries and tourist hotspots, the Oltrarno apartments are made up of 9 separate units which are spacious, comfortable and very affordable.
Nestled in the historic San Frediano district, recently voted one of the coolest districts in the city, these newly renovated apartments have all the modern conveniences and house up to four guests in each one.
B&B Al Duomo.
Set amongst the cobblestoned streets of the historic Florentine center, the B&B Al Duomo is a great all round family friendly budget accommodation option. With a bar, lending library, free Wi Fi and private parking, the B&B is close to the Strozzi Palace and just 0.5km from the Uffizi Gallery.
Each of the elegantly designed rooms has a TV, air conditioning, private bathroom as well as an electric kettle and hair dryer. The nearest train station is the Santa Maria Novella that is a few hundred meters away while it’s easy to catch a taxi or bus in the streets right outside the B&B.
Hotel San Lorenzo.
This stylish little gem is just a few moments walk from the bustling San Lorenzo market and has been welcoming guests from more than 50 years into its charming 8 room hotel.
Housed in a beautiful 15th Century property, the hotel provides breakfast, a 24 hour concierge service and safe nearby parking in a private garage. Hotel guests can also take advantage of discounts at a local Tuscan trattoria that’s near the hotel by presenting a coupon code that they can get from the hotel reception.
Hotel Montreal.
This lovely 20 room hotel includes double rooms, singles, junior rooms and family suites. The air conditioned rooms boast top of the range mattresses and all the rooms are soundproofed so you won’t be disturbed by the busy city traffic. Each room also has unique wallpapers, color schemes and Tuscan sourced fabrics that highlight the characteristics of the suite.
Following recent renovations the hotel is clean and bright with a tasteful interior design and an expanded breakfast lounge. Located close to the big attractions, local restaurants and cafes, the Hotel Montreal is a great budget option for your trip to Florence.
Casa Rovai B&B.
Following extensive renovations in 2005 the owners were surprised to find some original frescoes on the walls beneath the plaster that date back to between the 16th and 18th Century! These valuable frescoes were left in place and make a unique feature in 6 of the B&B’s 9 rooms.
Located in the center of Florence it’s the ideal base to explore the city from and is a short walk from the Duomo of Florence, the Uffizi Gallery and the Piazza della Signoria.
Each room in the B&B has its own bathroom, a shower, a hair dryer, an LCD TV, Wi-Fi and a safe. The B&B offers single and double rooms for their guests and has a lovely outdoor terrace where guests can sit and relax in the evening. On arrival you’ll receive a free city map and be offered help by the B&B staff to plan your city tour.
Best Budget Options In The Outskirts Of Florence.
The following are the best budget accommodations in the suburbs of Florence:
Agricola Poderino.
The stunning rural farmhouse is located on a hillside less than 10km from the Florence city center and has beautiful views and a private pool. Built in the traditional Tuscan style, this budget accommodation offers you the best of both rural Tuscany and easy access to the city for day trips and tours.
The rental apartment has four rooms on the 1st floor of the farmhouse with its own private entrance and is just a few minutes drive from Grassina, a small town with shops, restaurants and gelatarias to enjoy. The apartment consists of one double bedroom but there are fold down sofa beds that can accommodate an extra 2 children or adults.
I Nidi Di Belforte.
This unique farmhouse was built in the Middle Ages and is a part of an olive oil and saffron producing agritourism business. The farmhouse is split up into 7 separate self catering apartments that are all decorated in a traditional Tuscan style with all the modern conveniences and appliances that you would expect.
The farmhouse is around 50 km from Florence which makes it easy to drive into the city for day trips and sightseeing while giving you access to hiking trails and the tranquility of the authentic Tuscan countryside. It’s the perfect place for a family to stay and allows you to explore the nearby villages, markets and restaurants while being close enough to Florence not to miss out on any of the region’s major tourist hotspots.
Poggio Al Sole.
Poggio Al Sole is a charming family run farm and B&B with 5 double rooms as well as an upstairs loft conversion with 3 bedrooms and bathrooms that can be rented as a whole by a group or on a room by room basis.
Located in the hills in the Mugnone Valley, just outside of the city of Florence, the farm is perched on a sunny hillside outside of Fiesole where you can easily catch public transport into the city. The farm is a great example of the innovative Italian agritourism sector which combines accommodation and saffron production, making it a really special place to stay.
With a pool, breakfast room, gift shop and traditional Tuscan décor; the farmhouse is ideal for families, couples or groups visiting Florence on a budget who want to stay in the rural idyll of Tuscany within easy reach of the city and its attractions.
Porcigliano Country House.
With spectacular views across the countryside, the Porcigliano country house is located outside of Polcanto in the Mugnone Valley between Mugello and Florence. This makes the villa the perfect base to explore Florence from which is only 20 minutes drive away but also Pisa, Chianti and San Gimignano.
The two storey villa has 3 bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, as well as a charming stone kitchen with all the appliances you need to self cater during your stay. Outside of the kitchen you can relax on the spacious veranda that overlooks the picturesque olive groves beneath and in the evenings you can sit by the fireplace with your family or friends.
Fattoria I Ricci.
With an outdoor pool and large private gardens, the Fattoria I Ricci is made up of self catering apartments, an independent villa and charming B&B and is set amongst the pristine Tuscan landscape. The 17th Century buildings are situated in the hills amongst olive groves outside Florence and offer superb panoramic views of the valleys and towns below.
All the self catering apartments have free Wi-Fi and access to fully equipped kitchens, a full fridge, an outdoor pool, a barbecue area and chairs and tables in the gardens.
Fattoria I Ricci is the ideal getaways for families, groups, couples and solo travelers who want to stay just outside of Florence in a traditional Tuscan property. On site there are cooking lessons available to the guests as well as a newly installed spa which a Finnish sauna, Turkish bath and whirlpool that can be used by up to 12 people at a time if you reserve a time slot in advance.
The Hu Camping Village.
For the ultimate budget accommodation you can stay in the Hu camping and glamping site. Located just 3km from Florence and 10km from Fiesole, the camping village has a range of budget accommodation on offer, including tent pitch sites, mobile home ‘glamping’ holiday rental apartments and small chalets. The site is family friendly and dogs are welcome to stay with you at the village!
There’s also a good range of fun activities on site including horse riding, e-bike rentals and the popular Watermania park which has several main pools as well as slides and water fountains for children to play amongst. Overall, the Hu camping village is the perfect budget accommodation for families with children who want to be able to relax on site and also visit nearby Florence for day trips, shopping and sightseeing.
Budget Hotels For A Magical Vacation In Florence.
Visiting the home of the Renaissance should be on everyone’s bucket list and so even if you’re on a relatively tight budget you shouldn’t let that stop you! There’s a fantastic range of low budget accommodations available in and around Florence; and so whether you’re traveling alone, as a couple or with your family then you’ll be able to find well located lodgings at a reasonable price.
