6 Best Hotels in Florence, Italy

Bellosguardo (meaning "beautiful view") is perched atop a hill minutes from the viale, and reached via a narrow road dotted with olive trees. The reception area has soaring ceilings with frescoes by Francavilla (1553–1615). Guest rooms are simple and pleasing. Proprietor Signor Franchetti keeps a small menagerie on the grounds (including donkeys, rabbits, and chickens), and maintains a beautiful, peaceful garden, to which guests have access.

High design resides at this art showcase near the Ponte Vecchio, where sleek, uncluttered rooms are dressed mostly in neutrals but have luxe touches such as leather headboards. The coolly understated public rooms have a revolving collection of photographs by artists like Helmut Newton adorning the walls; the reception area is subtly but dramatically lighted. Both the bar and restaurant attract sophisticated, fashionable locals.

The owner of this understatedly elegant hotel has a real passion for watches, which is why he chose to name his hotel after them (and why you will see them throughout the property)—and the location can't be beat, as it abuts the increasingly beautiful Piazza Santa Maria Novella. Public rooms have soft, comfortable chairs; the art deco–style breakfast room offers everything, including bacon and eggs. The building, a former 15th-century palazzo, has high ceilings and dark wood floors. Spacious rooms, most with bathtubs, offer a perfect place to recover after a day of touring. Attentive staff make a stay here a true pleasure.

Though it's just 15 minutes from the Accademia and Michelangelo's David, this hotel—in a 19th-century mansion adorned with rich fabrics and period-appropriate furnishings—is a true retreat from the city's noise and crowds. The restaurant here is equally sophisticated, and the Piazza d'Azeglio, a small public park across the street, also evokes 19th-century Europe.

The perfect place to play the part of a Florentine aristocrat is here at this 16th-century palazzo, which despite its massive halls and sweeping staircase could almost feel like home.

For a taste of medieval Florence, stay in one of these character-filled guest rooms—some with canopied beds, some with balconies—housed within a 13th-century tower. The Torre Guelfa once protected the wealthy Acciaiuoli family; now it's one of the best small hotels in the center of Florence. A simple yet ample breakfast (think Continental-plus) is served in a serene glassed-in loggia.