Florence is an easy destination to plan yourself: hotels, flights, car rental and activities in one place, no juggling ten different sites. Florence works well as a base for day trips to nearby towns and scenic routes. The nearest airport is in a neighbouring city, and a rental car is the easiest way to cover the rest. There are currently around 20 places to stay listed in and around Florence, covering a range of budgets. The catalogue includes 12 vetted activities and tours with real guest ratings. 5 routes to nearby towns are mapped out from Florence, handy if you're planning side trips beyond the city itself.
Accommodation in Florence starts at around €101 per night, with a typical rate near €190 across roughly 20 nearby options — handy for budgeting your trip.
Well-reviewed hotels: Hotel Spadai, 4-star, guest rating 9.8 from 2280 reviews, from €246 per night; Hotel Calimala Florence, 4-star, guest rating 9.8 from 2034 reviews, from €249 per night; Palazzo Castri 1874 Spa & Garden, 4-star, guest rating 9.6 from 1526 reviews, from €177 per night; Hotel Lungarno - Lungarno Collection, 5-star, guest rating 9.6 from 688 reviews, from €545 per night; Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, 5-star, guest rating 9.6 from 388 reviews, from €2115 per night.
Day trips & routes: Pisa — about 83 km, 1h 17m drive; Venice — about 258 km, 3h 15m drive; Rome — about 285 km, 3h 18m drive; Treviso — about 297 km, 3h 14m drive; Ciampino — about 288 km, 3h 8m drive. Fastest option is Pisa: 1h 17m by car.
Florence: what to know
Things to see: "The Florence Pottery Experience: Factory Tour & Masterclass", rated 5 from 229 reviews, from €120; "Farm To table Experience on an organic hilltop estate in Tuscany", rated 5 from 145 reviews, from €160; "The Cooking Lab - Authentic Food Experience", rated 5 from 113 reviews, from €105; "UFFIZI Private Tour in Florence Italy", rated 5 from 106 reviews, from €152.31; "Pasta Cooking class in the countryside", rated 5 from 77 reviews, from €150.
Where to eat: "Gustarium Firenze", Healthy/Street Food, rated 4.9 (2537 reviews); "Osteria Giglio d'oro", Italian/Steakhouse, rated 4.9 (2273 reviews); "I' Girone De' Ghiotti", Italian/Fast Food, rated 4.9 (5143 reviews); "Trattoria Za Za"; "Il Barretto". Top-rated: "Gustarium Firenze" at 4.9.
Florence has no direct airport — most travellers fly into the nearest airport city and continue by rental car or transfer. Getting around the city and out to the 5 nearby destinations listed above is easiest by car — intercity public transport tends to be slower and less frequent. The median nightly rate in Florence is around €190, useful for comparing overall trip cost against nearby cities.
To rent a car in Florence you usually need a passport, a driving licence and a bank card for the deposit hold. With 20 places to stay nearby, it's worth comparing a base near the rental desk against one closer to the sights. Given 5 routes worth driving from here, check the mileage and one-way drop-off terms before you book. When touring Italy, plan stops in advance: fuel stations and car parks in smaller towns are not always open around the clock.
