On a budget
- San Lorenzo: next to the centre, with lots of places to stay, including cheap hostels.
- San Marco: just outside the centre, away from the busiest sights and nightlife, so rooms are a little cheaper.
Inside or outside the centre?
- First-timers are best off central: convenient, with everything a short walk away.
- Outside the centre feels more everyday and less hectic, and is usually cheaper.
With a car
- Florence has few areas that suit drivers: little public parking, narrow streets and lots of pedestrians.
- The centre is a restricted traffic zone (ZTL): unauthorised vehicles are caught on camera and fined, rental cars included.
- Choose a hotel with parking (usually charged per day) and ask the hotel for a legal route in.