Posted: 7/28/2023 | July 28th, 2023

I first visited Florence in 2006. Back then, the hostels weren’t that great. There were just a few that were good (one is actually still around and is still my favorite). Now, there’s a lot of hostel options in Florence, ranging from bare-bones cheap hostels to digital nomad hubs.

Florence is a really compact and easily walkable city. Nothing is too far from anything else so regardless of where you’ll stay, you’ll be able to walk around. (And most of the hostels are clustered together anyway.)

But there are over thirty hostels in this city to choose from. How do you know which to pick?

While you can always use the reviews on booking websites, I’ve compiled my list of favorites based on over fifteen years of personal visits and taking groups to the city.

Here are the four best hostels in the city (these are the only ones worth staying at:

Price legend (per night)

• $ = Under 30 EUR
• $$ = 30-40 EUR
• $$$ = Over 40 EUR

1. Ostello Bello Firenze

Ostello Bello Firenze is right in the center of town. The staff is really nice, they have a beautiful common room, bar, and a kitchen for you to cook in. All the guests get a free welcome drink too. There’s also a rooftop terrace and they organize a ton of activities throughout the week. It’s a really good hostel to meet people in. (No free breakfast though.)

The rooms are average. While the beds have plugs and the rooms have lockers, there’s no privacy curtains and they are in the old metal frames. You’ll get a decent sleep though, and all the rooms come with their own bathroom.

Ostello Bello Firenze at a glance:

• $$$
• Free welcome drink
• Lively common room makes it easy to meet people
• Cool rooftop terrace

Beds from 73 EUR per night.

2. YellowSquare

YellowSquare is a semi-newly renovated hostel about 12 minutes from the main train station. They offer a ton of activities from cooking classes to wine tasting to homemade pasta. They also have a rooftop swimming pool open in the summer and a beautiful courtyard. There’s also a fully operating bar, a self-service restaurant, and a kitchen.

The facilities are pretty good too. Beds have a reading light, electric plug, and a locker (though you have to bring your own lock). Sadly, there’s no privacy curtains but the beds are pretty comfortable and the showers have good water pressure.

This is a great hostel to stay at if you want to party and meet a lot of other travelers.

YellowSquare at a glance:

• $$
• Organizes lots of activities
• Rooftop pool
• Fun party atmosphere

Beds from 30 EUR per night.

3. Archi Rossi

This was the first hostel I stayed in back in 2006. And, while the days of a super huge free breakfast are gone (another COVID casualty), this hostel remains great. While the beds are pretty basic (no curtains or anything), the facilities are incredible. There’s an awesome courtyard, huge kitchen, and tons of art and murals around the hostel. The staff is super friendly, it’s close to the train station, and it’s one of the cheapest hostels in the city.

This is a great hostel to stay at if you want to party and meet a lot of other travelers.

Archi Rossi at a glance:

• $$
• Huge kitchen for cooking your own meals
• Great location near the train station
• Super-friendly staff

Beds from 40 EUR per night.

4. PLUS Florence

This is a lively, upscale hostel with an indoor pool that’s just a 10-minute walk from the main train station. They also have an outdoor pool and a chill rooftop terrace where you can relax and take in the view. The beds are basic metal bunks (with no curtains) but the mattresses are thick and comfortable and there are individual plugs and reading lights too. The rooms also have lockers to keep your stuff secure. There’s a delicious all-you-can-eat breakfast each morning (for 9 EUR) and the hostel also has female-only dorms for women who want extra privacy.

This is a great hostel to stay in if you want something a bit more upscale (without breaking the bank).

PLUS Florence at a glance:

• $
• Very affordable
• Indoor and outdoor pool
• Chill rooftop terrace for hanging out and meeting people

Beds from 25 EUR per night.

While Florence has a lot of hostel options, I think the four above are the best. They have the nicest accommodations, are very central, have great vibes, and welcoming staff. Plus, they all have decent beds. And that’s important! Book one of the hostels above and enjoy your time in Florence. You won’t be disappointed!