The Best Hostels in Florence, Italy | A Backpacker’s Guide to Florence Hostels

Florence may not have many hostels but it does have a few solid options (and a few subpar choices as well). That’s why I’ve compiled a list of the best hostels in Florence so you can find an awesome hostel at a great price.

Price of Florence Hostels

Florence hostels are reasonably affordable, but there are only a few hostels in the city so the cheapest/best tend to go quickly.

During the summer, a bed in a highly-rated hostel will cost anywhere from about €23-€40/night with an average of around €30/night. The cheapest hostel you’ll find will cost around €17/night (but the quality might be questionable).

Check HostelWorld to get exact prices for your dates.

Quick facts about Florence Hostels

Cheap Hostel Beds & Good Hostels Go Early

Florence only has about six well-rated hostels so those beds tend to get snatched up early.

Furthermore, there isn’t much of a price difference between the good hostels and the crummy hostels so do yourself a favor and book early.

Check The Location

Most hostels in Florence are centrally located but there are a few located outside the city center.

Low-Key Hostels

Florence isn’t much of a “party” city so most of the hostels there tend to be laid-back and quiet.

Check-In Times and Cleaning Times

Many hostels have late check-in times (around 2 pm-4 pm) but nearly all will let you store your bags if you arrive before check-in. Some also require everyone to leave during the early afternoon so they can clean.

Additional City Tax

The City of Florence now imposes a €2/night fee per guest so don’t be surprised when you see this extra charge on your bill.

New To Hostels? Check out our Hostels 101 Guide to learn everything you need to know about finding the perfect hostel.

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The Best Hostels in Florence: Our Top Picks

HOW WE RANK THE HOSTELS

• Overall Quality: We take a holistic look at the hostel to see the positives and negatives. Our goal is to find amazing hostels that are still affordable.
• Location: Most hostels we list will be centrally located.
• Price: We try to filter out the super-expensive hostels to help find the best price-to-quality ratio.
• Vibe/Atmosphere: Every hostel has a personality. Some are party hostels and some are quiet. We try to note the atmosphere so you can find a place to stay that matches your travel style.
• Past Guest Reviews: Every guest has a different experience so we look at the good and the bad. We suggest you take a few minutes to read prior reviews.

We encourage you to check out Hostelworld to do a bit of searching for yourself.

NOTE: All prices listed below are the cheapest option available during the busy (i.e. expensive) season. Prices will often be 20%+ cheaper during the slower seasons.

PLUS Florence Hostel

PLUS Florence is the most popular hostel in Florence. And it’s easy to see why — they have an indoor and outdoor pool, a sauna, a terrace bar with a view of the city, a pool table, a restaurant, plenty of common space. This is a great place if you want to meet people so it’s ideal for solo travelers. The hostel is also clean and the staff is friendly.

The main drawback is the lack of a real kitchen and it does have a bit of an impersonal “hotel” vibe, but it’s also one of Florence’s cheapest hostels. 

• Price: Starts around €23/night during the week and €27/night on the weekend (via Hostelworld):
• See on Google Maps
• Read More Reviews at Hostelworld

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Hostel Gallo d’Oro Florence

Hostel Gallo d’Oro is one of the most popular hostels in Florence. The staff is super welcoming and they go the extra mile by providing an excellent free breakfast and many nights they also provide snacks and dinner. The beds are comfortable and the rooms are spacious. This hostel has a laid-back vibe with a more mature crowd so it’s not the place to stay for a party.

The hostel is in the center of town but it’s about a 20-minute walk from the train station and it’s a little expensive.

• Price: Starts around €35/night (via Hostelworld):
• See on Google Maps
• Read More Reviews at Hostelworld

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Academy Hostel Florence

Academy Hostel is a small yet welcoming hostel that’s located right in the middle of town (just steps away from the Duomo) that also gets great reviews. This is another non-party hostel but it still has a friendly chill vibe.

The bedrooms are large and the beds are comfortable — plus there are no bunk beds! They have a free breakfast but they don’t really have a self-catering kitchen. 

• Price: Starts around €35/night (via Hostelworld):
• See on Google Maps
• Read More Reviews at Hostelworld

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Archi Rossi Flroence Hostel

There is a lot of love about the Archi Rossi Hostel. It has an excellent location, it’s clean, and the free breakfast is great. This is a quiet hostel with a bit of a hotel vibe so it’s not a great place to really meet other travelers — especially if you’re a solo traveler. 

In short, if you want a peaceful night’s sleep, then you’ll love Archi Rossi.

• Price: Starts around €27/night (via Hostelworld):
• See on Google Maps
• Read More Reviews at Hostelworld

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Emerald Place Hostel

The Emerald Palace is excellently located by the train station so you’re a short walk to the main sights of Florence. The hostel is welcoming but it has a quiet, mellow vibe. This is a good place if you want a quiet and comfortable place to sleep. Ohh, there are a lot of stairs so heavy packers should be aware. 

• Price: Starts around €33/night during the week and €38/night on the weekend (via Hostelworld):
• See on Google Maps
• Read More Reviews at Hostelworld

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Hostel Santa Monaca Florence

Hostel Santa Monaca is the oldest hostel in Florence and it’s a true “backpackers” hostel. The building used to be a church/convent so that adds a lot of cool charm. The hostel offers basic, yet clean amenities and there is a self-catering kitchen.

Hostel Santa Monaca is located on the other side of the river so the neighborhood is a little less touristy but you’re only a few minutes walk to the “center” of Florence. As an added bonus, it’s also one of the most affordable hostels in Florence.

• Price: Starts around €21/night (via Hostelworld):
• See on Google Maps
• Read More Reviews at Hostelworld

photo credits: Plus Florence, Ostello del Bigallo, My Friends Hostel, Tasso Hostel, Hostel Archi Rossi, Hostel 7 Santi

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More Europe Travel Tips From The Savvy Backpacker

Here are some helpful links to articles that we think you’ll find interesting if you’re staying in hostels and traveling around Europe on a budget.

• Guide to Hostels in Europe: Tips and advice for finding the best hostels in Europe
• Hostel Etiquette: The unwritten rules about staying in a hostel.
• Backpacking Europe Packing List: What you should (and shouldn’t) pack when traveling to Europe.
• Buying Travel Insurance: Tips for choosing travel insurance.
• Best Travel Shoes: Finding comfortable and stylish shoes for travel.
• The Best Travel Backpacks: Our favorite backpacks designed for traveling Europe.

LEARN MORE ABOUT FLORENCE

Read our Florence Destination Guide for more tips about visiting Florence!