Where to sleep in Tuscany

Tuscany is a large region that includes very different geographical, historical and cultural realities. Choosing where to sleep in Tuscany is therefore strategic to be able to organize a dream vacation based on your tastes and needs.

You can base yourself in an important city and from there travel with day trips to other famous locations or do the exact opposite, or stay in villages or rural areas from which to visit the cities of art. The choice depends on where you want to place the accent: urban atmospheres or peace? And then, do you want to stay still in one place or take a trip in stages?

The good news is that Tuscany has a very developed and widespread tourism industry, carried out with equal success by small family businesses and international giants. This means that in this region you will find a quantity and variety of hotels, b&bs and holiday homes that perhaps has no equal in Italy.

Florence

Florence is a city with a very high concentration of artistic works, and it's not just the quantity that is extraordinary. Michelangelo's masterpieces, the Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo with its unmistakable dome ... a short distance from each other, the top attractions of Florence are among the most famous wonders of art and admire the world.

A must for any art and history lover, the city cradle of the Renaissance is also an ideal destination for a couple's vacation. Walking hand in hand along the characteristic Ponte Vecchio and the manicured Boboli Gardens is one of the most romantic experiences to do in life.

If the collective imagination relegates Florence to a distant past centuries, the reality is that of a dynamic city, full of cultural ferments, events and places to have fun. Yes therefore also to holidays with friends and groups of young people!

Recommended accommodations in the center of Florence

The hotel offer in Florence is able to accommodate a very large number of visitors. This means that the choice of accommodation is very wide, with proposals suitable for all budgets and all needs.

The center is the area preferred by most tourists: it is a perfect solution for those who want to have all the tourist attractions at hand, for those who reach Florence by public transport, for those who stop short of time. The center is not necessarily the most expensive area, indeed right here you can find excellent economic solutions such as family-run pensions and hostels.

Those who do not want to give up comfort and those who really do not mind the expense can choose between luxury hotels, many of which with spa, and elegant apartments with splendid views over the city. The most popular rooms are invariably the rooms with a view of the Duomo.

Hotel in the center of Florence

Recommended accommodations in Florence and surroundings

Don't limit yourself to the center when looking for your hotel or b&b in Florence . In the areas close to the center and even in the suburbs it is possible to find accommodation with good value for money. In particular, if you arrive by car, it may be a good idea to avoid the center, which is busy and a bit difficult to get around if you don't know the city.

A completely different atmosphere is breathed in Fiesole , an enchanting town just 5 km from Florence: a valid choice for those who want greenery and relaxation at the end of a day of cultural visits.

Hotels in Florence

Other Tuscan cities

The wonders of Florence are only a portion of the artistic and architectural treasures of Tuscany. The Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Campo dei Miracoli in Siena are two other symbolic images of our beautiful country: a visit to these two cities is a must.

Lucca is perhaps less iconic but it deserves to be seen ... or lived, since it is a very lively city culturally; Pistoia and Arezzo are often ignored because they are obscured by the fame of the most visited places: they must be rediscovered because they hide interesting surprises.

Recommended accommodations in Tuscan cities

Despite being smaller cities than Florence, Pisa and Siena also have a long tourist tradition, so here too the offer of hotels, b&bs and apartments is very good. The historic centers of the two cities are not large and can be easily explored on foot, so all tourist accommodations are convenient to the attractions and services.

The choice of accommodation decreases drastically in Lucca, Pistoia and Arezzo, however, even here it is possible to find good solutions. In some cases, moving a few kilometers from the center you can find splendid farmhouses and villas with swimming pools that allow you to combine a visit to the city with relaxing afternoons in the countryside.

Hotels in Pisa Hotels in Siena Hotels in Lucca Hotels in Arezzo

Villages

How beautiful are the villages of Tuscany ! Also rich in history, and not infrequently in artistic masterpieces, they are a completely different world from the cities of art. Oasis of peace, devoted to beauty and the little joys of life.

You could spend a lifetime visiting all the villages and walled cities of Tuscany: how to choose the ones to be included in the travel program? The choice is actually difficult, but you have to start somewhere. Why not from San Gimignano , Certaldo , Colle Val d'Elsa , Montepulciano or San Quirico d 'Orcia ?

If you want to do a food and wine themed itinerary, the unmissable villages are Montalcino , city of Brunello wine, Pienza , city of pecorino cheese, San Miniato , city of truffles, and one to choose (why not more than one?) among the villages of the region of l Chianti .

Recommended accommodations in the villages of Tuscany

In the most well-known and visited villages, such as San Gimignano and Montepulciano, it is not difficult to find hotels and in general you can choose between cheap accommodation and luxury accommodation; however, they are almost always small hotels, b&bs and apartments. Don't expect to find mega-hotels.

The choice is more limited in the villages usually ignored by mass tourism, but if you travel by car there is nothing to fear: in Tuscany a good farmhouse is never too far away!

Hotels in San Gimignano Hotels in Pienza Hotels in San Miniato Hotels in Montepulciano

Sea holidays in Tuscany

Tuscany boasts hundreds of km of coastline, almost all bathed by the Tyrrhenian Sea and a small portion to the north bathed by the Ligurian Sea. Along the coast there are countless beaches, both sandy and rocky, some still wild, others with a long tourist tradition; to these are added the wonderful beaches of the islands that make up the Tuscan Archipelago .

The main areas into which the Tuscan coast is divided are: coast of the Maremma , Riviera Apuana , Versilia , Terre di Pisa , Costa Livornese and Costa degli Etruschi . The most famous seaside resorts are concentrated in the Maremma and Versilia.

Recommended accommodations in Versilia

Versilia is a coastal stretch about 20 km long located in the northern part of Tuscany, squeezed between the sea and the mountains of the Apuan Alps. Long sandy beaches extend along this coast, behind which there are very popular seaside resorts.

Among these there are also Forte dei Marmi and Viareggio , two names that are immediately associated with fun and carefree: the first for its famous social life, the second for one of the most famous Carnivals in Europe. Other seaside resorts not to be missed in Versilia are Pietrasanta and Lido di Camaiore .

Hoteles in Versilia

Recommended accommodations in Maremma

Maremma is a vast area of Tuscany that includes one of the most famous and popular coastal stretches of the region, largely protected by natural parks and marine reserves. It is an excellent choice for those who love beaches surrounded by greenery or close to romantic villages.

The best places for a seaside holiday in Maremma are Castiglione della Pescaia , lido di Capalbio and the promontory of Argentario .

Hoteles in Maremma

Recommended accommodations in the Tuscan islands

The Tuscan Archipelago manages to keep up with top seaside tourism destinations such as Sardinia, Sicily and Greece. There are many Italians who prefer to spend their beach holidays on the islands facing Tuscany, either because they are beautiful or because they are much easier to reach.

The primacy of tourist presences belongs to the wonderful Elba Island , a very large island with a varied landscape that can be visited in all seasons. Its very blue sea, its luxuriant nature, the characteristic seaside villages and the fascinating inland paths are an irresistible attraction for beach tourism lovers, hikers and romantic souls.

The other islands of the archipelago are also worth discovering, in particular the island of Giglio , Capraia and Pianosa .

Hotel all'Isola d'Elba

Thermal baths

Want to relax? When you need to switch off and regenerate, the spas of Tuscany are the ideal destination. Among these, the top destinations are Saturnia , Montecatini Terme , Chianciano and Rapulano .

The first is known for its free spas: these are natural pools of sulphurous waters that reach a temperature of 37.5 °. Being very famous, and free, the natural spas of Saturnia are almost always very crowded, which is why some people prefer to book a spa hotel with private spas.

Montecatini Terme is history and elegance, Chianciano and Rapulano are more devoted to modern wellness tourism.

Recommended accommodations in the Tuscan spas

All the spas in Tuscany offer a good choice of accommodation. spa hotels with private swimming pools prevail, but it is also possible to stay in b&b and farmhouses and swim in the pools of spas that allow daily entry.

In general, spa hotels are of medium-high category; if you want to spend a little less, move to the nearby villages.

Spa-Hotels in Toscany