3 Best Hostels in Florence – From Luxurious Female-only Dorms to Swimming Pools and Pizza

Best Hostels in Florence
Photo by Keith Zhu

Thinking about Florence? With all that art, fashion, and gelato, we wouldn’t blame you. Let’s make your planning easier and introduce you to the 3 best hostels in Florence, hand-picked by Hostelgeeks. At the moment there is no 5 Star Hostel in Florence.

But, believe us when we say; you’ll not be disappointed.

Our favorite hostels in Florence are:

  1. Ostello Bello Firenze - best for Solo Traveler
  2. YellowSquare Florence - best for Digital Nomads
  3. Archi Rossi Hostel - best for Couples
  4. Extra: PLUS Hostel - best for Backpackers

Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.

The 3 best Florence hostels are perfect for female travelers, couples, and those in search of a great party hostel in Florence.

This guide is perfect for YOU, when you…

  • are tired of crappy hostels!
  • want a social Hostel to actually meet people
  • are happy to spend $1 to $2 more for a much better experience
There’s plenty jam-packed into this article, including:
  • Best Party Hostel in Florence
  • Fun and Non-Touristy Things To Do in Florence
  • More Florence hostels worth a mention
  • Discounts or Promo Codes
  • A handy map of Hostel Locations and Cool Sights
  • FAQ
  • Flights to Florence?
  • Get excited to discover the best hostels Florence Italy has to offer!

    Quick introduction to the 3 Best Hostels in Florence

    Important to know: Florence introduced a €2 city tax (that was already back in January 2018). Guests are required to pay (cash) per person per night in all of the mentioned hostels. It is common for hotels and hostels alike to not have this fee included in their nightly rate. Just keep this in mind as an unfortunate extra fee.

    If you’re planning an extended trip, be sure to check out all of our 5 Star Hostels in Europe. Here you find all the best hostels in Italy summarized on a map. 

    We also have a guide on the best hostels in nearby Pisa.

    From Florence, it is just a 2.5-hour train ride to the best hostels in Cinque Terre. And of course, we also have hostel guides for Venice and Bologna.

    Prepare to be dazzled with art, music, and superb design. And of course, the best places to stay in Florence Italy!

    The 3 Best Hostels in Florence are …

    Let’s jump right into the coolest hostels in Florence.

    1. Ostello Bello Firenze – best for Solo Traveler
    2. YellowSquare Florence – best for Digital Nomads
    3. Archi Rossi Hostel – best for Couples
    4. Extra: PLUS Hostel - best for Backpackers

    These are our favorite hostels in Florence. We want to make your life even easier, so we put all accommodations on a map for you. We even added our own tips for favorite restaurants, things to see, and more.

    Super important to know: For sure you want to visit the David Status. You have to book your ticket BEFORE – well in advance! Get a timed entrance ticket to Michelangelo’s David BEFORE you get to Florence.

    Budget: Check out our Florence budget travel guide.

    (otherwise, you most likely cannot enter – it happened to us, unfortunately)

    Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type

    🦸 Solo Traveler: Ostello Bello Firenze
    🙎‍♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler: YellowSquare Florence
    🥳 Party Hostel:PLUS Hostel
    👩‍❤️‍👨 Couple Hostel: Archi Rossi Hostel
    👨‍👩‍👦 Family Hostel: Archi Rossi Hostel
    👩‍💻 For Digital Nomads: YellowSquare Florence
    🎒 for Backpacker:PLUS Hostel
    🧘 Cozy Hostel: Ostello Tasso Hostel
    👫 For Socializing:Ostello Bello Firenze

    1. Ostello Bello Firenze

    Ostello Bello Firenze is an ideal place from which you can get to know the whole of Florence. It offers accommodation with a shared lounge, private parking, a terrace, and a bar. The hostel is quite big and has a big flux of people coming in and out even though they manage to keep the place clean, tidy and so organized.

    The rooms themselves are cleaned every day and you can really tell. Besides, they do not try to save up on heating, the room is always warm and cozy which is great when it is cold outside. The room and bathroom are both in great condition and include useful things such as lockers (although you have to bring your own padlock, beware of that) and a desk for working.

    The shared kitchen is fantastic. They have everything you need, plus a bunch of free food for anyone to take – produce, pasta, sauce, rice etc. We’ve never seen a hostel kitchen set up and so generous for their guests! The breakfast is amazing and very complete, and they have a coffee machine with whatever you’d like. It is available until 11 am so that’s very good.

    Location: Ostello Bello Firenze is in San Lorenzo neighborhood, in the heart of the city, just 5 minutes by foot from Santa Maria Novella train station. Popular points of interest near Ostello Bello Firenze include Strozzi Palace, Fortezza da Basso – Convention Center and San Marco Church in Florence. The nearest airport is Florence Airport, 9 km from the accommodation.

    The best choice in Florence for

    • Solo Traveler
    • Socializing
    Book Ostello Bello Firenze here

    Check prices at:
    Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

    Ostello Bello Firenze Room

    Ostello Bello Firenze Dorm

    Ostello Bello Firenze Outside Dining Space

    Ostello Bello Firenze

    2. YellowSquare Florence

    YellowSquare Florence is huge with nice spacious, comfortable and clean rooms. They have a huge common area with a bar attached to the lobby which is a great place to hang out, chill and connect with fellow travellers. The drinks and food is reasonably priced with a 20 percent discount for hostel members. 

    Location: YellowSquare Florence is located 12 minutes walking by the train Station Santa Maria Novella. Popular points of interest near the hostel include Fortezza da Basso – Convention Center, Strozzi Palace and Accademia Gallery. The nearest airport is Florence Airport, 7 km from YellowSquare Florence.

    A great choice for

    • Digital Nomads
    Book YellowSquare Florence here

    Check prices at:
    Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

    YellowSquare Florence Swimming Pool

    YellowSquare Florence Room

    YellowSquare Florence Common Space

    YellowSquare Florence Dorm

    3. Archi Rossi Hostel

    If you’re looking for a warm welcome, Archi Rossi Hostel is your place. Two charismatic, multi-lingual brothers run the reception of this modern, centrally located hostel.

    There are dorm and private rooms available. Each with linen included. Dorm rooms also have a personal reading light and charging socket. Let’s take a look at the freebies:

    • WiFi (of course)
    • Breakfast buffet
    • Lockers
    • Hot/cold water dispenser
    • After check-out shower

    Good to know: a €2 per person per night city tax is not included in the booking price.

    After exploring all of the nearby attractions, head to the wellness centre. That’s right! You’ll have access to your very own hot tub and sauna. Massages are also available.

    Archi Rossi Hostel Florence also has a beautiful garden, common room, and terrace space.

    Perhaps the best part?

    Certainly, the location is top-notch. In the heart of historic Florence, this hostel is within walking distance of all the main sights, including Florence Cathedral.

    There is a 24-hour reception and no curfew, so explore to your heart’s content!

    The rooms are kept simple, and unfortunately, the dorms are also equipped with these old-fashioned bunk beds. That’s really a pity. You can choose anything between single-room, double room up to 4 and 6 Bed Dorms.

    Location: Hostel Archi Rossi is in Florence’s historic centre just 250 m from Santa Maria Novella Train Station. It is within easy walking distance of all the main tourist sites, including the Uffizi Gallery and Florence Cathedral.

    This is one of the best hostels in Florence for

    • Couples
    • Families
    • Solo-travelers
    Book Archi Rossi Hostel here

    Check prices at:
    Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

    Archi Rossi Hostel Dorm

    Archi Rossi Hostel Dining Room

    Archi Rossi Hostel Room

    Archi Rossi Hostel Terrace

    4. PLUS Hostel

    PLUS Hostel has style, fun vibes, comfort, and savvy staff all rolled into one.

    Oh, and a swimming pool! It’s time to wind down and relax at this backpacker-friendly accommodation in the center of Florence.

    Dorm rooms sleep 4-8 people. There are also twin/double/triple rooms. All of these come with lockers, linen, and personal reading lamps.

    Are you a female traveling alone or with a friend? We’ve got you covered.

    Female-only dorms are designed with extra comfort in mind. Little home comforts include a vanity mirror, large en-suite bathrooms, and big fluffy pillows.

    PLUS: Hair dryers and a complimentary welcome cosmetic pack.

    Read: 7 Pros and 3 Cons of Female Dormitories

    There’s so much to mention, so here is a handy list:

    • On-site bar, cafe and restaurant
    • Tour travel desk
    • Panoramic terrace
    • Indoor AND outdoor pool
    • Turkish bath + sauna
    • TV in every room
    • Common room w/ table tennis

    PLUS! There is an all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast for a small fee. I’m sure you’re starting to understand the hostel name by now, right?

    One more thing… PLUS Hostels is one of the leading hostel chains in Europe!

    Location: This Florence hostel is located just a 10-minute walk from the main train station. That is especially handy for traveling to your next destination like Rome, Milan, or Bologna. If you can find a reason to leave this awesome hostel, the city center is a few minutes walk.

    This is one of the best Florence hostels for:

    • Female Solo-Traveller
    • Backpacker
    • Groups of Friends
    • Party Traveler
    Book PLUS Hostel here

    Check prices at:
    Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

    PLUS Hostel Swimming Pool

    PLUS Hostel Dorm

    PLUS Hostel Common Space

    PLUS Hostel Room

    Best Party Hostel in Florence

    OK OK so we’ve already talked about this hostel before, but great hostels are worth mentioning twice.

    That’s right; the Best Party Hostel in Florence award goes to PLUS Hostel!

    Why?

    Well, aside from the aforementioned swimming pool, large social spaces, and on-site bar to kick-start the party mood, there’s something else we forgot to mention.

    PLUS Hostel also hosts DJ nights on the premises.

    Drinks, yummy food like Pizza, new friends, and music – what more do you need to get the party started?

    You can also try to look up Youth Meeting Home. Located in Florence centre it is 150 m from Piazza Signoria and 200 m from the Old Bridge.

    Book PLUS Hostel here

    Compare prices and reviews at: Booking.com | HostelworldHostelz.com

    Read: Aside from Party Hostels, what are the other 6 types of Hostels?

    Plus Hostel the Best Party Hostel in Florence, Italy

    Fun and Non-Touristy Things To Do in Florence

    Florence is marvelous with so many things to see. But, as you already know, Florence is a popular tourist destination. We love to share with you always authentic travel tips. And so we share with you our nontouristy things to do in Florence.

    You won’t find the David statue on our guide or the Ponte Vecchio, obviously.

    Thanks to a local friend (living there since 2009), we discovered the non-touristy part. This includes small cafés to chill, local pizza places, and ice cream. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

    Here are the top five fun things to do in a nutshell:

    1. Who wants a local pizza? Cheap and super delicious!
    2. Get a café/ smoothie here and enjoy a different view to Ponte Vecchio
    3. Vegan gelateria, lounge to chill, and even small events
    4. An unusual (and unexpected) thing to do in Florence
    5. Artsy café with great coffee and Panini

    Want to know more? Download the full guide to non-touristy things in Florence straight to your inbox.

    Enjoy!

    More Florence hostels worth a mention

    We have given you the best place to stay in Florence! The best hostels in Florence Italy! But if you are still looking for more, here are more Florence hostels worth a mention.

    Listed below are more good hostels in Florence that you and your friends can try.

    • Ostello Tasso Hostel

    At the end of this, we are hoping that you are ready to check availability and book your favorite hostel in Florence Italy.

    Ostello Tasso Hostel (Artistic design)

    Ostello Tasso Hostel is built around an artistic atmosphere in the heart of Florence.

    The staff here believe in supporting local musicians, poets, artists, and the like. Mixed with a cozy social space, this is the best hostel for wanderers of every kind. Rooms include 1, 2, and 3-bed options, plus a ‘marital’ suite for cuddly couples. For those of you seeking new pals, book a bed in the 6-bed dorm.

    All rooms in Ostello Tasso Hostel Florence come with linen, towels, reading lights, hair dryers, and air-con. You’re welcome.

    We must mention the hostel design. Expect typical Italian decor, vintage furniture, and quirky additions in all the social spaces.

    Not forgetting:

    • Free all-you-can-eat Italian breakfast
    • 24-hour reception
    • Access to modern kitchen
    • Bicycle hire
    • Book exchange

    If you’re feeling lazy on your holiday, forget about cooking and enjoy the on-site cafe.

    There’s a bar, too!

    In the lounge area, there is an actual mini theatre.

    Every weekend an event is held here. Anything from live music, poetry, movie nights and parties. Ask the staff as well for their Pub Crawl, and other events outside the hostel.

    At least two things are certain; there will be new friends and laughter to be had!

    What about the location?

    Ostello Tasso Hostel is a few minutes walk from the center of Florence, located in a creative oasis.

    When looking on our Florence map, you might guess the location isn’t as good. In fact, this is a more artsy area, much better for going out at night, without bumping into a tourist every 2 meters (like the bridge!)

    Explore the Oltrano area with its many restaurants, wine bars, and electric nightlife. It is a really cool area!

    Our favorite pizza place “Gustapizza” is not far away either. We included it in the map below too.

    Ostello Tasso Hostel is the coolest place for:

    • solo-travelers
    • friends
    Book Ostello Tasso Hostel here

    Compare prices and read reviews at: Hostelworld | Booking.comHostelz.com

    Ostello Tasso Hostel Common Space

    Ostello Tasso Hostel Garden

    Ostello Tasso Hostel Bar and Space for Socializing

    What about the cheapest hostels in Florence?

    Of course, there are always cheap hostels. But how do you actually find them? When you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you want to save every dollar, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Florence.

    1. Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Florence
    2. add your dates
    3. Order the listings by price

    Simple as that.

    Hostelz.com is a price comparison site for hostels. They list every single one in the world and tells you exactly which website is cheaper to use.

    Another smart Tip: Check what is actually included, and what is excluded. Take a closer look at the location, too. A further location might mean more costs in transport.

    Any Discounts?

    You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the freshest hostel discounts directly in your inbox. We even have special discount codes we only share in the newsletter.

    It is completely free to join!

    How to book?

    The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.

    We included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.

    Read: Step-by-Step guide on how to book with Hostelworld

    We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of Florence best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.

    The coolest Hostel App you need comes as well from Hostelworld. It gives you super cool features like you can contact your hostel mates beforehand, ask questions, and make plans together. Find more details in our review of the app.

    Download the Hostelworld App here

    QR Code to Download your Hostelworld app with one scan
    Scan the QR Code with your Smartphone to download the Hostelworld App from the App Store - like a real Hostel Geek!

    The best way to find hostels: Hostelgeeks website and Hostelworld App

    Need an eSIM Card for Florence?

    Get your eSIM Card with Airalo.com instantly online. It is easy to set up and cheap! Read our review of Airalo here.

    No more searching for mobile stores. Get your eSIM Card for now and enjoy it instantly after landing in your new destination.

    Get your eSIM Card now

    Need an eSIM Card for Florence?

    Our Favorite Hostels in Florence put on a map + sights

    A map is always handy. We put all the coolest hostels in Florence on a map. It will help you to get a better understanding of the locations.

    Florence center is fairly small. You can walk everywhere, and can also take the bike. In high season I would skip the bike, the city center is usually super busy – not really appealing for riding a bike.

    My best recommendation? Join a walking tour in the early morning on your first day. That gives you the best introduction to the city.

    The main sights in Florence are:

    Important to know: Get a timed entrance ticket to Michelangelo’s David BEFORE you get to Florence.

    Queuing up takes a long time and getting your ticket ahead of time allows you to enjoy priority entrance to the Accademia Gallery and admire Michelangelo’s David – without losing 1-2 hours in queue.

    Skip The Line for David Statue

    Any questions about hostels in Florence? 🤔

    Join our Facebook Group!

    Ask all your questions and connect with like-minded wanderers 🔥

    FAQ

    Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.

    Flights to Florence?

    Flying into Florence is easy, but here’s a better trick. Have a look if you can fly into Bologna and take a train from Bologna to Florence. There are usually super cheap flights to Bologna, and a train is around 15€.

    Now, regarding Florence, I would recommend to fly to Bologna or Milan.

    Bologna itself is really well connected inside Europe and you can find super cheap flights here. The train from Bologna is quite cheap and takes less than 45 minutes.

    We use Skyscanner and Omio.com to find cheap flights and good connections all over the globe.

    Skyscanner has a bunch of cool features like Multi-City Trip. Instead of doing this research step-by-step, Skyscanner offers this flight planning tool.

    Our Step-by-Step Guide to Skyscanner

    review of Skyscanner flight searches

    More Hostels in Italy

    Closed Hostels: We previously mentioned the following hostels – unfortunately they are now closed:

    • Academy Hostel Florence
    • Wow Florence Hostel
    • Backpackers Florence Central

    Alright, since you already made your way to the North of Italy, we encourage you to go ahead and explore more. Italy changes so much; from region to region; from North to South.

    Here are some of our other guides:

    Party Hostels in Italy:

    And here are our travel guides. Seriously, get these guides, you will LOVE our secrets:

    Find all our guides to the best hostels in Europe here.

    Over to you

    Do you have any questions left, maybe doubts? Then please leave it in the comment below. We are very keen to help you - and actually you would even do us a favor!

    Your question will help us to improve this Florence guide.

    Last note: Our commitment

    This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter, and find the best place on a budget! We will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We are constantly updating all our guides to keep them as fresh and accurate as possible.

    Safe travels,
    The Hostelgeeks

    Best Hostels in Florence, Italy

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