Florence knows how to do Christmas. By late November the city feels alive again. Lights stretch across the piazzas, music drifts from street corners and the smell of warm panettone follows you through the narrow lanes. Walk over the Arno and the bridges sparkle with illuminations.

Florence is one of Italy’s most captivating cities, celebrated as the birthplace of the Renaissance and home to world-famous art, architecture and history. From Brunelleschi’s striking dome and Botticelli’s paintings in the Uffizi to the golden light that falls across the River Arno, Florence is filled with unforgettable sights. Yet beyond its heritage, the city has a modern energy with stylish boutiques, vibrant dining, and a flourishing hotel scene. Whether you’re searching for the best luxury hotels in Florence or a boutique hideaway with character, these are the places to stay for an Italian getaway to remember.

If Hotel Calimala Florence is anything to go by, its brand-new sister hotel in Milan is set to be a game-changer for the city’s luxury boutique scene. Opening in spring 2025, Hotel Calimala Milan will bring a bold, contemporary take on hospitality, design, and culinary experiences, all wrapped up in an ultra-stylish setting.

Florence is a city that effortlessly blends the old with the new, where Renaissance architecture, contemporary art, and modern-day luxury coexist in a heady mix of culture and style. And if you’re looking for a hotel that encapsulates this spirit, Hotel Calimala is the place to check in..

Some of the best boutique hotels in the city! A hideaway in Marrakech, a glorious bolthole in London, a cute boutique hotel in Florence, a hip hideaway in Palermo, a little hidden gem in Pimlico, a luxury spa hotel in Bath and an elegant hotel in Lisbon.

Arguably one of the best hotels on the Amalfi Coast…

The Place Firenze, the first boutique hotel in Florence now begins its next chapter, a new story, a place you’ll love to call your home during your stay in Florence.

Soprarno Suites is a 13-room boutique B&B in Florence in the cool Oltranto area. Spread across three floors of a Florentine palazzo, it’s filled with charm and quirkiness and sits above a cool deli Sottarno.

Ad*Astra FLORENCE is a 14-room boutique hotel in Florence just a short walk from the Ponte Vecchio.

JK Place Firenze, the first boutique hotel in Florence and one of the best in town…

Here are some of my favourite Italian hotels where you can enjoy la dolce vita including Castello Banfi il Borgo, award-winning boutique hotel in Tuscany.