Are you coming to live an adventure abroad in Florence? Have a look at our brief guide for students and young professionals and find the best places to stay in Florence.
We will tell you all you need to know about finding a student accommodation in Florence and the most relevant things you should sort out when moving there (or upon the arrival in Florence): setting your budget, deciding the kind of accommodation and the perfect place to stay in Florence.
Finding the right student accommodation in Florence is quite a big deal because the place you’re picking will be your home for a semester, a year or even more! And we are here to help you make the right decision. For most of you this is the first time moving abroad and you need to know that flat hunting (especially on the Internet) can be tricky.
So, how to find the best place to stay in Florence? Have a look here!
Sharing an apartment in Florence is what most of the young internationals do when moving here to study or work.
Which are the perks of renting a room in Florence? You will be able to live in the central neighbourhoods of the city, diving into its enchanting atmosphere. Moreover, you’ll live with international flatmates, getting to meet their cultures and languages. Last but not least, sharing an apartment in Florence is one of the cheapest housing solutions to have a great experience abroad.
But there also is an even cheaper option for student accommodation in Florence: the shared room. Our tip is to rent it if you’re moving in with a partner or with a close friend. Anyway if you are open to meet someone new, go ahead...you may find a new best friend!
One of the most popular choices for young professionals are studios or 1 bedroom apartments.
This is for people that want more personal space and also have a wider economical capacity. Let’s say that the price for a studio is double the price of the room. In an apartment on your own you’ll have all the privacy you wish and you make your own house rules. But this way you’ll miss the beauty of the shared flat experience, that’s probably the focus for young internationals coming to Florence to live an experience abroad.
The residence also is one of the types of accommodation you’ll find in town. The price is midway between a studio and a room in a shared flat, and you can find private student residences or the one hosted by your university. You will live in a huge building with many other international students and you’ll be sharing the common areas (such as kitchen, living room, bathroom) with them.
Before finding out the best places to stay in Florence, let’s have a look at the key question you should ask yourself when picking up the accommodation.
1. Which area is my workplace or university located in?
Choosing the right neighbourhood is an important thing that will affect your entire experience in Florence.
Our tip is to use Google maps to see where your workplace or campus is located and check out bus stops, the lines running there and which are the neighborhoods sitting on the stops along those lines.
2. Is public transport good in the area?
First thing you need to know is that Florence city centre is small and perfectly walkable. Picking up an accommodation here will let you enjoy the city (by day and by night) and easily reach all the areas. If you don’t want to live in a central area, since most of you won’t have a personal vehicle, make sure the apartment is located close to bus stops.
3. Am I far from the main places in Florence?
You’re quite lucky, because Florence has plenty of important places: amazing cultural sights, parks, shopping avenues and international locations.
If you’re staying there for a short time, our tip is to choose a room or an apartment in the centre of Florence, in order to reach the main spots in the easiest way. Moreover, young internationals want to get the most of their time abroad and they participate in all the events, parties and activities in town. Choose a place where you can easily enjoy all the leisure activities.
Now, let’s have a look at the best places to stay in Florence, where most of the young internationals decide to live. We are sure you’ll find here the right accommodation that suits your needs.
- Santa Maria Novella: this area is an important part of the historical centre (District 1). The neighbourhood, which is located in the north-west side, is a strategic point because it’s home to the main station, one of the first hubs in Italy.
- San Giovanni: also located in the historical centre (District 1), San Giovanni neighbourhood is the soul of the charming historical and cultural side of the city. Is one of the most picturesque districts in Florence, you can spot in the postcards.
- Santa Croce: here you will find the best things to do in the city centre. You can spot Santa Croce square in the centre of Florence, home to a lovely church (with the crypts of brilliant minds like Michelangelo, Galileo and many others). This is the heart of Florence, which hosts lovely narrow streets, great cultural sights and dining spots.
- Santo Spirito: the last area of the first district in Florence, Santo Spirito is famous for its restaurants, shopping venues, markets, events and beautiful green areas.
- Campo di Marte: part of District 2, Campo di Marte is the former place where Napoleon’s army used to train (back in 1812). Today, it is home to one of the major sport centers, where the Fiorentina Stadium is located.
Everything is ready to discover the best places to stay in Florence. Are you ready for the flat-hunting?