Santo Spirito may not have the best reputation, but it offers many attractions. Packed with authentic Renaissance Florence shops and home to its own piazza with an excellent flea market, Santo Spirito provides plenty of reasons for visitors to stay.

#Winetravelers will find themselves conveniently placed for access to world-renowned wine bars and enotecas in Chianti as well as surrounding vineyards that have helped put regions such as this on the global map.

Santa Maria Novella

Positioned just east of Santo Spirito and across the Arno, this neighborhood is less tourist-oriented but bustles nightly with activity. Perfect for experiencing Florence's food culture as well as finding unique finds at its massive outdoor market, you will love this spot!

Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is also found here and boasts an ancient perfumery and wellness apothecary, producing products such as elixirs, balms, sprays and creams according to medieval formulas.

Santa Maria Novella church and cloisters host outstanding works of art by great masters like Masaccio's Trinita, Ghirlandaio's fresco cycle in Cappella Brancacci and Giotto Crucifix - just a short walk from Duomo, Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Vecchio.

Santissima Annunziata

At first glance, Florence's neighborhood to the east of Santa Maria Novella may not appear attractive; however, it makes for an excellent option if you want to avoid crowds while remaining within easy walking distance of all its major sights.

Piazza Santissima Annunziata may not be everyone's preferred square, but its rich Renaissance history, vibrant artisan markets and secrets of a Medici murder make it hard to resist. Additionally, Locanda Le Piazze (9.3) stands out as an especially luxurious boutique hotel that combines stone farmhouse accommodations with an exceptional art trail by contemporary practitioners such as Anish Kapoor and Louise Bourgeois - not bad if it has its own high-end boutique hotel!

Sant’Ambrogio

Sant'Ambrogio stands out as an off-the-beaten-path neighborhood while still remaining true to Florence's long artisan history, offering stunning church and daily market without drawing as many tourists as Santa Croce, yet featuring treasures like Filippo Lippi's In coronation of the Virgin and an abundance of family-run trattorias at affordable prices.

Close to Florence's train station, this neighborhood is one of its oldest. Home to hotels ranging from five-star luxury to cozy villas - including Villa Mangiacane which stands out for its antique four-posters, mezzanine levels, and large fireplaces - it remains one of the city's premier landmarks today.

Santa Croce

Arnolfo di Cambio initially rebuilt this massive basilica for Florence's Franciscan order; later it became home to funeral tombs of famous Florentine families such as Michelangelo, Rossini and Machiavelli among many others. It houses their sarcophaguses.

Interior of Pazzi Chapel features world-renowned works of art, such as Giotto's fresco Stories of Saint Francis by Giotto and Descent into Limbo by Bronzino in Pazzi Chapel; also featured are sarcophagi of some of Tuscany's leading intellectuals and artists as well as Taddeo Gaddi's fresco depicting The Last Supper which was submerged by floodwaters in 1966.

Center storico hotels boast the city's finest accommodations; there are also plenty of budget options.

San Lorenzo

San Lorenzo and SMN train station offer one of Florence's most interesting stays for young travelers, particularly young students. Once considered working-class residential area, its streets remain less touristy than those on Florence's right bank of Arno while still boasting centuries-old traditions with numerous artisan workshops still operating here today.

Here you will discover a surprisingly varied collection of bars, restaurants and clubs offering an unforgettable nightlife experience in Florence. Additionally, art lovers will discover plenty of street art including murals, stickers and posters with important messages.

Piazza del Duomo

Florence's historic city center (or Centro Storico) is compact and easily walkable, making its main attractions and hotels easily accessible, including the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio.

This neighborhood boasts a vibrant nightlife thanks to its restaurants, bars and live music venues. Additionally, many small workshops and independent boutiques can also be found here.

San Niccolo boasts one of the strongest senses of community in Florence and will make you feel at home right away - but is further from Florence's main attractions than other neighborhoods on this list.