Creative Commons licensePhoto by flickr user joe@italianadventure.com

Florence is one of the most expensive cities in Italy in which to lay your head, but this is compensated for by the sheer variety of what is on offer. There is also a merciful lack of the chain hotels present in so many tourist-orientated destinations these days. We have divided the best of the city's accommodation into two lists: Hotels and Guest Houses/B&Bs. If you require full facilities and services (porters, 24-hour room service, a bar and maybe a restaurant, laundry and so on), you are probably better off in a hotel and you can choose between small, family-run outfits, elegant, traditional-style luxury, and chic designer hotels. The centro storico of Florence is small and easy to get around on foot. You can opt to be in the thick of things (and most of the places listed here are, indeed, centrally located) or head for the hills that fringe the city where, especially in summer, you will find relief from the heat and dust (and maybe even a swimming pool) but remain within a pigeon's spit of the sights. Whatever your choice, it pays to shop around; many hotels offer significant discounts in low season. The order of the hotels in this list bears no reflection on our preference. For restaurant suggestions, visit Restaurants in Florence.

Written by Nicky Swallow