Bellevue House Hotel

Across the street from the train station, the area around Piazza Santa Maria Novella is perhaps the most varied neighborhood in the city. The somewhat frantic streets leading to the station get a lot of traffic (both automobile and human), while the other side of the grassy Piazza is formed by narrow, serpentine little streets, characterful buildings and top-notch shopping.

The 'hood is bordered by the river, the train station and the shopping street Via Tornabuoni. As such, this area suffers a bit of an identity crisis. One thing is for sure: once you're here, you're no more than ten-minutes away from anything else.

Sleeping near Santa Maria Novella is a no-brainer for travelers looking for quick-and-easy access to the train station at any hour. Booking a hotel in the area's eastern edges places you basically in the center of town.