Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In Florence, Italy

Enchanting Florence, a.k.a. Firenze straddling the Arno River is rightfully called the cradle of the renaissance. Gourmet Tuscan cuisine aside, the city is a real feast for the eyes. Whether it’s iconic medieval architecture or world-class art, the city’s charm is enduring. Moreover, it has its own share of famous design-oriented gays, helmed by hometown legend Michaleganelo. In fact, it’s his pièce de résistance ‘David,’ which put Florence on the map. Apart from that, it’s the rising number of gay friendly hotels in Florence, Italy that draws LGBTQ travelers. Today, the city continues to lure the LGBTQ set who have a penchant for the finer things in life, including where to stay. Gay accommodation in Florence, Italy is no longer restricted to private rooms or chain hotels. Today, options range from luxurious boutique hotels in renaissance-era villas to cozy B&Bs that’ll have you swooning.

Despite Italy behind on the gay rights front, major cities, including Florence, are very gay friendly. Most gay bars lie around the Roman Amphitheater, which is its unofficial gay area. There are even a few bars in the dreamy Oltrarno area. Today, gay Florence is more an urban dream teeming with sigh-worthy shopping, stunning architecture, and excellent museums. For instance, one of the 10 Best Museums In The World, the Uffizi Gallery lies right in Florence. Similarly, the city’s most recognizable attraction, the Basilica Di Santa Maria Del Fiore has one of the 15 Most Famous Domes In The World. Hence, it’s no surprise that Florence is called one of Europe’s great art cities, and is popular with LGBTQ travelers. With so much romance filling the air, Florence is also one of the world’s 10 Best luxurious Honeymoon Destinations!

To that end, here are the top 11 gay friendly hotels in Florence, Italy. Some of them are also the 11 Best Hotels in Florence.

Continentale

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The Continentale is the most avant-garde modern gay hotel on the banks of the Arno river in Florence, Italy. It’s been an absolute favorite with young couples on a romantic break. So, if you’re traveling with your partner, you might find a great company here! What’s even better is that almost all of Florence’s must-see sights and landmarks are stone’s throw away in all directions. Plus, if you’re looking to get out and have fun in the evening, the gay area is within walking distance too. In fact, one of the best gay bars in the city Piccolo is right down the street.

The hotel pays homage to the 1950s and 60s, the grand old days of glamour, fun, and travel. The Relax Room in the corner of the building is a favorite with many guests. You can sprawl on the daybeds and people-watch through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The white lounge and the bar are the perfect places to enjoy a romantic sundowner or a nightcap. If you’re here in summer, the picturesque rooftop terrace is not only perfect for cocktails but also breakfast. Do take time to book a massage at the basement spa, whose sauna is included in the room rate. Rounding up the lovely stay is an equally amazing staff.

Rooms and suites here are soothing and primed for romance. The faux furs and gauzy white drapes hung on the four-posters only furthers the sultry, romantic ambiance. Minimalist, sleek bathrooms are a mainstay in all rooms.

Oltrarno Splendid

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Another great gay accommodation in Florence, Italy’s Oltrarno neighborhood is the Oltrarno Splendid. This value-for-money yet stylish guesthouse lies at the posh end of a street, just one block away from Arno River. Moreover, Florence’s gay area and its sights are both a 15-20-minute walk away.

The hotel sits on the top floors of adjacent Renaissance palazzos and features highly original design details and aristocratic style. It features an intriguing collection of recast and upcycled curios and trinkets like Tin Tin albums, industrial-iron bookshelves, and working typewriters. If you’re a traveler, then you’ll love the collection of antique prints, framed tarot cards, 1960s film posters, and antique maps. Breakfast is a grand affair with cheeses, homemade cotognata, cold cuts, croissants, and fresh fruit salad. The honesty bars on both floors and the coffee, tea, and savory and sweet snacks served all day are a fabulous perk.

14 bedrooms make for very intimate living, each different from the rest. All rooms, though, have super-comfy beds, mod-cons, gorgeous bathrooms, and even slippers and robes. The best of the bunch is the grey-and-pink Atelier room, which was once an artists’ studio.

Hotel Regency

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If out-of-the-way luxury is what you and your partner want, then Hotel Regency is one of the best gay hotels in Florence, Italy. The spiffy little five-star sits in a leafy square on the cusp of the historic center, offering both an intimate, tranquil atmosphere and the best of Florence’s attractions close at hand.

The hotel sits in one of the grandest 19th-century mansions in the wide plaza and is rather reminiscent of a stately private home. On the inside, the Deco detailing goes beautifully with classic Florentine touches of plush fabrics, master paintings, rugs, and antiques. The two small sitting rooms are absolutely lovely, but its the quaint shaded garden at the back that’s the winner hands down. So, the personalized service is a delight, especially with the concierge dedicated to dishing out useful city tips. The one restaurant serves delectable meals and even features alfresco seating in summer.

Every last one of the 32 rooms is unique. While some sport modern looks with neutral hues, others are innately old-world Florence with antiques, carpets, and what-not. Nevertheless, all have Carrara marble bathrooms and supremely comfy beds. If you want to splash, the top suite boasts a huge terrace overlooking the piazza and old city.

Soprarno Suites

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If you are looking for gay friendly hotels in the Oltrarno neighborhood of Florence, Italy, then look no further than the Soprarno Suites. The stylish, retro-chic guesthouse is a 5-minute walk from the Arno riverfront and Ponte Vecchio. Plus, it’s just 15 minutes from Florence’s old quarter on the other side of the river. What’s more, the neighborhood it sits in is called the ‘artisan quarter,’ and makes for excellent wandering.

The hotel lies in a historic, 16th-century mansion and is sprinkled with upcycled curios and bric-a-brac. Whimsical artwork and exquisite calligraphy prints jazz up the elegant interiors further. The service might not be 24-hour one like a hotel, but it’s highly personalized. The place has a gamut of communal living spaces peppered with magazines and books, and make for great lounging spaces on lazy afternoons. You can even use the first-floor kitchen to whip up quick meals. Above all, the place serves a delectable breakfast with cold cuts, cheeses, fresh fruit, eggs, pastries, and steaming cappuccinos. It’s served in the lovely street-facing bar which also serves delicious food all day long.

With just 13 rooms, staying here is as intimate as it gets. They might vary in size, but they all have frescoed ceilings, lofty windows, gorgeous bathrooms, and even in-room bathtubs! In addition, they have thoughtful extras like biscuits, notebooks, and Nespresso machines. If you want to splurge, go for the top-floor room with a beautiful private balcony.

La Maison du Sage

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La Maison du Sage is one of the most well-located gay hotels in Florence, Italy. It not only lies within walking distance of most of the city’s historic sights but is also steps from some of its best gay bars. In fact, the street the hotel sits on is sometimes called Florence’s gay street!

The hotel is not without character. It sits in a 16th-century structure with a thorough Art deco design inspiration. Hardwood floors and blond maple-wood furniture lend a modern touch. Meanwhile, the eye-popping color palette of grey-black-white downstairs and white-raspberry red in the hallways is a welcome departure from the run-of-the-mill neutrals. You’ll get a litany of recommendations and suggestions from the staff, and service is personalized to boot. What’s more, the first-floor bar serves aperitifs from 6.30 p.m., which is the perfect place for meet-cutes. The highlight is the breakfast room on each floor, with cheese, cold cuts, cakes, brioches, and fresh fruit salad on the offer.

Fun is the name of the game in the 18 bedrooms, which feature offbeat hues like deep pink, dusty green, duck-egg blue. Retro furniture, modern bathrooms, and Nespresso machines make up the rest of the space. Front rooms have full-blown views of the church, while the best one has a lemon-tree-filled private terrace.

Firenze Number Nine

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If you want to combine exploring Florence and its gay nightlife with wellness, then Firenze Number Nine will fit the bill perfectly. This four-star boutique hotel is one of the best gay accommodations in Florence, Italy. It lies right across from Michelangelo’s Medici tombs and San Lorenzo church, while other attractions aren’t far off either. Additionally, the gay area of Florence is a mere 15-minute walk while the steamy gay sauna of Florence Baths is just a 5-minute stroll.

There’s a deeply sensuous aesthetic about this four-star boutique hotel. The building was a former renaissance palazzo and is now filled with contemporary design pieces and art. adjacent spa, beauty center, and gym. For a hotel in Florence’s historic center, the hotel sure offers a slew of state-of-the-art amenities. To begin with, you receive a smartphone with free Wi-Fi and calls. You have access to the gym, beauty center, and spa next door, where you can chill out after a long day of exploring the city. You could even join an early morning walk or one of the fitness classes – who knows whom you might meet! After your morning jaunt, sit down to a sumptuous breakfast of pancakes, porridge, and freshly-baked patisseries and croissants. As the sun sets, head to the snazzy bar for a complimentary drink, and you know you’re in for a good evening.

The high-ceilinged, spacious rooms exude a masculine urban style and will impress you. Think sleek aluminum-black furniture, parquet floors, and sexy grey drapes. Choose the en-suites which have sensuous bathrooms, or the Junior Suite with a whirlpool tub specially designed for romance.

Hotel L’Orologio

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If there were one place in the city from where you could explore all its best sights, it’d be the Hotel L’Orologio. Not only is it surrounded by all its historic sights, but the hotel is also within walking distance of some of its most offbeat attractions. For instance, the stunning Ponte Vecchio Bridge is a 10-minute walk. It’s one of the 7 Best Places For Creative Forced Forced Perspective Photos in the world. So, you and your partner can have some very memorable photographs from your trip. Finally, the hotel is not just an excellent value-for-money four-star but also one of the best gay hotels in Florence, Italy!

The hotel sits in a four-story 1800s townhouse and will remind you of a gentleman’s club. Think vintage timepieces, retro bass lamps, rich velvet upholstery, and dark wood paneling. What’s more, there’s even a cigar room, where you could even bump into interesting people. Besides tons of tips about hidden gems, the staff even help you plan city and day trips. The two comfy sitting rooms and the lounge-bar are great places to meet people and enjoy a drink. You can relax with your new friends in the basement sauna or work out in the gym, before retiring to your room. Breakfast is an equally romantic affair with bird’s-eye views of the town.

Since Swiss luxury watch brands inspired the decor on every floor, the rooms’ walls have images of Rolexes, Pateks, and more. The sexy dark theme extends to the rooms, complete with equally decadent marble bathrooms.

Hotel Balestri

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The Hotel Balestri has one of the best views in all of Florence. It sits right on the banks of the Arno River and boasts the most dreamy river views you’ve ever seen. Thus, it’s away from bustle while still being within striking distance of Florence’s historic city center as well as its gay neighborhood. The glamorous 30s era-inspired place is also one of the best gay friendly hotels in Florence, Italy. So, if you and your partner are looking to romance in Florence, we couldn’t think of a better hotel for you.

The hotel sits in a late 18th-century building with original touches like vaulted ceilings and lots of marble. A muted monochrome color pallette jazzed up by splashes of purple, green, and burnished gold and copper lend a modern touch. The staff is unfailingly helpful, taking care of everything from booking trips to helpful local recommendations. After a good day of exploring, the ground-floor bar is a great place to meet people. However, if you guys are in the mood for romance, head to the romantic terrace with sinfully spectacular views. Come morning, dig into the hearty breakfast spread of bacon, eggs, juices, salad, cold cuts, cheeses, and yogurts. In fact, it’s one of the best breakfasts in town. It’s served in the gentleman’s club-esque breakfast room.

The bedrooms with bronze accents, ivory walls, and dark furnishings emit a sexy masculine vibe. The cloud-like bed is an absolute dream, and you won’t feel like getting out the next morning. Even though rooms differ in size, many have small terraces/balconies and more than half enjoy river views. For honeymooners, we’d recommend the fifth-floor rooms. These romantic love nests have feature lavish bathrooms, lots of space, and sensational views.

Portrait Firenze

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If you want to explore Florence in the lap of luxury, then Portrait Firenze is where you should be. Lying on the banks of Arno river, it’s one of the most luxurious gay hotels in Florence, Italy. The best part? Literally all the Top 10 Things To Do In Florence are right on its doorstep. So, the location is as amazing as it gets in this Italian city.

The hotel is peppered with gorgeous monochrome prints and retro furniture from the city’s glamorous 1950s-60s period. Staying here is all about being pampered, which begins the minute you step into the place. A pre-arrival form asks about preferences, right from breakfast to flowers to pillows. Sip on a welcome drink in a plush armchair in the sitting room while you’re checked in. The rooms are the highlight here, so the sitting room and the restaurant are the only public spaces. The best part? You won’t even feel the need for more. A generous and late breakfast is served till 11 a.m. What’s more, you can even order in-room treatments. Now, what more could you want?

It’s all about the rooms at this hushed, utterly private hotel. Most of the 37 dove-grey rooms and suites have river views – frankly, it’s a must-have. The generously sized suites have stunning bedroom alcoves, kitchenettes, living rooms with sink-in sofas, and a bevy of high-tech mod-cons. Even bathrooms have a sound system, which makes for a very romantic ambiance.

Plus Florence

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It’s highly unusual for hostels to have luxuries, but Plus Florence defies all odds. The gay friendly accommodation in Florence, Italy is one of its best hostels and a luxurious one at that. If you’re a gay explorer with beer pockets with a taste for champagne, then this is the place you should stay at. While it does sit away from the historical center, the hostel is a mere 15-minute walk away. The best part? One of the 10 Most Famous Statues In The World, David by famed artist Michelangelo is a five-minute stroll.

Don’t be put off by its functional facade, for on the inside, it’s a wacky garish-sleek blend of the unexpected. The floors might give it a distinctly 60s look, but the walls are bursting with vibrant contemporary art. The hostel rooms, on the other hand, are minimalist, utterly contemporary, and immaculate. Choices include female-only rose-pink dorms and spacious mixed-gender ones, all with ensuite bathrooms. There are private rooms too, with striking sepia-toned images of Florence on the walls. The best ones, however, are the ones with terrace balconies that offer sweeping views of Florence’s skyline.

When it comes to its facilities, the hostel is pretty much unbeaten. The indoor pool with a Turkish sauna and steam bath and the stunning open-air pool are the best features. The outdoor pool deck even has rattan sofas for you to lounge under a sunny Italian sky. When it comes to food, the hostel has a fabulous American-style bar/diner, complete with a jukebox, billiards, and American and Italian fast-food fare. This is also where the hostel serves a luxurious breakfast spread. When you drag your feet in after a long day of exploring, kick back with a cocktail at the Hawaiian-style outdoor bar.

Casa Howard

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If you’re looking for a unique yet affordable well-located stay, then you can’t go wrong with quirky Casa Howard. The gay friendly hotel in Florence, Italy lies a stone’s throw from Florence’s sights, Arno river, and the train station. What makes it such a distinctive place to stay is its eclectic mix of eccentricity, exotica, and Belle Époque style.

The ‘period residence’ is much like an ancestral home, chock-full of period portraits, heirlooms of the owner’s family, and colonial furnishings. Even though facilities are limited, the balcony-terrace is precious, as is the honesty bar with bubbly, wine, and soft drinks. Service is the highlight here, and the staff goes out of their way to organize everything from museum bookings to countryside horse rides, cooking classes, and wine-tastings. The best part? They bring you breakfast in bed. So, plonk against your plush pillows and enjoy fruit, cereals, cheese, Parma ham, eggs, toast, and croissants with jams and honey sourced from the owner’s Tuscan farm.

Every room here is unique, of which the two palatial suites ‘Drawing Room’ and the ‘Fireplace Room’ are the best. The upper floor rooms with themes of Orientale, Library, Terrace, and Camel are equally charming. We’d also recommend the ground-floor ‘Studio’ which has French doors opening onto a little courtyard. Nevertheless, all rooms have ensuite bathrooms, tea/coffee-making facilities, and satellite TVs.

Just So You Know:

• Florence has a long and incredible gay history. Even during medieval times, the people were extremely open-minded and tolerant to homosexuality. In fact, that’s why American and British travelers decided to settle in the city in the 19th century. 

Get Some Culture in Florence:

• Toscana Pride – People throng the streets of Florence every year in July to showcase queer solidarity, and have lots of fun!
• Gaily Tour in Florence: Explore the City of Lillies with a gay/lesbian-friendly driver and/or tour guide.

Best Gay Bars / Clubs in Florence:

• Queer – This American-style gay bar is famous for its house music and excellent cocktails. It’s the perfect place for meet-cutes.
• Piccolo Cafè – This fun gay bar gets so busy that the area outside it is known as “Florence gay street.”
• Crisco Club – One of Florence’s oldest and most popular gay cruising and fetish clubs. When they switch to being an LGBT nightclub, they even hold LGBT naked and underwear parties.

Best Gay Saunas in Florence:

• Florence Baths – This is one of the most popular gay hangout areas in summer. It not only has a large whirlpool and cruising garden but also a Turkish bath and steamy showers. Plus, it even has cabins and a Finnish sauna and provides some of the best gay massages in the city.