Villas in Firenze Città and surroundings

Stay near the Duomo or Santa Croce to walk everywhere, in San Niccolò for a quieter riverside base, or in Impruneta for a pool. Most of our Florence stock is city apartments rather than villas, so expect stairs and shutters, not gardens. The houses with pools are in the hills around Impruneta, south of the city, where you will want a car.

Where

Villas: 79
From, per week: £397
Cheapest month: November
Nearest airports: Florence airport is small, with a few direct flights from London taking around two hours. Pisa has more flights and is about an hour by train. Bologna is another option, around an hour and a quarter to Florence by airport shuttle and high-speed train.

Where to stay in Firenze Città and surroundings

Duomo, San Lorenzo and Santa Croce (historic centre)

Most of our Florence apartments are inside the old city walls. The Duomo, the Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio are all within about 15 minutes of each other on foot, and the San Lorenzo market hall is good for food shopping. Santa Croce, to the east, is slightly calmer in the evening. Santa Maria Novella station is a short walk from most addresses, and the airport tram takes around 20 minutes from there.

Best for: First-time visitors who want to walk to the Uffizi, the Duomo and the Accademia

Not for you if: You want a lift, parking or quiet nights: most buildings are old walk-ups on noisy streets.

Oltrarno and San Niccolò (south of the river)

Across the Arno, the Oltrarno is the district of the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens, with picture framers, furniture restorers and small trattorias on the streets around Santo Spirito. San Niccolò, at its eastern end, is a quiet strip of bars below the steps up to Piazzale Michelangelo and the church of San Miniato al Monte. Ponte Vecchio is 10 minutes' walk.

Best for: Couples who want artisan workshops, wine bars and a short walk to the sights

Not for you if: You want plenty of choice: we have only a few apartments across the river.

Impruneta (hills south of Florence)

This is where our houses with gardens and pools are, mostly farmhouses and villas among olive groves on the hills south of the city. Impruneta is a small town known for its terracotta, still fired in local kilns, and for its basilica on the main square. The October fair of San Luca is the big event of its year. Florence airport is around 30 to 40 minutes' drive.

Best for: Families who want a pool and a garden within reach of the city

Not for you if: You want to walk into Florence: it is around 25 minutes by car or a slow bus ride.

Serpiolle and the northern hills

Serpiolle is a hillside hamlet on the northern edge of Florence, below Monte Morello, among villas and olive terraces. It feels like countryside, though the Careggi hospital district and the T1 tram terminus are a short drive below. Fiesole, with its Roman theatre and views over the Duomo, is around 20 minutes by car. We have very little here.

Best for: A green, residential base with views back over the city

Not for you if: You don't want to rely on buses or a car: the centre is a ride away, not a walk.

Peretola (by the airport)

Peretola is a suburb on the north-west side of the city, next to Florence's Amerigo Vespucci airport. It is practical rather than pretty. The T2 tram runs from the airport into the centre at Piazza dell'Unità, by Santa Maria Novella station, in around 20 minutes, and parking is easier than in town. Choice is very limited.

Best for: Late arrivals, early flights and a short tram ride to the centre

Not for you if: You mind aircraft and motorway noise: Peretola sits beside the runway and the A11.

When to go to Firenze Città and surroundings

April, May, late September and October are the best months: warm enough to sit outside, with smaller queues than in summer. July and August are hot and humid in the city, the main museums are at their busiest, and some family-run shops and trattorias close for part of August. November to February is the cheapest and quietest time, with short days and some rain, but the museums stay open. Easter weekend is very busy.