🇮🇹 Florence, Italy
Bigi Appartments
📍 4, Via dei Frati Bigi, Florence, 50136
Your stay — Bigi Appartments
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Florence.
The Property — Bigi Appartments
Bigi Appartments is a no-frills, functional base a short walk from Florence's Santa Maria Novella station. It feels less like a boutique hotel and more like a clean, quiet residential apartment block used to short stays. The lobby is small and efficient, with a friendly desk and a key box for after-hours arrivals. Best for travellers who prioritise location and independence over character, and who plan to be out all day seeing the city.
Chronicles of Florence
Florence was founded by Julius Caesar in 59 BC as a settlement for veteran soldiers. Its true transformation began in the 13th and 14th centuries when wool and banking made it one of Europe's wealthiest cities. This wealth funded the Renaissance, with figures like Brunelleschi, Donatello and Michelangelo reshaping its skyline and churches. The historic centre is a UNESCO site, dense with medieval streets and palaces that remain remarkably intact. Today Florence juggles its role as a living museum with the relentless flows of global tourism, especially in summer.
Best Time to Visit
Full Florence guide →Best months
May, September, October: mild weather (20–25°C), long daylight, fewer queues than midsummer. May still has the May Day crowds but settles quickly.
Peak / festival surge
July is the peak summer month: schools are out, temperatures hit 30–35°C, and the city is packed. Hotel prices double or triple from shoulder rates. The main events are Florence's Estate Fiorentina festival in open-air venues and major art exhibitions at Palazzo Strozzi.
Budget shoulder season
February, November: these are the quietest months. Hotels offer deep discounts, and major sights like the Uffizi and Duomo have short queues. The weather is cold (5–12°C) but rarely freezing, and there are almost no crowds at the Bargello or San Marco.
Weather & packing
Florence's climate is continental: winter damp can feel colder than the thermometer reads, and summer sun bakes the stone streets into a heat trap. Pack a reusable water bottle (public fountains are everywhere and free) and, in July, a wide-brim hat plus light long sleeves for sun protection in the queues.
Live City Briefing — Florence
- The tram line T2 extension to the airport is now fully operational, making the 20-minute ride from Santa Maria Novella to FLR faster and cheaper than taxi or bus.
- The Uffizi Gallery now requires pre-booked time slots year-round, even in low season; book at least two weeks ahead for July to avoid disappointment.
- Florence's anti-sagging ban on unattended rental bikes and scooters remains in force; visitors walking in the historic centre will find pavements clearer than in 2023.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Bigi Appartments, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor. These are high enough to avoid street-level noise from Via dei Frati Bigi but still accessible by stairs if you’re without heavy luggage (no lift confirmed at 3-star level in this old building). They also tend to have more light and a sense of space over the courtyard.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing the street (Via dei Frati Bigi). They will catch direct noise from pedestrians, early morning deliveries, and traffic on this narrow but busy lane leading to the city centre. Also avoid rooms directly above the reception or breakfast area if there’s a kitchen extractor fan.
Best views
Rooms overlooking the internal courtyard offer the best view—a typical Florentine residential courtyard, quiet and with a sense of the building’s history. Street-facing rooms give you a glimpse of the narrow lane and occasional rooftops, but it’s not iconic Florence skyline.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are quietest at this hotel. They buffer you from street noise and from any lobby/restaurant hum on the ground level.
🔊 Noise notes
Via dei Frati Bigi is a secondary street but connects to main roads—expect some traffic noise during rush hours (7-9am and 5-7pm). Also listen for bells from nearby churches (Santa Croce area, about 10mins walk), which chime on the quarter-hour.
Insider tips
1. If you arrive by car, check in advance if the hotel has an arrangement with a nearby garage—street parking on Via dei Frati Bigi is limited and often requires a permit. 2. Request a top-floor room (3rd) for extra quiet and better airflow in summer; the stairs are a workout but worth it for sleep quality.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Bigi Appartments
Free WiFi included; up to 20 Mbps download. Credentials given at check-in; no login page, connects directly. Consistent but slower in rear apartments.
No lift. The building is a 3-storey 19th-century palazzo, accessible only by stairs. Ground-floor apartments have no stairs, but upper floors require climbing narrow staircases.
No physical newspapers. Complimentary access to PressReader via a tablet in the lobby. The building was originally a monastery – the courtyard has original stone arches and a well.
Standard check-in from 15:00 to 20:00. Late check-in (20:00–00:00) costs €30, after midnight €50. Early bag drop allowed from 10:00. Late check-out until 13:00 costs €40; subject to availability.
Free storage before check-in and after check-out at the reception. Secure luggage room with key card access.
Step-free access only to the ground-floor apartment. No lift means upper floors are inaccessible by wheelchair. Main entrance has a single step (10 cm). No adapted bathrooms or grab rails.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is Garage Parma (1.5 km walk, €30 per 24h). Limited street parking in the ZTL (restricted zone) – need a permit. No EV charging on site.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: Mandatory tourist tax €5.50 per person per night for the first 7 nights; children under 10 exempt.
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking. At check-in, a €150 incidental hold is placed on a credit card; released at checkout if no damages.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chiesa della Sacra Famiglia (384 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: San Michele in San Salvi (573 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Sacro Cuore (705 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Sant'Antonino a Bellariva (750 m · ~9 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Centro Commerciale Gavinana — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
Giardino vittime di via Fani — 639 m · ~8 min walk
Cenacolo Andrea del Sarto — 490 m · ~6 min walk
Chille de la balanza — 813 m · ~10 min walk
Giardino del Cenacolo — 478 m · ~6 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Bancomat — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Farmacia del Madonnone — 103 m · ~1 min walk
Eni Shop — 100 m · ~1 min walk
Firenze Campo di Marte — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Avoid exchange bureaux at Florence airport and train station; use bank ATMs (Bancomat) in the city centre for the best rates.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in shops, restaurants, and hotels; contactless is common, but smaller stores and market stalls often prefer cash.
Not expected but appreciated: round up the bill in restaurants (5-10% for good service), leave small change for taxis, and tip hotel staff €1-2 per bag or per day for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso at a standing bar (caffè al banco) costs around €1.10-€1.30; sitting down doubles the price.
A slice of pizza or a panino from a takeaway spot costs about €5-€7; a sit-down trattoria lunch menu (primo + acqua) is typically €12-€15.
A simple pasta or pizza main at a casual osteria runs €10-€14; avoid tourist menus near the Duomo.
Look for lampredotto stalls (tripe sandwich) near Mercato Centrale and Santa Croce; they cost about €5-€6.
Supermarkets like Conad, Coop, and Esselunga are common; Conad City outlets are handy for quick supplies.
High-street chains (Zara, H&M, OVS) are on Via de' Calzaiuoli and Via Roma; the San Lorenzo Market has cheaper stalls but haggle.
Buy a single bus/tram ticket (€1.70) or a 24-hour pass (€7) from tabacchi or the ATAF app; from Florence airport, the tram line T2 costs €1.70 into the centre.
Eat and drink standing up (al banco) for lower prices; buy water at supermarkets (€0.50) not tourist spots (€2+); skip the Uffizi queue – book online in advance to avoid ticket resellers.
Good to know — Florence
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
FlorenceEuropean standard 112 works for all emergencies from a mobile. For fixed-line or text, dial 113 for police, 118 for ambulance, 115 for fire, and 116117 for out-of-hours medical help. Keep 112 set as a speed-dial in your phone.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Florence, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Bigi Appartments
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Bancomat — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia del Madonnone — 103 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Florence Airport (FLR) → Hotel David via Alamanni/Santo Spirito areas
💡 Newest eco-friendly tram system (opened 2019). Fast and cheap. Single journey €2, but get tourist passes to avoid repeat ticket purchases for hotel-to-attractions transit.
Florence Airport (FLR) to City Center / Local Transit → Hotel David and Florence City Center
💡 Buy a Carnet (10-journey ticket €14.50) or 48-hour tourist pass (€16.50) for all local buses. Airport coaches cheaper than taxi but slower with stops.
Florence Airport (FLR) → Hotel David, Florence
💡 Book pre-arranged transfers through your hotel to avoid inflated rates from unofficial taxis at airport rank. Expect traffic congestion during peak hours (8-10am, 5-7pm).
Florence Airport (FLR) Terminal 1 Train Station → Florence Santa Maria Novella Station, walking distance to Hotel David
💡 Most convenient and reliable option. Connect to local trams/buses from Santa Maria Novella. Hotel David is walkable (10 mins) from station in city center.
About Florence
Wikipedia ↗
Florence (Italian: Firenze) is the capital and most populous city of the Italian region of Tuscany, with 361,625 inhabitants as of 2026. It is also the capital of the eponymous metropolitan province, which counts 988,494 inhabitants. Florence was a centre of medieval European trade and finance and ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Bigi Appartments?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor. These are high enough to avoid street-level noise from Via dei Frati Bigi but still accessible by stairs if you’re without heavy luggage (no lift confirmed at 3-star level in this old building). They also tend to have more light and a sense of space over the courtyard.
Which rooms should I avoid at Bigi Appartments?
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing the street (Via dei Frati Bigi). They will catch direct noise from pedestrians, early morning deliveries, and traffic on this narrow but busy lane leading to the city centre. Also avoid rooms directly above the reception or breakfast area if there’s a kitchen extractor fan.
Is Bigi Appartments noisy?
Via dei Frati Bigi is a secondary street but connects to main roads—expect some traffic noise during rush hours (7-9am and 5-7pm). Also listen for bells from nearby churches (Santa Croce area, about 10mins walk), which chime on the quarter-hour.
Which rooms have the best views at Bigi Appartments?
Rooms overlooking the internal courtyard offer the best view—a typical Florentine residential courtyard, quiet and with a sense of the building’s history. Street-facing rooms give you a glimpse of the narrow lane and occasional rooftops, but it’s not iconic Florence skyline.
What are insider tips for staying at Bigi Appartments?
1. If you arrive by car, check in advance if the hotel has an arrangement with a nearby garage—street parking on Via dei Frati Bigi is limited and often requires a permit. 2. Request a top-floor room (3rd) for extra quiet and better airflow in summer; the stairs are a workout but worth it for sleep quality.
What time is check-in at Bigi Appartments?
Check-in at Bigi Appartments is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Bigi Appartments have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi included; up to 20 Mbps download. Credentials given at check-in; no login page, connects directly. Consistent but slower in rear apartments.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Bigi Appartments?
Mandatory tourist tax €5.50 per person per night for the first 7 nights; children under 10 exempt.
Where can I eat cheaply near Bigi Appartments?
A slice of pizza or a panino from a takeaway spot costs about €5-€7; a sit-down trattoria lunch menu (primo + acqua) is typically €12-€15.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Bigi Appartments?
Buy a single bus/tram ticket (€1.70) or a 24-hour pass (€7) from tabacchi or the ATAF app; from Florence airport, the tram line T2 costs €1.70 into the centre.
When is the best time to visit Florence?
May, September, October: mild weather (20–25°C), long daylight, fewer queues than midsummer. May still has the May Day crowds but settles quickly.
Top Attractions in Florence
💡 Check the upstairs museum (€6) for the originals. The church itself is free and usually empty, so you can sit in peace - a rarity in central Florence.
💡 Skip the expensive upstairs pasta. Head to the ground floor's Nerbone for a €5 tripe sandwich or €4 bowl of lampredotto - a true Florentine lunch.
💡 Go just before sunset to see the city glow. Stay until the lights come on - it's far less crowded than during the day and the Duomo looks spectacular.
💡 Arrive at 5.15pm weekdays in summer to hear the monks sing Gregorian chant during vespers. It's a hauntingly beautiful experience, and free.
💡 Book ahead online (€6) - they limit visitors to 30 per 15-minute slot. If sold out, show up at opening and ask about returned tickets.