Hotel Bavaria

Hotel Bavaria is a small budget property located on the second and third floors of the former 16th-century palace known as Palazzo Ramirez-Montalvo. The palace was built by the Medici family’s architect Bartolomeo Ammannati, while the beautiful drawings on the exterior of the building were done by Giorgio Vasari. Today, the building is home to offices, private homes, an auction house, and Hotel Bavaria. Upon entering, guests proceed to the second floor, where the hotel is actually located -- though note that the building lacks an elevator, which might pose difficulties for those with mobility issues or with heavy suitcases. Hallways and rooms are traditionally furnished and feel slightly dated, but they have high ceilings, lovely exposed wooden beams, terra-cotta floors, classic paintings adorning the walls, and antique wooden furniture. The breakfast room is cozy with wood floors, wooden tables topped with blue tablecloths, and the hotel's only flat-screen TV. There’s some wear to the furniture and grime here and there, but it’s clearly a historical space that gives guests a feeling of an authentic Florentine stay for an affordable rate. The property attracts mostly couples on a budget who don’t mind swapping out chain-hotel comforts for a central location and low prices. 

With a location in the heart of Florence’s historic city center, this hotel is ideally situated for those wishing to explore the city on foot, as most of Florence’s top attractions are within walking distance, and many are less than a 10-minute walk away. It’s a five-minute walk to the Duomo and an eight-minute walk to the Uffizi Gallery, while the Piazza della Repubblica is four minutes away. For those who rather rest their feet, there’s a bus stop that’s a two-minute walk away. The Santa Maria Novella train station is a 15-minute walk from the hotel or a nine-minute drive, while Florence's airport is about a 25-minute drive away.

The hotel offers spacious Single, Double, Triple, and Quadruple Rooms. All are traditionally decorated and may seem a bit old-fashioned for some, but the high ceilings, terra-cotta floors, and lovely painted ceilings and reliefs on some of the walls add a bit of charm to spaces that may feel spare and stark. Though decor differs slightly in each room, many include classical paintings and antique wooden furniture. 

Rooms lack quite a few amenities that some travelers take for granted -- there are no TVs, air-conditioning, minibars, or Wi-Fi -- and only kettles are provided. Lack of air-conditioning is not uncommon for historic hotels like this, however, guests do note that it can get quite hot in the summers. Some rooms have shared bathrooms or shared toilets. For instance, some of the spaces have small showers and sinks partitioned off in a corner (which might pose privacy issues for some), but they lack toilets. Note that the shared bathrooms show some grime and wear. Toiletries and hairdryers are provided. Be aware that some guests complain about bothersome noise due to the central location, as well as pesky mosquitoes. 

This small budget property offers few features. A free breakfast buffet is served each morning and includes basics like pastries, bread, cereal, juice, and coffee. During the day, guests can gather in a lounge area for conversation or grab a book from the hotel’s small library shelf. The front desk can set up tickets and reservations for guests. Free Wi-Fi can be accessed in the public spaces, but not in the rooms. With its central location, there’s no on-site parking, but the hotel can guide you to the closest garage. Pets are welcome.