Via di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria 15-17, Florence, Italy | (618) 248-8274
Convenient location close to the Duomo and central Florence, and the Santa Maria Novella Train Station
Small rooftop pool (open in the summer), solarium, and terrace bar with panoramic rooftop views
Each suite and dorm room has its own bathroom
All-female dorm available
Air conditioned rooms with flat-screen TVs and private bathrooms
Breakfast buffet (for a fee)
Opera restaurant serves Italian cuisine for lunch and dinner
Fitness area, sauna and Turkish bath (winter only)
Free Wi-Fi and computers in lobby
Laundry facilities available
Disco and bar in the basement
Very noisy at night due to young clientele
Heavy traffic area due to proximity to the train station
Wi-Fi in rooms is spotty
Power outlets scarce in some rooms
The 106-room Plus Florence is a hostel that in many ways feels like a budget hotel. Conveniently located near the rail station, the clientele at the Plus Florence is primarily young backpackers traveling on a budget, who like to party and take advantage of the hostel's social scene. Rooms are clean, and not cramped, with storage that locks, flat-screen TVs, and modern private bathrooms. An all-female dorm is also available. The amenities are exceptional for a hostel, including indoor and outdoor pools, fitness facilities, and a cafe. Travelers looking for quiet at night might want to consider the Loggia Fiorentina, a nearby hotel that offers private rooms and a more intimate setting for similar rates.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Clean and bright, with artwork on the walls, and a luxe feeling rooftop bar
The Plus Florence feels like more than a hostel, without the usual wear and tear that comes with a young clientele, and a bright, modern feel to the decor. The hallways are very bright and decorated with artwork. The rooftop pool deck is small, but there are additional sunbeds in the solarium area, with 360 degree views of Florence and the Duomo in the distance. The roof terrace bar is lovely, with plants and climbing vines, a picturesque wooden pergola, and metal tables and chairs -- a lovely spot for an afternoon cocktail and making new friends. The Opera restaurant feels like a high end cafeteria, with bright orange banquettes and dark formica furniture. The basement disco comes with a mirror ball and the requisite colored lights, but isn't a hip nightclub, by any means. This is a superior, upbeat hostel that doesn't kick guests out at sunrise, and is not so unpleasant and crowded that guests can't wait to leave.
Location
Near the railway station, and within walking distance to major historic sites
The Plus Florence is well-located on the Via Santa Caterina D'Allesandria, a street that leads directly to the main train station -- which is ten minutes' away on foot -- making it ideal for backpackers on a rail pass. The Duomo and major historic sights of the city are a quick fifteen minute walk. At street level, the immediate area is not picturesque, but from the rooftop terrace, the tile rooftops look like they're straight from a postcard.
Rooms
Pretty private bathrooms, storage lockers, linens, hairdryers
Rooms at the Plus Florence are clean and basic, with art and photographs on the walls, windows with pretty drapes, and flat-screen TVs. The hostel offers both private rooms and typical dorm-style rooms. Bed linens and towels are provided, and each bed has a designated storage locker with a lock. Wi-Fi can be spotty and power outlets can be scarce, though. There can be as many as eight beds to a room, but rooms manage not to feel cramped, with metal bunks and individual beds. Dorms that have four or six beds are newer than the bigger dorms, which occasionally have issues with air-conditioning. All rooms have private bathrooms with stylish mosaic tile and glass shower stalls (and hair dryers!). Some have microwaves and full refrigerators.
Features
Disco, rooftop terrace, swimming pool, laundry room, Wi-Fi, and cafe
The Plus Florence offers tons of amenities for a hostel, including a roof terrace with panoramic views, an outdoor pool in the summer and, during the winter months, an indoor pool, sauna, fitness center, and Turkish bath. There is a basement disco, with requisite disco ball and full bar, that feels college-y. There is a guest laundry and an internet corner with four computer stations and a host of vending machines nearby. Wi-Fi, though spotty, is free. The Opera cafe is cheerful, and offers three meals a day for budget-friendly prices. A kitchen with pots and pans (deposit required) is also available.
