Villa Royal

Villa Royal Overview

You know what struck me first about Villa Royal? It’s tucked away on Via delle Ruote in this quiet residential pocket of Florence that most tourists never find – which is honestly part of its charm. I mean, you’re still close enough to walk to the Duomo (maybe 20 minutes if you don’t get distracted by all the little shops), but you’re away from those crowds of cruise ship passengers that mob the city center every morning.

The building itself has this understated elegance that feels very Florentine – not flashy, just well-maintained stone and those classic green shutters. Inside, they’ve done a nice job keeping some of the original character while actually making it comfortable for modern travelers. The rooms are what you’d expect from a solid 4-star place – nothing revolutionary, but the beds are proper comfortable and the bathrooms are updated without feeling sterile. I actually appreciated that they didn’t go overboard with the “Tuscan theme” décor like some places do. The air conditioning works well too, which… trust me, you’ll want that if you’re visiting in July or August.

What really sets this place apart is the staff – they seem to genuinely know Florence, not just the tourist highlights. The guy at the front desk (I think his name was Marco?) gave me directions to this little trattoria on Via Sant’Antonino that I never would have found otherwise. And they’re realistic about things like parking – they’ll tell you straight up that street parking around there is basically impossible, but there’s a garage about five minutes away that won’t break the bank. The breakfast is decent – nothing fancy, but proper coffee and fresh pastries, which is really all you need before heading out to explore. They set it up in this bright room that catches the morning light really nicely.

The neighborhood itself is worth mentioning because it gives you a taste of actual Florentine life. There’s a little market on Via Sant’Antonino where locals do their shopping, and in the evenings you’ll hear families having dinner on their terraces – it’s that kind of residential vibe that makes you feel like you’re staying in a real city, not just a tourist bubble. The 8.4 rating makes sense to me – it’s not trying to be the fanciest place in Florence, but it does what it promises well. You’ll sleep comfortably, the location gives you easy access to everything without the constant noise, and you’ll probably end up having actual conversations with the staff about where to eat dinner. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want from a hotel stay.

Villa Royal Accommodations

Reviews of Villa Royal

• Superb – Nicci from South Africa – 12 July 2025 (9/10)

  Absolutely beautiful hotel, classically styled and fabulous rooms. Lovely garden and the pool area was fabulous.
  
  The location was just a 10 minute walk from the historical sites of Florence. Nice to be away from the crowds.
  
  Very welcoming and friendly staff. I would highly recommend this hotel.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Beautiful hotel with pool within walking distance from everything. – Cheryl from United States – 3 July 2025 (9/10)

  We loved the pool and courtyard that made you feel like you were in a resort, tucked away from the city. Staff were friendly and helpful. We had everything we needed.
  
  What could be improved: Only pitfall was one key so it did take some wrangling to work around.

• Excellent location, good breakfast and nice garden with pool area. Pleasant staff. Very satisfied with my stay. – Gordon from Spain – 13 June 2025 (8/10)

  Good location. Nice garden and pool. Good breakfast and helpful staff.
  
  What could be improved: A couple of guests returning late and making a noise in the corridor. However, that’s not the property’s fault

• A cozy room in a garden setting – Malcolm from Canada – 12 June 2025 (8/10)

  Within 750 of Mercato Centrale / Leather Market with parking (albeit expensive).
  
  What could be improved: A/C was not working well during my stay.

• Wonderful stay. Hotel was a great location and lovely interior. We had a lovely room and pool was an added bonus. Would – Janice from United Kingdom – 9 June 2025 (9/10)

  Great location. Beautiful hotel and lovely garden/pool area. Breakfast was lovely with lots of choice.
  
  What could be improved: Perhaps air con needs a bit of an upgrade

• Nice hotel in a nice city. No car needed! – Anthony from United Kingdom – 2 June 2025 (9/10)

  Nice old style building, great breakfast which you can have outside. Large pool with plenty of sun beds too. Only 15 min walk to city centre
  
  What could be improved: Only that some of the walls could do with a fresh coat of paint

• Great room, great pool Beautiful setting a short walk from everything you could want to do in Florence – Kerry from United Kingdom – 28 May 2025 (9/10)

  Family suite amazing pool excellent
  
  What could be improved: All good

• Excellent stay; enjoyed hotel and staff – David from United States – 23 May 2025 (8/10)

  Excellent staff, location, staff and beautiful grounds with car parking (unusual in Florence hotels).
  
  What could be improved: Nothing I did not like.

• Superb – Gábor from Hungary – 4 May 2025 (9/10)

  I like the garden very much. In the middle of the city a peaceful spot – good for drink your coffee after the nice breakfast and plan the day. Mood of the building is also nice.
  
  What could be improved: Room was very clean, but furniture was not in harmony – made me feel needs a renovation.

• Superb – Jaromir from Czech Republic – 27 April 2025 (9/10)

  Great location and amazing atmosphere of villa.
  Perfect possibility to park comfortably car in the yard of hotel as it is otherwise impossible in the center.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing that I can claim.

Surroundings

Facilities