YiD Santa Maria Novella Suites apt with balcony

Hotel Description

You know what hit me first about this place? The balcony overlooking Via della Scala actually feels like you’re living in Florence, not just visiting it. I mean, most hotels stick you in some generic room, but here you’re literally watching the morning routine of locals heading to work while you sip your coffee. The whole setup is more like borrowing a friend’s apartment than staying in typical tourist accommodation.

The location is honestly perfect if you know Florence at all. You’re maybe two minutes from Santa Maria Novella station – I could hear the distant rumble of trains, but it’s not annoying, more like a gentle reminder that you can hop anywhere in Italy from here. What really sold me though was how close everything actually is. The Duomo? Eight-minute walk, tops. But here’s the thing locals know – you’re also right next to some of the best markets and that little stretch of Via della Scala has these family-run spots that tourists usually miss completely. There’s this tiny alimentari downstairs where the owner, this older guy, will tell you exactly which wine pairs with whatever cheese you’re buying.

The suite itself feels authentically Florentine without being over the top about it. High ceilings, those shutters that actually work (you’d be surprised how many don’t), and the floors have that worn marble look that comes from decades of use, not some design choice. The balcony’s small but functional – big enough for two chairs and your morning cappuccino, which is honestly all you need. I loved how the evening light hits the buildings across the street around 6 PM, creates this golden hour thing that makes you understand why people moved here for the light. The bathroom’s modern but not aggressively so, good water pressure, and plenty of space for your stuff. One tiny thing – the WiFi can be spotty in the bedroom, but it’s solid everywhere else.

What really makes this place work is how it strikes that balance between being in the thick of things without the chaos. Via della Scala gets lively during aperitivo hour, but by 10 PM it’s pretty quiet. You’ll sleep well here, even with the windows open in summer. The 4-star rating feels right – it’s not trying to be the fanciest place in Florence, but everything works smoothly and the details are thoughtful. Check-in was seamless, and they actually gave useful recommendations, not just the typical tourist traps. The 8.9 rating makes sense too – it’s the kind of place where small touches add up to something memorable, and honestly, you’ll probably find yourself planning your next Florence trip before you even leave.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $381. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed and 1 double bed for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Exceptional – Diane from United States – 7 July 2025 (10/10)

  This location turned out to be even better than expected. The balcony (first floor) overlooked Piazza Santa Maria Novella. There was entertainment nightly and a great opportunity for people watching with a glass of wine. We even got to see the start of the Centro Storico parade right from our balcony! There was a store downstairs for essentials, and lots within walking distance. We really enjoyed our stay here.

• Best choice for family trip! – Tianyi from Germany – 8 February 2025 (10/10)

  It’s such a big and well equipped apartment, definitely worth the price!
  
  What could be improved: Almost nothing. Just one small issue: It was pretty loud outside at night, but considered the great location, it’s also understandable. It would be nice if you could also provide some earplugs for the visiters ;D

• Our experience was thoroughly delightful. – Mary from United States – 20 October 2024 (10/10)

  The apartment is beautiful and the
  Location is wonderful, with a view of the Santa Maria Novella basilica and the piazza From a lovely little balcony. From this location, it is a short walk to the major points of interest of Florence, as well as to the train station.
  
  What could be improved: We found nothing lacking.

• Amazing location in Firenze – Kylee from United States – 28 October 2023 (8/10)

  The location is wonderful and having the living space with balconies to the Piazza was wonderful. It’s a beautiful apartment, it just needed some upkeep.
  
  What could be improved: It is an online check in, you will not be greeted by your host. There were several repairs that should be completed in the master bedroom & bathroom.

• The apartment helped make our visit to Florence memorable. – Judy from United States – 24 May 2023 (9/10)

  We loved the location, the apartment & amenities. This apartment was literally a 5 min walk to/from the Santa Maria Novella Train Station. It is located at the center of the Santa Maria Novella Piazza with an excellent gelato shop right below. There are many restaurants and shops at street level as well. We were able to walk to all the historical sights like the Duomo, Uffizi Museum, Accademia Museum, Ponte Vecchio, Firenze city center, etc. The 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment itself was very nice, clean & spacious. Both bedrooms were furnished with a comfortable queen bed and the bathroom for each room was conveniently situated and private. I am a bit picky when it comes to bathrooms and both passed my vote of approval. The only negative with the bathrooms would be that the master had an odor consistent with old plumbing which I understand given the age of the building. The other negative with the master bath would be that the basin was bowl shaped and a bit lower to the ground than usual. A tall person could potentially have an issue with it but it was not a problem for us. The other bathroom sink was normal with plenty of counter space for all your toiletries. The apartment had 3 balconies… one off the dining area, another off the living room area, lastly there was a third off the second bathroom (not the master). We enjoyed having coffee and pastries in the mornings overlooking the piazza as the square came alive. I regret not taking pictures of the ceilings during our stay as they were enchanting to fall asleep under each night. Although the place you lay your head at night while on vacation is not the reason you travel to a particular area but it certainly enhances the experience in an endearing way. I would without hesitation book this apartment again on my next trip to Florence. Ciao!
  
  What could be improved: It did not bother us at all but there was quite a bit of street noise in the evenings. There was a stain on the bench in the dining area that could be recovered especially if a deposit was retained to cover the damage from the guest who was responsible. Also, the balconies, although narrow, could have been swept, cleaned and set-up to enjoy the outdoor area.

• Superb – Sara from Serbia – 16 May 2025 (9/10)

  Comfort, position, kitchen appliances, all attractions in short distance, well connected to different city transport
  
  What could be improved: Poor wifi

• Good – Raunak from India – 28 September 2024 (7/10)

  The location is spectacular and the apartment is clean and spacious.
  
  What could be improved: The second room has some old pipes running through it so it has a bad smell that did not go away through the trip and unfortunately the hosts could not help us.

• Nice location, nice apartment but can be noisy – William from United States – 14 May 2025 (7/10)

  Nice location, nice apartment
  
  What could be improved: Can be noisy very early in the morning since it is on a very busy street. There’s garbage collection, street cleaning, people talking loudly, cars and buses passing, etc…
  I wish the windows were more insulated.
  Some details were also missed such as the chandelier in the bedroom had only 2 out of 12 bulbs working. The kitchen faucet was not tightened properly and it was wobbly when you used it. The owner/manager offered to send someone to fix the problem but it was a day before we were leaving. Hopefully the issues have been fixed after it was reported.

• Perfect location, but needs some improvements – Kleber from Switzerland – 4 August 2023 (7/10)

  Very good communication, the checkin process worked perfectly. You pay for the location, which is great because you are almost 15min from every point of interesst in Florence. Wifi worked perfectly, the air condition could have some more power but it was sufficient sleep at night. Kitchen provided everything you needed.
  
  What could be improved: The apartment is big and very nice, but a bit shabby; two lamps were broken, one skirting board was missing, some curtains where broken/notworking. I know this can happen, but for this price I expect that this is checked and fixed before the next guest checks in – especially as checkout is a 10:00. Also the soap and shampoo provided was not good at all, good that we had our own.

• Super – Xavier from Netherlands – 27 May 2025 (9/10)

  Localisation.
  Plafonds peints
  
  What could be improved: (Mauvaise)Odeur dan sla chambre à l’arrière.
  Je ne suis pas encore habitue a la location ou tout se fait par internet.j’aime le contact avec les propriétaires

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