I stayed in the emerald for 5 days and i had the most amazing experience. I stayed in a women’s dorm, the room was spacious and very beautiful. The staff was so very helpful and kind. A cleaning lady came every morning and made our beds and made sure the bathroom and bedroom was clean again. There was a terrace on the roof with a practical kitchen and 2 big fridges where you could store your food. The location was 3 minutes walking from the duomo and you were very close to everything. Next to the hostel there were multiple restaurants where you could get very good pizza or a fiorentina steak. I could not recommend a better hostel if you are looking for a nice area to relax and enjoy the beautiful city of Firenze. 10/10 experience :)

Not sure where to start rating this amazing place. I only review places I stay at if I am overly happy or unhappy with my experience. As the name suggests, this is a real Palace with probably a history of 1000 years standing tall & might have housed the big fiorentino/a names of the past. Entering the historical building for the first time was like going back to middle age time when I saw the stairs leading up to reception area…I thought to myself that I was going to spend only 1 night …I ended up staying 7 nights with a back & forth movement. Little did I know what was waiting for me inside. Highlights -1- People – the friendliest and most professional staff I’ve come across in my many travels around the world. You can’t fault any of the team members and it’s very rare! From the special Enis with unbeatable customer experience skills, charming Cho with a disarming smile, cheerful and passionate Donald to Elio the not common manager but rather an inspirational leader of all time, you’re guaranteed to spend the very best of your time in the right place. Really special mention to the manager who is able to organise a such wonderful team. 2- Location right in the heart of historical center in front of Basilica di San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapel – all other main attractions are within 5-20 min walking distance. 3 – Cleanness – beyond expectations-They beat some 4 stars hotels I’ve stayed at – Facilities management is at high end with rooms cleaned & bed made daily & sheets changed every 3 days. 4 - Rooms – Talk about comfort, If lucky enough like me you’ll have R2 – Huge ensuite 4 -bed female room with the highest ceiling and over 300-year-old fresco, big lockers and quiet air condition. A guarantee to big dreams!!5-Kitchen -cleanest with Quick cooking space & 24 hour free Italian coffee, life saver for busy travellers. I could go on and on with praise ...

Really struggling to think of anything I didn't like, even when trying to be picky. For most people climbing the stairs would the most challenging aspect especially if you have big heavy suitcases. For me the stairs with no lift became a path to heaven, don’t be impressed if you have no mobility issues.

I stayed in the 4-bed female dormitory and absolutely loved it. The room is super spacious with high ceilings, and unlike other hostels, the beds are independent—no bunk beds—so you don’t have anyone above or below you. The beds are also nicely spaced out, which gives you more privacy and comfort. The location is excellent—close to everything you need. However, it can be quite hard to find since there’s no big sign and it’s located on the second floor with a fair number of stairs. I recommend asking the hostel for a photo of the entrance ahead of time, especially if you’re arriving late at night. That said, the staff was incredibly kind. One of them even helped me carry my huge luggage up the stairs, which I really appreciated. All in all, a cozy, quiet place I’d definitely recommend!

One of the best hostels I've stayed in all my life. Walking distance from the train station. A two-minute walk from the central market (where you can have a decent, quick lunch). Just around the corner from the Basilica di San Lorenzo, and a 5-minute walk to the Duomo. The bedroom is large, with a powerful AC (during the summer, it was a lifesaver), comfortable beds (actual beds, not bunker ones), and decently spaced apart from each other. They clean the room every day and even make your bed. In the common area, a shared kitchenette is available where you can enjoy complimentary espresso. But the highlight of Emerald Palace is its staff. From the manager to the cleaning lady, everyone goes the extra mile to make your stay pleasant and memorable, with a special mention to the sweetheart Enis, who will wholehearted grab a map and explain step by step your daily itinerary, from where you can get the best Gelato of your life, to at what time you must be at the Piazzale Michelangelo to grant the best spot to watch the breathtaking and frame-worthy sunset. I will definitely stay there again when I visit Florence.

The shower cabin could have a basket to hang shampoo, soap, etc, while we shower.

The location is perfect! You just need to get down stairs, you are in the city! Only 10min walk to the main station. The balcony is awesome. For me, the staff is the key to saying I like a hostel, here was great and love their warm welcoming.

Umm, I think security is the one thing concerning me there. The main rooms, it is heavily rely on everyone who shares the rooms, I mean, if a person forgot to lock the door, it'd be costly and painful as someone can enter easily. [To make it clear, in every blocks there are some rooms(4 beds, 6 beds, and so on). The blocks are using a pin code to enter, which is secure, but the rooms have keys, which rely on others]. One more thing, bring your own locks so you can use the cupboard.

The location is good. I like the view from the room. And the room is really big. You have a common room where you can cook and eat your meals or drink free coffee/tea. The people are really nice and helped make my stay enjoyable. The location is quite nice. It's very near the Mercato Centrale, Sta Maria Novella train station and the Duomo.

It's not what I don't like but just a fair warning to people, city tax needs to be paid in cash, so make sure to bring some. And the wifi doesn't in the rooms are bad. It was difficult to get wifi signal sometimes. Guess it means no doom scrolling late into the night.

Staff were so friendly and helpful. They had a spare bed in a female dorm and offered to switch me from a mixed to a female dorm which was so nice! They have single beds which are much nicer than bunk beds too! Lots of room in the shared room, and good amount of storage space for each persons private locker in the room. Good set up with one power socket each and shared bathroom. Rooms and bathroom cleaned daily so bathroom is clean and hygienic to wash in (it can’t always be said for shared bathrooms!!) Great location right outside the leather market and other attractions

Nothing

It's a hostel that feels more like a boutique hotel: spotlessly clean, stylish, and thoughtfully designed. The rooms have powerful AC, comfy beds with crisp linens, and everything feels brand‑new and perfectly equipped, from hairdryers to lockers and beautiful shared spaces. It also gives the vibe of Florence's culture and history. The location? Absolutely unbeatable, close to everything, with a breathtaking view that makes mornings feel magical. And the best part? It’s surprisingly affordable, so you get that luxury vibe without the luxury price. A real dream stay for women who want safety, beauty, and comfort, without sacrificing budget.

This was our only dorm experience throughout our 18 days in Italy to experience different accomodation types. Loving the privacy & safety of our all female dorm. Centrality of the location (next to market) & the shared facilities were GREAT! 👍 Enis provided amazing customer service upon check in, with recommendations of where to go for food, attractions & transport (how to) 😃 Made my stay most enjoyable! 😍

There was another colleague who was less service oriented. Louder, more brash, who condescendingly told me our food was cleared from the fridge because it was past the checkout time 😅 Would've been different if he spoke nicely or offered a compensation for our thrown out food. We'd checked out & left drinks & food for lunch before catching our train to Siena.

Staying at this hostel has truly been one of the best experiences I've had when it comes to hospitality. The level of service here goes above and beyond, every single member of the team puts so much care into making guests feel at home. A special shoutout to Matteo, who was incredibly sweet, helpful, and genuinely accommodating. You can really tell they love what they do. The place itself is clean, thoughtfully maintained, and has a great energy. The shared spaces are ideal for remote work, quiet, comfortable, and with good vibes all around. Definitely coming back.