Getting here
Hotels Near Visarno Arena, the Stadium and Fortezza da Basso: Where to Stay for Concerts, Matches and Fairs in Florence
Quick answer: for a concert at Visarno Arena stay in the Oltrarno, on the opposite bank from the Cascine park: from Hotel Firenze 2000 the arena is about 20–25 minutes on foot through the park or one T1 tram stop, reception is open 24 hours for the late return and the garage is outside the ZTL. For the Franchi stadium and Fortezza da Basso it comes down to tram and taxi: times and routes below.
Florence is not only museums. Firenze Rocks and the big summer concerts at Visarno Arena, Fiorentina matches at the Franchi, Pitti Uomo and the fairs at Fortezza da Basso, the shows at the Teatro del Maggio fill the city on specific dates, and on those dates central hotels sell out and prices climb. This guide explains where it makes sense to stay for each venue, how to get there from the hotel and how to get back late without worry.
The venues and how to reach them from the hotel
| Venue | What it hosts | From Hotel Firenze 2000 |
|---|---|---|
| Visarno Arena (Visarno racecourse, Cascine) | Firenze Rocks, big summer concerts | on foot through the Cascine, about 20–25 min; T1 tram from Paolo Uccello to Cascine |
| Cascine park | open-air events, Tuesday market, running | a few minutes on foot across the bridge |
| Artemio Franchi stadium (Campo di Marte) | Fiorentina matches, concerts | taxi about 20 min; public transport around half an hour |
| Fortezza da Basso | Pitti Uomo, Pitti Bimbo, fairs and congresses | T1 tram to the station area, about 10 min, then a few minutes on foot |
| Nelson Mandela Forum (Campo di Marte) | indoor concerts, sports events | as for the stadium |
| Teatro del Maggio Musicale | opera, concerts, Maggio Fiorentino | near the Porta al Prato–Leopolda stop, two T1 stops |
| Stazione Leopolda | events, exhibitions, fashion shows | as for the Teatro del Maggio |
Times are indicative and change with event-day traffic: leave early and check Autolinee Toscane for evening timetables and any extra services.
Concerts at Visarno Arena and Firenze Rocks
Visarno Arena sits inside the Cascine park, the big park along the Arno. The hotel is on the opposite bank: cross the bridge, enter the park and walk on, or take the T1 tram at Paolo Uccello and get off at the Cascine stop. Sleeping on this side of the river pays twice: in the evening you walk home while everyone in the centre hunts for a taxi, and the next morning you wake up in a quiet neighbourhood.
Three practical tips:
- Book as soon as the dates are out. For Firenze Rocks the rooms near the Cascine go months ahead.
- Late return: reception open 24 hours, no curfew. Check in before the concert, by midnight.
- As a group: the 34 m² Quintuple Room or the 30 m² Quadruple with separate single beds on request. The hostel comparison is in our hostel or hotel guide.
Matches and concerts at the Franchi stadium
The Artemio Franchi stadium is in Campo di Marte, on the opposite side of the city from the Oltrarno. On match days the streets around the stadium close to traffic and the nearby hotels are full and expensive: staying in the Oltrarno and going by taxi or public transport is often the simplest choice. Allow about twenty minutes by taxi and around half an hour by public transport, more on the way back when everyone leaves at once. If you come by car, leave it in the hotel garage: you would not find a space near the stadium.
Fairs at Fortezza da Basso: Pitti Uomo and the rest
Fortezza da Basso is a short walk from Santa Maria Novella station. From the hotel: T1 tram from Paolo Uccello towards the centre, about ten minutes to the station area, then a few minutes on foot. Business visitors value three things: free Wi-Fi and a desk in the room, early breakfast and luggage storage on the last day. During Pitti weeks the city is full: book well ahead, and remember that ten minutes by tram prices are lower than around the Fortezza. The reasoning is the same as in our guide to hotels near the train station.
Teatro del Maggio and Stazione Leopolda
Two tram stops away, in the Porta al Prato area. For opera and the Maggio Musicale concerts, the things to do near the hotel guide covers the area and how to get there.
Car, late return and times: the rules of the evening
- Car: we are outside the ZTL, partner garage €30/24h with valet pick-up and return. On event days the roads around the Cascine and the stadium jam: leave the car and move on foot or by tram. Details in the guide for arriving by car.
- Check-in from 14:00 to midnight. Arriving later, tell us: €20 supplement to be agreed. Check in before the event and come back whenever you like.
- Trams at night: check the last departure and any extra services on big concert nights; otherwise a taxi, or the walk back from the Cascine.
- Next morning: buffet breakfast at the breakfast-room hours; free late check-out subject to availability when booking on the website.
- One night for the event: the whole flow, evening arrival included, is in our guide to one night in Florence.
In short
- Visarno Arena and Cascine: on foot through the park or one T1 stop; walk home in the evening.
- Franchi stadium and Mandela Forum: taxi about 20 minutes, public transport around half an hour.
- Fortezza da Basso: T1 to the station, then on foot.
- 24-hour reception, garage outside the ZTL, rooms for up to 5 for groups.
- Book on the official website as soon as you have the date: best rate guaranteed, free late check-out subject to availability.
Already got your ticket? Write to us with the event date and number of people: we will reply with the room, the route and the return times. Room types and sizes are in the room guide.
