Varenna is a charming village where you’ll feel right at home.
Villa Monastero and its gardens
Suspended Corniche
Boat tour from Varenna on Lake Como
Vezio Castle
Right in the heart of town: Information and reservations for the Albergo Del Sole & Suites
🏊 Hotel Diffuso Il Portichetto with a pool, 10 minutes from downtown
This guide is completely independent, based on our own experience. We visited Lake Como by creating our own itinerary (after extensive research) and selecting our own activities.
You can download this guide free of charge as a PDF file for offline consultation at the end of this article.
Visit the old town
You’ll love strolling through the narrow streets , admiring the colorful houses and majestic lakeside villas. Take to the skies for panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains! Nature is everywhere at Lake Como, so make the most of it.
Boats : Find all the information you need about boat times and prices on the Navigazion Lago Como website. (about €15 for a day).
Villa Monastero and its gardens
This former monastery is still furnished, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by its incredible garden. We loved strolling among the fruit trees and palm trees, while enjoying the magnificent views of the lake! In short, a must!
This is one of the villas you should visit during your stay on Lake Como.
The villa also houses a museum, the Casa Museo, which spans four centuries of history. The 14 rooms of the Casa Museo are fully furnished with fine materials and luxurious decorations.
This is one of the villas to visit during your stay on Lake Como. The villa is open to the public, you can visit its 14 rooms which are incredibly furnished and you will be especially pleasantly surprised by its incredible garden, we loved walking among fruit trees, palm trees … while enjoying beautiful views of the lake! In short, a must!
Information and prices on the official Villa Monastero website.
Degli Innamorati di Varenna” hanging cornice
As soon as we got off the ferry, we set off along the magnificent suspended cornice that runs alongside the lake – a great way to get started. No sooner had we set foot in Varenna than we were already keen to take lots of photos. We then continued our walk along the lake, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
Vezio Castle
This castle is located 20 minutes’ walk from Varenna. Yes, it’s a bit of a climb, but you’ll be rewarded when you reach the top. You can visit the castle and especially enjoy the breathtaking 360° view from the top of the castle tower.
Boat cruise from Varenna
We recommend booking via Get Your Guidebecause cancellation conditions are flexible: you can change or cancel your booking free of charge up to 24 hours before the start of the cruise.
Where to stay in Varenna?
To fully enjoy the charming village of Varenna, we recommend staying in the center.
As you’ll see, there are few well-located accommodations in Varenna, so we recommend booking as far in advance as possible (during peak season, expect to pay about 200€ per night).
Good tip: Accommodation outside the historic center offers more affordable prices from €130 per night, and you can often reach the center in just a few minutes’ walk.
We suggest other addresses below, as it’s quite possible that the first is unfortunately fully booked on your dates.
Agriturismo Conca Sandra – one of the best value for money
A hilltop agriturismo surrounded by nature, with a true Lombardy countryside feel, just a 30-minute walk from Varenna.
🌄 Green setting, far from the hustle and bustle of the lake
🍽️ Restaurant on site with local produce
🛏️ Cosy rooms, renovated farmhouse feelChoose for absolute calm and lower prices, with parking.
👉 Info and booking forAgriturismo Conca Sandra from 130€.
Hotel Diffuso Il Portichetto – mid-range with pool
Located in the hills above Varenna, 15 minutes’ walk from the center of Varenna.
🏊 Beautiful swimming pool with lake view, a real plus in this area
🌄 Lake view
🚗 Parking on site
🍳 With breakfastExcellent value for money, with pool and parking included, with a slightly old-fashioned decor.
More generally, if you’re looking for an area of Lake Como to sleep in during your stay. To make your visit easier, we’ve included an article detailing the most interesting villages to stay in on Lake Como, along with our best hotel addresses.
You can get an idea of the prices with the map below:
Our good addresses restaurants
- Al Prato Restaurant: an excellent restaurant with a beautiful terrace, the delicious Italian dishes are cooked with fresh products and presented with care. The creamy risotto is incredible. If you still have a little room, try the desserts. In short, a must during your stay!
- Il Cavatappi Il Cavatappi: a small trattoria offering top-quality dishes made with fresh produce, as is often the case in Italy. Everything is good, and we recommend you try the orecchiette with pesto “della nonna”. Come early, as space is limited and there are only a few tables on the terrace.
Our map of Varenna
Here’s a little interactive map we’ve put together, to help you find your way around the various locations and addresses mentioned above.
You cansave itto your favorites or download it for offline use.
What to do?
- Open map on Google maps
- Click on the icon representing the three vertical dots at top left or on the map description.
- Select the “Add to my saved places” or “Save map” option, depending on your version of the application.
How to get to Varenna?
By car
If you’ve rented a car, you can easily reach Varenna after your visit to Milan, from Como or Lecco. The national road that runs alongside the lake is in very good condition and offers some great views!
By ferry
You can also take a ferry from Como or Menaggio to Varenna. You’ll enjoy magnificent panoramic views over the lake, and of course you’ll have no trouble parking!
Ferry: Find all the information you need about the schedules and prices of the boats on the website of the Navigazion Lago Como.
Excursion from Milan
From Milan, you can book your ticket for a day trip to Lake Como, by bus, with stops in the most beautiful towns, Como, Bellagio and Varenna, as well as a 1-hour boat cruise to enjoy beautiful panoramas in the middle of the lake.
How to visit Bellagio and Varenna on the same day?
You can actually visit both villages, Bellagio and Varenna, in the same day, the easiest way is to go by ferry (about 15€ for a day).
How to rent a boat on Lake Como
Exploring Lake Como by boat is a must-do activity during your stay, and we’ve devoted an article to detailing the different options for exploring the lake by boat.
Unique Experience: Try kitesurfing on Lake Como from Dervio (15 minutes north of Varenna): Information and reservations for a 1-hour kitesurfing lesson starting at €80, suitable for beginners
We hope you enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere of this village as much as we did. If so, we invite you to apply for 5 stars below.
We wish you an excellent trip! Don’t hesitate to drop us a line below to let us know if you’re planning this trip, ask any questions you may have or share on social networks, our Instagram, we’ll get back to you with great pleasure.
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