Varenna

By train

Varenna is on the line that runs from Milan to Lecco, up the eastern side of the lake through Varenna and on to Colico, then to Morbegno, Sondrio and Tirano. Express trains leave from Milano Centrale station, stop at few stations, and reach Varenna in approx. 1 hr. Regional trains leave from Milan Porta Garibaldi, stop at all stations (including Fiumelatte, a southern subdivision of Varenna), and reach Varenna in 1½-2 hr. The trains are a convenient way to move along the eastern shore of Lake Como, but the service finishes quite early in the evening (the last train leaves Milan at 21:20).

• Stazione di Varenna-Esino-Perledo

  address: Via alla Stazione
  Regional services R13 line Calolziocorte–Lecco–Colico–Sondrio, RegioExpress train services on the RE8 route Milan–Lecco–Sondrio–Tirano. Ride from Milan costs €6.70 and takes 1–1¼ hr. Check Trenord website for timetables and fares.

By air

The nearest airport is Orio al Serio International Airport (sometimes referred to as Milan Bergamo) in Bergamo, which is served by several low-cost airlines. Driving distance is around 70 km (1 hr 10 min); by public transport the easiest way is to take a bus from the airport to Bergamo railway station where you can catch a train to Lecco and then change to a train to Varenna.
Milan Linate Airport and Milano Malpensa Airport are relatively close, although the latter is further away, being on the west side of Milan. Drive time from either of these is around 1 hr 40 min. Public transport is more comfortable than from Orio al Serio; from Milano Malpensa you can get to Milan central station with a bus or train and from there you can take the train to Varenna; from Milano Malpensa there is a public bus (the ATM shuttle takes you directly to Milan central station) and from there you have the train to Varenna.

By boat

Boat trips across Lake Como are an essential part of any holiday in this region. Varenna is directly served by the lake's ferry network which provides connections from several towns and villages on the lake shore.

• Ferry piersVehicle ferry services to Bellagio, Cadenabbia (near Tremezzo) and Menaggio. Passenger ferry connections to Lenno, Tremezzo and Como. Check Gestione Navigazione Laghi website for timetables and fares.

Varenna is a small, compact village best visited on foot. It's on a steep hill with lots of steps, but there is a fairly level and very attractive waterside path along most of the shoreline. The village has one frazione (subdistrict), Fiumelatte, which is south of the main village, past the Villa Monastero garden.
If you want a taxi, you can probably find one at the Varenna-Esino railway station.

• Vittorio Ongania Auto Pubblica Taxi

  phone: +39 0341 830106
  address: Piazza della Stazione a Perledo

• Ruggero Maglia Servizio Taxi

  phone: +39 0341 830580
  address: Via Statale 45 a Varenna

• Enrico Faggi Servizio Taxi

  phone: +39 0341 830269
  address: Via Per Esino 81 a Perledo

• Villa Monastero

  phone: +39 0341 295450
  address: Viale Giovanni Polvani, 4
  It was built as a convent, and in the 17th century, converted to a manor. Villa Varenna and a garden around it are now a museum. It is preserved as a house of the late 19th century and its 14 furnished rooms can be visited. It also hosts conferences (in particular it has hosted physics courses that have been attended by over 60 Nobel Prize winners) and is owned by the Province of Lecco. The garden is on a narrow strip of land that stretches along the lake shore until Fiumelatte. The climate is mild and the garden includes species from Africa and the Americas.

• Villa Cipressi gardens

  phone: +39 0341 830113
  address: Via IV Novembre 18
  The villa is now a hotel and restaurant, but non-guests may visit the gardens, which are charming, while not as grand as some others on the lake.

• Church of San Giorgio

• Church of San John the Baptist (San Giovanni Battista)

• Museo ornitologico e di scienze naturali Scanagatta (museum of ornithology and natural sciences Scanagatta)

  phone: +39 0341 830119
  address: Via IV Novembre 18

• Vezio Castle

  phone: +39 3488242504
  The castle is in the municipality of Varenna, while the little village of Vezio is in the municipality of Perledo. It has a permanent exhibition of the Lariosaurus. It is home to captive birds of prey (owls, hawks, buzzard, falcon) with flight exhibitions on some days.

• Cookery Lessons at Ristorante Il Caminetto

  phone: +39 0341 815225
  address: viale Progresso 4, Gittana di Perledo
  Chef Moreno gives relaxed and informative lessons in Italian cookery from his family restaurant in the neighbouring village of Gittana, up in the hills (they'll come and collect you from the main square in Varenna). Group sizes are small, and everyone gets to sit down for lunch afterwards to enjoy the fruits of their labour. After lunch, they'll take you back to Varenna or drop you off at Vezio Castle from where you can walk downhill back to Varenna.
• Hiking itinerary: Historic mule tracks between Varenna and Esino Lario

• Al Prato

  phone: +39 348 712 4389
  address: Piazza al Prato, 6
  A nice restaurant and a wine bar at a quiet tiny green square.

• Varenna Caffe

  phone: +39 0341 830459
  address: Contrada Scoscesa, 13
  Relaxed café serving breakfast, lunch and dinner or just drinks with lakeside views.

• Vecchia Varenna

  phone: +39 0341 830793
  address: Contrada Scoscesa, 14
  Small lakeside restaurant serving local dishes, with good lake views if you sit in their enclosed outdoor area. Great place to eat at sunset.

There are a few bars around, especially on the lakeside. L'Orso is last one to close (at 02:00).

Budget

• Appartamento Maria's House (Bed & Breakfast)

  phone: +39 0341 735008, +39 333 3462872 (Cellulare)
  address: Via Contrada dell'Arco 3
  1 rooms, 3 reds.

• Ca' Livia (Bed & Breakfast)

  phone: +39 02 76001980, +39 328 8390110
  address: via Venini 45
  5 rooms with 5 beds, 4 bathrooms (130 m² with 400 m² of terrace, balconies and garden).

Mid-range

• Agriturismo Castello di Vezio - Vezio s.r.l.

  phone: +39 335 260429 (Cellulare)
  address: via Del Castellano 16 - Vezio
  27 beds in 9 houses.

• Albergo Ristorante Bar Tabaccheria Beretta

  phone: +39 0341 830132
  address: via per Esino 1
  10 rooms, 20 reds. The hotel is 50 meters from the lido, the lake shores.

Splurge

• Albergo Moncodeno

  phone: +39 0341 830123
  address: Via della Croce 2
  11 rooms (7 double and 4 single), 18 beds.

• Albergo Del Sole

  phone: +39 0341 815218
  address: p.zza San Giorgio 21
  7 rooms, 15 beds.

• Albergo Dulac

  phone: +39 0341 830238
  address: via del Prestino 11
  17 rooms, 35 beds.

• Eremo Gaudio

  phone: +39 0341 815301
  address: Eremo di Perledo- Loc. Eremo Varenna
  11 rooms, 22 beds.

• Hotel Olivedo

  phone: +39 0341 830115
  address: Piazza Martiri della Libertà 14
  10 rooms, 20 beds. Stile Liberty (Art Nouveau) hotel on the waterfront.

• Albergo Milano

  phone: +39 0341 830298
  address: Via XX Settembre 35
  8 rooms, 16 beds; the rooms have a balcony with view of the lake.

• Albergo Milano Dipendenza - Casa rossa e casa gialla

  phone: +39 0341 830298
  address: via XX Settembre 35
  4 rooms, 8 beds. Dependence of the Hotel Milano.

• Albergo Ristorante Royal Victoria

  phone: +39 0341 815111
  address: p.za S. Giorgio 2
  43 rooms, 97 beds. In the city centre; rooms with a view of the lake and towards the city centre. Conference rooms, swimming pool and garden with access to the lake.

• Hotel Villa Cipressi

  phone: +39 0341 830113
  address: Via IV Novembre 18
  The villa was built between 1400 and 1800. It is now owned by the city council of Varenna and managed as a hotel and restaurant. It has 43 rooms, 97 beds, 2 conference rooms and access to its beautiful botanical garden.

• Bellagio – take a day trip by ferry across the lake to visit the gardens of Villa Melzi and Villa Serbelloni
• Menaggio – a town across the lake, on the western shore
• Esino Lario – a mountain village
• Perledo – a village very close to Varenna
• Tremezzo – take a day trip by ferry to the western side of the lake to visit Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello