Located on the Eastern shore of Lake Como, Varenna is one of the best places to visit when going to one of Italy’s most famous lakes. Here are the best things to do in Varenna to make the most of your time there.
Lake Como is one of the most popular and beautiful places to visit in Italy. When you’re visiting the lake from Milan, Varenna is one of the easiest places to get to. This picturesque town has a railway station and it only takes an hour to get here from Milano Centrale. Perfect for a day trip (or longer!).
Old fisherman houses, colourful buildings, cobblestoned streets and some of the best views of Lake Como, which you can enjoy accompanied with a glass of wine. Varenna is the place to be.
From Varenna, it’s very easy to visit nearby towns located on Lake Como’s shores, but it has a lot to offer in itself. If you’re planning to visit it during your time in Italy, read along. Here are the best things to do in Varenna, Italy.
In this travel guide:
Wondering what to do in Varenna? Here are some of the best things to check out:
Lake Como has its fair share of impressive villas, and Villa Monastero in Varenna is one of them. It comes as no surprise that this is probably one of the most photographed places in Varenna – it’s stunning.
Inside, you can find a museum, while there is a stunning botanical garden to enjoy around the house itself. You can visit the villa and its gardens between March and November.
Not far from Villa Monastero, you can find Villa Cipressi. Nowadays, it houses a 4* hotel (check availability here). Outside Villa Cipressi, you can find a terraced garden which is a very popular location for weddings. Imagine getting married with that view in the background. Incredible!
Even though Varenna is only a small village, it has some lovely squares and streets. One of them is Piazza San Giorgio, on which you can find the Church of San Giorgio.
Dating back to 1313, the church has many paintings inside and is quite lovely to visit. From Piazza San Giorgio, you can also start a little walk through the town centre…
Even if you only have a short time visiting Lake Como, one of the best things to do in Varenna is to take some time to simply wander around. The streets and little alleyways are stunning and make for perfect photo opportunities. Especially with the view of the turquoise lake in the background, you really can’t go wrong here.
When arriving in Varenna by train, you won’t have to walk too far to get to Lake Como. Before getting to the town centre, however, you walk past the ferry docks (where you can hop on the boat to visit nearby towns like Bellagio). From there, continue walking to get to Passeggiata Degli Innamorati.
This beautiful lake promenade takes you to the town centre and the Riva Grande. It offers some beautiful views of both Varenna, Lake Como and the mountains in the background. It’s quite the romantic spot, no wonder it’s nicknamed Lover’s Walk.
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Varenna also has its very own medieval castle. While it does require you to walk up the hill, visiting Castello di Vezio gives you some of the most beautiful views of Varenna.
Similar to Villa Monastero, the castle welcomes visitors between March and November.
One of the best things to do in Varenna is to enjoy the views of Lake Como. And what better way to enjoy a view than with a delicious meal and a glass of wine? There are some great restaurants in Varenna, many of which make great use of their location near the lake.
From Varenna, there are lots of options to see more of Lake Como. Especially with so many sights to see near the lake (including the famous villas!), taking a boat tour is the perfect way to see it all.
Lake Como’s so-called “Golden Triangle” (the towns of Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio) can all be reached by ferry. The ferry ride from Varenna to Bellagio takes 15 minutes and costs around €5 for a single ticket. It’s the same price for getting from any of the three towns to one another.
Since it’s quite cheap to take the ferry and it doesn’t take very long, taking a trip to Bellagio and/or Menaggio gives you even more of the lake’s best towns to explore.
Bellagio is especially popular with tourists. It’s filled with little boutiques, great restaurants and charming alleyways. It has some beautiful views of Lake Como too. For some more inspiration, check out our guide to the best things to do in Bellagio.
If you’re staying in Varenna for a few days, you can consider taking a day trip to Milan. From Varenna, it only takes an hour to get to Milan Central Station, and there’s more than enough to see and do to fill a day.
Milan is Italy’s capital of fashion and business, and the city is filled with the most fashionable stores. This includes high-end brands like Gucci, Prada and Dior. But apart from (window) shopping, there are a lot of other things to do in Milan, including:
You can tickets at the station, but it’s worth checking Trainline before you buy your ticket. Sometimes, you can get tickets cheaper on this app and you don’t have to hassle with ticket machines in foreign languages.
Varenna is one of the easiest towns near Lake Como to get to using public transport. From Milan Centrale, you can take a train that goes straight to Varenna-Esino station, which is only a few minutes from the town centre on foot.
If you’re flying into Milan (either Malpensa Airport or Bergamo Airport), you will have to make your way to Milan Centrale first. From there, you can take the train to Varenna.
It’s possible to buy tickets at the station, but I prefer booking train tickets via Trainline. It saves you hassle at the ticket machine and you usually get even better prices, too.
Alternatively, if you’re planning to take a day trip to Lake Como from Milan (and visit Varenna whilst at the lake), you can also book a fully guided day trip. This day trip includes:
Yes, Varenna is definitely worth visiting! This picturesque town is one of the most beautiful on Lake Como, and since it’s very easy to reach from Milan, you should consider adding it to your itinerary.
On top of that, visiting Varenna also allows you to take a trip to nearby towns like Bellagio and Menaggio. The ferry costs just under five Euros each way, and you get to enjoy some beautiful views of the lake without having to pay for expensive private boat tours.
Both Varenna and Bellagio are popular towns near Lake Como to visit, but which one is better? Since it’s very easy to get from Varenna to Bellagio (and vice versa) using the ferry, you can visit both towns when staying near Lake Como, no matter where your hotel is located.
When it comes to booking a hotel in Varenna or Bellagio, it all depends on your preferences. Both are quite touristy towns, but Varenna is a bit quieter and is on the train route. Bellagio, on the other hand, is a bit more lively and has more things to do.
But you can’t go wrong with either one of them, as you can simply take the 15-minute ferry ride to visit both towns.
Find hotels in Varenna
Find hotels in Bellagio
Varenna is by far one of the best places to visit when going to Lake Como. With quite a few things to offer inside the town, but also many options for nearby day trips, it should be on your list of places to add to your wish list.
If you’re looking for more Italy inspiration, why not check out my 4-day Rome itinerary?
Lake Como is one of the most popular and beautiful places to visit in Italy. When you’re visiting the lake from Milan, Varenna is one of the easiest places to get to. This picturesque town has a railway station and it only takes an hour to get here from Milano Centrale. Perfect for a day trip (or longer!).
Old fisherman houses, colourful buildings, cobblestoned streets and some of the best views of Lake Como, which you can enjoy accompanied with a glass of wine. Varenna is the place to be.
From Varenna, it’s very easy to visit nearby towns located on Lake Como’s shores, but it has a lot to offer in itself. If you’re planning to visit it during your time in Italy, read along. Here are the best things to do in Varenna, Italy.
In this travel guide:
- Best Things to do in Varenna
- 1. Explore Villa Monastero and the Botanical Gardens
- 2. Visit Villa Cipressi
- 3. Visit the Church of San Giorgio
- 4. Wander Through Varenna's Town Centre
- 5. Walk the Passeggiata Degli Innamorati (Lover’s Walk)
- 6. Visit Castello di Vezio
- 7. Have Dinner With a View Near Riva Grande
- 8. Go on a Boat Tour on Lake Como
- 9. Take a Trip to Bellagio or Menaggio
- 10. Take a Day Trip to Milan
- How to Get to Varenna From Milan
- Is Varenna Worth Visiting?
- Is it Better to Stay in Varenna or Bellagio?
- Visiting Varenna, Italy – Conclusion
Best Things to do in Varenna
Wondering what to do in Varenna? Here are some of the best things to check out:
1. Explore Villa Monastero and the Botanical Gardens
Lake Como has its fair share of impressive villas, and Villa Monastero in Varenna is one of them. It comes as no surprise that this is probably one of the most photographed places in Varenna – it’s stunning.
Inside, you can find a museum, while there is a stunning botanical garden to enjoy around the house itself. You can visit the villa and its gardens between March and November.
2. Visit Villa Cipressi
Not far from Villa Monastero, you can find Villa Cipressi. Nowadays, it houses a 4* hotel (check availability here). Outside Villa Cipressi, you can find a terraced garden which is a very popular location for weddings. Imagine getting married with that view in the background. Incredible!
3. Visit the Church of San Giorgio
Even though Varenna is only a small village, it has some lovely squares and streets. One of them is Piazza San Giorgio, on which you can find the Church of San Giorgio.
Dating back to 1313, the church has many paintings inside and is quite lovely to visit. From Piazza San Giorgio, you can also start a little walk through the town centre…
4. Wander Through Varenna’s Town Centre
Even if you only have a short time visiting Lake Como, one of the best things to do in Varenna is to take some time to simply wander around. The streets and little alleyways are stunning and make for perfect photo opportunities. Especially with the view of the turquoise lake in the background, you really can’t go wrong here.
5. Walk the Passeggiata Degli Innamorati (Lover’s Walk)
When arriving in Varenna by train, you won’t have to walk too far to get to Lake Como. Before getting to the town centre, however, you walk past the ferry docks (where you can hop on the boat to visit nearby towns like Bellagio). From there, continue walking to get to Passeggiata Degli Innamorati.
This beautiful lake promenade takes you to the town centre and the Riva Grande. It offers some beautiful views of both Varenna, Lake Como and the mountains in the background. It’s quite the romantic spot, no wonder it’s nicknamed Lover’s Walk.
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6. Visit Castello di Vezio
Varenna also has its very own medieval castle. While it does require you to walk up the hill, visiting Castello di Vezio gives you some of the most beautiful views of Varenna.
Similar to Villa Monastero, the castle welcomes visitors between March and November.
7. Have Dinner With a View Near Riva Grande
One of the best things to do in Varenna is to enjoy the views of Lake Como. And what better way to enjoy a view than with a delicious meal and a glass of wine? There are some great restaurants in Varenna, many of which make great use of their location near the lake.
8. Go on a Boat Tour on Lake Como
From Varenna, there are lots of options to see more of Lake Como. Especially with so many sights to see near the lake (including the famous villas!), taking a boat tour is the perfect way to see it all.
9. Take a Trip to Bellagio or Menaggio
Lake Como’s so-called “Golden Triangle” (the towns of Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio) can all be reached by ferry. The ferry ride from Varenna to Bellagio takes 15 minutes and costs around €5 for a single ticket. It’s the same price for getting from any of the three towns to one another.
Since it’s quite cheap to take the ferry and it doesn’t take very long, taking a trip to Bellagio and/or Menaggio gives you even more of the lake’s best towns to explore.
Bellagio is especially popular with tourists. It’s filled with little boutiques, great restaurants and charming alleyways. It has some beautiful views of Lake Como too. For some more inspiration, check out our guide to the best things to do in Bellagio.
10. Take a Day Trip to Milan
If you’re staying in Varenna for a few days, you can consider taking a day trip to Milan. From Varenna, it only takes an hour to get to Milan Central Station, and there’s more than enough to see and do to fill a day.
Milan is Italy’s capital of fashion and business, and the city is filled with the most fashionable stores. This includes high-end brands like Gucci, Prada and Dior. But apart from (window) shopping, there are a lot of other things to do in Milan, including:
- Visit the Duomo, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. You can even climb it for a beautiful view of the city.
- See Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper”
- Wander through the artsy Brera District
- Visit Castello Sforzesco
- And much more…
You can tickets at the station, but it’s worth checking Trainline before you buy your ticket. Sometimes, you can get tickets cheaper on this app and you don’t have to hassle with ticket machines in foreign languages.
How to Get to Varenna From Milan
Varenna is one of the easiest towns near Lake Como to get to using public transport. From Milan Centrale, you can take a train that goes straight to Varenna-Esino station, which is only a few minutes from the town centre on foot.
If you’re flying into Milan (either Malpensa Airport or Bergamo Airport), you will have to make your way to Milan Centrale first. From there, you can take the train to Varenna.
It’s possible to buy tickets at the station, but I prefer booking train tickets via Trainline. It saves you hassle at the ticket machine and you usually get even better prices, too.
Alternatively, if you’re planning to take a day trip to Lake Como from Milan (and visit Varenna whilst at the lake), you can also book a fully guided day trip. This day trip includes:
- Pick up from Duomo Square or Milano Centrale in the city
- Visit Como (with a guided tour)
- Visit Villa Olma (with a guided tour)
- Bellagio (with free time to explore)
- Varenna (with free time to explore)
- Private lake cruise on Lake Como.
Is Varenna Worth Visiting?
Yes, Varenna is definitely worth visiting! This picturesque town is one of the most beautiful on Lake Como, and since it’s very easy to reach from Milan, you should consider adding it to your itinerary.
On top of that, visiting Varenna also allows you to take a trip to nearby towns like Bellagio and Menaggio. The ferry costs just under five Euros each way, and you get to enjoy some beautiful views of the lake without having to pay for expensive private boat tours.
Is it Better to Stay in Varenna or Bellagio?
Both Varenna and Bellagio are popular towns near Lake Como to visit, but which one is better? Since it’s very easy to get from Varenna to Bellagio (and vice versa) using the ferry, you can visit both towns when staying near Lake Como, no matter where your hotel is located.
When it comes to booking a hotel in Varenna or Bellagio, it all depends on your preferences. Both are quite touristy towns, but Varenna is a bit quieter and is on the train route. Bellagio, on the other hand, is a bit more lively and has more things to do.
But you can’t go wrong with either one of them, as you can simply take the 15-minute ferry ride to visit both towns.
Find hotels in Varenna
Find hotels in Bellagio
Visiting Varenna, Italy – Conclusion
Varenna is by far one of the best places to visit when going to Lake Como. With quite a few things to offer inside the town, but also many options for nearby day trips, it should be on your list of places to add to your wish list.
If you’re looking for more Italy inspiration, why not check out my 4-day Rome itinerary?