Varenna is a village on Lake Como. It suits travelers who like to explore on foot: a lakefront promenade, two villas with gardens, a medieval castle on a promontory and streets that slope steeply down to the water.
Getting in takes a little planning. The last stretch is by train, bus or boat, and the center has a restricted traffic zone (ZTL) closed to ordinary cars by electronic gates.
At a glance
- By train: regional train RE8 from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino
- By boat: ferries to Bellagio, Cadenabbia and Menaggio
- Sights: Villa Monastero, Villa Cipressi and Vezio Castle
- Walks: the Lovers’ Promenade and the Sentiero del Viandante
- Spring weather: April high 62°F (17°C) at Bellagio, across the lake
Where is Varenna and what is it like?
Varenna sits on the shore of Lake Como in Lombardy.
The village is laid out on a grid of streets that slope steeply down toward the lake. Its lakefront, carved out between rock and water, is called the Lovers’ Promenade. Above the houses, Vezio Castle stands on a promontory.
The Church of San Giovanni Battista dates to the 11th century and is the mother church of Varenna. The Church of San Giorgio, in the main square, was consecrated in 1313.
What is there to do in Varenna?
Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi
Villa Monastero is owned by the Province of Lecco and is a late 19th-century mansion in an eclectic style. Its botanical garden stretches for two kilometers (1.2 miles) along the lakeshore, so a visit is mostly a slow walk beside the water.
Villa Cipressi is a complex of buildings and gardens built between 1400 and 1800. It is also the town’s seat for civil wedding rites and hosts dozens of weddings every year, so check before you go that your visit does not fall on a ceremony day.
Villa Cipressi holds a Christmas market. Admission is €10 for adults, €7 over 65 and €5 for children 15 to 25. It is free under 14 and for Varenna residents.
Vezio Castle and the Scanagatta Museum
Vezio Castle is an ancient medieval fortress overlooking Varenna, surrounded by a centuries-old olive grove. It stands on a promontory above the village.
Because the streets slope steeply, expect an uphill walk to reach it. Confirm opening hours locally before you climb.
The Scanagatta Ornithological Museum houses more than 800 bird and mammal specimens. It makes a good indoor stop on a wet day.
The Lovers’ Promenade and the trails
The Giorgio Monico footbridge, known as the lovers’ walk, runs from the landing stage to the Riva Grande. It is an easy stroll along the water and the natural first walk after you step off the ferry.
For longer walks, the mountain trails include the Sentiero del Viandante (Wayfarer’s Trail) and the Greenway dei Patriarchi. Wear shoes with grip, since the village itself is steep.
In summer, the Lido of Lake Como offers relaxation and comfort beside the lake.
Churches and the village table
Beyond San Giorgio and San Giovanni Battista, Varenna has the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, inaugurated on 8 September 1685 in Baroque style. The Church of S. Marta is an oratory next to the Town Hall, dating to 1604. The Church of the Beata Vergine Annunciata preserves a black Madonna statue from the 1600s.
For food, La Bottega di Cavalli Davide in Via Venini 6 sells fruit, vegetables, meats, cheese and local specialties. Macelleria Salumeria Lillia in Via IV novembre 2 is a butcher, delicatessen and rotisserie.
If you like gardens, history and lakeside walks, Varenna fits. If you want a lido day, go in summer. The steep streets and stairs suit it less to travelers who struggle with hills.
Where to stay in Varenna
Hotel Royal Victoria is right on the lakefront, in the heart of Varenna. Albergo Milano is also in the heart of the village, made up of a main building and 3 separate properties within a 50-meter (164-foot) radius.
B&B Della Contrada Del Prato offers rooms with private bathroom and balcony. Casa Du Lac is a hotel at Via Del Prestino 11. Casa Du Lac takes reservations by email and phone.
How do you get to Varenna and get around?
From Milano-Linate, the Linate Shuttle takes 25 minutes to Milan Central Station. An adult ticket costs €7 and children up to 12 pay €3. From Milano-Malpensa, the Malpensa Shuttle to Milan Central Station leaves every 30 minutes and takes 1 hour. It costs €10 one way or €16 round trip for adults. From Bergamo-Orio al Serio, the airport bus goes direct to Bergamo train station in 15 minutes, for €3 one way.
From Milano Centrale, take the regional train RE8 operated by Trenord toward Tirano. It stops at Monza, Lecco and Mandello del Lario before Varenna-Esino. From Tirano, a direct train runs to Lecco and Milan in 1.30 hours.
Bus line D21 serves Varenna on the Bellano, Varenna, Esino and Ortanella route.
Ferries run by Gestione Navigazione Laghi connect Varenna with Bellagio, Cadenabbia and Menaggio. Varenna is also a stop on the Como to Colico and Lecco to Bellagio routes, which makes a day on the water easy to build.
If you drive, know that the ZTL covers Piazza San Giorgio, Piazzetta Brenta, Contrada del Prato, Piazza San Giovanni, Via San Giovanni and Contrada della Filanda. Electronic gates read the plates of authorized vehicles from a white list. A rental car is a poor fit for the center, so train or ferry is the easier way in.
When should you go to Varenna?
Weather figures come from Bellagio, across the lake. March looks like a good early window, with a high of 56°F (14°C), 6 rainy days and 6 hours of sunshine a day. April warms to 62°F (17°C) but brings 10 rainy days.
May reaches a high of 69°F (21°C) and a low of 54°F (12°C), with 12 rainy days and 7 inches (178 mm) of rain. Pack a rain jacket for a spring trip, since the villa gardens and the promenade are outdoors.
Winter is cooler and greyer. January has a high of 45°F (7°C) and 4 hours of sunshine a day. That suits travelers who prefer quiet and indoor stops like the churches and the museum over lakeside walks.
What to know before visiting Varenna
According to the U.S. State Department, U.S. citizens can stay in Italy for 90 days without a tourist or business visa.
- Passports must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area. A 6-month validity is recommended, and passports must have 2 blank pages for the entry stamp.
- U.S. citizens must arrive at Italian ports of entry with a valid passport. If your passport has ever been reported as lost or stolen, or is expired, Italian authorities could deny you entry.
- You will need proof of sufficient funds and a return plane ticket.
- Italy sets a 10,000 euro currency limit on entry and on exit, or equivalent.
- There are no vaccination requirements.
Booking Varenna for November: what to know
For November, book rooms directly. For room availability at Milano Dipendenza Casa Rossa, contact the property by phone or email.
The Villa Cipressi Christmas market has its own admission price: €10 for adults. Ask the villa for its dates before you fix your stay.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/en/tourism-in-lombardy/tourism-lecco/infopoint-varenna), checked 2026-10-30
- travel.state.gov (https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/italy.html), checked 2026-10-30
- varennaturismo.com (https://varennaturismo.com/en/transport-how-to-get/), checked 2026-10-30
- ambwashingtondc.esteri.it (https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/en/chi-siamo/gli-uffici/), checked 2026-10-25
- varennaturismo.com (https://varennaturismo.com/category/luoghi/), checked 2026-10-30
- conssanfrancisco.esteri.it (https://conssanfrancisco.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-cittadino-straniero/visti/instructions-for-visas/), checked 2026-10-25
- ricerca.lombardiafacile.regione.lombardia.it (https://ricerca.lombardiafacile.regione.lombardia.it/en/b/6/ufficio-turistico-varenna), checked 2026-10-30