Best things to do in Varenna
Varenna is a romantic, charming, and the most picturesque town on Lake Como. It has a pretty walkway throughout town, a lovely harbor flanked by kayaks and restaurants, and enchanting medieval lanes.
Despite being a small town, you can easily spend a few days here. There are plenty of things to do, and Varenna is a perfect destination for a day trip from Milan. You can choose from many tours, including Lake Como and private boat tours.
If you are wondering where to visit, Bellagio or Varenna, I’d say both! But if you only have one day to explore Lake Como, plan a trip to Varenna. Varenna is a quitter, more intimate, and more romantic. The best time to go is from spring to early fall.
Here is a quick guide to the best things to do in Varenna!
Getting from Milan to Varenna
The easiest way to reach Varenna is by train from Milan. Take a train from Milan’s Central Station to Varenna.
Varenna’s train station is relatively small and so tiny that the train is longer than the platform. The train makes a short stop before exiting Northern Italy to Switzerland, so if you have bags, you’ll want to stay alert for the exit.
Varenna’s small station doesn’t have ticket booths. A local travel agency is attached to the train station, where you can buy tickets at the last minute. I recommend purchasing tickets online; it’s super easy, and you can do it minutes before boarding the train.
Travel tip: I purchased all my train tickets in Italy through the Trainline app. You can easily find the fastest and cheapest train fares. The app will also notify you of any schedule changes or cancellations in case of rail strikes which often happen in Italy.
Data Plan: Use Airalo to stay connected at all times. The e-sim providers have very reasonable prices and work very well.
Varenna’s town center is about a 10-minute walk from the train station, while the ferry docks at the pretty harbor.
Hotels in Varenna
Varenna is a very romantic town on Lake Como. If you plan on spending more than one day here, these are some of the most popular hotels:
This elegant villa is popular for couples, weddings, and those who enjoy a view. The lakeside mansion is located in its private garden that terraces the town’s cliffs.
Villa Cipressi is also well known for its food!
This yellow hotel built in the 19th century is located across Varenna’s ferry terminal. The name “Olivedo” comes from olive groves high up in the town’s hills. The hotel is affordable, at a quieter location, 5-10 minutes walk from the main harbor.
Restaurants in Varenna
Even though it is a small touristy town, there are many excellent restaurants in Varenna. You can enjoy a good meal along with stunning views of Lake Como. Here are a few great places to check out on your next trip to Varenna, Lake Como.
Breakfast: Go to Cafe III Binario to start your day with brioche and coffee. Located by the train station, the cafe has excellent freshly baked croissants.
Lunch: Have pasta for lunch at Varenna Cafe overlooking the lake. Perfect place for people watching and stunning views of Lake Como.
Gelato is a must in Italy. I prefer to have mine after lunch 🙂 Go to La Passarella located at the waterfront.
Aperitivo: Pick any place on the waterfront to enjoy fantastic sunset views. After a long day of exploring, treat yourself with an Aperol Spritz with crisps, peanuts, raw vegetable sticks, tomato bruschetta, and olives.
Dinner: Il Cavatappi or Al Prato Restaurant
Il Cavatappi is on a narrow lane halfway down the hillside in the center of the village. There are only a few tables, so book in advance. The food is fantastic, and it’s vegetarian-friendly.
Another great option is Al Prato famous for Italian cuisine. You may order tasty pumpkin ravioli, sea bass, and a rack of lamb. If hungry, come here for good che, gelato, and crème brûlée.
Best things to do in Varenna
Varenna, Italy, is one of the most picturesque towns on Lake Como. This little fishing village, situated 38 miles north of Milan and 21 miles from the Swiss border, offers a charming network of cobbled lanes, art-filled churches, and spectacular villas.
If you are looking to escape the crowds of tourists in the lake’s largest city, Como, or its more famous neighbor, Bellagio, this is the perfect place.
Have an aperitivo by the waterfront
Varenna was once a fishing community, so the local specialty is naturally pescatarian dishes! Try missoltino, a salted, dried sardine. There is also a couple of locally owned farms that produce prosciutto and parmesan.
You can even book a tour, explore these family-owned businesses, and learn how they make award-winning cheeses and hams. After, you can have a beautiful lunch.
Explore the town
Varenna has one main square, called Piazza San Giorgio. There are a couple of old hotels, including the Royal Victoria, named after Queen Victoria, who once visited the town in 1839, and the local church, Chesa di San Giorgio, a quaint stone structure.
From the main square, you can head right to explore the gardens, climb up to see the castle, or walk back down for a swim in the lake.
Hike to Vezio Castle
If you like hiking, climb the steep trail up the castle ruins that crown Varenna’s hill. Cars are not allowed, and you can explore the ruined courtyard at your own pace. It is quite a rocky climb up, but the fantastic panoramic views of the entire Lake Como make it worth it.
The current tower of Vezio was constructed in the 11th and 12th centuries. It’s open to visitors from March to the beginning of November.
Stroll through Villa Monastero
You can explore two majestic villas in Varenna. There are the private gardens of Villa Cippresi and publicly open Villa Monastero.
Villa Monastero has a beautiful mansion filled with 18th-century antiques that once belonged to the De Marchi family. The villa lines the lake shore and costs just 4 Eur to enter.
Another option is Hotel Villa Cippresi’s botanical gardens overlooking the water. Its gardens are open to the public for a fee, even if you are not a hotel guest.
If you want to see the most impressive villa in Lаке Como, you’ll need to plan a visit to Villa Balbianello. Once home to Italian aristocrats, this incredibly opulent villa has been used as a set for countless movies, including Star Wars and James Bond.
Swim in Lake Como
The beach area north of the front dock is perfect if you want to go for a swim. It’s a safe swimming area with showers, bathrooms, and restaurants. You can also rent umbrellas and chairs to sunbathe.
Afterward, watch the sunset and have a gourmet dinner on a cruise around the lake. This tour takes you on a three-hour lazy circle of Lake Como, which includes a 4-course meal and wine.
Visit the church San Giorgio
The Church of San Giorgio in Varenna is considered a masterpiece of Lombardy architecture.
Located in the town’s main square, the Romanesque- and Gothic-style church is somewhat cold; however, it still has beautiful and ancient frescoes and other works of art dating from the 15th to 18th centuries.
The bell tower and the baroque altar of red and black marble were a later addition.
Have a picnic at the Head of the Fiumilatte
Fiumelatte (The White-Milk Water Stream) is the shortest river in Italy at just 250 meters (820 feet) and only flows six months out of the year. The water seems like frothy Italian milk or latte, hence the name Fiumellate. The river’s origins are still a mystery today.
Fun fact: Many prominent people were interested in Fiumellate. Leonardo da Vinci studied its strange and intermittent flow in paper 214 of The Atlantic Code.
How to get there: From Piazza San Giorgio in Varenna, you turn right, and after about 200m, you get to a tarred road, which leads to a little square near the cemetery. On the left side of the square, there is a steep stairway that leads to a path, and the trail follows a picturesque route halfway up the mountain slope parallel to the lake. After about 1 km, you will arrive at the Source of Fiumelatte.
For those wishing to stop near the source, a small, well-equipped picnic area is located right on the river’s edge.
Hike the Path of the Wayfarer
Hold hands on the Lover's Walk
Walk the Lovers’ Walk starting from Varenna’s pier.
The scenic Lovers Walk runs along the promenade above the lake’s edge leading to the heart of the historic center, where you’ll find many restaurants, cozy bars, and artisan shops. Along the way, you will be able to admire the Castle of Vezio.
It’s a charming and romantic experience for any couple, like walking in a fairy tale of an Italian lakeside town.
Learn about birds at Luigi Scanagatta Ornithological Museum
The “Luigi Scanagatta” museum, established in 1962, is of cultural and historical importance because of the number of bird specimens gathered throughout the years and its history.
This civic museum contains over 1,500 species, including some ancient ones, which is a rare collection of non-migratory and sedentary species of birds found in the Lake Como area.
The name honors Luigi Scanagatta, a teacher and scholar of the study of birds, mollusks, and plants.
Thanks to its rich collection, the museum helps to understand the importance of Varenna and its surroundings.
Attend the Lake Festival of Varenna
The traditional Lake Festival in Varenna takes place on the first Saturday of July. It is celebrated with a fireworks display and a reenactment of the famous battle of Comacina Island.
The story goes back to 1169, when the warriors of Como set fire to the nearby island, forcing its inhabitants to flee to Varenna. Varenna’s people empathetically welcomed the refugees, becoming one of the lake’s wealthiest communities.
Expect a great feast! Olivedo Gardens prepares all the dishes served at the festival. And all the events are free!
Are you planning to explore Northern Italy? You might want to read:
Day trip from Milan to Lake Como
Best things to do in Bellagio, Italy
