Varenna is the village people picture when they imagine Lake Como: pastel houses stacked on the water, a tiny harbor, a castle watching from the hill above. It is quieter and more relaxed than Bellagio, and far easier to reach — Varenna-Esino station has direct trains from Milan, and the town doubles as one of the lake's main ferry hubs. Between Villa Monastero's botanical gardens, the walk up to Castello di Vezio and the Passeggiata degli Innamorati, there is a full day here. This is what to do and book.
What to see and do in Varenna
- Villa Monastero — a former monastery turned house-museum with a long botanical garden stretching along the shore. The garden alone justifies the ticket; allow 60–90 minutes.
- Castello di Vezio — a medieval castle on the hill behind the village, about 20 minutes uphill on foot. Lake views, falconry displays in season, and the widest panorama on the eastern shore.
- Passeggiata degli Innamorati — the Lovers' Walk, a short metal walkway pinned to the rock between the ferry pier and the old harbor. Five minutes, free, and very photogenic.
- The old harbor and Riva Grande — the heart of the village, with cafés right on the water. Perfect for a slow aperitivo.
- San Giorgio church — a 14th-century church on the main square with original frescoes.
Getting there and getting around
Varenna is the easiest lake town to reach without a car: direct regional trains run from Milan Centrale to Varenna-Esino in about an hour, and the station is a ten-minute walk from the water. The ferry pier is one of the busiest on the lake — car and passenger ferries cross constantly to Bellagio and Menaggio, making Varenna a perfect base for the mid-lake triangle. A ferry day pass (roughly €15–30) pays for itself after two crossings. Full services run April to October.
What to book through us
From Varenna's pier, a private boat tour shows you the village and Villa Monastero from the water — the view the gardens were designed for — then crosses to Bellagio. If you prefer to drive yourself, a no-license rental boat covers the whole mid-lake. We confirm availability with vetted local captains on WhatsApp, and you pay the operator directly on the day — never in advance online.
Honest advice from a local
Varenna gets day-trippers, but nothing like Bellagio — by early evening the village is back to being a village. The walk to Castello di Vezio is steeper than it looks; wear real shoes, not flip-flops. If you are coming from Milan for a single day, Varenna is the smartest arrival point on the whole lake: train in, ferry across to Bellagio, boat tour, train home. It also makes a calmer base to sleep in than the famous towns across the water.