The Top 9 Things to do in Varenna, Lake Como
Varenna is a picturesque fishing village, located on the eastern shore of Lake Como, Italy. If you’re considering heading to Lake Como soon, then Varenna absolutely needs to be on your list!
Lake Como tends to be classed as a luxury destination, a popular destination for many celebrities – but that doesn’t mean it has to be expensive to explore the area!
Varenna is a must-do, whether you’re planning to stay in Lake Como or are considering doing a day trip from the nearby city of Milan, which is only an hours train ride away.
Although the nearby town Bellagio is often called “Pearl of Lake Como” and labelled as the best down on the Lake – in terms of the amount and variety of things to do, Varenna was definitely my favourite!
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From scenic viewing points to beautiful villa’s, churches and hiking trials – here are my top nine things to do in Varenna:
Visit the Varenna Viewpoint
Just a short walk from the train station, the Varenna Viewpoint is one of the first viewing points you’ll see when visiting Varenna by train. A beautiful view of the lakes and mountains makes this the perfect spot for a picture, or just to take in the views of the lake!
Walk Lovers’ Promenade
Lovers’ Promenade (also known as Lovers’ Walk) is a romantic love themed walkway with red metal archways, fences and a red heart statute along the lake. With plenty of great views, this is a great spot to walk along with a loved one, and a common proposal spot!
The Wharf of Varenna and Varenna’s town centre are either side of the walkway, which makes this a busy pedestrian area – so come early in the morning if you want to avoid the crowds!
Spend time at the Wharf of Varenna
Situated just past Lovers’ Promenade, the Wharf of Varenna is a great pit stop if you want to soak up the sunshine. This includes the areas surrounding Rivia Garibaldi, Riva Grande, and Vecchio Porto (the old Harbour).
Rent a kayak, find a waterside restaurant or café, snap some scenic pictures, or grab a gelato and sit on the stone wall against the mini pebble beach and watch the ducks swim by.
It’s a small but lively area with a lot going on and a great atmosphere – particularly when the sun is shining!
Visit Villa Monastero
Villa Monastero is often labelled as one of the most ‘Instagrammable’ places in Lake Como, and safe to say it was my favourite place in Varenna!
With the option to visit both the inside of the villa and round the gardens, you can spend many hours here. If you find yourself short on time, I recommend just getting a ticket to the gardens.
Extending to almost 2km, the beautiful gardens are filled with gorgeous plants, trees and sculptures which overlook the lake. At the very minimum you’re likely to spend at least an hour exploring the different paths of the gardens, but with how large and beautiful they are, I think you can easily spend up to 3 hours here!
There are so many beautiful spots to sit and admire the view, as well as plenty of chance to capture some stunning shots!
If you’re planning on spending a large proportion of your day here, then there is a Café located in the garden so you can sit and refuel.
I spent about 2 hours in just the gardens of Villa Monastero. Unfortunately I was beginning to get short for time, otherwise I could’ve easily spent another hour in the gardens.
After exploring the gardens, it’s worth a trip into the inside of the Villa if you have time. The inside of the Villa was previously transformed into a museum named the ‘Home Museum’.
The Museum contains eight centuries worth of history and architecture across 14 fully furnished rooms, which have retained their original decorations and furniture.
A ticket to both the gardens and the inside of the villa will cost you a few Euros extra, but is worth it! In my opinion, the inside of the Villa isn’t half as interesting as the gardens – but is still worth a walk around if you have the time!
Note: Villa Monastero is currently closed as of the 6th November 2023. It will reopen on 2nd March 2024.
Visit Castello di Vezio
A castle with a view, Castello di Vezio has stood for more than a thousand years. Set high above Varenna, Vezio Castle offers stunning views that span across the lake and mountains.
The Castle is rich in history, it protected the town of Varenna and its residents during frequent wars and looting throughout the Middle Ages.
Walking round the gardens you will see, interesting sculptures, beautiful vegetation, and some of the best panoramic views of the Lake and mountains. If you’re lucky then you might get the chance to watch a falconry show, which are put on daily!
Inside of the Castle is rich with history, a display of armour and weapons are available to look at. You can head out onto the terrace of the Castle for more stunning views of the Lake as well! Make sure to do a tour of the dungeons for some haunted vibes when exploring the inside of the castle!
Castello di Vezio is open daily with weekend hours varying slightly to weekday, check the weather forecast before planning your visit as the Castle will close during heavy rain.
There are two ways to get to the Castle – the most common (and easiest) route is to walk down the path that is right next to the ferry harbour and train station. Or if you fancy a bit more of a hiking option, walk past Villa Monastero and turn down the road Via Roma (which is the thin side road just past Villa Monastero, pictured above), this route will take you through the hills for a more scenic, but more physically demanding walk.
While it’s not a long trek, it‘s useful to note that both routes require a large amount of steep uphill walking, so this activity is best suited to people with reasonable levels of fitness.
There is a small café at the entrance of the castle where you can take a pitstop once you arrive, before exploring the castle grounds and the castle itself!
Explore the streets of Varenna
Varenna is an easily walkable place, with plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants to keep yourself busy! Head towards the Main Square and let yourself explore, and get lost in the side streets from there!
Tip: If you have just one day in Lake Como, Varenna and Bellagio are the best towns to easily see within a day thanks to the fast, direct, and regular ferry connections! Although you won’t have chance to see everything there is to offer in both towns in just one day, you can certainly see the best bits!
Discover Varenna’s Churches
Varenna is home to the Church of San Giorgio, a 14th-centurary church and a popular landmark in Varenna. There is also second smaller church, the Church of St John the Baptist – which dates back to the 12th-centurary.
Both Churches are open all year round to visitors. Located in the Main Square, visiting these churches isn’t a very time-consuming activity due to their small size, but you will most likely walk past them due to their central location, so it’s worth a peek inside while you’re passing!
Go on a boat tour
Boat tours can be a little on the expensive side, so it’s best if you can do this in a group to split the cost! You can hire boats with a tour guide, or rent a boat out for a few hours, or even the whole day for just your group! Hiring a boat gives you a chance to see Varenna from a different perspective, and also gives you the freedom to explore other areas of Lake Como without having to wait in the Ferry queues.
There are various types of tours and boat rental you can do from Varenna, some tours will take you to specific attraction, other tours will dock up part-way through the tour to allow people to swim in the designated swimming areas of the lake, other tours might offer various food and drinks during the rental, while some tours might be boat rental boat-only.
Boat trips happen all across the Lake, most frequently they start in the Lake’s capital, Como City and pass through Verenna. However I still saw plenty of people renting boats from Varenna when I last visited. Make sure you research the pick-up and drop-off points of each boat trip before booking a trip!
Here are a few options that are either based in Varenna or have the option to do pick-ups from Varenna (sometimes at an additional cost):*
If you’re not sure exactly what you’re looking for and want to assess your options, then this can be a good place to start, but it’s best to do your own research too!
Tip: There are often additional costs for boat rental due to the increase in petrol costs. This should always be disclosed when booking, so make sure you read descriptions, and always bring cash with you when attending boat tours.
The good news is that getting the water taxi’s/ Ferries are all part of the Lake Como experience and a lot of fun, so if this hiring a boat or doing a boat tour doesn’t fit in your budget, then don’t feel like you’re missing out! If you’re on a tighter budget but still want a chance to ride on a boat on the lake, then just hop on a water taxi from one of the Ferry ports. From Varenna, you can get ferries to various other towns in Lake Como, the closest being Bellagio. Check the official Lake Como Ferry website for up-to-date schedules.
Visit the Orrido di Bellano
Located within a 10 minute drive outside of Varenna, this 20 minute walk is the perfect thing to do if you have some extra time in Varenna. You won’t want to miss out on one of the best tourist attractions that Lake Como has to offer! This natural 15 million-year-old gorge has a beautiful waterfall which is accessible by a suspension bridge. Take in the views of the rocky formations and the clear blue stream running through it.
Credit: Discvoring Bellano Official Website
You will need to purchase tickets for Orrido di Bellano e Ca’del Diavol, which cost approximately five Euro. You can access the gorge between 9am-8pm daily, however prices and times might vary depending on when you visit, so check out their website for more information.
If you’re only visiting Lake Como on a day trip and are wanting to see other Lake Como towns as well as Varenna, then you might not have time for this due to the gorge being outside of Varenna. However if you’re lucky enough to be in Varenna for a couple days, then I recommend a visit! Check out their Instagram page for some beautiful snaps!
So here’s a list to get you started on your trip to Varenna! Varenna is the perfect place to base if you’re staying in Lake Como, with great ferry links to other towns around the lake, as well as access to the train station. The train station also makes it the perfect place to visit for day trips from other areas of Italy! So whatever you choose, you’ve now got a long list of things to do in Varenna for your next trip to Lake Como!
FAQ’s about Varenna
How do I get to Varenna?
You can get a direct train from Milan Centrale to Varenna-Esino train station, which takes approximately an hour.
Is it worth going to Varenna?
Yes, it is absolutely worth going to Varenna! Varenna is a popular tourist town on the Eastern shore of Lake Como, it’s easy to get around and has plenty to see and do! It is home to the famous Villa Monastero, and Lover’s Walk!
How long do you need to explore Varenna?
One full day should be enough to see and experience all of Varenna’s attractions. If you fancy a more laid-back trip, then it might be best to spread the activities and sight-seeing in Varenna across 2 days.
Is Varenna walkable?
Yes, Varenna is very walkable, all the main tourist spots are of close distance to each other. Although it is full of cobbled streets and plenty of stairs, so make sure you wear appropriate footwear!
Is Varenna better than Como?
If you are only visiting Lake Como for a day, or are looking for a place to base, I would choose Varenna it’s a beautiful, small, yet lively town and has got much better and faster transport links to other popular destinations such as Bellagio, Menaggio, Villa Carlotta, and Villa del Balbianello. Como is also a beautiful destination as the Lake’s capital city, but is at the bottom of the Lake, further away from other popular tourist destinations.
Where is the Lovers Walk in Varenna?
Lovers’ Walk, also known as Lovers’ Promenade, is located between stone walls and and the water right next to the wharf, and nearby the town centre.
Is Varenna safe for solo travellers?
Generally, the crime in the Lake Como area, including Varenna, is very low and the chance of any violent crimes being committed is extremely rare. That bring said, you should always ensure you take relevant safety precautions when travelling and be aware of your surroundings when travelling on your own.
What type of holiday is Lake Como?
Lake Como is commonly classed as both a luxury and romantic destination. It is a popular destination for celebrities, and there are plenty of luxurious villa’s and hotels. However, the great transport links between Varenna and Milan mean more people can visit Lake Como on a budget!
