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Major city · Italy

Varenna

Give Varenna one night, two at most: ferries to Bellagio and Menaggio, Villa Monastero's garden and the Vezio castle walk fill a full day.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (crowds and heat), Nov–Feb (many gardens and the castle closed)
Airports
BGY · LIN · MXP
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Italy and Malta ↗The region's headline sights run on timed tickets that sell out: book the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, the Uffizi, the Last Supper and Malta's Hypogeum before you fix train and hotel dates.
  • Italy and Malta ↗Budget for per-night city taxes in Italy (up to about €10 a person in Rome), Malta's per-night environmental contribution, and Venice's day-visitor fee on peak days; none are included in most online room prices.
  • Italy ↗Italy is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
  • Italy ↗Historic centres are ZTL limited-traffic zones: cameras fine any unauthorised car that enters, often months later through the hire company. Park outside and walk in.
  • Italy ↗Regional train tickets bought on paper must be validated in the machine on the platform before boarding; digital tickets carry a time and need no stamping.
  • Italy ↗Venice charges day-visitors an access fee on selected peak days; check the city's official site if you are not sleeping there.

Varenna is a small fishing village on the eastern shore of Lake Como, about 1 hour from Milan by express train and 15 minutes by ferry from Bellagio. The historic centre is compact and steep, with a level lakeside walk, two villa gardens and a castle above the village. Most travellers use it as a quiet base for the central lake rather than a destination in itself.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Varenna, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee at the bar€1.20–2 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Museum or sight ticketVilla Monastero garden entry€6 (≈ US$7) garden only, €9 (≈ US$11) with the house museum
  • Budget bedHostel or B&B bed, a night, per person€45 (≈ US$55)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, guesthouse or small hotel, a night, per room€150 (≈ US$180)
  • High-end bedDouble room, guesthouse or small hotel, a night, per room€260 (≈ US$350)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €70 (≈ US$85) · Mid €130 (≈ US$160) · High €240 (≈ US$300)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Villa Monastero and its lakeside gardenVilla Cipressi gardensCastello di VezioFerry links to Bellagio and MenaggioThe Fiumelatte stream
Airports
BGY Milan Bergamo (Orio al Serio) (Closest airport, about 70 km; bus to Bergamo station, then train via Lecco to Varenna-Esino-Perledo.) · LIN Milan Linate (Bus or taxi to Milano Centrale, then train to Varenna.) · MXP Milan Malpensa (Furthest of the three; shuttle or train to Milano Centrale, then train to Varenna.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Varenna: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

6°C

−1°C

7 rd

Feb

8°C

0°C

7 rd

Mar

12°C

3°C

8 rd

Apr

16°C

7°C

10 rd

May

20°C

11°C

12 rd

Jun

24°C

15°C

11 rd

Jul

27°C

17°C

9 rd

Aug

26°C

17°C

10 rd

Sep

22°C

14°C

9 rd

Oct

17°C

10°C

10 rd

Nov

11°C

5°C

9 rd

Dec

7°C

1°C

7 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

On foot. The centre is steep with staircases, but a mostly level path runs along the shore between the ferry pier and Villa Monastero. Trains link Varenna-Esino-Perledo with Lecco, Milan and the Valtellina; ferries and the vehicle ferry cross to Bellagio, Menaggio and Cadenabbia. Taxis wait at the station.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Bellagio

go

Door to door: About 15 min crossing

Passenger ferry from the Varenna pier

Go early; the village fills by midday. Villa Melzi gardens are a short walk from the landing.

Menaggio

go

Door to door: About 20 min crossing

Vehicle ferry from the Varenna pier

Quieter than Bellagio; pairs well with a walk or bus up to the Menaggio golf and viewpoint area.

Tremezzo and Villa Carlotta

go

Door to door: About 30–45 min

Ferry to Cadenabbia or Tremezzo, then walk

The garden is the draw; check the villa's opening season before crossing.

Esino Lario

caution

Door to door: About 30–40 min by road

Bus or taxi up from Varenna; historic mule tracks on foot

Mountain village with thin public transport; go only if you like the walk down.

Lecco

go

Door to door: About 30–40 min

Train from Varenna-Esino-Perledo

Useful for connections and a bigger-town half-day.

Milan

caution

Door to door: About 1–1.25 h

Express train from Varenna-Esino-Perledo to Milano Centrale

Doable as a day trip, but the last train back is early evening.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Historic centre (Piazza San Giorgio and the waterfront)

Steps from the ferry pier and the lakeside path; hotels here are the priciest and book out first.

Near the station (Varenna-Esino-Perledo)

Practical with bags and for early trains; a short walk downhill to the centre.

Fiumelatte

Quieter southern hamlet past Villa Monastero, on the same train line; a longer walk to the ferries.

Perledo and Vezio, above the village

Cheaper rooms and hill views, but you climb steps or take a taxi to reach the lake.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€60–100 (≈ US$70–120) excl. bed
Mid
€100–170 (≈ US$120–200) excl. bed
High
€170 (≈ US$200)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, guesthouse or small hotel1 × 1 night × €150€150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €130€260
Train Milan → Varenna, one way2 × €7€14
Ferry Varenna → Bellagio, one way2 × €5€10
Villa Monastero garden and house museum2 × €9€18
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €20€40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€49
Trip total≈ €271 per person per day, bed included€541≈ US$650

2026 estimate in euro; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee at the bar€1.20–2 (≈ US$2–3)
Pizza or a plate of pasta€9–16 (≈ US$11–19)
Glass of wine€4–8 (≈ US$5–10)
Ferry Varenna → Bellagio, one way€4–6 (≈ US$5–7)
Train Varenna → Milan, one wayabout €7 (≈ US$9)
Villa Monastero garden entry€6 (≈ US$7) garden only, €9 (≈ US$11) with the house museum
Vezio Castle entry€4 (≈ US$5) adult, €2 (≈ US$3) child 6–12

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Varenna is a very safe village; the real risks are steep wet steps, swimming in cold deep water without a spotter, and missing the last ferry or train.
  • The last train from Milan leaves around 21:20, so a late dinner in Milan means no train back.
  • Vezio Castle closes when it rains and shuts for the winter; check before climbing.
  • Villa Monastero's house museum opens only in a short summer window; the garden has its own season.
  • The centre is all steps and cobbles: heavy wheeled bags are a problem.
  • Ferry timetables thin out in the evening and off-season; the last boat is earlier than you expect.

Emergency numbers

All emergencies (police, fire, ambulance)
112
Police
113
Fire
115
Ambulance
118
Coast guard
1530

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

VarennaVarenna

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A questo indirizzo, per favoreTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All emergencies112
  • Police113
  • Fire115
  • Ambulance118

Embassy

No embassies in Varenna; the US consulate general is in Milan, and most other countries keep embassies in Rome or consulates in Milan. Check before you travel.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Train Milan → Varenna: about €7 (≈ US$9), 1–1.25 h
  • Ferry Varenna → Bellagio: about 15 min, €4–6 (≈ US$5–7)
  • Taxi station → centre: short hop, ask the price first

Say or show

  • Buongiorno — Good morning (bwon-JOR-no)
  • Per favore / Grazie — Please / Thank you (per fa-VO-reh / GRAH-tsyeh)
  • Quanto costa? — How much is it? (KWAN-to KOS-ta)
  • Il conto, per favore — The bill, please (eel KON-to per fa-VO-reh)
  • Dov'è l'imbarcadero? — Where is the ferry pier? (do-VEH leem-bar-ka-DEH-ro)
  • Posso pagare con la carta? — Can I pay by card? (POS-so pa-GA-reh kon la KAR-ta)

112 works from any phone, including mobiles with no Italian SIM.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Varenna. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (crowds and heat), Nov–Feb (many gardens and the castle closed) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BGY, LIN and MXP: last-train cutoffs, Bergamo change at Lecco, taxi fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: ferry pier and waterfront, Piazza San Giorgio, Villa Monastero to Fiumelatte, Vezio and Perledo.
  3. Place pages with verified seasons (Villa Monastero garden and house museum, Villa Cipressi, Vezio Castle) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Ferry and train fixtures for late arrivals so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Italy

Sources