A Varenna Visit: A Day Trip to Lake Como’s Most Beautiful Town

May 23, 2023September 20, 2024 Koen 0 Comments

This destination guide covers a visit to Varenna, a beautiful town located on Lake Como that is easily accessible as a day trip from Milan.

Train to Varenna

After a gorgeous train journey from Milan, I had finally arrived in Varenna where I would spend a couple of hours before moving onward to Tirano.

I’ve visited Varenna a couple of times before and it’s my favourite town on Lake Como.

Although the beauty of the town is hardly a secret and the direct train connection to Milan means it’s easily accessible, the crowds aren’t as bad as in other famous Lake Como towns such as Bellagio.

Church of Saint Euphemia Olcio milan varenna train trenord — *View over Lake Como from the Milan to Varenna train. ©Paliparan*

varenna station — *Passengers waiting at the station of Varenna. ©Paliparan*

Walk into town

It’s an extremely straightforward walk to get from the train station to the town centre of Varenna on the lakeside.

The walk from the train station is clearly signposted and takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

All you need to do is walk downhill towards the lake.

Once you reach the lakeshore, simply turn left onto a small pedestrian path that will lead you to the town centre.

On your way you will pass by the Varenna jetty from where ferries depart across Lake Como to Menaggio and Belaggio.

station lake walk — *Walking downhill from the station towards the lake. ©Paliparan*

varenna ferry harbour jetty — *The small harbour where ferries depart to destinations on the western shore of Lake Como such as Menaggio and Belaggio. ©Paliparan*

outer town — *The outskirts of the town. ©Paliparan*

coastal path varenna — *The coastal path towards the town centre of Varenna. ©Paliparan*

Views

As you walk along the lakeside path, you can enjoy lovely views of Lake Como, with even more scenic vistas awaiting you as you reach the centre of Varenna.

Varenna is basically built on a small promontory jutting out into Lake Como.

As you approach the town centre of Varenna from the lake, the views over the town are truly gorgeous.

The colourful yellow and pink pastel-coloured houses create a stunning contrast against the deep blue waters of the lake and the clear skies, adding to the picturesque beauty of Varenna.

ferry terminal lake como varenna — *View from the path back towards the ferry terminal. ©Paliparan*

varenna day trip — *The stunningly located town centre of Varenna finally comes in sight. ©Paliparan*

varenna lake view — *The colourful houses of Varenna. ©Paliparan*

Varenna town centre

The town of Varenna isn’t large and you can easily walk through the entirety of it in an hour.

However, you don’t necessarily come to Varenna to walk around as the town is much more about taking in the stunning lakeside setting and enjoying the environment while sipping a drink or two.

The best place to do so is undoubtedly along the lakefront, where you’ll find the most appealing bars and restaurants, all offering outdoor seating and picturesque views of Lake Como.

lake como bars restaurants — *There are many bars and restaurants down by the lake, offering great views over Lake Como. ©Paliparan*

lake como restaurant — *Al fresco dining along the shores of Lake Como. ©Paliparan*

varenna lake como italy — *Making a day trip to Varenna is really all about enjoying the fabulous lakeside setting of the town. ©Paliparan*

varenna beach lake como — *Rocky beach on Lake Como in Varenna. ©Paliparan*

Upper town

Varenna’s main square is however not located on the lakefront but higher up the hill.

As you climb up through the narrow streets and alleys you can enjoy some beautiful views of the town and lake from a completely different perspective.

Along the main square you can find several more cafés and restaurants, as well as Varenna’s church called Chiesa San Giorgio.

alley varenna day trip — *If you hike up through the narrow alleys you get a completely different perspective of the town. ©Paliparan*

varenna main square — *Varenna’s main square. ©Paliparan*

Chiesa San Giorgio varenna — *Chiesa San Giorgio. ©Paliparan*

Villa Monastero

A day trip to Varenna is not complete without a visit to Villa Monastero.

Located just outside the town centre, this waterfront mansion features rooms with lavish décors from the 1800s, but the main draw lies in its adjacent botanical gardens.

A full-price ticket to visit both the villa and the botanical gardens costs €13.00, whereas a ticket for the gardens alone is priced at €10.

Children aged 0 to 14 years old can enjoy free entrance, while those between 15 to 25 years old are eligible for a discounted ticket.

villa monastero varenna day trip visit botanical gardens — *View from Villa Monastero over the botanical gardens. ©Paliparan*

A walk through the gardens

On this trip to Varenna, I only bought a ticket for the botanical gardens as I had visited the villa before.

The terraced gardens of Villa Monastero rank among the most stunning in all of Europe and are without a doubt my personal favourite.

Not only are the lakeside gardens painstakingly landscaped, they also blend in perfectly with their surroundings.

You need at least two hours to explore the gardens although one can easily spend half a day here enjoying the beautiful views.

villa monastero — *Stunning lake view from Villa Monastero. ©Paliparan*

villa monastero gardens varenna — *Entering the gardens of Villa Monastero. ©Paliparan*

*A look back towards the hilltop villa. ©Paliparan*

varenna visit day trip lake como — *The botanical gardens of Villa Monastero are located right on the lakeshore. ©Paliparan*

Fountains and statues

The botanical gardens of Villa Monastero are a beautiful place to explore.

Most of all, the gardens offer a tranquil setting by the lakeside, where you can relax and take in the natural beauty.

Don’t miss the lovely statues, fountains and all kinds of fine architectural details as you wander through this delightful botanical oasis.

villa monastero varenna visit — *The botanical gardens of Villa Monastero, which can be seen on the hilltop in the distance. ©Paliparan*

garden fountain — *Garden fountain. ©Paliparan*

villa monastero botanical gardens varenna day trip — *Inside the gardens you can see a variety of flowers and plants, as well as elements such as statues and fountains. ©Paliparan*

villa monastero gardens — *Villa Monastero gardens. ©Paliparan*

Botanical gardens — *A walk through the botanical gardens is highly enjoyable. ©Paliparan*

lake como view — *The gardens are also the best place from where you can enjoy the views over Lake Como. ©Paliparan*

garden architecture — *There are also some beautiful architectural elements within the garden. ©Paliparan*

botanica gardens varenna visit day trip — *A visit to the botanical gardens is as much about taking in the tranquil lakeside setting as exploring all the flowers and plants. ©Paliparan*

Flora

Of course you will also discover a variety of impressive trees and plants when you walk through the botanical gardens of Villa Monastero.

Among them are the majestic Lebanese cedar, tall and elegant cypresses and different kinds of palm trees that add a touch of exoticism to the landscape.

The lakeshore is adorned with oleanders showcasing their beautiful pink blossoms.

varenna lake como gardens view — *The beautiful lakeside setting of the gardens. ©Paliparan*

house gardens — *One of the houses inside the gardens.. ©Paliparan*

*Looking towards the upper part of the terraced gardens. ©Paliparan*

palm trees lake como — *Palm trees. ©Paliparan*

botanical gardens varenna day trip visit lake como — *View over the gardens and Lake Como from a higher level. ©Paliparan*

Garden café

Inside one of the houses in the gardens you can find a café where you can buy basic snacks and drinks.

Although it’s a much better idea to have lunch at one of the many restaurants in the town of Varenna proper, the garden café is a great place for a drink.

I certainly enjoyed two or even three glasses of Aperol Spritz while enjoying the fantastic views over the gardens and the lake.

garden café villa monastero — *The garden café of Villa Monastero. ©Paliparan*

lake como bench varenna — *You can easily take your drink and sit on one of the many benches along the lake. ©Paliparan*

aperol spritz italy lake como — *Yours truly enjoying an Aperol Spritz in the gardens of Villa Monastero. ©Paliparan*

aperol spritz italy lake como varenna — *I was enjoying the surroundings so much that I ordered a second Aperol Spritz during my visit to Villa Monastero in Varenna. ©Paliparan*

Back to the station

As I had an onward train to catch, I did unfortunately had to leave the tranquil environment of the botanical gardens after a while.

On my way back to the train station, I again enjoyed stunning views of Varenna and Lake Como, savouring the beautiful surroundings one last time.

station walk — *Walking back towards the station. ©Paliparan*

varenna day trip lake como visit view — *A stunning view over the town of Varenna from the main road. ©Paliparan*

railway line varenna — *Approaching the railway line and station. ©Paliparan*

Some more Aperol

A great way to end your day trip to Varenna is a visit to the lovely station bar for a drink or two before you catch your onward train to Tirano or return to Milan.

The station café has both indoor and outdoor seating and makes a good Aperol Spritz.

I therefore wouldn’t worry too much if you have just missed your train as it’s hardly a crime to wait a bit longer for the next departure with a drink in your hand.

*Back at Varenna’s train station to catch my onward train to Tirano. ©Paliparan*

varenna station bar — *The Varenna station bar. ©Paliparan*

varenna train station aperol spritz — *Enjoying an Aperol Spritz on the terrace of the Varenna station bar. ©Paliparan*

aperol station bar — *A second Aperol at the station bar. ©Paliparan*

Conclusion

Lake Como is one of Italy’s most breathtaking travel destinations and there is perhaps no better place to enjoy the stunning scenery than the picturesque lakeside town of Varenna.

As Varenna is an easy day trip by train from places like Milan or Bergamo, it can get crowded if you visit in summer or on sunny weekends, although the town is not as touristy as some other places on Lake Como.

Varenna has a highly scenic lakeside setting and it certainly makes for a fun day to explore its small alleys and to have a lovely meal at one of the many lakeside restaurants.

No trip to Varenna is however complete without a visit to Villa Monastero, which was the absolutely highlight of my day in town.

The botanical gardens of Villa Monastero are not only one of Europe’s prettiest, but the tranquil setting and wonderful views over the lake really help you to slow down and relax while you absorb the beautiful surroundings.

Trip report index

This article is part of the ‘Scenic Trains Around Switzerland and the Italian Lakes‘ trip report, which consists of the following chapters:

1. Bergamo: A Visit to Lombardy’s Beautiful Hilltop Town
2. Travelling From Bergamo to Milan by Train
3. From Milan to Varenna and Tirano By Trenord Regional Train
4. A Varenna Visit: A Day Trip to Lake Como’s Most Beautiful Town (current chapter)
5. Tirano: The Italian Gateway to the Bernina Railway
6. Bernina Express Train: Guide to Switzerland’s Most Scenic Railway
7. Review: Swiss InterCity (IC) Train Chur to Zurich and Basel
8. From Zurich to Geneva on a Swiss ICN Tilting Train
9. Cheap Geneva Hotel: Stay Across the Border in Annemasse!
10. Around Lake Geneva by Train: From Geneva to Montreux
11. A Visit to Montreux and the Freddie Mercury Statue
12. Golden Pass: Guide to a Scenic Railway Route Across Switzerland
13. Swiss Chique: The MOB GoldenPass Belle Époque Train
14. From the Mountains to the Lake: Zweisimmen to Spiez by Train
15. Spectacular Spiez: A Visit to a Scenic Swiss Town
16. Spiez to Interlaken by Train: A Trip on the Lake Thun Railway Line
17. Review: Interlaken to Lucerne by Zentralbahn Train
18. Lucerne: Exploring One of Switzerland’s Most Beautiful Cities
19. From Lucerne to Locarno: By Train Across the Gotthard
20. A Visit to Locarno and the Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso