view of the facade of villa monastero and some gardens in the varenna area of lake como

Varenna Travel Guide: 7 Best Things to Do (2025 Update)

Varenna, once a humble fishing village, has done quite an about-face. Once merely a humble fishing village, it’s transformed into a captivating destination along the shores of Lake Como, a favorite spot for both the ultra-wealthy (hello, George Clooney) and visitors seeking a peaceful Italian getaway.

Surrounded by the breathtaking Alps, Varenna’s villas, colorful lakeside homes (painted in a rainbow of vibrant hues to make them easily visible to fishermen out on the water), and scenic promenades make this a fabulous place to while away a day (or two, or three) in the Lake Como area.

🇮🇹 Planning your trip to Varenna in a hurry? Here are my quick picks:

🏨 Best Varenna Hotels
1. Casa Aidee (super-Instagrammable balcony & apartment style)
2. Albergo del Sole (traditional-style Italian guesthouse)
3. Petit Bijou (charming apartment-style one-bedroom)

🏞️Best Varenna Tours
1. Guided Walk and Picnic Experience in the Alps (easy hike)
2. Cooking Class at a Local’s Home (take home recipes & skills!)
3. Dining Experience at a Local’s (no cooking required!)
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White flowers in flower boxes on the edge of a passageway through Lake Como's lakeside walkways with a view to the colorful red, orange and yellow houses

During one of my many trips in Northern Italy and the Lake Como region, I traveled to Varenna and spent three days exploring the small village and its surroundings. I quickly saw why it’s earned its flowers (literally!) as a popular town on Lake Como, especially in the spring and summer.

Packed in a small center, there’s no shortage of delights to enjoy: between the charming town, delicious Northern Italian cuisine, delightful gardens and palatial villas, Varenna keeps the charm coming in new and surprising ways.

Keep reading to find the best things to do in Varenna — here are just 7 ideas to get you started!

Tips for Visiting Varenna

Colorful town and houses in red and yellow colors with green and blue shutters surrounded by foliage and trees

Varenna is one of the absolutely must-see places on any road trip around Lake Como. At the same time, the village is easy to reach by train from Milan, so it can also provide a perfect escape from the busy city.

One thing to consider when planning your trip to Varenna in particular (and Lake Como in general) is that this area is a popular tourist destination virtually year-round — there is no true low season.

Locals from nearby big cities, especially Milan, often head to the lake for a weekend getaway. So, there’s really no “uncrowded” time of year. I visited most recently in March, and it was still fairly busy and traffic around the lake was definitely quite bad… but that’s nothing compared to the crowds in the height of summer!

If you’re hoping to visit Varenna in the summer, be prepared—both for the crowds and the prices. You should certainly expect higher accommodation costs and larger crowds. It’s definitely a good idea — if not a mandatory one — to book your accommodation in advance to ensure you have more options.

View onto lake como from the pillared archway open-air window style viewpoint at Villa Monastero with cypress trees and flowers.

Bottom line: while Varenna is an amazing summer destination, if you can, try to avoid the peak months. I really enjoyed visiting in the spring—it was beautiful, but definitely a bit chilly and crisp. With that said, given Varenna’s location, it can be a bit colder than you might expect!

Although you could just stop for a day in Varenna and check out most of the main sights, I strongly suggest spending at least a night there — just one day isn’t quite enough to really see this place to its fullest.

Things to Do in Varenna

Explore the town.

an archway in the central town of varenna with view down to the lake from a viewpoint up on a hill

Of course, you’ll want to explore Varenna’s charming town center and its candy-colored buildings. You could easily spend hours aimlessly wandering through narrow cobblestone alleys and quaint piazzi, and since the village is nestled on the side of a hill, each step you take upwards offers even more scenic views of the lake.

But if you’re after a more structured route, I’ve got a great walking itinerary that will guide you through the best sights in Varenna, all on a quick and efficient path.

Be sure to check out the main square, Piazza San Giorgio, pay a visit to the lovely Church of San Giorgio, and stroll along the charming Via XX Settembre, one of the loveliest stretches of street in Varenna.

From there, you’ll find several alleys and stairways leading to the lakeside street Riva dei Marmisti.

the church in the main town area of varenna with a belltower with a clock on it

To immerse yourself in the local culture, you can explore small art galleries, souvenir shops, and cafés of Varenna, which may not number high in quantity but each have a huge charm of their own. Stop for a drink at the renowned Bar Il Molo or enjoy a coffee at Al Barilott for an even more local feel.

If you’re visiting when it’s warm enough to sunbathe, you can spend a few hours relaxing on one of the beaches in Varenna, like the small one at Contrada del Molo di Sotto, near Villa Cipressi, or the one just north of the ferry station. As an alternative, you can get a lounger at Olivedo Lido and soak in the sun while sipping a cocktail.

Visit Castello di Vezio.

castle vezio with its distinctive ghost sculptures

The lovely Castello di Vezio is an imposing 12th-century castle standing on a promontory overlooking Lake Como. While getting there requires a moderately challenging uphill hike, this castle is the best spot in Varenna to enjoy a gorgeous panoramic view of the lake.

The incredible medieval castle is surrounded by lush greenery, providing a peaceful setting to enjoy the view. This gorgeous scenery alone is a good reason to visit, but there’s still so much more to discover — including its unique sculpture ghost installations.

You can also visit the castle’s dungeons, the tower, and the botanical garden. Depending when you time your visit, you can often find temporary art exhibitions.

The castle is open daily from March 1st to November 1st, but during the winter, it’s only open on weekends when the weather is good. As a bonus? Admission is rather affordable — it’s only a 5€ entry fee.

Stroll around the gardens of Villa Monastero.

view of the facade of villa monastero and some gardens in the varenna area of lake como

If you have time to visit just one place in Varenna, make it the gardens of Villa Monastero — it’s a true can’t-miss and one of the best and most historic villas in the entire Como area.

Villa Monastero has a long history, dating all the way back to the 12th century when a monastery was in its place – hence the name. But many centuries later — the 17th, to be precise — the monastery was transformed into a gorgeous residence. 

The current villa was renovated in the 19th century, but thankfully this preserved the layout of the residence, and now its interior has a beautiful decor and furnishings that are emblematic of this unique time period.

The gardens of the villa monastero with purple flowers and small miniature palm trees with pillars and looking out onto the lake

While the villa’s interior is quite ornate and beautiful, if you ask me, the best part is the garden: detailed statues and fountains and well-manicured flower beds, making it an ideal setting for a lakeside walk with alpine views.

Keep in mind that if you’re visiting during the off-season (winter), the villa is only open to visitors from early March to early November.

Also, if you want to save money, you can choose between just visiting the botanical garden (€10) or getting a combo ticket (€13) for the garden and museum — you can book tickets online here to ensure you don’t miss out!

Walk the Passeggiata degli Innamorati.

lakeside street with red tunnel with foliage growing on the tunnel and boats in the harbor and candy colored buildings

Varenna boasts a charming lakeside promenade, known as Passeggiata degli Innamorati or the Lovers’ Promenade, which runs along the entire village’s perimeter. But what makes it even more picture-perfect is the bright red fencing that lines the path, a beautiful contrast to the turquoise blue of the lake.

Starting at the Varenna pier and stretching to the town center, this short but scenic pedestrian walkway has lots of good places to pause for pictures, from the colorful buildings facing Molo Riva Grande or the majestic mountains across the lake.

Go on a hike.

small pedestrian archway bridge and stream and stone architecture and beautiful green forest everywhere surrounding the hiking pathway

If you’re up for a bit of physical activity, Varenna has convenient access to one of the most popular hiking trails in the Como area, Sentiero del Viandante. This long stretch of trail covers roughly 45 kilometers (or 28 miles), with a starting point in Abbadia Lariana and ending in Piantedo.

From Varenna, you can walk the shortest trail north to Bellano, which takes two to three hours one-way, or opt for a longer hike south to Lierna. And don’t worry if you just want to hike one way, because you can also catch the train on your way back to Varenna. 

For a more peaceful walk without a heavy hike, you can do a picnic and guided walk experience in the Alps

Join a cooking class or dining experience.

Person in a Sicily cooking class creating tiramisu with whipped mascarpone, lady finger cookies and espresso or cocoa powder

If you have a bit of extra time to spend in Varenna and want to have a local experience, you can join a fun activity like a cooking class or a dining experience.

During the three hours of this cooking class at a local’s house, you can learn to local dishes — starter, pasta, and dessert — and then enjoy the fruits of your labor with a 3-course meal with your group all in a family home.

If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, you can attend a cooking demonstration and just focus on eating during this dining experience at a local’s house.

Hop on a ferry to other villages.

The lakefront view of the Menaggio, with a large belltower, pastel colored houses in yellow and green tones, and a boat in front of the town promenade

Last but not least, if you want to spend several days on the lake, Varenna has convenient ferry connections to other villages, including direct ferry rides to Bellagio (one of the most popular towns in the region), Griante and Menaggio (two underrated gems).

Hopping on a ferry is the perfect opportunity to enjoy views of Varenna from a few different perspectives — and luckily, it’s quite a cheap way to do so (especially since boat tours are so costly!) — with tickets starting at €3.

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