Varenna is the Lake Como village you can reach by train, and that one fact makes choosing a hotel here easier than anywhere else on the lake.
It’s small and steep, built up the hillside from a strip of colored houses on the eastern shore, with a lakeside path strung between them and the ferry pier at the foot of it all. Bellagio sits straight across the water, fifteen minutes away by boat.
The Varenna hotels below run from a 19th-century lakefront hotel with its own dock to adults-only B&Bs and apartments with kitchens. Each one is here for a reason, and each comes with what you need to choose: who it suits, whether it takes pets or children, and how far you’ll carry a suitcase from the station.
TL;DR
The best hotel in Varenna is Hotel Royal Victoria, right on the shore with a pool, a spa and its own dock. For an adults-only stay a few minutes from the pier and the station, book Hotel Olivedo.
Getting there
Varenna-Esino station is on the line from Milano Centrale, about an hour away, and the ferry crosses to Bellagio and Menaggio from the village.
Where in Varenna
Stay down by the water for the evenings, or near the station if you’re carrying luggage. Every hotel here is within a few minutes of a ferry.
Book early
Varenna’s hotels are small, so rooms for May through September 2027 are already going.
Short on time? The best Varenna hotels for each kind of trip
- Best luxury hotel in Varenna: Hotel Royal Victoria, with a lakefront pool and a private dock
- Best adults-only hotel in Varenna: Hotel Olivedo, by the pier and five minutes from the train
- Best garden hotel in Varenna: Hotel Villa Cipressi, with botanic gardens down to the water
- Best Varenna hotel next to the station: Villa Varenna, an 1895 villa 200 m (656 ft) from the platform
- Best family hotel in Varenna: Albergo Milano, with family rooms and apartments with kitchens
- Best B&B in Varenna with free parking: Bed & Breakfast il Bolentino, adults only, rated 9.5
- Best apartment in Varenna on the lake: Divina Vita Apartments, rated 9.8, with a lake-view balcony
- Just browsing? Search hotels in Varenna, or across the water in Bellagio and Menaggio
Is Varenna a Good Place to Stay on Lake Como?
TL;DR: Yes. Varenna is the best place to stay on Lake Como if you’re arriving by train, and one of the best for quiet evenings, because it’s the only one of the three central villages with its own railway station.
Bellagio, Menaggio and Tremezzo have no trains at all. Varenna has Varenna-Esino, on the line that runs from Milano Centrale up the eastern shore toward Tirano, so you can land in Milan in the morning and be on your hotel terrace by lunch without renting a car.
Once you’re here, the ferry does the rest. Boats cross to Bellagio in about fifteen minutes and carry on to Menaggio and Cadenabbia, so staying in Varenna puts the whole middle of the lake within reach. You get to visit Bellagio by day and come back to a village that goes quiet after dinner.
The trade is size. Varenna is small, the hotels are small, and the lanes are steep enough that the closer you are to the water, the fewer steps you’ll climb with a bag. If you’re still choosing between towns, our guide to where to stay in Lake Como compares all six areas side by side.
Where to Stay in Varenna: Down by the Water or Up by the Station
TL;DR: Stay down by the water in Varenna for the evenings and the lakeside path, or up near the station if you’re traveling by train with luggage. The two are a few minutes apart on foot, but it’s a few minutes of hill.
The old village by the lake is the postcard: the colored houses, the lakeside path, Piazza San Giorgio and the main ferry pier. Hotels here, like the Royal Victoria, Albergo Milano and Albergo Del Sole, put you on the doorstep of the restaurants and the boats. Cars can’t reach most of it, so expect to arrive on foot.
Around the station and Via Venini, up the slope, is where you’ll find the villas with gardens and the places with parking. It’s quieter at night, the train is a short stroll away, and it’s where to look if you’re driving.
Either way, nothing in Varenna is far from anything else. The whole village is small enough that “on the other side of town” means a ten-minute stroll and a gelato on the way.
Varenna Hotels Compared
TL;DR: Of the ten Varenna hotels here, two are adults only, five take pets, and the Royal Victoria is the one with a pool and a spa.
| Hotel | Best for | Guest rating | Children | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Royal Victoria | Luxury, a pool and a spa | 9.0 | Yes | Yes, charges may apply |
| Hotel Villa Cipressi | Gardens down to the water | 8.5 | Yes | Yes, charges may apply |
| Hotel Olivedo | Adults, arriving by train | 9.2 | No, adults only | No |
| Villa Varenna | Next to the station | 9.1 | Yes | No |
| Albergo Milano | Families, longer stays | 8.9 | Yes, family rooms | No |
| Albergo Del Sole | Value on the main square | 8.6 | Ask the hotel | Yes, no extra charge |
| Bed & Breakfast il Bolentino | Adults, drivers | 9.5 | No, adults only | On request, no extra charge |
| Fiò & Giò | A historic building, families | 8.6 | Yes, family rooms | On request, no extra charge |
| Divina Vita Apartments | An apartment on the lake | 9.8 | Yes | No |
| Blue House Varenna | An apartment with parking | 9.8 | Yes, family rooms | No |
Luxury Hotels in Varenna on the Lake
Two grand old addresses, both on the water, both run by R Collection Hotels, and very different in feel.
Hotel Royal Victoria in Varenna
A 19th-century building right on the shore in the heart of the village, with lush gardens, a lakefront pool open from May to September, and a wellness center with a sauna and steam bath. There are two restaurants, one of them looking straight across the water at Bellagio, and the hotel has its own private dock, so you can arrive by boat if you’re in the mood to make an entrance.
Some rooms have a balcony over the lake, there’s private parking, and guests rate the breakfast exceptional. It holds 9.0 out of 10. Pets are allowed, charges may apply, and children of all ages are welcome. If you want one Varenna hotel that does everything, from the view to the pool to the spa, this is the one we’d book first.
See dates & prices on Booking.com →
Hotel Villa Cipressi in Varenna
Botanic gardens terraced down to the lake, and because they’re open to visitors during the day, staying here means you get them to yourself early in the morning and after the gates close. The rooms are large and classically decorated, there’s a gourmet restaurant and room service, and the breakfast is rated exceptional.
One thing worth knowing: the villa hosts weddings and events, and its listing says service can change on those days, with guests looked after at its sister hotel nearby, so ask about your dates when you book. Rated 8.5 out of 10. Pets allowed, charges may apply. For a garden hotel in Varenna with the lake at the bottom of it, there’s nothing else like it.
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Varenna Hotels Near the Ferry and the Train Station
Three places that make arriving without a car easy, each for a different kind of trip.
Hotel Olivedo in Varenna
Two minutes from the pier and five from the station, in a 19th-century building with a terrace made for one job: sitting there with a drink while the ferries come and go. The restaurant cooks Lombard food and looks over the lake, and in summer breakfast moves out onto that terrace.
Olivedo is adults only, and it holds 9.2 out of 10 across more than 1,600 reviews, a lot of happy guests for a hotel this size. There’s private parking too. Pets are not allowed. If you’re a couple arriving by train and want to stop thinking about logistics the moment you drop your bags, this is the Varenna hotel for you.
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Villa Varenna in Varenna
Built in 1895, with a garden and a furnished sun terrace, and just 200 m (656 ft) from Varenna-Esino station, which is about as close as a villa gets to a railway platform without being one. The bus to Lecco, Como and Milan stops the same distance away.
Rooms are air-conditioned, with a private bathroom, and breakfast is continental with croissants and coffee. It’s rated 9.1 out of 10, has parking, and welcomes children. Pets are not allowed. If the train is your plan and you want the shortest possible suitcase roll, book this one.
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Albergo Milano in Varenna
A main building plus three separate properties, all within 50 m (165 ft) of each other, so the room you book decides which front door you use. Every room has a balcony with a full or partial lake view, there are family rooms, and the apartments come with full kitchens.
Breakfast and dinner happen on the big terrace, and guests rate the breakfast exceptional. Rated 8.9 out of 10. Children of all ages are welcome, pets are not, and parking is 300 m (985 ft) away in Piazza San Giorgio. For a family, or for anyone staying long enough to want a kitchen, it’s the best-value Varenna hotel on the water.
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Small Hotels and B&Bs in Varenna
Family-run, simpler and easier on the budget, with three of the friendliest pet policies in the village.
Albergo Del Sole in Varenna
On Piazza San Giorgio, under 100 m (328 ft) from the shore, with classic rooms under wood-beamed ceilings and a restaurant and pizzeria downstairs serving local dishes, mostly fish. Breakfast is the sweet Italian kind, with cakes, jams and yogurt.
Guests rate the location 9.6, and the hotel holds 8.6 overall across nearly 800 reviews. Pets are allowed at no extra charge. The station is 750 m (2,461 ft) away, so you’ll roll a suitcase for ten minutes or so, but you’ll land in the middle of everything. For a value hotel in the heart of Varenna, this is the one.
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Bed & Breakfast il Bolentino in Varenna
An adults-only B&B on Via Venini with a garden, an inner courtyard, and something rare in Varenna: free private parking on site. The buffet breakfast comes with fresh pastries, cheese and fruit, and the rooms are air-conditioned.
Villa Monastero is an eight-minute stroll and the path up to Castello di Vezio starts about 700 m (2,297 ft) away. It holds 9.5 out of 10, with the location rated 9.9. Pets are allowed on request at no extra charge. If you’re driving and traveling as a couple, it’s the easiest Varenna stay to recommend.
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Fiò & Giò in Varenna
In a historic building at the start of Via Venini, with lake views, a sun terrace, family rooms, bathrobes and a washing machine, which on day five of a trip is worth more than any view. Villa Monastero is a two-minute stroll away.
Rated 8.6 out of 10 across more than 700 reviews, with the location rated 9.6. Children of all ages are welcome and pets are allowed on request at no extra charge. For a family with a dog, it’s the most flexible place to stay in Varenna.
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Apartments in Varenna
Two of the highest-rated places to stay in Varenna aren’t hotels at all.
Divina Vita Apartments in Varenna
On the shore, 50 m (164 ft) from the bars and restaurants of the village center, with a lake-view balcony, air conditioning and a kitchenette with a dishwasher. Breakfast, with eggs, bacon, fruit salad and fresh orange juice, is served downstairs at Bar il Molo on the lakefront.
It holds 9.8 out of 10 across more than 600 reviews, with the location rated a perfect 10. Children are welcome, pets are not. If you want to wake up over the water and still have someone else make breakfast, this is the apartment to book.
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Blue House Varenna in Varenna
A two-minute stroll from Villa Monastero, with a kitchenette, a washing machine, a balcony, family rooms and private parking, plus a hot tub on the facilities list. Private check-in means you can arrive on a late train without anyone waiting up.
Rated 9.8 out of 10. Children of all ages are welcome, pets are not. For a family that wants an apartment in Varenna with somewhere to leave the car, it’s the pick.
See dates & prices on Booking.com →
Browse all hotels in Varenna on Booking.com →
How to Get to Varenna Without a Car
TL;DR: Take the train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino, about an hour with no changes, then stroll down to your hotel. From Varenna the ferry reaches Bellagio in about fifteen minutes.
Trenord, the regional rail operator, runs the trains from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino, a journey of about 64 minutes and 72 km (45 miles) up the eastern shore. Check the timetable for your dates before you travel, because the first and last trains of the day shift with the season.
From the station, the village and the hotels by the water are downhill, most of them five to ten minutes on foot. Coming back up with luggage is the harder direction, so if you’re leaving on an early train, a hotel near the station earns its keep.
If you are driving, Varenna is one of the hardest places on the lake to park. Most of the old village is pedestrian, public parking is limited, and only a handful of hotels have their own. Il Bolentino, the Royal Victoria, Olivedo and Blue House all list private parking, which is reason enough to book one of them.
What to Do From Your Varenna Hotel
TL;DR: From a Varenna hotel you can hike up to Castello di Vezio, visit the gardens of Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi, take the ferry to Bellagio, or hike the old Sentiero del Viandante along the eastern shore.
Castello di Vezio sits on the hill above the village, and the path up through the olive groves is the best short hike from your door, with a view down over the rooftops and across to Bellagio.
Villa Monastero and the gardens of Villa Cipressi are both on the lakefront in the village, so you can see them in a morning and be back on the terrace for lunch.
The Sentiero del Viandante, the old mule track along the eastern shore, passes right through Varenna. Hike north to Bellano and take the train back, and you’ve done the best half day on this side of the lake.
Bellagio, Menaggio and the villa gardens of Tremezzo are all a short ferry ride away. For a full day on the water, our guide to a perfect day on Lake Como plans the boat ride, Como’s old town and the funicular up to Brunate.
When to Book a Varenna Hotel for 2027
TL;DR: Book a Varenna hotel for summer 2027 now. Its hotels are small, and May through September fill first.
Spring and fall are the sweet spots: April, May, late September and October bring warm days, the gardens at their best and far fewer day visitors. The Royal Victoria’s pool opens in May and closes in September, so if a swim is part of the plan, aim for that window.
July and August are lively and lovely, and they’re when the ferries run their fullest schedule. They’re also when the best rooms with lake views go first, so the earlier you book for 2027, the more of them you’ll have to choose from.
Varenna Hotels: Your Questions Answered
What is the best hotel in Varenna?
The best hotel in Varenna is Hotel Royal Victoria, a 19th-century hotel right on the shore in the heart of the village with a lakefront pool open from May to September, a wellness center with a sauna and steam bath, two restaurants and its own private dock. For a smaller, adults-only stay, Hotel Olivedo is two minutes from the ferry pier and five from the station, and holds 9.2 out of 10 across more than 1,600 reviews.
Is Varenna a good place to stay on Lake Como?
Yes, Varenna is one of the best places to stay on Lake Como, especially if you are arriving by train. It is the only one of the three central villages, with Bellagio and Menaggio, that has its own railway station, Varenna-Esino, about an hour from Milano Centrale, and the ferry crosses to Bellagio in about fifteen minutes and carries on to Menaggio and Cadenabbia. It is smaller and quieter than Bellagio in the evenings, and the lanes are steep, so the closer your hotel is to the water, the fewer steps you will climb.
Is it better to stay in Varenna or Bellagio?
It is better to stay in Varenna if you are traveling by train or want quieter evenings, and in Bellagio if you want the classic first-visit view and the most shops and restaurants. Varenna has a railway station and Bellagio has none, so reaching Bellagio by train means taking the train to Varenna and the ferry across. The two face each other across the lake, fifteen minutes apart by boat, so whichever you choose, you can spend a day in the other. Our guide to where to stay in Lake Como compares them with Menaggio, Tremezzo, Como and Lecco.
Where should I stay in Varenna without a car?
Without a car, stay near Varenna-Esino station or down by the ferry pier. Villa Varenna is 200 m (656 ft) from the station, and Hotel Olivedo is two minutes from the pier and five minutes from the train. The station is uphill from the lakefront, so the downhill stroll on arrival is easy and the climb back with luggage is the harder part.
How do you get from Milan to Varenna by train?
To get from Milan to Varenna by train, take the Trenord regional service from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino, a journey of about 64 minutes and 72 km (45 miles) with no changes. Most hotels in the village are five to ten minutes on foot from the station. Check the timetable for your dates before you travel.
What is the most romantic hotel in Varenna?
The most romantic hotel in Varenna is Hotel Royal Victoria, on the shore with gardens, a lakefront pool, a restaurant looking across at Bellagio and its own private dock. For an adults-only stay, Hotel Olivedo has a lakeview terrace where breakfast is served in summer, and Bed & Breakfast il Bolentino is an adults-only B&B with a garden and free parking.
Which hotels in Varenna are pet-friendly?
The pet-friendly hotels in Varenna are Hotel Royal Victoria and Hotel Villa Cipressi, where pets are allowed and charges may apply, Albergo Del Sole, where pets are allowed at no extra charge, and Bed & Breakfast il Bolentino and Fiò & Giò, where pets are allowed on request at no extra charge. Hotel Olivedo, Villa Varenna, Albergo Milano, Divina Vita Apartments and Blue House Varenna do not allow pets.
What is the most family-friendly hotel in Varenna?
The most family-friendly hotel in Varenna is Albergo Milano, which has family rooms, apartments with full kitchens and a balcony with a lake view in every room. Fiò & Giò and Blue House Varenna also offer family rooms. Hotel Olivedo and Il Bolentino are adults only and do not accept children.
What is the best spa hotel in Varenna?
The best spa hotel in Varenna is Hotel Royal Victoria, which has a wellness center with a sauna and a steam bath, plus a lakefront swimming pool open from May until September.
Which Varenna hotels have parking?
The Varenna hotels with private parking include Bed & Breakfast il Bolentino, which offers free private parking on site, Hotel Royal Victoria, Hotel Olivedo and Blue House Varenna. Albergo Milano’s parking is 300 m (985 ft) away in Piazza San Giorgio. Most of the old village by the lake is pedestrian, so expect to park and finish the trip on foot.
When should I book a hotel in Varenna for 2027?
Book a hotel in Varenna for 2027 as early as you can, especially for May through September. Varenna is a small village with small hotels, and the rooms with lake views go first. April, May, late September and October are the quieter months with warm days, and the Royal Victoria’s pool is open from May to September.
Search All Varenna Hotels on a Map
Zoom in to see every hotel in the village, or drag across the water to compare Bellagio and Menaggio.
Pick Your Varenna Hotel and Catch the Train
The Royal Victoria for the pool and the dock, Olivedo for a couple arriving by train, Villa Cipressi for the gardens, Albergo Milano for a family. Whichever you choose, Varenna gives you the one thing the rest of the lake can’t: you can step off a train from Milan and be on the water within minutes. Book early for 2027, and save a morning for the hike up to the castle.