Things to do in Varenna

Top Things to Do in Varenna

Things to Do in Varenna


Top Attractions in Varenna

These rankings are informed by traveller reviews—we consider the quality, quantity, recency, consistency of reviews, and the number of page views over time.
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Tours, activities and experiences bookable on Tripadvisor, ranked using exclusive Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, popularity, user preferences, price, and bookings made through Tripadvisor.

What travellers are saying

  • places2seeplaces2go
    England, UK4,879 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Visited here in mid October & whilst didn’t see the glorious summer flowers, it was still beautiful & 100% worth visiting & exploring the gardens.
    We were lucky as it was a cloudy/sunny day, so we were able to appreciate the beauty of it.
    One of the good things in visiting in October was that is was also very quite. No queues & we could walk around in peace & quiet.
    A very beautiful villa & thoroughly recommended.
    Written 26 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Amy B
    Belize City, Belize4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    My husband & I stumbled upon this studio full of exquisite paintings, many depicting the breathtaking scenery of Lake Como and its surrounding towns. We love taking home original art that will remind us of our travels. So we commissioned a painting from Paolo Demaria Guaitamacchi, aided by his lovely wife Melita. A few months later our masterpiece arrived. It is hanging prominently in our Texas home, a daily reminder of cooler temps and slower paces just waiting for us in Varenna. He even included our hotel, the Hotel Olivedo. Melita was a joy to work with, and she was an excellent hostess while we poured through painting samples to find the combination that spoke to us.
    Written 14 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • swoodruf
    Muskegon, MI1,400 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful villa with garden that you can walk through. Even in October, it was a very beautiful walk. There is a coffee shop and restrooms available. Very pleasant!
    Written 5 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ilaudj
    Bucharest, Romania961 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Had a nice 1 hour walk with my wife and kid here. The scenery is beautiful, the old buildings add a lot of charm to the place. Next time i will book 1 or 2 nighta here.
    Written 11 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Francesca T
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Our boat was amazing. It was the perfect amount of time on the lake to see some major sites. We took a 1 hour classic wooden boat tour from Varenna. Luca was an awesome captain and explained all of the villas and history from the buildings and hotels on lake como. Ingrid was so amazing and was able to adjust our boat ride due to bad weather. She was so accommodating. I highly recommend that you book with them.
    Written 21 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • GreatTrip
    Boston, MA90 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the most beautiful shorelines I have ever visited. Also, I thought I saw the sight were Darth Vader proposed to the Senator who became Luke Skywalker's Mom. It's really a lovely spot to take pictures. It's just off the ferry upon arrival in Varenna and takes maybe 20 minutes to walk. A hidden gem is the view of Giovanni Battista Pirelli's house where he was born. (The tire company founder.) The walk is flat and there was a lovely breeze both in the morning and in the afternoon when we were there. I would guess in July and August it could be very crowded so I would recommend either early in the day or later to avoid the crowds.
    Written 30 May 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Tommo
    Melbourne, Australia50,436 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    San Giovanni Battista is one of the oldest churches in the area.

    It dates back to the 11th century.

    and contains 16th-century frescoes that decorate the apse and the triumphal arch.
    On the south wall you can see depictions of Saints: Christopher with the little Jesus, George on horseback and John the Baptist.

    The Romanesque bell tower is built facing the lake.

    Beautiful historic church.
    Written 15 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Donna B
    Gladwyne, PA402 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The hike was rather steep and I would not recommend going if the trails are wet without proper footwear. There were good signs, but we still were unable to connect to the trail to Fiume Latte from the Castello. We ended up back near the road and made our way up to the source of the river from there.
    Written 10 July 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • AllanJGJ
    Wellington, New Zealand3,848 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A fine, if small, 14th century church with a simple and attractive exterior and some fine frescoes inside. But it is the centre of the town and it you can't find a place to eat or drink coffee at the lakefront you'll end up in the attractive small square in front of the church. Only a few steps from an excellent multi-storey carpark and the two gardens which are the main tourist attraction in Varenna. You'll be so close to San Giorgio's whatever you do in Varenna that it would be rude not to stick your head in the door for a couple of minutes!
    Written 25 April 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • ANGELO V
    Milan, Italy2,939 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The tourist office in Varenna is outstandingly good. Friendly staff helps with maps, brochures, suggestions, and provide very good answers to any questions you have on what to do while visiting.
    Written 13 May 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • 411meg2612
    Melbourne, Australia1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We had a great time meeting Normen and picking out a beautiful piece of art to bring home. All other galleries we visited were representatives selling pieces by artists from Milan- they also added an extra 1000 or so euro to their prices. Normen’s painting were my favourite I saw and I much prefer being able to have a chat to the artist himself and watch him work.
    Written 30 June 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • RHL1971
    London, United Kingdom19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Having been closed for renovation and then pandemic the museum is now open and operates the same hours as the tourist office of which it occupies the upper floors.
    Entry is €4.
    Whilst the key focus is birdlife of the Lake Como area it also features small mammals.
    The museum explains the many varied environments that feature in the region from urban to lake to mountain and everything in between with displays of each in well presented large display cabinets. The size of the collection is impressive and would not be out of place and compares well to those in any major natural history museums.
    Whether you want to escape inclement weather for an hour or so or education experience it really is a fascinating museum, quite educational and offers a fascinating insight into the local natural environment.
    Written 6 September 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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