Villa Cipressi Christmas Garden

Expected weather

Forecast for Sunday, 1 November 2026 in Varenna: cloudy, 14° by day and 11° at night, 15% chance of rain.

Weather · Lake Como →

Getting to Varenna

By car, Varenna is about 20 minutes' drive from Lecco along the east shore; the car ferry crosses to Bellagio and Menaggio. The station is Varenna-Esino-Perledo, on the Lecco–Sondrio line: regional trains run Lecco–Colico–Sondrio and RegioExpress trains Milan–Lecco–Sondrio–Tirano, about 20 minutes from Lecco and about an hour from Milano Centrale. From the station it is a walk of about 10 minutes down to the pier; to avoid the steps, follow the main road. Boats call on the Como–Colico and Lecco–Bellagio routes.

Ferry: The car ferry shuttles from the Olivedo pier to Bellagio and Menaggio (about 15 minutes each) and to Cadenabbia, from early morning to late evening; passenger boats and hydrofoils use a separate pier. The pier is on one level, with tactile paths, a braille map and staff trained to assist.

Parking: Parking is paid in season and in short supply. Piazza della Stazione and the Malpensata area cost €2.00 an hour from 8:00 to 23:00 (€18 a day); the blue spaces near the ferry at Olivedo €2.00 an hour from 8:00 to 20:00 (€20 a day); the multi-storey car park opposite Villa Cipressi €3.00 an hour for two hours, then €2.00 (€25 a day); and Fiumelatte €1.50 an hour (€15 a day). White spaces along Viale Polvani are free, yellow ones are for residents. Coaches and minibuses may not enter the historic centre.

About Varenna

Varenna is a small village of colourful houses on the east shore of Lake Como, in the province of Lecco, facing Bellagio and Menaggio across the middle of the lake. It is recorded as a fishing village in 769; Como destroyed it in 1126, and in 1169 it took in the refugees from Isola Comacina, an exodus still recalled at the feast of St John the Baptist. Its patron is St George, after whom Piazza San Giorgio in the old centre is named; his feast falls on 24 April.

Guide to Varenna →