This post outlines the best things to do in Varenna, Italy. You must head to the Walk of Lovers, Villa Monastero, enjoy aperitivo and stroll around and shop.
Varenna was our favorite village around Lake Como. We know most people recommend Bellagio, but we think Varenna blows it away. There's everything you could be looking for from a historic old town. There are areas to swim, lakeside villas and lots of unique shops.
All of Lake Como is beautiful, but there's something about Varenna. It was so quaint and picturesque. It's one of those places that you just fall in love with instantly.
Overall, Varenna is a place to not be missed! I'll explain why. Below, I provide a list of the best things to do in Varenna.
1. Passerella Innamorati sul Lago (Walk of Lovers)
If you search Varenna on TikTok, this will come up. We're sure you've seen this red fenced promenade on your feed at some point. We joked and called it the TikTok bridge. I must say, it's actually really cute and a romantic walk into Varenna along the water. It does roughly translate to the "Walk of Lovers!" So, thank TikTok for this one.
This walkway has a couple names, but you will definitely walk through it. To get off or on the ferry, you have to walk across this promenade so don't worry too much about what it's called. Just be sure to grab a few pictures as the views are perfect.
2. Villa Monastero
This is an old waterfront villa that includes a botanical garden. Villa Monastero was built at the end of the 12th century. The botanical garden stretches about 2 kilometers along Lake Como. It's such a beautiful and peaceful area.
You have the option of buying tickets online or at the door. We recommend buying them online just in case! You can purchase them HERE. It costs roughly 10 euro for the botanical garden.
You also have the option of going inside the villa as it's now used as a museum. To go inside the villa is only a couple extra euro. We didn't go inside, but I'm sure it's worth it!
Villa Monastero should definitely be at the top of your list when visiting Varenna. The villa and botanical gardens are stunning. You'll also have breathtaking views of Lake Como. Needless to say there plenty of photo opportunities throughout!
3. Aperitivo with a view!
We have two recommendations to grab an aperitivo in Varenna.
First, is Bar Il Molo. The perfect place to grab a spritz and take in the essence of Lake Como. We went here twice and loved it. The Molo Spritz was one of our favorite drinks of the whole summer! A Molo Spritz combines prosecco, gin, bitters, saffron syrup and tonic. Krista and I love gin and tonics so this was the perfect combination!
The food prices seemed a bit ridiculous so we can't comment on the food quality. We just had the drinks and chips or pistachios that they provided as the aperitivo. Based on the food we saw, we'd recommend eating elsewhere in Varenna as there are plenty of other places.
Bar Il Molo is a popular spot so there will be a line. And no, they do not take reservations either. Don't let it deter you though! Those views and drinks are unbeatable.
Our second recommendation is Vecchia. There can be a wait here as well but we only waited 10 minutes. This restaurant is right on the water! We sat outside and had an aperol spritz as the sun was setting. For aperitivo they provided olives and chips. We didn't have any food or see anybody eating either so we can't comment on that.
Our advice for both places: be present and take in the beauty around you!
4. Stroll around and shop
Varenna is very walkable! Like most areas around Lake Como, it's pedestrian friendly. You won't find many cars at all. The Varenna center also known as Varenna Old Town, is such a peaceful, picturesque area. All the beautiful colored buildings and little passageways makes it so enchanting.
There are many restaurants, small boutiques and viewpoints throughout Varenna. Krista bought a really nice leather bag and I bought a wallet in one of the shops. We also bought some handmade jewelry. The owners of the stores hand wrap all the items and personalize them, it's a cool experience! There are plenty of little trinkets and things as well. We really could've bought way more but talked ourselves out of it!
As you're walking around Varenna be sure to keep your phone handy! Every alley and turn you take becomes a great photo opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, Varenna, Italy worth visiting. It's not as touristy as some of the other places around Lake Como. Plus, there are many things to do!
We'd actually recommend staying in Varenna and making it your home base during your stay. However, if you're just visiting we'd recommend spending at least 6 hours.
There are plenty of instagrammable places! Obviously, the most popular is the Walk of Lovers promenade and Villa Monastero.
In Conclusion...
We loved Varenna! After we were so excited to visit Bellagio and were disappointed. We didn't expect too much from Varenna. Boy, were we wrong on that one!
Varenna has so much to offer and didn't have nearly the same amount of tourists as Bellagio and other areas. We couldn't recommend visiting Varenna enough.
Hopefully this list helps you during your stay or convinces you to discover Varenna for yourself!
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