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Hotel Beretta in Varenna - can anyone recommend?

I am looking for a budget stay within walking distance to the Varenna-Esino train station. Is anyone familiar with the Hotel Beretta?

Posted by
16893 posts

Rick's Italy guidebook (p. 236) reviews it as a good value, though basic, and with some street noise.

Posted by
70 posts

I have stayed in this hotel for three nights, it is clean and the hosts are very friendly.
It does not matter where you stay in Varenna, you are a stroll away from the train station. Have your luggage ready by the door of the train so you are ready to get off, the train does not stop very long. Ditto for getting back on when you leave.

Make sure you do a day trip to Bellagio, it is a beautiful cruise on the ferry. The hustle and bustle of this town is amazing. We also walked up to the fort on the hill on the north side of Varenna, great views and a pretty walk. The walk along the waterfront in Varenna every evening is great.

Posted by
257 posts

I stayed here several years ago and it was fine. Close to the train station, upstairs from the bar downstairs. Very friendly people, very little English spoken and a small breakfast downstairs in the bar. Definitely a good budget stay in Varenna.

Posted by
11294 posts

My experience matched Dan's exactly, from my trip in September 2009. It was certainly a great value for the area, and I'd stay there again.

Note that for getting from "downtown" Varenna back to the hotel, the lakefront path is almost flat while the route from the town center is hilly.

I was much less taken with Bellagio than most are, but I liked Varenna more than I expected to. I regret not getting to Menaggio.
Frequent boat service makes all the towns of this part of the lake easy to access.

Posted by
5 posts

Two years ago, we stayed at the Alberto Del Sole. It had a great location right on the square and it was reasonable. Our room was comfortable and clean. It didn't have a view of the lake, but all you had to do was step out the front door. The restaurant was very good too, and the manager was helpful and charming.