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Lodging in Varenna - any suggestions

Looking for a lakeside hotel or villa in Varenna. Prefer right on the lake or at least with lake view. Hoping for minimal stairs. Any suggestions? Will be in Varenna the first weekend of October.

Posted by
47 posts

This is a while back, but we stayed at Eremo Gaudio in April, 2016 and loved it. I think it was in the RS guidebook at the time, not sure if it's still listed. The rooms are on the side of the hill overlooking the lake with balconies. You can walk up to a castle and maybe a 10-15 min walk downhill to town. We stayed on the main level, but there are also rooms accessible from an elevator. Good breakfast, reasonably priced. I don't recall a lot of stairs. This was one of our favorite hotels in Italy!

Posted by
12 posts

We have stayed twice at Alberto Milano. A small family run hotel with beautiful lake views. Ask for the balcony rooms facing the lake. The rooms are small, but the views are stunning.
The restaurant is one big balcony with lake views, just gorgeous to have breakfast & dinner there.

Posted by
16024 posts

Eremo Gaudio is high up on the hillside. Lake views are great, but the hotel is very "vertical". Albergo Milano is on the lake but is built on the hillside. There are stone steps outside to reach the entrance, and maybe more inside. We stay in the Casa Rosa annex and it has LOTS of steps.

For minimal steps you could look at Hotel du Lac or Villa Cipressi. Both are right on the lake, but not on the hillside ( as far as I recall). I have been in the lobby areas but we have not stayed there. Villa Cipressi has a nice garden area.

Posted by
303 posts

We loved Hotel du Lac! There are few rooms with balconies overlooking the lake, so you need to book these rooms way in advance. Our balcony was set back so we were unable to see the whole lake. Nonetheless, it was a wonderful lakeside hotel. There is an open terrace off the dining room where you can eat outside on a lovely day. The breakfast offerings were the best of our whole trip. There is an elevator, so no stairs to navigate. The hotel is close to the lakeside promenade. Again, no stairs. I can highly recommend this hotel.

Posted by
2023 posts

I totally agree with Hotel du lac--gorgeous place. We chose the hotel recommended by RS lots of stairs --the one at the ferry. Really disliked it --rude owner Laura ( I think that was her name) I assume the one at the desk who ran things was the owner. I took a walk down to Hotel du Lac and it looked perfect and if we ever go back we will book a room there.

Posted by
786 posts

Our stay at Hotel Villa Cipressi was great! Beautiful view of the lake; easy walking to everything; pleasant and professional staff; wonderful breakfast. I would have no hesitation in staying there again.

Posted by
610 posts

Another vote for Villa Cipressi - this is one of the most beautiful places I've ever stayed. The rooms were spacious and comfortable and the views of the lake were astounding. There was a fantastic garden right along the lake, and it is right next door to another villa where you can tour the garden, which was our favorite garden of the trip. Have a lovely time!

Posted by
870 posts

We stayed in Hotel du Lac.....great location and enjoyed a large room with a balcony. We had a wonderful breakfast in their dining room with a view of the lake.