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5 nights Varenna or Bellagio for hotel?

Hello! I would love any input for where is better to hotel? Husband and I going by ourselves for day tripping walking shopping eating. Any suggestions where is better?? We can day trip to the other. Thank you!

Posted by
8375 posts

Bellagio is bigger, glitzier (they named a hotel in Las Vegas after it, you know), more hotels, shops, restaurants; Varenna, is quieter, prettier, moreover laid back. But they're within a short ferry ride of each other, so your call. The train stops in Varenna.

Posted by
32171 posts

My suggestion would be to stay in Varenna, and the hotel listed in a previous reply would be a good choice. Varenna is slightly more convenient for transportation as that's where the train station is located.

However if you have a large budget and want to be pampered, you could also have a look at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio.

Posted by
321 posts

Here is my response to a previous inquiry re Varenna- We spent several nights in Varenna 20 (or 30?) years ago. We had an inexpensive room in the attic on the 4th floor floor of the yellow hotel ( Hotel Olivedo) located about a block from the dock on the lake. This was in mid September and (with no reservation) was the only room available in this hotel. In those days Varenna was a place to unwind. That appears to also be true today according to the 3 comments of Laura, Matt, and CW above. There was a small stone and cement path to follow along the edge of the lake to visit several of the nearby restaurants and watch the boats on the lake. Due to the shortage of Lira (see the $100 bill changing problem described below), we didn't take any boat rides on the lake.

A few details that stand out in my memory bank-

Most Italian banks wouldn't exchange $100 bills for Lira due to a surge in counterfeit bills. The owner of the hotel cashed several for me at a good rate so I could pay for the room, buy food and beer, and buy enough gas to get to Switzerland where we had no trouble changing dollars for Swiss francs

The evening meal we had at the hotel the second night was fantastic- fresh fish caught from the lake that day

Room was at the top of the stairs on the 4th floor- the owner helped with the bags

I had a business card from the hotel but I remember giving the card to a TWA pilot when he mentioned that he was planning a trip to the Italian lakes

Have a great trip next September (2021)!!!

We did spend an afternoon in Bellagio and several nights in Stressa. Personally I would be bored spending 5 nights in any one of these 3 towns. However, Stressa did have more day trip choices...

Posted by
786 posts

We chose Varenna during our trip, because as mentioned previously it is much quieter. Our stay at Hotel Villa Cipressi was very enjoyable; beautiful lake view; great breakfast and professional service from the staff. At the time we we were in Varenna, there was not a ticket machine at the train station, so we had to purchase them ahead of time in town. Several people did not realize this, and as a result had to return to the village to obtain them. Enjoy your trip!

Posted by
32512 posts

yikir's post is subtle diabolical spam. Do NOT click on his hidden link in his non-emoji.

Reported to webmaster sor appropriate action.

Posted by
1357 posts

Ten years ago we stayed in Varenna at the Hotel Royal Victoria for 2 nights and had a great experience. Unless you carry a lot of baggage why not spend 2 nights in one and 3 in the other?

Posted by
11052 posts

We have been to Bellagio four times, once for two weeks, up the hill away from tourist crowds. It is not glitzy! We take day trips all over the lake by ferry including pretty little Varenna.
We prefer Bellagio as there are more dining and ferry options and it is quieter for sleeping, no road or train noise.

Posted by
1321 posts

I prefer Bellagio but i have never actually stayed n Varenna. It seems too sleepy for me. We stay at Hotel Bellagio the sister hotel to Hotel du Lac. It's a nice place with a great staff.

Posted by
2700 posts

I stayed in Varenna and visited Bellagio. Bellagio was too upscale for my taste. Varenna was more relaxed. Plus the train station was there. Like an earlier poster, we stayed at Hotel Olivedo and were quiet happy with it -- magical views!

Posted by
1059 posts

Hotel Royal Victoria is a great hotel and I would stay there again. I would caution not to get a room that overlooks the square with the church across the square. The church bells ring every hour until 10 pm and sometimes more often if something is going on at the church. Listening to the bells was really nice unless you tried to take a nap during the day or went to bed early after jet lag. The rooms were great and the staff was very friendly. I do highly recommend the hotel.

Posted by
771 posts

Another vote for staying in Varenna. We stayed in the Rick Steves recommended Albergo Milano. We had a room with a terrace overlooking Lake Como, with a gorgeous view. The terrace was over their La Vista restaurant, which also had beautiful views of the lake (and delicious meals.) It was an easy walk down to the ferry terminal to catch ferries to the other towns. We also took a cooking class with Il Caminetto Restaurant: http://www.ilcaminettoonline.com/lezioni_e.html, well reviewed by others on this forum.

Posted by
11052 posts

I have never stayed in Varenna either but did have some meals there, explored a bit. You can’t go wrong! It depends on how long you’re staying and a choice of dining options that interest you. Enjoy whichever place you choose to stay. Neither is very upscale; if you prefer that , there are several hotels on the lake that are upscale such as Villa d’ Este.
But do visit some other towns on the lake. We bought week long ferry passes.

Posted by
1045 posts

I stayed at the Albergo Milano several years ago. Months in advance I had reserved a room with a deck overlooking the lake. It was magical! In the middle of the night there was a thunder and lightning storm across the lake. Forget sleeping! This was too wonderful to miss. The next afternoon there was a note from the hotel that I was to be moved to another room (no view, unless I leaned out the window) and not to worry, they would just move all my things. Since I was to stay for nearly a week, I had pretty much unpacked everything. Lower rate? No. Explanation? Yes, someone wanted the room. Huh? It took some arguing but I did get a refund since I left after one night in the smaller, view-less room. Sorry - should have been a wonderful experience but what awful people!

Posted by
367 posts

We stayed for 5 nights in the centre of Bellagio in May 2019. Like you, I had trouble deciding between Bellagio and Varenna. Most people at this site suggested Varenna, but when I did more research I decided on Bellagio because there are way more eating options (both restaurant and grocery). Most of the accommodation I was finding for Varenna was quite far out of town, and we like to be closer so we don't have a long walk home at the end of the day (I realize there is accommodation right in Varenna, but at the time I couldn't find anything I liked and could afford).

I found an apartment on VRBO: https://www.vrbo.com/820087?adultsCount=3&noDates=true (if the link doesn't work, it's VRBO property 82008 "Lake View in the Heart of Town"). It was the least expensive of all the places we stayed during our month-long trip. I think it was like 125 euros a night. The location was great because we could pop in and out, rather than leaving and then being out for the whole day because it's a trek to get back to your base). Yes, Bellagio is touristy, but by 5 o'clock, most of the day trippers are gone. It was very quiet at night. I would stay here again in a heartbeat. I have wonderful memories of enjoying coffee on the bedroom balcony in the morning, and I took way too many photos of the lake from the front juliet-balcony.

I also don't find Bellagio glitzy. Touristy, yes, but not in that cringy ugly way. I found it charming.

Posted by
15041 posts

Without a car it's a toss between Varenna and Bellagio. Both are quaint, the former is smaller therefore may have fewer restaurant/hotel options. But wherever you stay you'll be happy. The presence of the station may not be that crucial. There are plenty of ferries going across between the two and the crossing is only a handful of minutes. Just stay wherever you find the hotel accommodations that are most to your liking.

If you have a car, Menaggio is better. More parking options and the possibility to drive to Lugano for a day trip (40 min away). From there you can take the ferry and be to either Bellagio or Varenna