Renting a car in Venice

It would take about 4.5 hours to go from Venice St. Lucia to Varenna through Milano Centrale. The cost is 87.50 euro for second class. If you buy 21 days in advance but under 91 days out you might find a discount. We have driven from Varenna to Venice and the drive is very easy, with a combination of Autostrada and secondary roads. You will need to check the cost of a one day rental and drop-off fee against the price and time for a train. As for car rental companies, we always use autoeurope.com and highly recommend them. Personally, I would take the train because you will arrive relaxed and ready to go. Remember, you must either spend time or money...or both. Buon viaggio,

The train is 4.5 hours (change in Milan) at the cost of 43.95 euro per person one way (full base price) for 2nd class. It might be less if you can get a (non refundable, non changeable) discounted ticket if you buy in advance. So the total cost is 175.80 euro for 2 couples. If you rent a car the cost will be approximately 60 euro a day for the rental (incl. insurance) plus another 30+ euro for fuel and 15.60 euro for tolls. Total cost, approx. 110 euro. Driving time is 3 to 3.5 hours. But, there are no rental car offices in Varenna. Therefore whoever in the party is the driver will need to drive back the 20+km to Lecco (Maggiore and Europcar have a presence there) and return the car, then hop on a train from Lecco to Varenna. Or, all the four of you could return the car in Lecco, then proceed the last 20 km by train. Either way you need to add an additional cost of a few euros for the train, and probably a taxi from the car return to the station in Lecco (although Maggiore is walking distance from the staion). All in all, the travel time would be similar. Driving would be at least one hour faster on paper, but once you add the time to pick up and return the car in Lecco, in the end the 1.5 hr time savings of driving over the train will be gone. Of course driving will give you the flexibility to roam around and visit other places along the way if you wish (Lake Garda, Lake Iseo, Bergamo, Verona etc.). Moral of the long story, unless you plan to roam around some other areas on the way to Varenna you should take the train. If you do decide to rent a car, you should keep it and return it in Milan when you fly away. There should be no rental car drop off fees in the same country (depends on the car company).

Other advantages of the train: You can't get lost. You can stand up and stretch. You can use the bathroom without having to find one on the route. You might meet some interesting people. You can both read and relax. You don't have to worry about whether you're speeding or where the traffic cameras are. You don't have to pay tolls.
You can both take a nap.

Thanks, all good things to think about!

Shari the train trip between Varenna and Venice is easy and comfortable. And the distance is the same whether by car or train. Not having to deal with a car is worth more than just money.

Besides, depending on your travel date, you may be able to get the 19€ Economy fares from Venice to Milan. Milan to Varenna is a regional train and very inexpensive (about 6 euro as I recall).

If money is issue, take the boring train ride. Remember that trains go thru all ugly industrial areas. The original reason for trainsrapid movement of goods. If budget less tight, Rent a car. More fun. More to see. You go where YOU want to. You go when YOU want to. You see what YOU want to. To me that is kinda what a vacation is all about. Getting lost in the Italian countryside is great fun. Venice to Verona, to Lake Garda, to Lake Iseo to Bergamo, to Varenna. Stop in as many places as you have time. Then drop off at Milan airport. Usually no dropoff charges in Italy. All the major renters right where the road out of Venice starts.about a 3 minute walk across the street from the main canal. I have a lot more train horror stories than cars in last 15 years in Italy.
Remember if going by train pack like Rick, ie, not much.