Stay in Vareena or Milan ?

Hi Carol, Varenna is an easy train jaunt from Milan. 70 min approx.from Milano Centrale Station to Varenna. We stayed (in Sept/07) @ Orange House B&B, a short walk down hill from the train station and a short walk lower to Lago di Como and the ferry dock. I think that we paid 70 or 80 euros with a nice breakfast. Our hosts were very friendly and helpful and it was easy to walk everywhere in town. There are only two rooms, one with double bed and one with twins so booking early is a must. Varenna was very beautiful and relaxing, a great time out from hectic touring. The ferry rides are breathtaking and the best way to see Bellagio, Menaggio and Cadenobia. Enjoy! Sherry

Hi Carol. I agree with staying in Varenna. It's a very relaxing experience and Milan would not offer you the same relaxed atmosphere. You don't need a car to get to/from Varenna. It's a very easy train ride from Milan. We were in Varenna last Sept and we stayed at Albergo Milano which might be pricier than you're looking for but I skimped on some of the accommodations in other places to be able to afford Albergo Milano and I'm glad I did! The place was amazing and we got a room with a lakefront view/balcony and it was like being in heaven!! Have a wonderful trip.

Thank you for your advice, we'll check out those hotels.

From the other side:

Como is a lake

Varenna is a town on a lake

Milan is one of the great cities of Italy

If we do stay in Vareena on the lake, should we take the train into Milan for
the day to explore ??

Carol,

Could you add a bit more information on your travel situation? How many days will you have for this portion of your journey?

I wouldn't suggest staying in Varenna and making day trips to Milan, although that is a possibility. Depending on time, I'd probably spend a few days in Varenna and at least one night in Milan just before you depart. That would provide some time for a relaxing visit to Lago di Como, and also a short time to explore the Duomo and at least a few of the major sights in Milan.

Italy can be expensive regardless of where you stay, so it probably won't matter too much which location you choose (although Milan will probably be a bit more "pricey"). For Hotels you might also have a look at Albergo Olivedo or The Orange House B&B.

Happy travels!

Albergo Oliveda was a wonderful place to stay. Not the cheapest, but much more affordable than some of the other places in Varenna. Great food, and situated right on the water at the ferry dock, so visiting the rest of the lake was easy. Milan is also a wonderful city, but a totally different type of experience. If you want the smaller town feel, stay in Varenna. If you want a more cosmipolitan experience, Milan is the ticket. Both have their pros and cons. Enjoy. Jeff

FWIW, it's Varenna, not Vareena. Have a great time. It's absolutely beautiful.

Thank you for the correct spelling :-) and all the suggestions.