stay in Varenna...day trip to Milan?

It is certainly doable. I've done a day trip in the opposite direction (Milan to Como) and have also stayed in Varenna. Varenna is a really pleasant town to stay in so I think your idea is a good one. You can easily see the main sites in Milan in a day.

We just stayed in Varenna last week at the Hotel Eremo Gaudio. Awesome. Just don't plan on getting any more than a snack at the hotel. We did a trip from Milan to Varenna for one night and then back for the Last Supper before going off to Venice.

Train tickets are 5.1 euros per person each way. Train is the train to Tirano (sp??) I believe.

Lake Como has to be the most beautiful place on earth.

Let me know if I can help.

Mike

We stayed at Villa Elena in Varenna for 45 Euro a night. It's a large house right on the town square. The owner, Signora Vitali lives downstairs and rents 4 upstairs rooms. Her phone number is: 0341-830-575.

I think that you'll enjoying staying in Varenna and taking a day trip to Milan rather than spending a night or 2 in Milan.

You can efficiently see most of the highlights of Milan by daytripping from Varenna. We spent about 6 hours in Milan and viewed the Duomo, climbed the roof, stopped for a cappucino in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, did the LaScala tour, viewed the Last Supper, and ate an amazing panzerotti from Luini's (near the duomo, very inexpensive, filling, and yummy!). We wanted to see the Leonardo da Vinci Science Museum, but it was closed. I'm sure we missed other things that could be highlights, but we enjoyed what we saw and did. Check out the Orange House B&B http://www.orangehouse.org/en/. Very convenient to the train station in Varenna, good prices, very clean, and sweet owners-Mara and Piero-who had great restaurant recommendations and were very helpful.

Sharon and Char- thank you for the hotel recommendations. I sent emails to both hoping they have a room available. Both would be a much better option then what i have found in Milan and this way I get to see two places instead of one! Is it easy to get to these hotels from the train station?

Yes, I can highly recommend Albergo Milano in Varenna:
http://www.varenna.net/

The central part of Varenna is about a 10-15 minute walk from the train station. You'd have to make that walk to almost any hotel in Varenna.

For Villa Elena you might have to make a phone call--not sure if she has a website.

Best!
Sharon

Melissa.Milan is not like any other italian city.It is more of a bussiness center,your usual big busy european metropolis.Unlike Rome,Florence,Bologna etc.,everything you need to see is around downtown(Duomo,last supper,la scala,galleria).So one day is more then enough,unless you want to do it all over again or visit regular working class areas.So get there in the morning and by evening you've seen it all and get the heck out of town.One advise:Find a place to eat a little further then around the DUOMO.Everything in the area is overpriced.One value meal at the MCdonald's inside Galleria,ready...6.80 euros.They even charge you for the catchup.It's true.

Both Villa Elena and Orange House were booked :-(. Any other hotel suggestions? possibly in Como? I'd really prefer not to stay in Milan

Hi Melissa,
Here's another possibility: Rick writes in his 2008 Italy book: "The TI, across from the tobacco shop, down the street from the main square, has a list of affitta camere--houses that rent out a few rooms."

The phone number is: 0341-830-367 or www.varennaitaly.com

I've stayed twice at Albergo Olivedo.I love the Liberty style,and the outdoor meals right on the lake.Very reasonable-ask Laura for the least expensive possibiliy.Both times I did the bath-down-the-hall, because of my tight budget.Never saw another soul in the hallways,even though full.There are only a few no bath rooms.
It's right at the ferry stop and about a 5-10 minute walk from the train station.Taxis available if necessary. www.Olivedo.it
It is so much more pleasant to stay in Varenna than Milan,and the train is direct.If you are hoping to see The Last Supper,try for tickets immediately!I traveled with a larger group,and it wasn't possible to get tickets 2 months in advance.

Second class train tickets between Milan and Varenna are 5.10 euro each way, so you'll be ahead if you can save more than 20 euro on your 2 or 3 nights of lodging. Varenna is also a very nice and relaxing place to spend a few days.