Varenna (Lake Como) hotel/apartment recommendations

Check out Villa Cipressi which we think is great!! Would stay there again in a heart beat.

It's been a few years, but my husband and I loved our stay at Albergo Milano in Varenna. We stayed for a couple nights before transferring to the Rick Steves Best of Italy tour hotel. While that hotel was fine, if we return to Varenna in the future we would book Albergo Milano again.

I was in Varenna for 2 nights on my own and 2 nights on a Rick Steves tour and stayed in Hotel Royal Victoria. The breakfast buffet was awesome (including open bottles of prosecco in the juice area, lol!). If your budget runs to it when I was on my own I had a room with a view of the lake and a balcony which was wonderful. Not sure what rooms they have for lodging for 3 people if you all need to stay in the same room.

If you stay here, I recommend you make a couple of circuits of the breakfast buffet before you dig in so you can see all there is to see.

We stayed in the MIlano Albergo operated apartment Casa Tre Archi last September for 3 days and it was really nice. The little patio had a slot view of the lake and it has a big living room and a little kitchen. The bedroom and bathroom are down the spiral staircase - as pictured on the website - but once you get used to that we really enjoyed it.

You need to walk the "block" to the hotel for breakfast on the wonderful patio overlooking the lake but that's what Varenna is about.

Enjoy!
=Tod

We loved the Hotel du Lac, its lake front with an amazing terrace. We had a balcony overlooking the lake. Good breakfast included.

Hotel Olivedo is in the thick of it. The rooms are comfortable and the restaurant is good. We've stayed at a number of AirBnB''s in Varenna as well. With 3 adults, how many bedrooms would you require? The apartments along Via Venini host many places to stay with varying size and space. The old town section has many B&B's as well.

Thank you for all of your recommendations. Hotel Olivedo is a great location, close to ferry. Should I be concerned with noise level if I stay at Hotel Olivedo?

I am also looking at Villa Monti, however it's location is farther from ferry. Has anyone stayed here and in the Primrose Apartment?

At a minimum, for 3 adults, looking for a room/apartment with at least one separate bedroom and living room with sofa bed.

Thank you.

I've not stayed in Villa Monti but just looked at a picture of the location. It is right above the main railroad track that runs N-S. That would be a no for me. It enters the tunnel just beyond Villa Monti.

https://goo.gl/maps/UWECrrgBMcwhAeV66

Also, be aware of the geography of Varenna. The ferry dock is the low point in town along with the Passarella...the sidewalk along the lakefront. From there everything is uphill! Villa Monti is substantially above Villa Cipressi and Royal Victoria and they are higher than the dock and small harbor.

As far as noise from the ferries, it is personal preference. The crowds and buses during the day could be a bigger annoyance if you plan on staying near the hotel rather than out exploring. We have enjoyed our stays there. In reference to it being on the low point of the city, this is true. However, I find the uphill walks invigorating, while the downhill strolls on the way home a delight. YMMV

Hotel Olivedo was very quiet at night when we stayed there.

If kindness, nurturing a sunny room and delicious breakfast are important to you, then I'd suggest staying with Renata and Antonio Terzi at "il Bolentino" in Varenna. We stayed at il Bolentino for a week a few years back and left as lifelong friends.

Albergo Eremo Gaudio
Basic rooms, but unbelievable views from the terrace, specially at night. Taxi from the train station. Former monastery