We have booked a 3-night stay in Varenna in Mid-November. I have been reading that both Varenna and Bellagio are ghost towns at this time of the year. Would it be better to stay in Lecco for 3 nights and take the train up to Varenna which takes only 22 minutes. My friend Bettie likes to shop and most things will be closed in Varenna and Bellagio. We would like your opinion on this topic.
Thank You
After my experience last September, I would love to visit Varenna when it's a ghost town! It was so horribly crowded. But I think your new plan is best. I visited on a daytrip from Lecco and it was indeed easy, except maybe for the uphill hike back to the train station! On a daytrip in off season, you could actually enjoy Varenna, I think.
I stayed in Lecco for three nights and really enjoyed the town. You didn't ask, but consider Huonder House for your stay. To the best of my knowledge, they have a one-bedroom apartment and a two-bedroom apartment. The hosts are excellent and the apartment was perfect for me - they had thought of everything.
Population numbers place Lecco in between very small Varenna and Bellagio which has 3500 residents. I always have stayed in Bellagio but like Lenno too. Why wouldn’t Bellagio, Varenna, and Lecco be the same as far as being “open.” I have never heard this about Bellagio and Varenna before, shops being closed.
Contact www.bellagiolakecomo.com for clarification. I have never heard anything like you describe.
When I google, I get 48,000 as Lecco's population - it's far larger than Bellagio.
Lecco is the Provincial capital city of the area and way larger than Bellagio. Once you count the population of Valmadrera, attached to Lecco and just across the Adda River, we are talking about a metro area of about 70,000 people, so a small city not a village. Personally I don’t like Lecco too much, but in November it is probably not as dead as Varenna.
My daughter was in Varenna in mid -November and it was very quiet. They did some hiking but there wasn’t much open in town.
Lecco, as most of the shops and other accommodations will be closed for the season.
We stayed in Varenna in early October, it was not crowded at all, it was very nice, weather cooperated but don't know how it will be in November, it may be a little chilly. We would go back there in a heartbeat. Very quaint town, took the ferry almost daily to Bellagio for more food options as Varenna is a smaller village plus you don't know if some of the restaurants are opened seasonally. I cannot remember the name of the restaurant we dined at for dinner a few times, but the food was top notch! Found a fantastic Coffee/Pastry shop just steps from our apartment, very friendly people.
Thanks for all your replies. We booked a hotel in Varenna and realized we can always take the train down to Lecco for shopping and Resteraunts. as its only 22 minutes away. We also want to take the Red Train to St Moritz where Varenna will be handy to do so.
