My husband and I are planning a trip to Italy in the spring and want some advice: when visiting Lake Como, should we stay in Bellagio or Varenna. We care more about the experience than we do about the accommodation, but we don't want to be bored.
Thanks!
How long do you plan to be there?
We will be staying 1-2 Days
Really does not matter for your time frame---- its a short boat ride between them
This may not be fair for me to offer an answer because I spent 2 nights in Varenna and about 2 hours in Bellagio, and did not venture into any of its residential areas. My memory of our brief stop in Bellagio was the row of touristy shop windows with glittery jewelry and Murano glass. After one overpriced drink at an outdoor harborside cafe, I was ready to get back on the boat and return to Varenna.
Varenna had more the feel of a town where ordinary Italians actually live. The few streets are mostly steep pedestrian alleys with broad shallow steps, and everywhere's a hike, but a scenic one. In the afternoon the school kids commandeer the main piazza for a soccer field. We liked the Hotel du Lac where the water lapped right below our tiny balcony, and we had a memorable seafood and pasta dinner at Osteria Quatro Pass. That said, Varenna's hardly a hotbed of entertainment, so I'm not sure if it will pass your boredom test. Lake Como in general seemed pretty mellow.
Our favorite day trip was to Villa del Balbianella on the island of Lenno. The house and gardens now belong to the Italian Trust, and the collection of artifacts are better than many museum's.
I was at Varenna in May of this year and loved it! Spent a day in Bellagio and loved it too! If you are into shopping and upscale restaurants than Bellagio is for you, I like quiet, quaint Italian towns with more locals that tourists therefore I spent most of my time in Varenna. Varenna has some excellent restaurants and the hotels are pure backdoor experiences!! It really doesn't matter since the ferry takes you everywhere you want to go on the lake and is easy to negotiate . Price wise, Varenna is much cheaper to stay and eat in.
We avoid the waterfront, ferry area of Bellagio and always have a small town experience there. We got to know the small food shop owners, other vendors. We always stay at the top of town, four trips, one for two weeks. Variety in dining options is very important to us and Bellagio has plenty.
