The gardens are absolutely stunning and the views of Lake Como are unreal — definitely a must-visit for photo lovers! Dress cute, this place is made for dreamy pics. We bought tickets online and skipped the line. The villa interior isn’t super impressive, but the outdoor beauty makes it 100% worth it.

This is truely a lovely villa. The setting on the north end of Varenna is perfectly quiet. Property is between the road and Lake Como allowing for a magical stroll along the water. The property seemed a little worn. After a couple of days of train the paths suffered from large puddles making passage distracting on some portions. Other features were closed for repairs. The house was a treat and more intimate than some of the other villas we visited. Be sure to visit the exhibit room under the where you'll get your tickets and enter property. They have a fine audio and visual show that allows you to chose topics on the family and property history of the villa as well as the garden and it's flora. We visited in the second half of September but I can imagine Villa Monastero in blume is just amazing.

nice place. if you want to walk through the garden, it is worth spending 2 hours. there is a queue at the popular places to take pictures and you can't even look at it if you don't wait. difficult with a stroller. It's worth going in the morning, there's no line, there are fewer people

One word – magnificent. I recommend buying tickets in advance to avoid waiting. We arrived at 10 a.m. and waited about 20 minutes in line. The villa opens at 10:00 a.m. They allow only a limited number of visitors inside, which is great because it’s not overcrowded. The ticket costs €10

This is the most beautiful place I have ever been on Earth and I mean that. Wow just wow. The gardens are incredibly stunning and well kept and I probably took hundreds of photos here. Do not skip this place if you are in Varenna and spend some time here I promise it’s worth it!!! So much gorgeous scenery it felt like I was inside a pinterest board. If you are walking here from where the ferry drops you off make sure to walk along the path right next to the water with the red fence for some of the best views of the lake and then at the end head up one of the streets/stairs to get to the villa entrance.

We had a fabulous day at Villa Monastero, where every inch felt intentionally designed and beautifully maintained. The atmosphere was serene and tranquil, with stunning architecture all around—the elegant pillars, soaring arches, and vibrant flower displays made it a feast for the eyes. We visited in mid-June, when the temperature reached 34°C, yet there were plenty of shaded spots to pause and enjoy the scenery. One of our favourite moments was sitting at a picnic bench under the shade, having some snacks while taking in the spectacular lake views. The café on site offers refreshments, and there is one toilet for each gender. Both were beautifully prepared and spotless, which was a welcome detail. The combination of breathtaking views, peaceful atmosphere, and architectural beauty made Villa Monastero a truly memorable experience. It’s the kind of place where you can slow down, breathe, and simply enjoy the beauty of Lake Como. Kids go free

Great views over the lake and beautiful gardens! I booked timed entry tickets in advance over the website, which reduced the need to queue to pay for tickets at the entrance. My family enjoyed the walk through the gardens although it could get very hot in the summer! A little crowded on the Sunday we were there.

Glad we discovered this gem online and booked a tour in advance. The service was good and my kids enjoyed the boat ride. The boat was comfortable and the captain was humorous and shared information about the various locations along the trip.

I'd give this 10 stars if I could. Me and my partner booked the shared Classic tour lasting 1 hour, the tour was booked to start at 6pm, we arrived at 5:50pm and checked in as per the email instructions. Luckily for us we were the only 2 to have booked the tour and therefore had the tour to ourselves. This is the highlight of our Italian lakes trip so far, the captain was so great, played great music, provided excellent photography skills, (he took photos of me and my partner together) and provided good and interesting information about the landmarks around the centre of the lake, despite his limited English. The boat was lovely, clean and looked very stylish. We felt so lucky and enjoyed the boat trip so much, can't recommend the service enough.

Loved our Villa Balbianello tour experience with Taxi Boat. The ride to and from Varenna is gorgeous and the driver pointed out many grand villas along the way. The villa tour itself was very informative and we got a fascinating glimpse of the structure’s history. Thoroughly appreciated the timing of the pickup and drop off at the villa dock as well. Highly recommend!

Great value for this trip! We loved getting on the water and the tour of Balibionello was a highlight. It’s so much more than a beautiful place and we are happy we booked this tour to learn about it.

We booked this taxi boat last minute on Saturday to go from Varenna to Tremezzo. When we are getting in we explained the driver we need to take some pucs along the way and if he could drive bit slowly. He agreed at that point. But when the boat started he blistered through the ride, 15 minutes ride was only 10 minutes. When we asked him whether he could stop in the middle of the lake for us to take some pictures he was very rude about it and he screamed at me saying he has another tour and he has to go back soon. We paid a huge amount of money just for a 10 minute ride. I understand they are also doing continuous tours, but you have to make your customers happy by atleast giving them some comfort and listening to them. When the boat stopoed at tremezzo. He was like get down get down i have to go. He was rushing so much. I do not recommend this company for tours. Drivers re very rude and arrogant. There are other 2 boat companies in varenna just check them out

Great communication and a reminder after booking and the day before was great. The instructions were detailed and easy to follow. Nice boat ride and ease of seeing the Villa was amazing. We particularly enjoyed information from the boat driver. Would recommend plus added feature was being able to be dropped off in Bellagio after the tour.

Christian, the captain/pilot of the boat was charming! I had a great time on the 2.5 hour Lake Como tour that included a visit to the beautiful Villa del Balbianello. The views from the boat are beautiful, and I was able to get many terrific photos. There were only 4 of us on the tour, which was perfect! I would highly recommend this boat/villa tour to get a flavor of Lake Como.

We had a wonderful time in Il Caminetto, after our first dinner in this superb place, we loved it so much that we had to come back again. We decided to try it out after reading very good reviews and I can honestly say they were real and this place deserves more than one visit. The owners are wonderful and friendly, the local is very nice decorated and the food is divine! I encorage you to have this experience, you will not be dissapointed!

WOW. Where to start. My only regret is not coming back for more than one visit at this was our most memorable meal in 2 weeks in Italy, and topped by none. This was more than a meal it was essentially an evening experience like nothing else. I know that is a commonly claimed in many reviews but this was well worth leaving Varenna/our AirBnB area to try and would even say worth coming from other towns in the Lake Como area to visit. They offered pickup and drop off service which was greatly appreciated and reflective of the overall warm hospitality of the experience. Most importantly the food was DELICIOUS. Every single thing we tasted was memorable and cooked to perfection. You can sense the pride in every dish from the chef who is extremely talented and hardworking, and still takes time to greet guests. Would recommend the tasting menu ... and then I should have come back to try other dishes for a second visit. Very reasonably priced as well.

Lovely dining experience and fantastic service from this family run restaurant. Chef is super friendly and comes out to take your order, and his good lady wife picks you up from the surrounding area and then drops you back at the end of the evening. We had the set menu, which was great value 👍🇮🇹

One of the best dining experiences we’ve every had in Italy. The owners (chef & front of house), were exceptional, the food was incredible & the restaurant itself was very charming. Highly recommend.

The food was incredible! Good sized portions, be amazing to detail—utensils heated up appropriately! We left with our bellies and wallets full :) 62 euro for a 3 course menu, a plate of pasta, a coffee, 500 ml of wine, and a beer! Amazing place—open for dine in despite what google says. Come on in and enjoy the amazing homemade food

Wish I had taken more pictures of the food—everything was so delicious. I ordered the “tasting menu” at 35€ and was astonished by the quantity of food I got…I don’t think you can find a more fair-priced restaurant in the area. Went with a big group of friends and everyone absolutely adored this place. Worth the little trip from wherever you’re staying at!

Absolutely fantastic food and drinks in a very authentic setting at very affordable prices. Can't recommend Il Caminetto enough, it's THE place to go if you are in Varenna or Perledo. Make sure you call to book though!

This historic hiking trail that runs along the eastern shore of Lake Como stretches for about 45 km from Abbadia Lariana in the south to Colico in the north. It is typically divided into five stages, making it accessible for both day hikes and multi-day treks: 1. Abbadia Lariana to Lierna: This section is relatively easy, with well-marked paths and gentle ascents. It passes through the charming village of Mandello del Lario, known for its motorbike museum dedicated to Moto Guzzi. 2. Lierna to Varenna: This moderately challenging stage takes you through picturesque landscapes and small hamlets. Varenna is a highlight, with its romantic lakeside setting and attractions like Villa Monastero and Castello di Vezio. 3. Varenna to Dervio: This part of the trail offers more elevation changes and stunning views. Dervio, with its medieval tower and waterfront promenade, is a delightful stop. 4. Dervio to Bellano: This segment is moderately difficult, featuring steep ascents and descents. Bellano is famous for the Orrido di Bellano, a dramatic gorge with cascading waterfalls. 5. Bellano to Colico: The final stage is the most challenging, with rugged terrain and significant elevation gain. Colico, situated at the northern tip of Lake Como, offers a range of amenities and historical sites, including the Forte Montecchio Nord. The trail can be accessed from several points along its route, with train stations in Abbadia Lariana, Varenna, Dervio, and Colico providing convenient starting and ending points. It is well-marked with orange signs and painted waymarkers. However, carrying a detailed map or GPS is advisable, especially for less experienced hikers.

The views are pretty good, but we spent almost 2 hours trying to find the trial and understand the arrows on the signs, and googling every reference we could find online. Once you find it and get going the right direction, it’s well marked, but man is it a struggle to get there. Some very sweet locals tried to help us but the language barrier was tricky. We finally found it, and it was nice, but not spectacular.

Splendide viste , esteso, ben curato

Wow.

(Translated by Google) Nice path, to be done in stages starting from Lecco, convenient to use the train to return. (Original) Bel sentiero , , da fare a tappe partendo da lecco, comodo usare il treno per tornare.

(Translated by Google) Given the almost 2 hour drive to reach Varenna, we opted for the third stage of this path, the most panoramic apparently and from the information found online it is "only" 12km and an average difference in altitude. This stretch is truly panoramic, the only thing is that we covered 19 km. Luckily we return by train! (Original) Visto le quasi 2ore di macchina per raggiungere Varenna, abbiamo optato per la terza tappa di questo sentiero, la più panoramica a quanto pare e dalle info trovate in rete di "soli" 12km e un dislivello medio. Questo tratto è davvero panoramico, l'unica cosa è che di km ne abbiamo fatti 19. Per fortuna si ritorna con il treno!

(Translated by Google) Beautiful, picturesque, and at times tiring, but worth it. The views and landscapes are wonderful. (Original) Bellissimo, caratteristico, a tratti faticoso ma ne vale la pena. Vista e paesaggi meravigliosi

We did a 3-hour boat rental today with Lake Como Boat and it was an amazing experience! We opted for the self-drive option with a small 40HP boat — no boating license required, and it was very easy to handle. It’s a great way to explore Lake Como at your own pace and see all the main spots from the water. Definitely a fun and more affordable alternative to the classic Riva boat tours, which can be quite pricey. Highly recommended!

Lake Como Boat was awesome. My friend and I had a great time! Connor gave us some great tips on exploring lake como. We were first time boaters and a bit nervous but staff was super helpful and taught us everything we needed to know. Recommend to everyone that’s in the area!!

Fantastic Experience, We booked a boat for an hour, Captain Ugo took us around, We visited Bellagio, The nicest mansions and lakes around the lake. He was very knowledgeable, Friendly and professional. We would like to come back in Summer, We would like to go around with Ugo again. David was nice too.

We had an amazing experience with Lake Como Boat tours. We did this boat tour to commemorate new beginnings. Gabrielle, our captain, showed us the beautiful towns on Lake como which is very beautiful! Gabrielle was an awesome driver and we can’t thank him enough for giving us a nice ride around. This was a valuable experience and we can’t wait to do this again!

Went on our boat tour yesterday, we did 3 hours which is highly recommended to visit key swimming spots like Nesso and get lost in this beautiful lake. Lake como boat were highly professional, picked us up and went through controls, health and safety and made us feel really comfortable and confident behind the wheel! They were polite, professional and friendly- really recommend as they were also very reasonably priced. Will definitely use Lake como boat again when we return. Thank you

Had an absolute incredible experience renting a boat today. The lads were both lovely and the boat was perfect. It was plenty fast enough and easy to control. They also gave us a perfect route for our three hour slot we were really happy with what we saw. The boat has a ladder so you can hop in for a swim with amazing views.

We rented a boat on Lake Como today and had an absolutely amazing experience! The views were breathtaking, the water was calm and peaceful, and exploring the lake at our own pace was unforgettable. The boat was in great condition and easy to handle, and the staff was friendly and helpful throughout the whole process. It was truly one of the highlights of our trip — we highly recommend this company Lake Como boat !

We visited Hotel Villa Cipressi to explore the gardens, and it was absolutely worth the €10 entry fee. The views of Lake Como were stunning – peaceful, romantic, and perfect for photos. The gardens are well kept and offer a lovely walk through nature with gorgeous backdrops. We queued at the famous gate for a photo, but the line was quite hectic and we ended up waiting over an hour. Some people took their time, which is understandable, but it did slow things down a lot. It would be great if the hotel added a staff member to help manage the queue, maybe allowing around 2 minutes per person. That small change could make the experience smoother for everyone. After finally getting our photo, we enjoyed a drink by the bar. We didn’t check the price in advance, and a glass of Aperol Spritz came to €18 – definitely on the pricey side, but with that view, it's somewhat understandable. All in all, it was a lovely experience and we’ll definitely be back. Just a few improvements could make it perfect!

A Magical Stay by Lake Como! We stayed at Hotel Villa Cipressi for a wedding, and it was absolutely unforgettable. The location is breathtaking surrounded by stunning gardens and panoramic views of Lake Como that feel straight out of a dream. The staff was kind and professional, always ready to help with a smile. The rooms are charming and elegant, perfectly blending history with comfort. Everything was beautifully organized for the wedding from the ceremony overlooking the lake to the dinner under the stars. It’s one of those places that truly captures the magic of Italy.

We traveled across Italy, stayed in jaw-dropping spots, and met enough kind locals to start our own Vespa gang. Then came Hotel Villa Cipressi — the final boss of vacation letdowns. Months of careful planning, friendly emails, and confirmations to make our 30th anniversary smooth as gelato? Useless. Check-in was an Olympic event in chaos: “Do you have a parking pass?” “No.” “Oh wait, yes you do.” (Thirty minutes later.) While waiting, we were invited to fetch our own luggage — from the car parked right out front — because, of course, self-service romance is all the rage in Italy now. The room? Allegedly upgraded. Downgrade per my reservation. In reality, it was more “Motel 6 study abroad.” The bed was petrified wood, the pillows flatter than my optimism, and the towels could sand furniture. Shower door didn’t close, but hey — nothing says intimacy like flooding your bathroom together! Breakfast? Hidden like a national secret until day two. The veranda? Closed for a wedding — directly below our window. But, it will shut down at 10PM she said! The bar and restaurant? Also closed, because apparently the entire hotel attended that wedding. (Cue the Soup Nazi voice: “No wine for you!” 🍷) Now for the real kicker: the gardens. Oh, the famous gardens! Except you’ll be asked to pay admission each time you enter — even if you’re a guest, then they begrudgingly ask you name a check, then with a sneer, the glass door is opened. Because nothing screams “exclusive stay” like being asked for tickets to walk past your own room. And when the public gardens close? So do the hotel grounds. That’s right — locked out of paradise while paying to be there. At this point, all we could do was laugh. So sure, 5 stars. Would absolutely poop there again. 💩

We were here for a wedding, and it’s hard not to enjoy this hotel simply for its incredible location and atmosphere. The rooms were on the smaller side and the service was just okay, but overall we still had a good experience. It does feel like the property relies a bit on its setting rather than refining everything else, but as long as you go in with that expectation, it’s perfectly serviceable.

I shot a wedding at Hotel Villa Cipressi on Lake Como and the views are just unreal - every direction you look is a postcard. The light, the mountains, the water, it’s all just so dreamy! Beautiful gardens, winding little paths, and the prettiest spots for photos everywhere, overlooking the lake. One of my favourite places in the world!

Save your money and buy a pass to the gardens but definitely don’t stay here. The worst customer service. Check in was awful and the night reception was incredibly rude. The day staff kept forgetting we were guests and kept yelling at us to pay to get in. I left 2 jackets in the closet upon check out and emailed to see if I could get them back somehow, Still no response a week later. Now I have lost the jackets completely as I am home now. The room was bare and felt like a hospital room. The blankets were terrible. Everything about this place is awful except the terrace views & the gardens.Do not recommend to anyone to stay here ever! Considering this was my first stop on our Italy travels I am disgusted and saddened I chose this place to be so important on my list of travels. Huge disappointment.

We visited the Christmas decorations and botanical gardens. It was brilliant! Fair price Very nice views of the Como lake from the garden. The decoration are impeccable. Fantastic experience in Varenna, highly recommend

(Translated by Google) This city and also the square are very beautiful - but there are so many people here that you can't even walk or find something to drink and eat. And if you find something you can't pay for it 😉 plus there are so many motorcycles that make a lot of noise. I'm sorry, but the city is so beautiful, it gets so horrible with so many people. (Original) Esta ciudad y también la plaza está muy bonito - pero hay tanta gente aquí que ni se puede andar o encontrar algo para tomar y comer. Y si encuentras algo no puedes pagarlo 😉 además hay tantas motos que hacen mucho ruido. Lo lamento, pero de tan hermosa la ciudad es de tan horrible se pone con tanta gente

(Translated by Google) Piazza San Giorgio is the main square in the historic center of Varenna, in the province of Lecco. It is dominated by the church of San Giorgio, an architectural complex that dates back to the transition between Romanesque and Gothic. The Piazza: It is the beating heart of Varenna, a small but charming village along the shores of Lake Como. Surrounded by lively buildings, the square offers a picturesque and suggestive atmosphere. full of places to stop and eat something. Very popular also thanks to the church that overlooks the square. (Original) Piazza San Giorgio è la piazza principale del centro storico di Varenna, in provincia di Lecco. È dominata dalla chiesa di San Giorgio, un complesso architettonico che risale al passaggio tra il romanico e il gotico. La Piazza: È il cuore pulsante di Varenna, un piccolo ma affascinante paese lungo le rive del Lago di Como. Circondata da edifici vivaci, la piazza offre un'atmosfera pittoresca e suggestiva. piena di locali dove fermarsi e mangiare qualcosa. Molto frequentata anche grazie alla chiesa che si affaccia sulla piazza.

📍 Piazza San Giorgio – Varenna, Lake Como, Italy 🇮🇹 The central square of Varenna 🏡, surrounded by cafés ☕, small shops 🛍️, and historic churches like Chiesa di San Giorgio ⛪. It’s a lively spot where tourists and locals stroll 🚶‍♂️, often stopping for gelato or a drink. The square has a relaxed, authentic charm 🌿 and is the perfect place to sit and take in the atmosphere before continuing to the lakefront 🌊.

(Translated by Google) Super quiet and beautiful town. Parking is also very convenient. (Original) 超級寧靜美麗的小鎮 停車也非常的方便

A nice small square in the center Varenna - Como Lake area , surrounded with some restaurants and hotels and in the other side there is the church of St. Giorgio

(Translated by Google) Square in the upper part of the town, there is the church of San Giorgio which is the main church, various activities as well as the info point. From here, a few meters away you reach the Botanical Garden at the Villa Cipressi hotel. Nice square (Original) Piazza nella parte alta del paese, c'è la chiesa di San Giorgio che è la chiesa principale, varie attività oltre all'info point. Da qui a pochi metri di arriva al Giardino Botanico all'hotel villa Cipressi. Piazza carina

(Translated by Google) Varenna is a quieter, less touristy village than Bellagio. It features narrow streets, colorful houses, and lakeside villas. It's easily accessible by boat. (Original) Varenna est un petit village plus calme et moins touristique que Bellagio. Présence de petites ruelles, petites maisons colorées et villas en bordure de lac. Accès facile par bateau.

Peaceful varenna! Hope my wife and I can go there once again! I was so excited to see my wife smile and enjoyed the stay there! Cannot ask for more in this life!

A lovely promenade along the coast of the beautiful town of Varrena. The views are spectacular.

You have to walk this trail if you’re ever in the area, really nice views along the trail

Beautiful and pleasant way to walk, also for kids. We had a marvellous sunny morning until noon with our two kids 4 and 6 years old on this way, took the train back.

Pretty and short walkway along the waters edge, can be very busy in summer

Very serene and picturesque place

This walk Leads all the way to Pino in the south. It’s very badly indicated and we took a few wrong turns on our way from fiumelatte. It takes you through lovely paths and nice scenery

The staff were incredibly friendly and even helped us find parking for our car. They explained everything clearly and made the whole process easy and stress-free. The boat was clean and easy to handle, and we saw some of the most beautiful views of Lake Como from the water. It was honestly the highlight of our visit to Varenna. Highly recommend this experience to everyone visiting the area. If a private charter with a guide is out of your budget, renting and driving the boat yourself is a much more affordable and just-as-magical option.

My favorite experience on my Italy trip! This was so much fun. It was great to go all over the lake and see everything from a cool view. We did four 4 hours which we thought was perfect. We had time to see everything and stop where we wanted (swimming). Staff helped us with a perfect plan of what to do and was super helpful in showing us how to drive the boat and with the rules of the lake The boat itself was very clean and in new condition. It’s quite fast. Surprisingly fast for no license needed. Tons of fun! The lake is rockier in certain areas than others. Mostly rocky where the ferry’s travel. Some part of the lake are super smooth.

An Unforgettable Lake Como Experience! We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Varenna Rent a Boat (Nautica Faggi)! Despite a rainy day, we were lucky to catch a magical hour when the skies cleared—and what an hour it was! Our captain was an excellent chap—friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the lake. He gave us a detailed, engaging tour of the Lake Como shoreline, pointing out landmarks, villas, and hidden gems along the way. It felt like having a personal guide and a local friend in one. He also went above and beyond to help us capture some incredible photos from the boat—something we'll truly cherish. The boat itself was beautiful, well-maintained, and very comfortable. For the quality of the service and the boat, the price was more than fair—definitely great value for money. We absolutely loved the 1-hour guided tour and highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting the area. Huge thanks to Nautica Faggi for making our time on Lake Como so memorable!

We rented a boat in May while we were in Varenna. The young men that work here were wonderful. They provided a map, made a recommendation for a four hour tour, provided a cooler for our picnic lunch. Explained everything before we left and were very patient while I docked it with my limited boat skills. The boats are newer, clean and well maintained. This is a fantastic way to experience the lake. It is one of the highlights of our trip. Thanks to the owners and staff. For anyone reading this, do yourself a favour and rent a boat from these folks if you can make it work!

Rented a boat for four hours which I felt was the perfect amount of time! The staff was very friendly and everything went smoothly. They even let me move my boat day because the original day I rented was raining. All I had to do was email them. Would rent from them again! Boat was also easy to use and worked great!

Perfect place to rent a boat: very clear instructions and nice boat with sun protection. Rented the boat for 2 hours and it was perfect to see the highlights in the lake. Very friendly staff.

Great experience! Rented a boat for two hours in the late afternoon which was perfect. Instructions were clear and straightforward, and the map was very useful. Staff was very friendly and helpful in getting us set up. Family of four, including kids, thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Highly recommended as an alternative to the much more expensive guided boat tour.

An ancient church dating back to the 12th century with some interesting frescos around its interior. According to an information board in the church, the main fresco in the nave was lost and only rediscovered in the 1960s.

A small stone church right in the town square. Worth visiting if passing by. Good restaurant right in front of it. Really quiet area, a stone trow away from Como Lake.

Very small and old church with some interesting frescoes

Small church, closer in scale to a chapel, with some interesting frescoes.

Old. Old frescos. Very, very, very small. Not worth a freckle over but certainly peek in if happening by.

(Translated by Google) Small jewel in the center of Varenna, discovered almost by chance, worth a visit. It is one of the oldest churches in the Lario and is the Mother Church of Varenna. It dates back to the 11th century and inside it contains frescoes from the 16th century. (Original) Piccolo gioiello nel centro di Varenna, scoperto quasi per caso, merita una visita. E' una delle chiese più antiche del Lario ed è la Chiesa Madre di Varenna. Risale all'XI secolo e al suo interno conserva affreschi del XVI secolo.

(Translated by Google) A pretty little stone church located in the heart of the village. Inside, there's a wooden sculpture and some frescoes. There are also texts. I recommend spending a few moments there! (Original) Jolie petite église en pierre située au cœur du village. Une sculpture en bois est présente à l'intérieur avec quelques fresques. Des textes y sont aussi présents. Je vous recommande d'y passer quelques instants !

Good Aperol and we were given a delicious snack that was not included in the check. Aperol costs 10 euros. The establishment is located in a cozy, calm and cool street, which is just right after the scorching sun. Very satisfied and recommend a visit.

When you walk away from the many tourists down at the lake and do the effort of taking the stairs up, you will find these small but authentic bars who treat their client as they should. Very friendly owner and staff. The large plank of small bites of meat and cheese was delicious. If you have the chance to sit on the corner, you can enjoy a lovely view on the alley and the lake. The best is to leave your car at Cadenebbia or Varenna and discover both towns and Bellagio with the traghetto (15euro per adult for a whole day).

We would stop here every evening before or after our evening stroll. Hermes’ prides himself on his service to customers. He is very knowledgeable of local wines and makes great recommendations. Even stopping for a Spritz and watching the tourists and locals strolling back and forth is a very relaxing experience. By the way Hermes’ also has a lovely little apartment that you can find on Booking.com called Casa Giada. We stayed there so enjoyed his hospitality twice in Varenna.

Place is comfortable and quiet to sit. Be aware that the portions are very small. Wine Glasses are very expensive ca. 9 a 13€ for 100 ml only. I would sadly not recommend for people on a budget.

My wife and I came here for a ‘glass’ of wine before dinner and ended up doing the wine tasting. Hermes was a little shy to start with, and claimed his English was barbaric, but he spoke very well and explained each wine excellently. We were treated to a plate of Bresaola which I can honestly say was perhaps the tastiest cured meat I’ve ever had!! Great wine, great food, and most of all great people - will definitely come back here if only to shake Hermes’ hand and buy him a drink. Thank you 😄

Wonderful place to have a bottle of wine with bruschetta to while away the heat. Our guide and sommelier was knowledgeable, our chosen wine tasted as per his description. The bruschetta was brilliant, sweet chopped tomatoes paired with fruity olive oil.

We came here to enjoy a glass of wine/prosecco before our dinner. Wonderful place and amazing wines. This is a great wine bar, and the service is super friendly and nice. They even recommend us a place to have dinner and it turned out to be the best experience ever. I love this wine bar.

Welcoming gallery of original plus commissioned art of local scenes. Paulo & Malita Guaitamacchi are the best greeting us warmly to the treasures of their art creations. They do their best to minimize any country tariffs plus eliminate total shipping costs! M&R Strohm, New Mexico U.S.A.

My husband and I visited Lake Como in 2023 for our honeymoon and fell in love with Varenna. For our one-year anniversary, we knew we wanted to return to Varenna and buy some art. We had a very short window to travel from Milan to Varenna, so we started searched for art galleries online. When we saw Paolo’s art, we immediately knew his gallery was the only one we wanted to visit, and we weren’t going to leave without buying something from his collection. We sent a text to see what time they would open and they were so flexible that they opened their gallery an hour early for us since we didn’t have much time. We immediately booked our train tickets and made the trip. Paolo and Melita were amazing! We felt so welcomed, and it was like we were hanging out with friends. They are truly wonderful people, and Paolo is incredibly talented. We had the best time learning about their story and exploring all of the art. We decided on two beautiful pieces and got a great deal on the price. Melita even gave us excellent recommendations for snacks and drinks. Needless to say, I will be checking their website often for more pieces to buy, and we will definitely visit them again the next time we’re in the area. If you’re in Lake Como, you have to make the trip to Paolo’s gallery! You won’t regret it!

This is a wonderful shop for finding a lasting memory of one’s visit to Lake Como. Paolo and Melita are gracious hosts and a source of knowledge about the region. Paolo’s plein air works capture the beauty of not just Lake Como, but also other wonderful places to visit, such as Provence, Venice and the Alps. One of Paolo’s works now graces our home in Florida, having been securely shipped. We had peaked through the door during the day and arranged through WhatsApp an opportunity to step inside. We are glad we did.

Paulo and Melita are delightful and the artwork amazing!! I have purchased 7 pieces now and all are absolutely spectacular. Responsive, easy to work with and wonderfully communicative you can order online easily. Although visiting the studio is way better. Don’t miss out on this studio!! My latest painting by Paulo, really beautiful.

An absolute must for anyone visiting Varenna, Lake Como - stunning paintings by Paolo, and something for everyone ...still life, interiors, Lake Como, countryside, mountains. The icing on the cake is meeting Paolo and Melita themselves, who are the most amazing hosts and excellent company. Visiting them has become part of every trip we make to Lake Como over the past few years! Have almost lost count of how many Demaria paintings we own......

This art gallery is an absolute MUST VISIT if you are in Varenna! My husband and I were looking for a special piece of art to commemorate our honeymoon in Italy but nothing was speaking to us at any of the other galleries we visited across Italy. When we stumbled into this gallery we absolutely fell in love with Paolo's work. His paintings transport you to the location he is depicting and you can really feel the life and vibrancy in his art! A number of paintings in the gallery really resonated with us, but what truly made us want to buy from Paul Demaria Studio was the unmatched customer experience. From the minute we walked through the door we were treated like family! Paolo's wife Melita was such a pleasure! The stories and anecdotes that she shared with us about her husband and her time in Italy made us fall in love with the paintings even more. You can really feel the love and passion that Paolo and Melita put into what they do. We purchased 3 stunning paintings and will be clients of Paul Demaria Studio for life! If you walk past their gallery please stop in! I promise you won't regret it!

My wife and I stopped in this shop while in Varenna hoping for a picture painting to capture our Italy trip. All the paintings are exquisite and in excellent style! Although there was nothing in the shop my wife and I could agree on, we kept in touch with Melita (store-owner and painter's wife) and looked through their website, and they graciously agreed to commission a painting for us based on a prior sell! Although I can't guarantee such personalized service for everyone, this is THE place to get a painting of Lake Como. We are so happy with our painting, and Melita and Paolo's service are extraordinary!

Last month (June of 2019), we rented a villa in Lake Como to celebrate my 50th birthday along with over 20 friends. We hired Lake Como Food Tours (my contact was LAURA, who was AWESOME!!!) to put together the evening of the actual birthday dinner... with a tour around the lake, followed by dinner at a beautiful restaurant, and then transportation home. Laura was very detailed, and got an idea of my tastes, likes and dislikes and came up with a most impressive evening at a price per person that was very reasonable: * Large water taxi that picks us up at our private dock and takes us on a 2-hour tour around Lake Como (Bellagio and Varenna of course), pointing out several hot spots/villas along the lake * A choice between two or three restaurants: we eventually landed on a farm to table restaurant in Garlate * Transportation home on a charter bus The water taxi came to pick us up at the villa ON TIME. They were at the right pier (I however was at the wrong one haha but was literally 30 yards away). The captain was extremely helpful and knowledgable, even took our group pic once we docked at the restaurant. Once at the dock, the restaurant cars picked us up (some of us walked) and took us to the most magical place I’d ever seen, a TRULY farm to table restaurant… everything (and I do mean everything) was fresh from the on-property farm… the meat, the fruits, the veggies. And the view of the lake was to die for. My guests were flabbergasted. Laura had even worked with the restaurant to ensure that all allergies were accounted for, and Laura even had them make a gluten free birthday cake for me (which was the best gluten free anything I’ve ever had). Laura was SO KIND and even threw in an extra or two which made the trip even more thoughtful. Then as promised, the bus charter met us and took us back to our villa. All in all, Lake Como Food Tours was professional, on time, expedient with answers during planning, and knowledgeable about the lake and the restaurants, and truly cared about our experience. And the price per person was actually a little less than a catered dinner at the villa itself. Thank you! I will forever remember this night!!!

We had a fantastic time with our wonderful guide Cristina! She was fun and knowledgeable.

My husband and I had a fantastic day in Como and Bellagio. We were staying in Milan and decided to take the train to Como for the day. Laura put together the perfect itinerary. Our tour guide Maddi met us right at the train station and we started with a walking tour of the old town. Maddi, who grew up in the area, was extremely knowledgeable and passionate and the tour was the right balance of being informative and fun. Along the way we stopped at a local pasticceria and sampled some focaccia and we finished the tour with an authentic home cooked lunch at Osteria del Gallo. After lunch we took the high speed hydrofoil to Bellagio - it was off season but a beautiful day for a walk to the Punta Spartivento. We capped it off with an aperitivo at sunset overlooking the water. We always try to use local tour guides when we visit new places. I’d rate Lake Como Food Tours as one of the best we have experienced. Extremely well organized (Laura even told us specifically which train to take) with an outstanding tour guide. We will be back again for one of their wine and food tours.

A spectacular day. Our guide Giorgio was the best. We were the only ones who booked for the day and so we got a private tour. Everything was perfect. The restaurant for lunch was excellent. It was a great tour.

Alessandra was our tour guide and she was great! We were late arriving to Lake Como as our train broke down and we had to transfer to another one, but Alessandra was there waiting for us at the appointed place as promised. We went to a mill up the hill (via van) where we learned about the mill workings and renovation and had a tasting of cheeses, meats, olive oil and wine. Superb! Then on to a tour of Varenna and the quaint churches and lunch. As my personal favorite, we had a private captain take us across the lake to tour Menaggio and Bellagio. To be on the lake with such gorgeous scenery and a picture perfect day was divine. We ended with a dinner in Bellagio on our own. A five star day!

Lovely walking tour of Bellagio and surrounding areas. The walks are steep, I would say this tour is intermediate in exertion. Lunch was delicious, there was some confusion about coffee not being included, I think it is water or coffee is included, not both. Either way the cappuccino was worth the 3 euro! The botanical gardens were incredible!

This review is long overdue, as our tour was in May. We had such a great time on this tour! We had a group of 34 colleagues and spouses for a professional meeting. Laura was incredibly helpful and responsive in our weeks leading up to the event, including some crazy billing problems which she handled with great humor and patience. We were picked up at the boat dock of our hotel (the Royal Victoria hotel in Varenna) and were entertained for the next hour by Cristina's fabulous tales of the victories and haunts that are Lake Como. It was a picture-perfect evening in a week of rain, and the guests were thrilled with the ride. The tour of the gardens were spectacular, and we had a guide there to help us understand the flora and fauna of the space. The tour landed us almost at the doorstep of our charming and cozy restaurant. We had great food and service, and they accommodated a litany of dietary restrictions. There was, of course, wine. :-) We left fat and happy and I felt like I had a new best friend in Laura. I would recommend Laura highly - she takes her business seriously and will bend over backwards to accommodate your needs. Grazie per tutti, Laura e Cristina! Ci vediamo un' altra volta!

Our tour guide was very nice and answered questions well when asked. We were a party of 4 people doing the 2.5 hour walk around Bellagio with a lunch at a Michelin-listed restaurant. The tour was 2.5 hours and included a 6.50 euro ticket per person to some villa gardens. We were asked to rate the your before lunch and did so willingly expecting that the $650 the tour cost would be validated by a great lunch. It wasn't. The restaurant we ate at had very, very reasonable prices (approx Euro 15 per main). Our food was so cheap it wasn't even on the menu. We were offered 2 mini bruschetta and a choice of pasta with some tomatoes (only) or gnocchi with olive and tomato. One glass of wine, one glass of water. We met a couple of Americans on the tour who were lovely but we felt completely and utterly ripped off and could not get rid of that feeling. We travel a lot and go on walking/food tours frequently and this is the first time we have felt utterly robbed. Do not recommend at all.

Nice place to sit, very cute. The thing is it's soooo expensive for what it is. There are no prices of the items in the display so the lady at the counter sums it up in her head and tells you the number. I asked for a receipt and I just got a varied item with the final price. I felt scammed all the time I was there. The food was fine, the coffee also okay. Shame because the place is cute and convenient.

The food was delicious, but what lowered my rating of the place was the customer service. The waitress was rude from the start. I don't pay to be mistreated or treated like a dog, as she treated us. I come from a family with values; I always treat people with respect, especially as someone who works in the same field in her home country. I can understand the stress of a place where it's a tourist attraction, but that's no justification for such treatment. The young woman should learn to manage her emotions or, if she doesn't like her job, change fields. In my case, I'm not one to cause conflict or complain, but it warrants it when the treatment isn't fair. Clearly, I won't return on future trips. Keep this in mind because if it's a place where customers always return to the city, it will end up being one to avoid.

AVOID THIS PLACE!! I’d have given it 0 stars if I could. This is the worst cafe we’ve been to in our 20 days in Italy. We ordered a breakfast set and everything was burned!! Their other dishes were either uncooked, burned or not well-seasoned. The service also wasn’t good. The waitress was grumpy and asked for us to pay even when we hadn’t finished. (And there were no people waiting.) The quality of the food here is really bad. And it’s way too expensive for the price. The atmosphere & location are OK, but everything apart from that is horrible. The restroom here was also broken (as of April 25th 2024.) You need to go to the station to use the restroom.

Dear Owner I find it unreasonable for a tourist-area business near the train station to require a minimum 10-euro order and to accept card payments only, excluding cash. This is inconvenient for travelers who may need a small purchase like water. Please consider: - Accepting cash in addition to cards - Removing or lowering the minimum order, especially for essential items like water Thank you

If I could give zero stars, I would. First of all, if you dare to speak English, the price magically doubles. apparently, I’m paying for the privilege of being treated like garbage. I ordered an Americano, but what I got was basically a cup of lukewarm toilet water boiled to a mighty 50°C. Honestly, I’ve had hospital pills with more flavor. And no, they don’t give you a receipt. The waiter serves you with t complete disgust Terrible service, awful drinks, the prices for cookies muffins and other desserts are not even written. (Again, so they can charge based on foreigner)

A complete SCAM! We were told that the hot chocolate was €5 for takeaway, but we were charged €6. When we pointed it out, the staff refused to refund us. After checking the menu, the takeaway hot chocolate is actually €4.50! Totally unacceptable to deceive customers like this. I strongly advise against going there — dishonest and disrespectful service.

This place had bad service and boring food. We were hungry after the rain ride and wanted a quick meal. But the waitress was so rude it felt lid she wanted to kick us out of there fast. We had a foccacio sandwich and hamburger and the flavor was sad and lacking, but also expensive so making it feel worse. There are nicer places to eat ahead, save yourself the heartbreak and don't go here.

Glad we discovered this gem online and booked a tour in advance. The service was good and my kids enjoyed the boat ride. The boat was comfortable and the captain was humorous and shared information about the various locations along the trip.

I'd give this 10 stars if I could. Me and my partner booked the shared Classic tour lasting 1 hour, the tour was booked to start at 6pm, we arrived at 5:50pm and checked in as per the email instructions. Luckily for us we were the only 2 to have booked the tour and therefore had the tour to ourselves. This is the highlight of our Italian lakes trip so far, the captain was so great, played great music, provided excellent photography skills, (he took photos of me and my partner together) and provided good and interesting information about the landmarks around the centre of the lake, despite his limited English. The boat was lovely, clean and looked very stylish. We felt so lucky and enjoyed the boat trip so much, can't recommend the service enough.

Loved our Villa Balbianello tour experience with Taxi Boat. The ride to and from Varenna is gorgeous and the driver pointed out many grand villas along the way. The villa tour itself was very informative and we got a fascinating glimpse of the structure’s history. Thoroughly appreciated the timing of the pickup and drop off at the villa dock as well. Highly recommend!

Great value for this trip! We loved getting on the water and the tour of Balibionello was a highlight. It’s so much more than a beautiful place and we are happy we booked this tour to learn about it.

We booked this taxi boat last minute on Saturday to go from Varenna to Tremezzo. When we are getting in we explained the driver we need to take some pucs along the way and if he could drive bit slowly. He agreed at that point. But when the boat started he blistered through the ride, 15 minutes ride was only 10 minutes. When we asked him whether he could stop in the middle of the lake for us to take some pictures he was very rude about it and he screamed at me saying he has another tour and he has to go back soon. We paid a huge amount of money just for a 10 minute ride. I understand they are also doing continuous tours, but you have to make your customers happy by atleast giving them some comfort and listening to them. When the boat stopoed at tremezzo. He was like get down get down i have to go. He was rushing so much. I do not recommend this company for tours. Drivers re very rude and arrogant. There are other 2 boat companies in varenna just check them out

Great communication and a reminder after booking and the day before was great. The instructions were detailed and easy to follow. Nice boat ride and ease of seeing the Villa was amazing. We particularly enjoyed information from the boat driver. Would recommend plus added feature was being able to be dropped off in Bellagio after the tour.

Christian, the captain/pilot of the boat was charming! I had a great time on the 2.5 hour Lake Como tour that included a visit to the beautiful Villa del Balbianello. The views from the boat are beautiful, and I was able to get many terrific photos. There were only 4 of us on the tour, which was perfect! I would highly recommend this boat/villa tour to get a flavor of Lake Como.

(Translated by Google) A truly enthralling experience, we were able to get to know and appreciate truly wonderful animal species, a discovery just a stone's throw from home. Super recommended! 😊 Alessia (Original) Esperienza davvero estasiante, abbiamo potuto conoscere e apprezzare specie animali davvero meravigliose, una scoperta a due passi da casa . Super consigliato ! 😊 Alessia

(Translated by Google) I am Albanian and I have a 12 year old son who is passionate about ornithology, in fact he is the youngest ornithologist in the Balkan association. I brought it to this museum on April 5, 2025, and we were very happy with the work done in the pavilions. I am so sorry that the municipality of Varenna did not give the right amount of attention to this museum to give it good publicity, given that the city of Varenna is on the shores of Lake Como, and is much visited as a city, but the museum was empty. Across the road was a botanical museum that the queue of people was 200 m outside the building, however no one knew about this Jewel of Wilderness Sciences. I give full marks to the museum and the ladies who were there. I highly recommend it to visit. (Original) Io sono albanese e ho un figlio di 12 anni appassionato di ornitologia anzi lui è il piu giovane ornitologo nell associazione dei Balcani. L'ho portato in questo museo il 5 aprile 2025, e siamo rimasti molto contenti di quell lavoro fatto nei padiglioni. Mi dispiace tanto che il municipio di Varenna non ha datto l'attenzione giusta a questo museo per fargli una bella pubblicità, visto che la città di Varenna è sulle sponde del lago Como, ed è molto visitata come città, ma il museo era vuoto. Dall' altra parte della strada era un museo botanico che la fila di gente era 200 m fuori dall edificio,invece nessuno non sapeva di questo Gioiello delle Scienze di natura selvaggia. Do il massimo di voti al museo e alle signore che erano li. Lo consiglio estremamente da visitare.

(Translated by Google) Wonderful experience for adults and children!! (Original) Bellissima esperienza per adulti e bambini!!

(Translated by Google) I love everything related to ornithology The museum is two-story, interesting, but there was not enough music in the hall and interactive. Without Google Maps I would not have gotten here😄 (Original) Я люблю все що повʼязане з орнітологією Музей двоповерховий,цікавий,тільки не вистачало музики в залі і інтерактиву.Без гугл карт я би сюди не потрапила😄

(Translated by Google) A very small but well-curated museum, full of interesting exhibits. It should be better promoted; no one in Varenna knew where it was. (Original) Museo molto piccolo ma ben curato e ricco di esemplari interessanti. Andrebbe sponsorizzato di più, nessuno a Varenna sapeva dove fosse.

(Translated by Google) Super. I recommend it to everyone (Original) Super. Lo consiglio a tutti

(Translated by Google) The Scanagatta Ornithological Museum is a small hidden pearl in Varenna, an unexpected surprise that is worth a visit. In addition to a rich collection of specimens, discovering the museum is also a time to discover the intriguing history of Scanagatta; It is a perfect place for the little ones, who can approach the world of ornithology. A true gem for those who love nature and history! The visit is even more enjoyable if accompanied by a guide. Highly recommended!! (Original) Il Museo Ornitologico Scanagatta è una piccola perla nascosta a Varenna, una sorpresa inaspettata che merita una visita. Oltre a una ricca collezione di esemplari, scoprire il museo è anche un momento per scoprire l'intrigante storia di Scanagatta; È un luogo perfetto per i più piccoli, che possono avvicinarsi al mondo dell’ornitologia. Un vero gioiello per chi ama la natura e la storia! La visita è ancora più apprezzabile se accompagnati da una guida. Consigliatissimo!!