Excellence Luxury Villas · Varenna
Luxury Villas in Varenna, Lake Como
Villas and lakeside apartments on Lake Como's quieter eastern shore, a short ferry ride from Bellagio
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The eastern shore, where Lake Como keeps its old shape
Varenna is an old fishing village on the eastern shore of Lake Como. Its ochre and terracotta houses are stacked above a tiny harbour, and Bellagio and Menaggio sit just across the water. Varenna has kept the narrow stepped lanes of its medieval centre, and it has a railway station with direct trains from Milan, which few villages on the lake can say. That makes it the easiest place on Como to arrive without a car.
Our Varenna collection runs to 32 properties. There are apartments in old palazzi with the lake beneath the windows, and villas with pools and saunas on the slopes above. Some are in Fiumelatte and Olivedo, and a few are higher up towards Esino Lario, where the air is cooler and the views go on for miles.
Below you will find where to stay, what to see and when the lake is at its best.
Varenna at a glance
- Properties
- 32 villas and apartments, with up to 9 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £3,400 to £17,500 a week, from around £2,900
- Best areas
- Varenna village and Olivedo by the water, Fiumelatte to the south, and the slopes towards Esino Lario
- Highlights
- The gardens of Villa Monastero, Castello di Vezio and the Fiumelatte, one of Italy's shortest rivers
- Getting there
- Direct trains from Milano Centrale in around an hour; the Milan airports are roughly one to two hours by road
Browse all 32 villas in Varenna
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Smeraldo Fiumelatte Varenna: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Sauna & Lake Views – Varenna4 bedrooms
Palazzo Varenna: Luxury 8-Bedroom Apartment with Lake Views – Varenna8 bedrooms
Villa Jovita | 6-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Como Bellagio6 bedrooms
Villa Le Camelie Italy7 bedroomsWhere to stay in Varenna
Varenna village and Olivedo for restaurants and the ferry, Fiumelatte for quiet lakeside gardens, the slopes above for space and views, and Bellagio a fifteen-minute crossing away.
Stepped lanes and a very small harbour
Varenna is built on a rocky spur, and its lanes climb in steps from the water between tall, colour-washed houses. The old harbour is barely big enough for a few boats and a few café tables. The Passeggiata degli Innamorati, the Lovers' Walk, follows the rocks along the shore towards Olivedo, where the ferries come in. Up in Piazza San Giorgio, the old church presides over a morning espresso.
Properties in the village let you walk to dinner and back, which on a warm evening is half the point of Varenna. Villas on the slopes above give up that convenience for space, a pool and a wider view across the central lake to Bellagio.
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Cypresses, citrus and a river of milk
Villa Monastero began as a Cistercian convent in the twelfth century. Today it is a house museum, with a botanical garden of cypresses, citrus, agaves and palms that runs for around two kilometres along the shore. Villa Cipressi, its neighbour, has terraced gardens that step down to the water.
A twenty-minute walk south brings you to Fiumelatte and its river, which runs for around 250 metres from a cave in the mountainside down to the lake. That makes it one of the shortest rivers in Italy. It usually appears in late March, foams white all summer and disappears again in October. Leonardo da Vinci was among the first to go looking for its source.
Explore Lake Como
A castle, an old mule track and the mid-lake ferry
A short, steep climb through olive groves leads to Castello di Vezio, a medieval watchtower above the village. It puts on falconry displays, and from the top you look out over the whole central basin of the lake. The Sentiero del Viandante, an old mule track along the eastern shore, passes through Varenna and makes for very good walking, with dry-stone walls and wildflowers along the way.
Varenna's other great advantage is the water. Passenger boats and car ferries cross to Bellagio and Menaggio in around fifteen minutes, so lunch on the far shore and a gentle return at dusk is an easy day out.
Browse villas in Bellagio
Perch, missoltini and a long, soft summer
The lake supplies the menu. Risotto topped with fillets of perch fried in butter is the classic, and missoltini, shad that has been salted, dried and then grilled, is the old fisherman's dish, usually served with polenta. Pair either with a glass of something white from the Valtellina hills to the north.
The season runs from April to October. Spring is best for the gardens and for walking, while high summer brings day-trippers off the ferries, though the village goes quiet again once they leave in the evening. September is warm and mellow. In winter many restaurants close, and the place belongs to its residents. Our concierge can arrange boat hire, restaurant tables, a private chef and transfers.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Varenna
Villa Miralago Varenna: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool – Varenna4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £12,880 a week
Villa Lario Varenna: Luxury 3-Bedroom Villa with Lake Views – Varenna Como3 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £7,553 a week
Villa Celeste Fiumelatte Varenna: 4-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Pool & Lake Views – Varenna4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £7,399 a week
Palazzo Lario Varenna: Elegant 3-Bedroom Apartment Overlooking Lake Como – Varenna3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £7,371 a week
Villa Alba Olivedo Varenna: Spacious 4-Bedroom Apartment with Lake Views – Varenna4 bedrooms · sleeps 9From £7,231 a week
Villa Olivedo Varenna: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Lake Views – Varenna4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £5,299 a week
Villa Ambrato Fiumelatte Varenna: Luxury 2-Bedroom Villa with Hot Tub & Lake Views – Varenna2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £5,033 a week
Villa Monte Varenna: Charming 2-Bedroom Villa with Lake Views – Varenna2 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £4,956 a weekWhy book your Varenna villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
In Varenna, a few hundred metres up the hillside can mean the difference between walking to dinner and needing a car, and we know which properties are close to the harbour and the ferry and which are tucked away for quiet. With 32 properties in Varenna, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Boat hire and private launches, ferry and train advice, restaurant reservations, guided walks on the Sentiero del Viandante, a private chef and transfers from Milan. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I stay in Varenna?
The village and Olivedo put restaurants, the harbour and the ferry on your doorstep. Fiumelatte, a short walk south, is quieter and closer to the gardens. Villas on the slopes above offer more space, pools and wider views of the lake.
When is the best time to visit Varenna?
April to October is the main season. Spring is best for the gardens of Villa Monastero, high summer is the warmest and busiest time, and September is warm with fewer crowds. Winter is very quiet, and many restaurants close.
What is the Fiumelatte?
It is a river in the hamlet of Fiumelatte, just south of Varenna. It runs for only around 250 metres from its source to the lake, which makes it one of the shortest rivers in Italy. It usually flows from late March to October and is about a twenty-minute walk from the village.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Varenna?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Varenna cost?
Across our 32 villas in Varenna, weekly rates typically range from £3,400 to £17,500, with the most affordable from around £2,900 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Varenna?
Direct trains run from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino station in around an hour, and the ferry landing is a few minutes' walk downhill. By road, the Milan airports are roughly one to two hours away. Our concierge can arrange private transfers.
Are there villas in Varenna for large groups?
Yes. Our Varenna collection includes properties with up to 9 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in Varenna
32 lakeside villas and apartments in Varenna, with our concierge to arrange the boats, tables and transfers