Your stay — Casa Riva
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The Property — Casa Riva
Casa Riva occupies a butter-yellow 19th-century townhouse on the lakefront, with lemon trees in the courtyard and a small dock for swimmers. Its ten rooms are simple but clean, with lake-facing windows, tiled floors, and Demeter toiletries. There is no restaurant, just an honesty bar and a breakfast terrace where you eat hard-boiled eggs and cantuccini while watching the ferries. This is for travellers who want to be on the water without paying four-star prices—practical, unpretentious, and genuinely lakeside.
Chronicles of Varenna
Varenna was founded by Roman fishermen around the 1st century BC and later fortified by the Lombards, whose 8th-century castle still crowns the hill above. In the 12th century it was forced into alliance with Milan, and the Visconti family built the defensive walls that still zigzag through the old town. The 19th century brought English and German painters who turned the lake into a tourist destination, and Varenna evolved into a quiet, car-free enclave of pastel houses, open-air cafés, and the famous Villa Monastero botanical garden. Today it is the quieter answer to Bellagio—more local, less flashy, with a permanent population under 800.
Best Time to Visit
Full Varenna guide →Best months
May and September give you 22-26°C, long daylight, and the lake warm enough to swim, but with half the July-August crowds. June is also fine if you avoid the first two weeks when schools break.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak: temperatures hit 30°C, ferries are packed, and hotel rates at waterfront 3-stars like Casa Riva double to around €250–350 a night for a lake-view double. The Palio del Lago (first Sunday of July) brings rowing races and noise, spiking demand.
Budget shoulder season
April and October are the best budget shoulder months—rooms drop to €90–130, weather is 12-18°C with intermittent rain, but the villas and hiking trails are still open and the town is peaceful.
Weather & packing
Lake Como gets lake-effect microclimates: you can have drizzle in Varenna while Bellagio is sunny, so always carry a light rain jacket or travel umbrella. Pack swim trunks for the lake steps, and proper walking shoes for the steep stair-lanes—flats get treacherous on wet cobbles.
Live City Briefing — Varenna
- The new Varenna ferry schedule started April 2026: direct fast boats to Bellagio now run every 20 minutes in summer (up from 30), but the Menaggio service has been cut to hourly after 7pm.
- Villa Monastero's botanical garden extension opened in May 2026, adding a dedicated cactus house and a new lakeside trail to the old pier—entry €10, free for hotel guests with a coupon from the tourist office.
- The town is trialling pedestrian-only hours from 10am-6pm on the main Via XX Settembre through summer 2026 to manage crowding, so expect delivery bikes and early-morning streets as your quiet window.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Casa Riva, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the courtyard (rear). These are above street level, reducing road noise, and catch afternoon light without the heat of a top floor.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor facing Contrada dei Cavalli—directly above the narrow street, expect foot traffic and occasional scooter noise from late morning through early evening.
Best views
Rooms above the second floor facing the street may catch Lake Como views through gaps between buildings. Courtyard rooms look onto internal gardens or neighbouring rooftops—pleasant but not panoramic. The hotel's position on a side street off the main lakefront means no guaranteed lake view; those wanting vistas should request a top-floor street-facing room (subject to availability).
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are quietest, set back from street-level bustle and with fewer footfall issues than the ground floor.
🔊 Noise notes
Contrada dei Cavalli is a pedestrian-friendly lane but not fully traffic-free—small delivery vans and motorbikes use it morning to early evening. The hotel's 3-star rating suggests simple soundproofing (older building, no acoustic upgrades). Night noise is low bar occasional late bar-goers from Varenna's centre a 2-minute walk away.
Insider tips
1) Arrive before 3pm to request a courtyard-facing room on floor 2 or 3—the staff often assign quieter rooms on a first-come basis. 2) If arriving by car, note that Varenna has limited parking; the hotel doesn't have its own lot, but a public garage at Via per Esino (5-minute walk) is less known to tourists. Mention 'Piazza della Stazione' to locals for the best shortcut.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Casa Riva
Free Wi-Fi throughout, average 15 Mbps download; no login required—just select the network
No lift; all 8 rooms on first floor accessed by staircase only
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand
Check-in 14:00–20:00 (Monday–Friday), 15:00–19:00 (Saturday–Sunday); early bag drop always free; late check-out until 12:00 costs €30
Free luggage storage behind the front desk, no time limit
Two steps at entrance, no ramp; no wheelchair-accessible rooms; narrow doorways (70 cm) in historic wing
No on-site parking; nearest public car park at Via XX Settembre (€12 per 24h, 5-min walk); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.50 per person per night, applied at check-out
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; €50 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie (679 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa parrocchiale di San Giorgio (703 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista (733 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di San Antonio Abate di Vezio (773 m · ~10 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Parco di Villa Monastero — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Museo ornitologico Luigi Scanagatta — 767 m · ~10 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 159 m · ~2 min walk
Farmacia Pedrani — 678 m · ~8 min walk
Varenna Food — 159 m · ~2 min walk
Navigazione Lago di Como — 152 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs in Varenna for the best rates; avoid airport and tourist bureau exchanges which charge high fees and poor rates.
Cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and shops, though smaller cafés and market stalls may prefer cash.
Tipping is not mandatory; rounding up the bill or leaving 5-10% for good service is appreciated, especially in restaurants. Taxis and hotel staff don't expect tips but a euro or two is polite.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso at a bar counter costs about €1-1.50; seated coffee with service can be €2.50-3.
A panino or slice of pizza from a takeaway is €5-8; a fixed lunch menu (pranzo) in a trattoria is around €12-15.
A pasta or risotto main course in an average restaurant is about €10-15; pizza is often €8-12.
Varenna has a few kiosks and bakeries near the harbour and main square selling focaccia, arancini, or gelato; for more choice, try the weekly market on Thursdays.
The main budget supermarket in Varenna is a small Coop or local minimarket near the centre; for larger shops, take the ferry to Menaggio or Como.
Varenna has very limited clothing shops; for affordable high-street brands, visit Como (about 30 minutes by train) or Milan.
The cheapest way around the lake is the ferry or bus day pass (€15-20 for lake services); from Milan airport, take the Malpensa Express train to Milan then the regional train to Varenna-Esino (€15-20 total).
Buy ferry day passes for unlimited trips between lakeside towns. Eat a packed lunch from the Coop supermarket rather than tourist-crowded restaurants. Walk between Varenna's villages instead of taking the short train hop.
Good to know — Varenna
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
VarennaFor non-urgent medical help, call Guardia Medica on 116 117. Police station in Lecco: 0341 297111. Nearest hospital: Ospedale di Lecco, Via dell'Eremo 9/11, Lecco, phone 0341 489111.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Varenna, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Casa Riva
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 159 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Pedrani — 678 m · ~8 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) → Hotel Olivedo, Varenna
💡 Cheap but clunky. You need the FlixBus from Malpensa to Colico (get off at Colico FS). Then catch bus D20 or D21 from Colico station to Varenna—€3 cash only. The bus stop is directly outside Hotel Olivedo. Only viable if you have time and want to save €10.
Milan Malpensa (MXP) or Linate (LIN) → Hotel Ristorante Monte Codeno, Varenna
💡 Book via NCC services or taxi apps for fixed rate; drivers usually meet you at arrivals with a name sign. Worth it for late arrivals or heavy luggage.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) → Varenna-Esino station (then 5-min walk to Hotel Du Lac)
💡 Buy tickets on Trenord app to avoid queues. Validate paper tickets in the yellow machine before boarding — fine is €50. Alight at Varenna-Esino (not Varenna town), walk straight down the hill: Du Lac is 200m, on your left.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) → Hotel Du Lac, Varenna
💡 Use Noleggio Con Conducente (NCC) like VarennaTransfer — cheaper than airport taxis (~€120–€130). Book 48h ahead for lakeview route via Lecco. Driver usually meets you at arrivals with a name card.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) → Varenna (via Como or Lecco)
💡 Cheapest option but slow. Take FlixBus from MXP to Como station, then C10 bus along Lake Como (10–14 euros). The lake road can be winding; sit on left for views. Last bus from Varenna back to Como is around 19:30.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) → Hotel Olivedo, Varenna
💡 Worth it if you arrive late or have heavy luggage. Use a company like NCC Air or GetTransfer—hotel can recommend one. Drivers usually meet you at arrivals with a name board. The drive hugs the lake after Colico; ask for a brief stop at Bellagio viewpoint if you negotiate beforehand.
Varenna (bus stop by ferry dock, 400m from hotel) → Perledo / Bellano / Menaggio
💡 Bus D25 goes up to Perledo for views of the lake from above — sit right side. Exact change or prepaid card needed; driver won't give change.
Milan Malpensa Airport → Varenna-Esino station (5 min walk from hotel)
💡 Take Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale, then change to a regional train heading to Tirano (direct to Varenna). Buy a combined ticket at airport machines — avoid queues by using Trenitalia app.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) → Hotel Olivedo, Varenna
💡 Buy a combined ticket at Malpensa station for Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino. The walk from Varenna station to Hotel Olivedo is 5 minutes flat—follow the lakefront south. Avoid the slower train via Lecco if you can; direct regional via Tirano is faster.
Varenna ferry dock (3 min walk from hotel) → Bellagio, Menaggio, Como city
💡 Use passenger ferries for day trips — they're frequent and scenic. Buy tickets at the dock kiosk or app (Navigazione Laghi). Avoid car ferries for Bellagio — they're slower and costlier. Note: not useful for airport transfer.
Varenna Ferry Dock (50m from Hotel Olivedo) → Bellagio, Menaggio, Como, Lecco
💡 Buy a day pass (€15-€18) if you’re hopping between Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio. For Hotel Olivedo guests, the ferry dock is literally 50 steps from the lobby. Avoid the overpriced private boats touted on the pier—public ferries are reliable and run to schedule.
Varenna pier (300m from Hotel Du Lac) → Bellagio / Menaggio / Como
💡 Buy return ticket to Bellagio at the ticket office to save queue time. Avoid the 11:00–13:00 crush — tour groups flood the pier. Sit starboard side for best Castello di Vezio views.
About Varenna
Wikipedia ↗
Varenna (Comasco, Lecchese: Varena) is a comune (municipality) on Lake Como in the Province of Lecco in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) north of Milan and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) northwest of Lecco. Varenna was founded by local fishermen in AD 769 and was lat...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Casa Riva?
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the courtyard (rear). These are above street level, reducing road noise, and catch afternoon light without the heat of a top floor.
Which rooms should I avoid at Casa Riva?
Avoid rooms on the first floor facing Contrada dei Cavalli—directly above the narrow street, expect foot traffic and occasional scooter noise from late morning through early evening.
Is Casa Riva noisy?
Contrada dei Cavalli is a pedestrian-friendly lane but not fully traffic-free—small delivery vans and motorbikes use it morning to early evening. The hotel's 3-star rating suggests simple soundproofing (older building, no acoustic upgrades). Night noise is low bar occasional late bar-goers from Varenna's centre a 2-minute walk away.
Which rooms have the best views at Casa Riva?
Rooms above the second floor facing the street may catch Lake Como views through gaps between buildings. Courtyard rooms look onto internal gardens or neighbouring rooftops—pleasant but not panoramic. The hotel's position on a side street off the main lakefront means no guaranteed lake view; those wanting vistas should request a top-floor street-facing room (subject to availability).
What are insider tips for staying at Casa Riva?
1) Arrive before 3pm to request a courtyard-facing room on floor 2 or 3—the staff often assign quieter rooms on a first-come basis. 2) If arriving by car, note that Varenna has limited parking; the hotel doesn't have its own lot, but a public garage at Via per Esino (5-minute walk) is less known to tourists. Mention 'Piazza della Stazione' to locals for the best shortcut.
What time is check-in at Casa Riva?
Check-in at Casa Riva is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Casa Riva have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, average 15 Mbps download; no login required—just select the network
Is there a city or tourist tax at Casa Riva?
€1.50 per person per night, applied at check-out
Where can I eat cheaply near Casa Riva?
A panino or slice of pizza from a takeaway is €5-8; a fixed lunch menu (pranzo) in a trattoria is around €12-15.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Casa Riva?
The cheapest way around the lake is the ferry or bus day pass (€15-20 for lake services); from Milan airport, take the Malpensa Express train to Milan then the regional train to Varenna-Esino (€15-20 total).
When is the best time to visit Varenna?
May and September give you 22-26°C, long daylight, and the lake warm enough to swim, but with half the July-August crowds. June is also fine if you avoid the first two weeks when schools break.
Top Attractions in Varenna
💡 The museum is free with a paid ticket to Villa Monastero gardens (€8). If you only want the birds, ask at the ticket desk – they sometimes let you visit just the museum for free. Allow 20 minutes.
💡 Free entry. Look for the 15th-century fresco of the Crucifixion on the left wall—locals say it's been retouched but still shows original colours. Quiet morning visits are best; avoid Sunday mass if you want to look around.
💡 The church is usually open for morning mass (around 9am) and again from 4–6pm. If the door is locked, check at the small shop opposite – the caretaker often has the key. No charge, but a small donation is welcome.
💡 Check the door hours – it's often closed mid-afternoon. Look for the war memorial plaque outside. The bell tower view is not open to the public.
💡 Go at sunset for fewer crowds and the best light on the Bellagio shore opposite. Path gets narrow near the end – take care with pushchairs.
💡 Free and always open. Walk it in the late afternoon when the sun softens the water. The path ends at Fiumelatte's waterfall (seasonal, spring melt). No shade, so bring a hat in summer.
💡 Walk up from the main road via Via Roma. It's on the way to the Castello di Vezio trail and most visitors walk straight past. Worth 10 minutes.
💡 Best in spring when snowmelt feeds the river – it sometimes dries up by August. Follow the wooden sign from Via per Fiumelatte. Takes 15–20 minutes round trip.