🇮🇹 Varenna, Italy
Hotel Olivedo
📍 Piazza Martiri, 14, 23829 Varenna LC, Italy
Your stay — Hotel Olivedo
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Varenna.
The Property — Hotel Olivedo
Hotel Olivedo sits right on Varenna’s lakefront, a straightforward three-star with a sun-trap terrace and direct ferry access. The lobby feels like a cool retreat from the July heat: marble floors, a small bar, and the smell of espresso. It’s unpretentious and practical—good for travellers who want a clean, central base with lake views rather than boutique frills. Best suited to couples or solo visitors who plan to be out exploring all day.
Chronicles of Varenna
Varenna was founded by fishermen in the 8th century and later became a stronghold of the Della Torre family, who built the castle that still watches over the town. Its narrow, stepped alleys and pastel houses date mostly from the 16th and 17th centuries, when Varenna was a silk-trading port. The 19th century brought wealthy Milanese families who built villas like Villa Monastero (a former convent) and its botanical gardens. Today, Varenna keeps its quiet, residential character despite being a stop on the Lake Como tourist trail. It’s known for its relaxed pace, with no major car traffic and a small main square that fills with evening passeggiata.
Best Time to Visit
Full Varenna guide →Best months
May and September for settled warm weather (high teens to mid-20s °C) and noticeably thinner crowds than July–August. June is also good but can be busy.
Peak / festival surge
July and August peak because of school holidays and the Fiori di Como garden festival in early June spilling into July. Hotel prices in Varenna typically double or triple in July; bookings need six to eight weeks’ lead time. The main driver is the annual Palio del Baradello in late August (a historical regatta) which fills lakeside hotels.
Budget shoulder season
April and October offer the best discounts (30–40% below July rates), with temperatures in the mid-teens °C and only occasional rain. Fewer day-trippers from Milan means you can walk the lakefront without weaving through crowds.
Weather & packing
July in Varenna is hot and humid, often peaking at 32°C, but sudden afternoon thunderstorms are common. Pack a light rain jacket or compact umbrella, plus a scarf for evening breezes off the lake.
Live City Briefing — Varenna
- The Varenna–Esino railway station underpass renovation (completed March 2026) now has step-free access and better signage for the ferry terminal.
- Villa Monastero gardens extended their opening hours to 7 PM in summer 2026, with a new admission system that reduces queues.
- Lake Como’s alga bloom warning (July–August 2026) means swimming is discouraged in the main lake; stick to the lidos at Varenna’s public beach near the ferry dock.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hotel Olivedo, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a front-facing room on the third or fourth floor. These get lake views across the piazza and avoid the street-level bustle. Upper floors are quieter and the lift works up to the fourth floor.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor at the back of the building. They overlook the internal courtyard where staff and deliveries come and go, and there’s a service entrance near the lower staircase. Also skip ground-floor rooms facing the piazza – they catch bar chatter and footsteps until late.
Best views
Rooms facing Piazza Martiri give a direct view of Lake Como and the ferry terminal, especially from the upper floors. Check your booking says ‘lake view’ or ‘front’ – side or back views overlook other buildings or the courtyard.
Quietest floors
Third and fourth floors are quietest. The second floor can be okay but some noise from the first-floor bar filters up through the old lift shaft on the side.
🔊 Noise notes
Piazza Martiri is a pedestrianised square with a bar and restaurant directly below the hotel. Expect low hum from al fresco diners into the evening (roughly 10–11pm in high season). Occasional ferry announcements drift across from the dock 50 metres away. Morning delivery lorries load up on the side alley by the hotel at 6–7am.
Insider tips
Parking is scarce in Varenna centre. Drop bags first, then park at the public garage 300 metres up the hill (Via Degli Orti) – the hotel can give you a discount voucher. At check-in, ask for a room key with the code for the lift, as it’s locked after 10pm and you’ll need it to avoid using the narrow stairs.
- 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 — Hotel Olivedo
Free WiFi throughout, standard speed (approx 15 Mbps download); no login required, just accept terms
Small lift (2-person) serves all three floors; no historical stairs-only sections, but lift is narrow, not suitable for large wheelchairs
No physical newspapers; free digital newsstand via PressReader accessible on guest devices or lobby tablet
Check-in from 14:00 to 22:00; early bag drop available from 10:00; late check-out until 11:00 free, after 11:00 subject to availability at €30
Free storage in locked room behind reception during check-out day until 18:00
No step-free access from street to hotel entrance (three steps); lift fits small wheelchairs but no adapted rooms or grab bars in bathrooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park 'Parcheggio Lido di Varenna' 300m away, daily rate €12 (open 08:00–22:00); no EV charging on property
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €2.00 per person per night (up to 10 nights, children under 10 exempt)
Deposit & card hold: First night charged as deposit at booking; €100 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 Hotel Olivedo
🕒 Check-in is from 15:00. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hotel Olivedo?
Request a front-facing room on the third or fourth floor. These get lake views across the piazza and avoid the street-level bustle. Upper floors are quieter and the lift works up to the fourth floor.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hotel Olivedo?
Avoid rooms on the first floor at the back of the building. They overlook the internal courtyard where staff and deliveries come and go, and there’s a service entrance near the lower staircase. Also skip ground-floor rooms facing the piazza – they catch bar chatter and footsteps until late.
Is Hotel Olivedo noisy?
Piazza Martiri is a pedestrianised square with a bar and restaurant directly below the hotel. Expect low hum from al fresco diners into the evening (roughly 10–11pm in high season). Occasional ferry announcements drift across from the dock 50 metres away. Morning delivery lorries load up on the side alley by the hotel at 6–7am.
Which rooms have the best views at Hotel Olivedo?
Rooms facing Piazza Martiri give a direct view of Lake Como and the ferry terminal, especially from the upper floors. Check your booking says ‘lake view’ or ‘front’ – side or back views overlook other buildings or the courtyard.
What are insider tips for staying at Hotel Olivedo?
Parking is scarce in Varenna centre. Drop bags first, then park at the public garage 300 metres up the hill (Via Degli Orti) – the hotel can give you a discount voucher. At check-in, ask for a room key with the code for the lift, as it’s locked after 10pm and you’ll need it to avoid using the narrow stairs.
What time is check-in at Hotel Olivedo?
Check-in at Hotel Olivedo is from 15:00. Check-out is by 11:00.
Does Hotel Olivedo have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout, standard speed (approx 15 Mbps download); no login required, just accept terms
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hotel Olivedo?
€2.00 per person per night (up to 10 nights, children under 10 exempt)
Where can I eat cheaply near Hotel Olivedo?
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 Hotel Olivedo?
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 for settled warm weather (high teens to mid-20s °C) and noticeably thinner crowds than July–August. June is also good but can be busy.
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.