🇮🇹 Varese, Italy
First Hotel
📍 Varese
Your stay — First Hotel
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The Property — First Hotel
First Hotel in Varese is a functional, business-oriented four-star with a clean, contemporary lobby of pale stone and leather seating. It’s not trying to be boutique or charming — just solid, comfortable, and well-located for the train station and lake. Best for a traveller who wants efficient service, a decent breakfast, and easy access rather than character.
Chronicles of Varese
Varese began as a Roman settlement called Varisium along the road to the Alps. Its medieval core was ruled by the Visconti and later became a retreat for 18th-century Milanese nobility, who built the grand villas and gardens that define its landscape. The city’s architecture mixes Lombard Romanesque with Liberty-style villas, especially around the Sacro Monte, a UNESCO-listed sacred mountain. Today Varese is a quiet provincial capital, known for its lake, hills, and the Angelo Masini botanical garden. It retains a sedate, old-money feel without overtourism.
Best Time to Visit
Full Varese guide →Best months
May for wildflowers and mild walking weather, June for long daylight hours and fewer crowds than August, and September for warm lake swims and clear skies before autumn chill.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak because of school holidays and the Varese summer festival season; hotel prices rise 20-30% and rooms fill with tourists using the lakes and hiking trails. Swiss and Italian families drive demand, especially around the Campione d’Italia casino and Lake Maggiore.
Budget shoulder season
April and October are the best shoulder months: April still cool but flowers bloom and rates drop, October has crisp weather, fewer tourists, and discounts of 30-40% compared to July. You’ll often find last-minute deals.
Weather & packing
Varese’s microclimate brings frequent, sudden thunderstorms in summer even on sunny mornings. Always pack a light waterproof jacket and a pashmina or thin sweater for evening lake breezes — the temperature can drop 10°C after sunset.
Live City Briefing — Varese
- The Varese-Lake Maggiore train line has some engineering work on weekends through July 2026, with replacement buses between Varese and Laveno-Mombello — check Trenord’s site before travelling.
- Villa Toeplitz in Varese reopened its gardens in late 2025 after two years of restorations; worth a free morning walk, and the café now offers proper coffee.
- Local shops and restaurants close around 13:00–15:00 for lunch (Italian tradition) more strictly than in Milan, so plan your meals accordingly.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to First Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor, facing the inner courtyard if available. Those upper floors reduce street noise from the road outside and the courtyard side is typically quieter than the street-facing front.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor, especially those overlooking the front street — the main road through Varese can be busy, and lower floors pick up traffic and pavement noise. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor; the lift operates from ground to top floor and can be heard.
Best views
A room on the 4th floor facing the front gives a view over the rooftops of Varese towards the Sacro Monte hill. The inner courtyard view is garden-like but less distinctive.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest. They're high enough to avoid street-level sounds but below the roof level where any plant or ventilation equipment might be.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel is on a main road through Varese; expect traffic noise from 7am–8pm on weekdays. The lift runs from ground to top floor and can produce a hum. Also occasional service deliveries at the side entrance early morning.
Insider tips
If you're driving, ask about the hotel's private parking — it's cheaper than public lots and you can reserve a spot. Also request a room on the courtyard side when booking by phone or email; that's the quietest orientation.
- 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 — First Hotel
Free WiFi throughout; speed decent for browsing and email, about 20 Mbps; login via room number
One lift serves all floors; no stairs-only sections
No digital newsstand; no physical papers in rooms; limited distribution in lobby (weekdays only)
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop available from 10:00; late check-out until 12:00 at no charge, after 12:00 €30 fee until 14:00
Free of charge at reception, no time limit
Step-free entrance and lift access to all public areas; no dedicated accessible rooms; corridors narrow in wings
On-site garage €15 per night (pre-booking recommended); nearest public car park Parcheggio Via Copelli €10 per night; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €3.00 per person per night, mandatory
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment via credit card at booking; €50 incidental hold upon check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chiesa parrocchiale di Santa Margherita Vergine e Martire (61 m · ~1 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Volandia — 967 m · ~12 min walk
Baby Volandia — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
Malpensa Aeroporto T1 — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Avoid currency exchange desks at airports and train stations; use ATMs (Bancomat) in Varese town centre for the best rates. Notify your bank before travelling.
Contactless (Visa/Mastercard) is widely accepted in supermarkets, restaurants, and hotels; small bars, market stalls, and some taxis prefer cash. Mobile pay (Apple Pay/Google Pay) works where contactless does.
Tipping is not expected but appreciated for good service. Round up the bill at a restaurant (5–10% is generous), leave small change for taxi drivers, and €1–2 per bag for hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso al banco (standing at the bar) costs about €1.10–€1.30; cappuccino slightly more. Pastry included in some bars for €0.50 extra.
Panini or pizza al taglio from a bakery or takeaway bar: €5–€8. A set lunch menu (primo+secondo+acqua) in a trattoria: €12–€15.
Pizza marinara or margherita in a pizzeria: €7–€10. A pasta primo (first course) in an osteria: €9–€13. Cover charge (coperto) usually €1.50–€2.50 extra.
Panzerotti, piadina, or farinata from kiosks at the weekly market (Wednesday or Saturday) in Piazza Monte Grappa; also focaccia from forni (bakeries) near the train station.
Budget supermarkets: Lidl, Eurospar, or MD. For basics, Conad and Carrefour Express are common in central Varese.
Chain stores like OVS, Terranova, and H&M along Corso Matteotti and Via Varesina (pedestrian streets). For bargains, the Friday street market near the train station has clothing stalls.
Buy a 24-hour bus ticket (€3.50) for unlimited CTP bus travel in Varese town. From Milan airports (Malpensa/Linate) to Varese: train (Malpensa Express line to Varese, €9.50) or bus (Autostradale from Milan Centrale or Lampugnano, about €7–€10 one-way).
Good to know — Varese
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
VareseWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Varese, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at First Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Varese city centre (Piazza Monte Grappa) → Agriturismo Valtinella
💡 The stop is called 'Valtinella' – not the same as Sacro Monte. Look for the blue sign on the main road. Buses get busy at school times (08:00-08:30, 16:30-17:30). Best to walk the last 500m up the dirt track if you have light luggage.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) → Varese
💡 Get off at the Varese bus station, then take the C-line bus (€1.50) up to Valtinella – it's a 15-minute ride. No direct bus from Malpensa to the agriturismo.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) → Varese
💡 Buy the ticket from the Trenord machine not the Malpensa Express one if you want the cheaper regional option (around €10 vs €13). The train runs direct from Terminal 1.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) → Agriturismo Valtinella, Varese
💡 Agree the fare before you get in – drivers sometimes quote €90. Use the free airport WiFi to book via the 'App Taxi' app, which gives a fixed price of €75. The agriturismo is up a narrow lane, so tell the driver it's near the Sacro Monte funicular.
About Varese
Wikipedia ↗Varese (UK: və-RAY-zay, -zee, US: var-AY-say; Italian: [vaˈreːze] or [vaˈreːse]; Varesino: Varés [ʋaˈreːs]; Latin: Baretium; archaic German: Väris) is a city and comune in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 55 km (34 mi) north-west of Milan. It is the capital of the Province of Varese. The ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at First Hotel?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor, facing the inner courtyard if available. Those upper floors reduce street noise from the road outside and the courtyard side is typically quieter than the street-facing front.
Which rooms should I avoid at First Hotel?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor, especially those overlooking the front street — the main road through Varese can be busy, and lower floors pick up traffic and pavement noise. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor; the lift operates from ground to top floor and can be heard.
Is First Hotel noisy?
The hotel is on a main road through Varese; expect traffic noise from 7am–8pm on weekdays. The lift runs from ground to top floor and can produce a hum. Also occasional service deliveries at the side entrance early morning.
Which rooms have the best views at First Hotel?
A room on the 4th floor facing the front gives a view over the rooftops of Varese towards the Sacro Monte hill. The inner courtyard view is garden-like but less distinctive.
What are insider tips for staying at First Hotel?
If you're driving, ask about the hotel's private parking — it's cheaper than public lots and you can reserve a spot. Also request a room on the courtyard side when booking by phone or email; that's the quietest orientation.
What time is check-in at First Hotel?
Check-in at First Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does First Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout; speed decent for browsing and email, about 20 Mbps; login via room number
Is there a city or tourist tax at First Hotel?
€3.00 per person per night, mandatory
Where can I eat cheaply near First Hotel?
Panini or pizza al taglio from a bakery or takeaway bar: €5–€8. A set lunch menu (primo+secondo+acqua) in a trattoria: €12–€15.
What is the cheapest way to get around from First Hotel?
Buy a 24-hour bus ticket (€3.50) for unlimited CTP bus travel in Varese town. From Milan airports (Malpensa/Linate) to Varese: train (Malpensa Express line to Varese, €9.50) or bus (Autostradale from Milan Centrale or Lampugnano, about €7–€10 one-way).
When is the best time to visit Varese?
May for wildflowers and mild walking weather, June for long daylight hours and fewer crowds than August, and September for warm lake swims and clear skies before autumn chill.
Top Attractions in Varese
💡 Visit before noon to see the sunlight hit the high altar. The crypt costs €1 but is often closed; check at the sacristy.
💡 Bring a book or a snack. The small fountain near the entrance has the best view of the palace facade.
💡 Bring binoculars in spring for birdwatching. The café near the lake does cheap coffee and panini.
💡 Go early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds. The funicular up costs €2, but walking is free and more atmospheric.
💡 The gardens are free to enter on weekdays after 6pm from April to October. The villa entry costs €10 but the garden alone is worth an hour.