Travel
House Or Rental
Airbnb in Varenna
Browse through the attached spreadsheet to find some local Airbnbs in Varenna.
Hotel
Hotel Villa Cipressi
This is where our ceremony and reception will take place. It's also where the bride and groom will be staying. Room descriptions and additional information may be found on the Hotel website.
Hotel
Hotel Royal Victoria
This hotel is connected to Villa Cipressi by a Garden. There is a great pool bar overlooking the lake along with a restaurant that overlooks the village square.
Flight
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
We recommend flying into Milan, Italy. Milan Malpensa (MXP) is the closest airport to Varenna.
Train
Train 1: MXP - Milano Centrale Station on Malpensa Express
MXP to Milano Centrale Station Directions: 1. After you have gone through Passport Control and collected your luggage from the baggage claim exit through sliding double doors to the main airport terminal. Look for signs for the railway station - it located on the lower level. 2. At the railway station there are agents and kiosks to buy tickets. It is best to buy tickets for both the Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale AND the roundtrip ticket from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino. 3. Once you have your ticket you must validate it at the green box before going down to the track. Note: you could owe the Italian government a hefty fine if you skip the validation step! 4. Board the train to Milano Centrale (Note: there are also Malpensa Express trains to Milano Cadorna - these are not the right trains!). The trip should take 50 minutes.
Train
Train 2: Milano Centrale - Varenna Esino on Trenord Regional
Directions from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino via the Trenord Regional train: 1. Milano Centrale is the main train station in Milan and can be rather crowded. Once you arrive find a large electronic board that lists the Trenord Regional train to Varenna. Note: the destination may be listed as Tirano or Sondrio - in both cases the train will stop at Varenna. 2. To avoid adding your hard earned dollars to the Italian Treasury, you must once again validate your ticket before boarding! 3. Grab a seat on the left side (facing forward) of the train to get the best Lake Como views! 4. The trip should take about 1 hour - just prior to arriving in Varenna you'll pass through a tunnel. Please be ready to exit the train at this point. The train does not stop in Varenna for long!
Rental Car
Book a Car Service from the Airport
For those of you who don't want to rent a car or spend time traveling via train, consider booking a car service transfer from the airport! Prices range, but for a luxury minivan for 4 passengers to directly take you from MXP to Varenna, plan to spend around 220 euro for a one way trip. If you need help booking a car service, please contact us!
Rental Car
Avis, Hertz, Etc. - MXP Airport
Numerous car rental companies with English-speaking staff are accessible via the lower level of MXP airport. The car rental garage is attached to the airport so there is easy access to grab your rental! The drive is about 1 hour and 15 minutes to Varenna. When you arrive in Varenna there is a convenient parking garage across the street from Villa Cipressi. Things to consider when renting: (1) Get an Automatic! Car rental agencies in Italy default to manual, so you must specify automatic when you book; (2) White-knuckle driving experience! The roads around Lake Como are winding, and narrow, with no lines. (3) Sticker Shock at the Pump! Gas prices in Italy are by the liter (not the gallon) so the cost of fuel will be a higher than anticipated expense.
Travel Note
International Driving Permit
If you plan on renting a car, it is required that you obtain an international driving permit. This relatively easy process costs $20 - follow the link for more information.