A Travel Price Comparison for Italy Varenna vs. Como for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Varenna or Como?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Varenna and Como. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Varenna

A golden light cascades from the heavens, bathing the misty blue mountains in a honey haze. The shivering waters of Lake Como blend the gentle blues and yellows of the sky to a tea rose pink that sits under white sailboats. A quaint village hustled around lush gardens, Varenna, Italy is an attractive fishing village that dates back to the eleventh century. Founded in 769 AD by fisherman, the town was originally destroyed in 1126 AD by the rival town Como, only to be restored refugees from the Isola Comacina whose town was also destroyed. Located on the eastern shore of the lake in the province of Lecco, Varenna is filled with a romantic air from its old Italian fisherman houses to the picturesque lanes. Unlike the towns of Bellagio or Milan, Varenna holds a particular authenticity to Italian culture without the burdens of tourist-ridden streets and hotel-packed areas. As Lake Como works as the main attraction of Varenna, the village provides its visitors with a wide array of entertainment on its pebbly beaches. Besides this, Varenna is also known for its exquisite gardens of two villas, Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi. Besides this, Varenna also has museums just waiting to be explored. Take a tranquil retreat to Varenna!

Como

At the foot of the jagged cliffs of the Alps lies an expanse of shimmering waters made a golden white by the sun and pockmarked by sailors. Its blue waters beckon you to come forth and dive deep into the mystic body of Lago di Como, or Lake Como. With an area of 146 square kilometers, Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy, right after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore. The lake was originally named by the Romans after the city of Comum, now presently called Como. Lake Como is shaped into an inverted "Y," with towns like Como, Lecco, Bellagio, Menaggio and Lierna situated around it.

Which city is cheaper, Como or Varenna?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Varenna is €131, while the average daily cost in Como is €171. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Varenna and Como in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Varenna €69
    Como €117
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Varenna €138
    Como €234

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Varenna €27
    Como €11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varenna

Also for Varenna, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Varenna/Bellano/Lierna to/from Milan Malpensa Apt (private transfer): $243

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Como

Also for Como, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Como to Rimini (RMI) Airport: $1,319
  • Private Transfer from Como to Milan Linate Airport: $250
  • Private Transfer from Como to Milan City Center: $79
  • Private Transfer from Como to Firenze (FLR) Airport: $1,493
  • Private Transfer from Como Hotels to Milan Malpensa Airport: $250
  • Private Departure Transfer from Como to Malpensa Airport: $130
  • Private Departure Transfer from Como to Linate Airport: $152
  • Como/Cernobbio/Moltrasio/Blevio to/from Milan Malpensa Apt (Private Transfer): $156
  • Como - Malpensa Airport Milan (MXP) / Private Departure Van Transfer: $47
  • Como - Malpensa Airport Milan (MXP) / Private Departure Car Transfer: $89

Is it cheaper to fly into Varenna or Como?

Prices for flights to both Como and Varenna change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Varenna €42
    Como €48

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varenna

For Varenna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Lunch or dinner and cooking demo at a local home in Varenna: $106
  • Small-group Street food tour in Varenna: $111
  • Small Group Market tour and Cooking class in Varenna: $162
  • Private Pizza & Tiramisu Class at a Cesarina's home with tasting in Varenna: $180
  • Private cooking class at a local's home with lunch or dinner in Varenna: $180
  • Cruise and Dinner on Lake Como from Varenna: $184
  • Market Tour and Home Cooking Class with Meal: $214

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Como

For Como, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Lake Como Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $93
  • Pasta Fresca Hands-on Cooking Class with a Local in Como: $100
  • Dining experience at a local's home at Lake Como with show cooking: $106
  • Dining experience at a local's home in Como with show cooking: $106
  • Small-group Street food tour in Como: $111
  • Como Food Tour: $121
  • Como Area: Pizza Training Experience: $159
  • Pizza making experience in Como: $162
  • Lake Italian Pasta Cooking Experience: $162
  • Small Group Market tour and Cooking class in Lake Como: $162
  • Small Group Market tour and Cooking class in Como: $162
  • Cooking Class at a Local's Home: $164

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Varenna €27
    Como -

Tours and Activities in Varenna

For Varenna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • E-Bike Experience on Lake Como East Bank: $138
  • From Milan: Semi-Private Lake Como Day Trip with Cruise: $271
  • HIKING TOUR: VARENNA, Castle of VEZIO Villa MONASTERO, FIUMELATTE: $74
  • LA DOLCE VITA - BELLAGIO: Cruise & Lunch + Villa Melzi: $243
  • LA DOLCE VITA - BELLAGIO: Cruise & Lunch + Villa Melzi (Guided Tour): $330
  • Romantic Tour: $322
  • Small Group Market tour and Dining Experience at a Cesarina's home in Varenna: $136
  • Dining Experience at a Local's Home: $96
  • Villa Balbianello and Flavors of Lake Como Walking and Boating Full-Day Tour: $325

Tours and Activities in Como

For Como, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2 Hours Walking Tour Como: $100
  • 4-Day Northern Italy Lakes Tour from Milan: $1,181
  • A private evening cruise on lake Como: $391
  • A private food-tour on Lake Lugano from Lake Como: $694
  • A private helicopter tour over lake Como: $1,093
  • A private tour of Lugano and its lakeside villages: $423
  • Bergamo PRIVATE Guided tour: $373
  • Best of Lake Como - Cruise on the lake: $185
  • Best of Lake Como - Full day boat tour from Como: $395
  • Como Champagne VIP Tour: $311
  • Como Food & Boat Tour: $409
  • Como Historical and Heritage Tour: $100

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Varenna €18
    Como -

Sample the Local Flavors in Como

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Como:

  • Champagne & Top Wine Tasting: $175
  • Sightseeing and Wine Tasting in Como: $303

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Varenna and Como, we can see that Como is more expensive. And not only is Varenna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Varenna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varenna and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Como would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Como than you might in Varenna.

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Varenna vs. Como Travel Comparison

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