🌿 Varenna Day Trip: Lake Como’s Hidden Gem

📍 "Just 1 hour from Milan—a lakeside fairy tale of castles, villas, and aperitivo with a view!" 🚂 Getting There From Milan Centrale: Direct trains hourly (~1h ride). Stop: Varenna-Esino (don’t oversleep—it’s tiny!). ⛰️ Must-Do Highlights 1️⃣ Castello di Vezio 👻 30-min uphill hike (steep, slippery—wear grippy shoes!). €5 entry (buy at the café) → Panoramic lake views worth the sweat! 2️⃣ Villa Monastero 🌸 Gardens (€10.50): Lakeside paths + "that" insta-famous iron gate. Pro tip: Under 25? €5 ticket! 3️⃣ Villa Cipressi 🌿 €10 garden fee (or €18 combo ticket with Monastero). 4️⃣ Basilica di San Giorgio ⛪ – A quick old-town pit stop. 🚤 Optional Boat Adventures Ferry to Bellagio (Villa Melzi) or Lenno (Star Wars villa!) Timetable hack: Grab one at the ticket booth! 🍝 Lakeside Lunch Break Eat here: Ristorante Il Cavatappi (try the missoltini fish!). Drink here: Bar Il Molo – Aperol spritz by the water. 💡 Pro Tips: Avoid noon sun – Shade is scarce! ☀️ Last train to Milan: 21:35 (don’t miss it!). Swim? Pack a suit—some docks welcome dips! "Varenna is Lake Como without the crowds—where dolce far niente isn’t a cliché, it’s the law." 🍋 #LakeComoEscape #ItalianDayTrip