Bellagio gets the fame; Varenna, across the water, gets the sunsets and a fraction of the crowds. Its lakeside passerella walkway strings together gelato stops, tiny beaches and villa gardens, with the Grigne mountains rising behind. The mid-lake ferry triangle — Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio — is the best-value boat trip in Italy, so buy a day pass and hop freely. Climb to Castello di Vezio for the aerial view.
Featured in Ten lake-and-mountain towns for a perfect summer week · Mountain