Where to stay in Varese: the 3 neighborhoods to know in 2026
You don't visit Varese for Varese itself, and that is the whole point. The city sits 50 minutes from Milan and 30 minutes from Malpensa Airport, right at the foot of the great lakes. Many people sleep here because a room costs less than in Como, or because they have an early morning flight.
Even so, Varese deserves more than just a quick stopover. A member of our community spent several days here and describes it as an Italian city on a human scale, where you eat well and the crowds stay away. The Sacro Monte and the historic villas do the rest. Here are 3 areas, depending on what brings you here.
Superb area to relax in the fresh air. I went on a cruise on this lake for less than €30 (about $32), and it was a great way to discover new views of the shoreline and the surroundings.
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At a glance: our picks by traveller type
Pick the profile that suits you to head straight to the recommended neighborhood.
The neighborhood map in Varese
Get your bearings on the neighborhoods and must-see sights before choosing where to drop your bags. Click a name to jump to its description.
The historic centre Around Palazzo Estense and San Vittore
for skipping the car and catching a train straight to Milan
Everything fits into a small area, from the San Vittore basilica and its baptistery to Piazza della Motta, the Broletto, and above all the Palazzo Estense, whose gardens stay open to the public free of charge year-round. A member of our community calls it a welcome stroll on hot days, noting that the palace interior itself is only accessible via guided tour. This is the area that makes a car unnecessary, with the train station running towards Milan, restaurants right at your doorstep, and the centre buzzing come warmer weather. What it lacks is a view.
I really liked my stay in the city of Varese. It is a very pretty Italian city on a human scale. The center is lively and vibrant, especially on nice days. You eat well there and there are fewer crowds than in other, more touristy cities in the country.
What to see & do in the neighborhood
Where to stay in this neighborhood
Art Hotel Varese Luxury
A 4-star hotel on viale Aguggiari that states its own rating, complete with an on-site restaurant and bar. It presents itself as a base for Villa Panza and the Sacro Monte, a claim backed up by its location just north of the centre.
Albergo Ristorante Bologna Mid-range
A townhouse on via Broggi in the heart of the old centre, set inside a 1550 monastic complex run by the Lorenzini family for over 65 years. Its restaurant holds a Michelin distinction, making it just as much a destination for dinner as for an overnight stay. It closes for two weeks in August.
Hotel Stelvio Budget
A no-frills spot right on via Tonale, complete with private parking. It sits close to the motorway exit and says it is 25 km from Malpensa, making it the textbook overnight stop before an early morning flight.
Pros
- The train station, restaurants, and the Estense gardens all within walking distance
- The villas and museums accessible without a car
Cons
- No view: you earn it by climbing to the Sacro Monte
- Some addresses close for two weeks in August
The Sacro Monte Up north, in the village of Santa Maria del Monte
for the heritage-listed site and the view over the lakes
A 2 km path climbs towards the sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte, lined with 14 chapels you visit on the way up. A member in our community describes it as doable for everyone, even if you are not particularly athletic, and remembers it fondly. A funicular spares you the climb if you prefer. At the top, the village is tiny and the terraces look out over the lakes, Monte Rosa, and Campo dei Fiori. The trade-off is clear: you are 8 km from the centre on a winding switchback road, and come evening, only the hotel dining rooms are still serving.
Sacro Monte del Rosario is a path about 2 km long that you can walk freely. It is lined with fourteen small, typical chapels that you can visit along the way. [...] The path is accessible to everyone, even if you are not very athletic.
What to see & do in the neighborhood
Where to stay in this neighborhood
Hotel Sacro Monte Varese Luxury
A 4-star hotel on via Salvatore Bianchi in the middle of the village, billing itself as the oldest inn in the area: it used to house pilgrims. Its front terrace faces the lakes and Monte Rosa, and it welcomes guests year-round.
Hotel Colonne Mid-range
A 4-star boutique hotel with just 9 rooms a short walk from the sanctuary, whose terraces overlook the valley. The property spans several floors and also houses a bar and a bistro.
Hotel Al Borducan Mid-range
A Liberty-style villa in the village, named after an orange liqueur invented on site. Only a handful of rooms, a terrace overlooking the valley, and the feel of someone's home rather than a hotel.
Pros
- The protected site and its 14 chapels right on your doorstep
- A view over the lakes and Monte Rosa
Cons
- 8 km from the centre via a switchback road
- After dark, only the hotel restaurants stay open
Lake Varese At Schiranna, 5 km west of the centre
for the water, biking, and quiet evenings
The lake stretches out to the west, ringed by a cycling path with access through the Schiranna neighbourhood. Two members of our community describe it the same way, as a peaceful spot for walking and cycling where boat cruises depart for fresh perspectives on the shoreline. Of the three areas, it is the quietest and the least provided for, with a few waterfront houses, no shopping street, and the centre 5 km away.
Lake Varese is a must-see in the region. The lake is vast and pretty peaceful. You can walk around it or go biking. I recommend booking a cruise on the lake.
What to see & do in the neighborhood
Where to stay in this neighborhood
Hotel Mariuccia Varese Mid-range
A hotel and restaurant on via Macchi right on the water, situated near the boat launch and the start of the bicycle path. The rooms look out over the lake and the terrace sits right at the water's edge.
I Giardini del Lago Budget
A farm stay on via Vigevano offering rooms and breakfast nestled among orchards and plants. You sleep here in the middle of active farm life, which is about as far from an overnight hotel as you can get.
Pros
- The lakeside bike path and boat cruises departing from the shore
- The quietest of the three areas once evening sets in
Cons
- Very few places to stay and no shopping street
- The centre and the train station remain 5 km away
Our tips for booking the right place
- Malpensa and why so many people sleep here: If one main reason brings people here, this is it, and it has nothing to do with the city itself. The airport sits about thirty minutes away by road, making it easy to stay in town the night before an early flight without paying airport hotel rates. Watch out for addresses with “Malpensa” in the name though, as most of them sit in other towns like Somma Lombardo or Ferno and only share the Varese province. If getting to the airport drives your choice, double-check the actual address before trusting the name.
- Two ways to reach the sanctuary: The chapel path runs 2 km from the bottom, and a member of our community describes it as manageable even without any training. The funicular carries those who prefer to save their legs, and the switchback road allows cars right up to the village. Staying overnight up top completely changes the rhythm: coaches arrive mid-morning and clear out before evening, leaving the sanctuary and terraces peaceful once you have your room there.
- The opening hours that shape your plans: Two details are worth knowing before you arrive. The Palazzo Estense only opens its interior for guided tours or events, while its gardens stay open to everyone all year long, and a member of our community suggests checking ahead rather than showing up at a locked door. The San Vittore basilica takes about half an hour to see, with smaller crowds in the early morning, according to the same member.
- Booking near Sacro Monte while planning to dine in town: 8 km of switchbacks separate the village from the centre, and once night falls, the only dinner options up top are at the hotels.
- Picking a “Malpensa” address without checking the town: several listings are in Somma Lombardo or Ferno, meaning they are neither in Varese nor necessarily any closer to the airport than the city itself.
- Relying on Schiranna for a car-free trip: the neighbourhood revolves around the lake and its bike path, but the centre is still 5 km away and no shopping street connects them.
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