Friday evening
Arrive whenever you like: you get the keypad code before arrival. Leave your car at the back and walk down to the centre for dinner: Corso Matteotti and the Estense Gardens are about 10 minutes away.
a weekend in the garden city
Things to do in Varese: a weekend with the Sacro Monte, Villa Panza and the lake
Casa P17 is 10 minutes on foot from the centre of Varese. From here the Sacro Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Villa and Panza Collection and Lake Varese are just a few minutes away. Arrive on Friday evening with self check-in, park for free at the back and do the rest on foot or with a short drive.
Historic centre
10 min on foot
Sacro Monte
10–15 min by car
Villa Panza
5 min by car
Lake Varese
10 min by car
Check-in
Self check-in from 2 pm, at any time
The 2-day plan
Two nights are enough to see Varese's best-loved places without rushing. It is the plan we suggest to anyone arriving on Friday evening.
Saturday
Morning at the Sacro Monte: the sacred way with its chapels climbs up to the village, with views over the lakes. Afternoon at Villa and Panza Collection, an 18th-century villa with contemporary art and a large garden. These are the two highest-rated sights in the province.
Sunday
A loop of Lake Varese on the cycle and walking path, on foot or by bike, or half an hour more on the road to Lake Maggiore and the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso. Check-out by 10 am; book on our website and late check-out is free, when available.
What to see in Varese
Sacro Monte di Varese
Sacred way with chapels and a hilltop village, part of the Sacri Monti UNESCO World Heritage Site · 10–15 min by car
Villa and Panza Collection
18th-century villa with a contemporary art collection and gardens · 5 min by car
Ville Ponti
Historic villas with a large park, now a conference centre, next to Villa Panza · 5 min by car
Estense Gardens and Palazzo Estense
The 18th-century palace, seat of the city council, with its Italian garden in the city centre · on foot
Villa Mirabello and Civic Museums
The villa with its English-style park, connected to the Estense Gardens · on foot
Historic centre and Corso Matteotti
Shops, cafés and aperitivo under the arcades · 10 min on foot
Campo dei Fiori
Regional park with trails and views of the Pre-Alps · 10–15 min by car
Lake Varese
Cycle and walking path around the lake, starting from Schiranna · 10 min by car
Isolino Virginia
The island of Neolithic pile dwellings, a UNESCO site on Lake Varese · by boat from Biandronno
A tour of Varese's parks
Varese is called the garden city for its parks, public and private. These are our favourites, to explore on foot or with short drives.
Villa Augusta
The historic park right behind the house: the first one to see, a few steps from the apartment.
Estense Gardens and Villa Mirabello
The Italian garden of Palazzo Estense, now the town hall, with tree-lined avenues, fountains and the swan pond. Behind the fountain you climb into the park of Villa Mirabello, with a great 19th-century cedar of Lebanon.
Villa Torelli Mylius
Quieter and more intimate than the Estense Gardens, with rare and monumental trees: the park for those looking for some peace.
Villa Panza
The garden of the FAI villa, with land art left from past exhibitions and natural arches formed by the trees. Inside the villa is the largest collection of works by Dan Flavin.
Villa Toeplitz
A villa from 1901, bought in 1914 by the banker Giuseppe Toeplitz: an Italian and English garden with fountains and water features, among the most beautiful parks in Italy.
Parco Zanzi
The park on the shore of Lake Varese, where the cycle and footpath around the lake begins.
Our favourite walk: from the Irma to Forte di Orino
On Campo dei Fiori, between Pensione Irma and Forte di Orino, lies one of the most beautiful views you can see. You walk along the old military road of the Cadorna Line, built during the First World War to defend the border with Switzerland, and pass the Schiaparelli Observatory. In the woods it is not unusual to meet a roe deer, a fawn, a woodpecker or a small bird of prey: walk quietly and keep your eyes open.
1,139 metres
The height of the Forte di Orino terrace, with a 360-degree view.
Seven lakes
On clear days you can count seven lakes and, on the horizon, Monte Rosa.
About 2 hours
There and back on an easy path: hiking shoes are enough.
The Grand Hotel
On the way up you see the Grand Hotel Campo dei Fiori, an Art Nouveau masterpiece by Giuseppe Sommaruga, opened in 1912 and closed in 1968.
Curiosities about Varese and its surroundings
Four UNESCO sites
A province of about 1,200 km² holds four World Heritage Sites: the Sacro Monte, the pile dwellings of Isolino Virginia, Castelseprio with the monastery of Torba, and the fossils of Monte San Giorgio.
Neolithic pile dwellings
Isolino Virginia, on Lake Varese, preserves the oldest pile-dwelling village in the Alpine arc. You reach it by boat from Biandronno at weekends from May to October; the museum is free and the lotus flowers bloom in July.
The city of seven lakes
Around Varese lie Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano, Lake Varese, Lake Comabbio, Lake Monate and the small lakes of Ganna and Ghirla in Valganna.
The missing chapel
The sacred way of the Sacro Monte is about 2 km long, with 14 chapels begun in 1604 to a design by Giuseppe Bernascone. After the eleventh the road forks: the abandoned branch was meant to lead to a chapel that was never built.
By funicular to the Sacro Monte
If you don't want to walk up, take the funicular from Piazzale Montanari to the village of Santa Maria del Monte, at the top of the sacred way.
More green than city
Over half of the municipality is green: more than 27 km² of parks and gardens out of just over 50 km².
For a couple
For two people we recommend the two studios. If you are a light sleeper, choose Bilo Blu, which faces the back.
Guests who came for a weekend
“The apartment is close to the station and easy to reach on foot. It matched the photos and was clean. Access was very easy and well explained. The apartment is perfect for a weekend trip to Varese.”
“[…] Federico gave us some nice indications for restaurants. Nice spot on the city is Villa Panza, with a huge garden, nice to spend some relaxing time.”
“We had a wonderful stay! The apartment is really lovely, the cleanliness excellent and the location great. Federico is very kind and helpful.”
Real average rating on each platform · 242 reviews · Booking.com 9.4 · Airbnb 4.92 · Google 5.0 · Superhost · Read all reviews on Airbnb, Booking.com and Google: Booking.com Google
Excerpts are copied from reviews published on Airbnb and Booking.com, where only guests who stayed can review, and on Google, which does not verify stays. Translated excerpts are marked. Average scores are those shown by each platform.
Frequently asked questions
How many nights do I need for a weekend in Varese?
Two nights, Friday to Sunday, are enough to see the Sacro Monte, Villa Panza, the centre and Lake Varese. There is no minimum stay: you can also book just one night.
What is the most scenic walk near Varese?
For us it is the one on Campo dei Fiori, from Pensione Irma to Forte di Orino: about 2 hours there and back, with views of seven lakes and Monte Rosa on clear days. Roe deer and woodpeckers are often seen in the woods.
How many UNESCO sites are there in the province of Varese?
Four: the Sacro Monte of Varese, the pile dwellings of Isolino Virginia, Castelseprio with the monastery of Torba (part of the "Longobards in Italy" site) and Monte San Giorgio.
Can I visit Varese without a car?
The historic centre and the Estense Gardens are about 10 minutes on foot. For the Sacro Monte and the lake a car is the most convenient option: 10–15 minutes, with free parking at the back of Casa P17.
Where do I park?
There are free, unassigned parking spaces at the back of the building. Alternatively, the private car park at Via Nino Bixio 32 is 150 metres away, at €10 per day.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, pets are allowed for a supplement of €30 per stay. The Villa Augusta park is right behind the house.
What time do I have to leave on Sunday?
Check-out is by 10 am. Book on our website and late check-out is free, if nobody arrives in the apartment that day.
Book your weekend in Varese
Direct price, no fees. Free late check-out when available.
242 reviews · Booking.com 9.4 · Airbnb 4.92 · Google 5.0 · Superhost