Villa Monastero sits right on the edge of the lake at Varenna, and its long, narrow garden is a gift to anyone who likes to walk beside the water. The site began as a convent and was later turned into a private villa and then into a house museum and botanical garden, with the gardens running for almost two kilometres along the lake front. Paths pass rare and Mediterranean plants, citrus and palms, terraces with benches over the water and a small chapel-like feel in the oldest parts. Inside, the house museum leads you through period rooms, and the whole property doubles as a venue for conferences, so you may hear a meeting in progress. Unlike the other great villas, it keeps a winter timetable rather than closing, which makes it the most dependable garden visit on the lake between November and March.
Is it open now
Yes. According to the villa’s own page, the House Museum is open Thursday to Monday from 10:00 to 17:00 in November and December 2026, closed Tuesday and Wednesday, and shut on 25 December. The Botanical Garden follows the same days, and from 6 November it stays open until 20:00 on Thursday to Monday for the Christmas light period. From 11 January 2027 both are open Thursday to Monday from 10:00 to 17:00. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
Tickets
From 7 November to 10 January the Christmas light period applies, with a full house-and-garden ticket at 18 euros and a garden-only ticket at 16 euros, while the standard 2026 price is 15 euros for house and garden and 13 euros for the garden alone. There are reduced rates for over-65s, groups, members of Touring Club Italiano, FAI and ICOM, and young people aged 15 to 25.
Children up to 14, Varenna residents and disabled visitors with a companion go free. Tickets are non-refundable and single-entry, and the day on an online ticket is binding even if the entry time is not.
Making the most of it
Walk the garden from end to end, then step into the village for a lakeside coffee. The nearby Villa Cipressi hosts a Christmas Garden with lights in winter, and the Lovers’ Walk begins close by. The ferry landing is a few minutes’ walk, and the railway station is about ten minutes away.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit to a house museum and a long lakeside botanical garden, with a one-way route and no re-entry.
Best time
Late afternoon from 6 November, when the garden stays open until 20:00 on its Christmas light evenings.
How long
Plan on one and a half to two hours for the garden and the rooms of the house museum.
Tips
Remember it is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, buy the garden-only ticket if you are short of time and note that tickets cannot be changed.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Garden walkers, couples and anyone who wants a villa visit that is still open in the depths of winter.
- Families
- The long flat paths suit children, and the lakeside terraces keep everyone entertained for an hour or two.
- Couples
- Atmospheric on winter evenings, when the lights come on and the lake goes dark.
- Pair with
- Pair it with a stroll through Varenna’s old centre and a visit to the Christmas Garden at Villa Cipressi.
- Time needed
- Two hours for the villa, plus time to wander the village and have lunch.
Good questions
Is Villa Monastero open in November and December 2026?+
Yes, Thursday to Monday, closed Tuesday and Wednesday and on 25 December. The house museum runs 10:00 to 17:00 and the garden stays open until 20:00 from 6 November.
How much is Villa Monastero in winter?+
From 7 November to 10 January the Christmas period prices apply: 18 euros for house and garden or 16 euros for the garden only. Reduced and youth tickets are cheaper.
How long is the garden?+
It runs for almost two kilometres along the lake front, so it makes a long, flat and scenic walk.
Can I get a refund on my ticket?+
Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be changed, except if the villa closes for force majeure or an emergency. The date on an online ticket is binding.
How do I reach Villa Monastero?+
It is in Varenna’s centre, a few minutes’ walk from the ferry landing and about ten minutes from the railway station.
