Cypresses, lakeside terraces and views towards Bellagio give Villa Cipressi’s Christmas Garden a distinctly Lake Como setting. In Varenna, the historic villa’s botanical grounds are illuminated by thousands of lights, with woodland characters and festive installations among the pathways and panoramic viewpoints above the water.
R Collection Hotels says the villa will remain open throughout the Christmas Garden season, from 1 November 2026 to 10 January 2027, allowing visitors to combine the lights with an overnight stay. The expanded opening brings accommodation into a winter programme that began with the garden’s inaugural festive season last year.
An evening here can include hot chocolate in frescoed interiors, a walk through the illuminated grounds and dinner in a 15th-century courtyard. With rooms starting at €218 per night, the villa offers a way to spend a winter break beside the lake, with Varenna taking on a quieter atmosphere beyond summer.
Lights across the lakeside terraces
Villa Cipressi’s garden descends towards Lake Como through terraces, winding paths and stairways. The Christmas display works within that landscape, bringing illuminated routes, elves, angels and woodland creatures into grounds whose lakefront viewpoints are already a central part of their appeal. This year’s edition has been expanded, with thousands of lights enhancing the installations.
The botanical collection mixes native species with plants from other parts of the world. Evergreen cypresses, holm oaks and magnolias give the winter garden its structure, while American agave is among the more unusual plants found here in northern Italy. The garden belongs to the Grandi Giardini Italiani network, and its planting gives visitors something to explore alongside the seasonal displays.
The Christmas Bar occupies the Bar Veranda and adjoining frescoed interiors, serving hot chocolate, waffles, muffins and seasonal sweets, as well as spritzes, cocktails and Champagne. It provides an indoor stop between the garden and dinner, while the Christmas Shop carries festive gifts and seasonal products.
Daily opening runs from 10am to 10pm, with last admission at 9pm. Daylight visits allow a closer look at the planting and terraced layout; an after-dark visit brings the illuminated garden into focus. The extended daily schedule also gives overnight guests flexibility around dinner and daytime outings.
A historic villa with a local connection
Villa Cipressi’s buildings date from the 1400s to the 1800s. The property was acquired in 1980 after Varenna residents and the Friends of Varenna made voluntary subscriptions, with the intention of bringing it into public use. It is now principally owned by the Municipality of Varenna and managed by R Collection Hotels.
R Collection restored the property in 2018, turning the historic villa into a four-star hotel. The Christmas Garden retains that local connection: the initiative has municipal support, and Varenna residents receive free admission and a complimentary refreshment.
Gospel, Santa Claus and Befana
Gospel performances are scheduled for 14 and 21 November, giving visitors two early-season dates around which to plan an evening or overnight stay. The festive programme continues through December and into January, rather than ending immediately after Christmas.
Santa Claus welcomes children to his house on 28–29 November, 5–8 December, 12–13 December and 19–20 December. Families planning a visit over the Immaculate Conception holiday period have four consecutive appearance dates, from 5 to 8 December. A celebration devoted to Befana follows on 6 January 2027, with the garden remaining open until 10 January.
Lombard cooking in the courtyard
Il Caminetto, the villa’s seasonal pop-up restaurant, is set within its 15th-century courtyard. Running from 25 October 2026 to 9 January 2027, it serves dinner daily from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. An early-evening garden visit leaves time for a meal afterwards, without needing to leave the property.
Lombard cooking is central to the restaurant’s approach, alongside other Italian classics and a focus on ingredients sourced locally. The Il Caminetto menu includes saffron risotto at €19, traditional Valtellina pizzoccheri at €18, and veal cheek with polenta at €24. Tagliatelle with white ragù, finished with porcini mushroom powder, costs €23.
Starters include veal with tuna sauce at €17 and trout ceviche at €18. For dessert, panettone with zabaglione and tiramisu are each €10. A €4 cover charge applies, while the restaurant’s half-board provision comprises two courses plus dessert. These details give a useful sense of dinner costs alongside the hotel’s starting room rate.
Christmas Day brings a special lunch overlooking Lake Como on 25 December. A celebratory New Year’s Eve dinner follows on 31 December, offering another reason to make the villa an overnight base during the holidays.
Choose between village rooftops and lake views
Villa Cipressi’s accommodation has either village or lake views. Its eleven Classic Borgo View double rooms overlook Varenna’s rooftops, narrow streets and village corners, placing the surrounding village firmly in view. Rooms start at €218 per night; the outlook depends on the category selected.
The hotel’s lake-view suites offer more space. The Junior Suite Lake View measures 30 square metres, while Suite Mimosa is 50 square metres and occupies the first floor. Mimosa’s broad windows on two sides overlook the lake, making it worth considering for a stay where the view is a priority.
The hotel also offers a breakfast buffet. Staying overnight gives visitors time to see the gardens and Varenna in daylight as well as after dark, rather than fitting the whole visit into a single evening. The full-season opening includes both Christmas and New Year, and continues through the Befana celebration.
Getting to Varenna and planning your visit
Varenna-Esino station lies on the Milan–Sondrio–Tirano railway line, with an approximate journey time of one hour from Milan. This makes the village a manageable rail destination for a short break built around the hotel, garden and restaurant.
The Orrido di Bellano, a natural gorge with a visitor footbridge, offers a nearby daytime outing. Walkers can also access the 45-kilometre Sentiero del Viandante route from Varenna. Neither needs to displace the main reason for coming: leave the evening free for the garden and courtyard dinner.
Christmas Garden admission is priced separately from the advertised starting room rate. The visitor categories are:
- Full admission: €15 per person.
- Reduced admission: €10 for children aged 4–15, visitors aged 65 and over, groups of 20 or more, and members of Touring Club Italiano, FAI and ICOM.
- Free admission: children aged 0–3, visitors under 110cm in height and residents of the Municipality of Varenna.
Restaurant reservations can be made through Il Caminetto’s reservation page or by emailing info@hotelvillacipressi.it.
