Hi Everybody,

Will be visiting Varenna on Lake Como this July and was wondering if there are local places to rent a car in Varenna or would I have to travel to a larger city first? Thanks!

No ! Try Lecco or Como.

Thanks Bob. Another quick question for you or anybody else who knows:

Do I need a rental to car to get to Maggiore from Varenna or is there a more efficient way to do it?

Bob's right - the nearest are in LECCO (Avis) and nearby Galbiate (Europcar).

Most of the major rental agencies are in Como. (Another possibility is Monza).

You can reach southern Lake Maggiore (Arona, Stresa ...) from Varenna by train via Milan.

Or you can reach northern Maggiore from Menaggio by bus (to Lugano) then train via Bellinzona.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

about how long would that trip be from Varenna to Maggiore via Milan? is it worth it for a day?

It's a long ride. Journey time is 2.5-3 hours each way to Stresa.

Is it worth it? Only you can decide ...
I found Stresa a disappointment - but others love it. I saw it in winter, so maybe that affected my impressions ...

Steve