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Lake Como: Varenna Bans Swimwear on Village Streets

· 2 min read Travel News
Varenna village on the shore of Lake Como, northern Italy

Contents

  1. What the rules cover
  2. Practical advice for visitors

The village of Varenna on the western shore of Lake Como has introduced a bylaw banning bare chests and swimwear on its streets and in public spaces away from the waterfront. Fines range from €50 to €200, and local municipal police (vigili urbani) have begun issuing citations to visitors who leave the lakeside area without a cover-up.

Varenna is one of the most-visited stops on the lake, drawing large numbers of day-trippers who arrive by ferry from Bellagio or Cadenabbia and walk directly to the village centre in beach attire. The new rule targets this behaviour specifically, which residents and local business owners have connected to wider concerns about overtourism on the lake.

What the rules cover

The bylaw applies to:

  • Walking through village streets bare-chested (applies regardless of gender)
  • Wearing bikinis, swimsuits, or trunks inside shops, restaurants, churches, or public squares
  • Sitting on benches or public surfaces in wet swimwear

It does not apply to the lake shore itself, the ferry dock area, or the village beach. Once you step from the waterfront into Varenna’s main streets, a cover-up is required.

Practical advice for visitors

Pack a light shirt, linen shirt, or sarong if you plan to walk through Varenna’s streets, browse its shops, or visit the 15th-century church of San Giorgio after a swim. The rule applies immediately upon leaving the shoreline area, so carrying a cover-up in a bag is the simplest solution.

Most ferry passengers arrive and spend time in the village centre before or after time at the water - route planning is worth the few minutes it takes. Varenna has not announced any cap on visitor numbers, so the site remains fully accessible.

The rule is consistent with similar measures already introduced in Bellagio and in several towns around Lake Garda. It is worth treating both lakes as applying this standard through the summer.

Our Lake Como guide covers all four main villages, ferry timetables, and day-trip logistics from Milan. If you are planning a broader northern Italy trip, our Florence guide covers the best rail connections and what to see in Tuscany after the lakes.