Hotel Royal Victoria, by R Collection Hotels

A 4-star lakefront hotel in Varenna with an outdoor pool, two restaurants, a bar and a spa.

Why people love it

• Lake views. Guests describe the lake view rooms and the breakfast buffet view as the highlight. One guest said the view from the room never ends.
• Staff. Many 2026 reviews call the staff friendly and accommodating. Guests named the pool attendants and bartender Aziz at Bar Visteria.
• Dining. Guests praised lunch, the pizza and the food in the hotel restaurants. One vegetarian guest called a lunch there the nicest vegetarian meal of a two-week Italy trip.
• Location. Guests like being in Varenna with easy ferry and train connections to Bellagio and Menaggio.
• Rooms and extras. A wedding party stayed in the Magnolia Suite, and one guest liked the scented bath products.

The worst thing guests say

Among overnight guests, a June 2026 reviewer said the price was well above what the hotel offers and a €100 deposit had not been refunded months later. Another August 2026 guest also called it overpriced. A 2024 guest said the concierge could not book some popular local restaurants. Many of the 1-star reviews come from people who only visited the bar or restaurant, from 2017 to March 2026. Several mention bills with cover charges, snacks added and aperitivi at €14 to €18 each. A 2022 diner reported food poisoning.

Insider tips

• Check your bar bill, as visitors have reported cover charges and snacks added.
• Ask for a lake view room.
• Ask about your deposit refund before you leave.
• Book popular restaurants in town ahead on your own.

How we rated this: Google rating 4.3 from 698 reviews. We read the newest and the lowest-rated guest reviews (14 recent guest reviews with text) and set aside reviews from restaurant or bar visitors who did not stay. Repeat-guest rate not shown: not enough recent guest reviews yet. Address: Contrada della Filanda, 2, 23829 Varenna LC.