Quick answer
The best time to visit Lake Como is from late April to June and in September, when every villa is open, average highs run from 62°F to 77°F and the lake is quieter than in July and August. September is the safest single month. From November to March the ferries still run, but several villas and many lakeside hotels close.
Villa opening dates, ferry timetables and event dates below were checked on the official sites on 5 October 2026. The weather figures are the 1991-2020 averages of the MeteoSwiss station in Lugano, the nearest long-running official station, and the visitor figures are the official 2024 counts for the provinces of Como and Lecco.
Lake Como month by month at a glance
| Month | Average high | Rainy days | Villas | Visitors (share of the year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45°F (7°C) | 5 | Few open, set days only | 1.9% |
| February | 48°F (9°C) | 5 | Few open, set days only | 2.1% |
| March | 56°F (14°C) | 6 | Balbianello and Carlotta open mid-March | 4.1% |
| April | 62°F (17°C) | 10 | All open | 7.8% |
| May | 69°F (21°C) | 12 | All open | 11.8% |
| June | 77°F (25°C) | 10 | All open | 11.8% |
| July | 81°F (27°C) | 8 | All open | 16.7% |
| August | 80°F (27°C) | 10 | All open | 17.8% |
| September | 72°F (22°C) | 9 | All open | 12.2% |
| October | 62°F (17°C) | 9 | All open, shorter hours | 7.9% |
| November | 53°F (12°C) | 9 | Melzi closed, others reduced | 3.2% |
| December | 46°F (8°C) | 6 | Few open, set days only | 2.9% |
Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm of rain. The last column is each month’s share of the year’s visitor nights in hotels and rentals around the lake in 2024.
Lake Como weather by month
Summers are warm, and the lake gets a lot of rain from April to November. Winter is the driest season, with highs in the mid-40s°F.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sunshine | Days at 77°F or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45°F | 34°F | 2.6 in | 124 h | 0 |
| February | 48°F | 35°F | 2.4 in | 142 h | 0 |
| March | 56°F | 41°F | 3.0 in | 192 h | 0 |
| April | 62°F | 47°F | 5.4 in | 182 h | 0 |
| May | 69°F | 54°F | 7.0 in | 200 h | 4 |
| June | 77°F | 61°F | 6.8 in | 229 h | 16 |
| July | 81°F | 64°F | 6.2 in | 260 h | 25 |
| August | 80°F | 64°F | 6.2 in | 245 h | 23 |
| September | 72°F | 58°F | 6.5 in | 192 h | 6 |
| October | 62°F | 50°F | 5.9 in | 141 h | 0 |
| November | 53°F | 42°F | 6.6 in | 105 h | 0 |
| December | 46°F | 36°F | 3.1 in | 107 h | 0 |
Real heat is rare. Even in July the station averages only five days at 86°F (30°C) or more. May is the wettest month, with about 12 rainy days, so pack a light rain jacket for a spring trip. Lugano is on the next lake to the west, so treat these averages as a guide to the season. Our Lake Como travel guide has the map and the basics.
When Lake Como is busiest
Most visitors come between April and October, which in 2024 took 86% of all visitor nights around the lake. July and August are the peak, with more than a million nights each. That is about nine times as many as in January.
| Period | Visitor nights in 2024 | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| January and February | 114,000 to 130,000 a month | Empty ferries, many hotels closed |
| March, November, December | 175,000 to 250,000 a month | Quiet, with short opening hours |
| April and October | about 480,000 a month | Busy at weekends, easy on weekdays |
| May, June, September | 720,000 to 745,000 a month | Busy, everything open |
| July and August | 1.02 to 1.09 million a month | Peak season |
Two figures stand out for planning. September had slightly more visitors than May or June, and October about the same as April. More than 80% of visitors come from abroad, and the United States is the second-biggest market after Germany, with just under 13% of all arrivals in 2024 (Como-Lecco Chamber of Commerce figures).
On busy days the queue is at the ferry pier. Boats carry only as many people as they hold, and on summer weekends you may have to wait for the next one. Go on a weekday if you can, and start early.
When the villas are open
The villa gardens set the season. In 2026 the two big villas on the western shore opened in mid-March, and the gardens in Bellagio closed on 1 November.
Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, which opened for its regular 2026 season on 20 March.
| Villa | 2026 season | Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Villa del BalbianelloMap, Lenno | Daily from 14 March, 10am to 6pm; booking required | November 10am to 5pm; set days in December and 2 to 6 January |
| Villa CarlottaMap, Tremezzo | 20 March to 18 October, 10am to 7pm; to 8 November, 10am to 6pm | Weekends in late November and 5 to 8 December, 10am to 4pm |
| Villa Melzi gardensMap, Bellagio | Daily, 10am to 7pm (5pm from 25 October) | Closed from 1 November |
| Villa MonasteroMap, Varenna | Most of the year; April to September from 9:30am | 10am to 5pm, closed Tuesday and Wednesday in November and December |
| Villa Cipressi gardenMap, Varenna | April to October (closed 21 to 26 October 2026) | Christmas Garden lights, 1 November to 10 January |
Villa del Balbianello also opened on a few weekend days in February 2026, and Villa Carlotta opened on set days from 3 February to 15 March. For 2027, expect the same pattern and check the villas’ own sites before you book flights around them. Tickets, booking rules and how to reach each villa are in our Lake Como villas guide.
Spring is flower season. At Villa Carlotta the camellias come first, and the rhododendrons are in full bloom between mid-March and mid-April.
Ferry timetables by season
The public ferries, run by Navigazione Laghi, sail all year, so the lake is never cut off. What changes is how often they run.
A Navigazione Laghi car ferry, which links Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio all year.
- Summer timetable: 1 July to 4 October in 2026, with the most departures.
- Autumn timetable: 5 October to 1 November 2026.
- Winter timetable: from November, with fewer boats. The central lake boats between Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio keep running. Check the timetable on navigazionelaghi.it before a trip between November and March.
Buses switch timetable too. On ASF’s lines C130 (Como to Bellagio) and C110 (Como to Menaggio and Colico), the winter timetable runs from 14 September 2026 to 8 June 2027, so check it for your dates.
Fares stay the same all year: €5.50 for a hop in the central lake and €17.50 for the central lake day pass. You can pay on the slow boats by tapping a contactless card. Our Lake Como boat tours guide compares the ferry with private tours and rentals, which mostly run from March or April to October.
Spring at Lake Como (March to May)
March is the start of the season. Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta open in mid-March, highs average 56°F and the lake is quiet, with about 4% of the year’s visitors. Some hotels are still closed, so check dates.
April and May bring every villa back, highs of 62 to 69°F and long garden hours, with Villa Monastero open from 9:30am. They are also the wettest months, with 10 to 12 rainy days each. Easter (28 March 2027), 25 April and 1 May are public holidays in Italy, and those weekends fill the ferries and hotels.
Lake Como in April and May suits a trip built around the villas and gardens. Book rooms early for Easter and the long weekend around 25 April.
Summer at Lake Como (June to August)
June is the best summer month: highs of 77°F, everything open, and about a third fewer visitors than in August. It is also wet, with 10 rainy days on average, often short storms in the afternoon.
July and August are the warmest and busiest months, with highs around 80°F. This is the season for swimming from a lido, such as Lido di BellagioMap, and for hotel pools (Hotel Royal VictoriaMap in Varenna, for example, opens its pool from mid-May to mid-September). Book hotels months ahead, travel on weekdays, and expect queues at the Bellagio and Varenna piers in the middle of the day. 15 August (Ferragosto) is a national holiday.
The Sagra di San Giovanni is the lake’s oldest festival, held at the end of June around Isola ComacinaMap, the only island on the lake, and Ossuccio, in Tremezzina. In 2026 it took place on 27 and 28 June, with fireworks over the water at 10:30pm for about 45 minutes and a regatta of traditional boats on the Sunday. Boat traffic on that stretch of lake is restricted in the evening, so plan your route back.
Autumn at Lake Como (September and October)
September is the best month for most first visits. Highs average 72°F, rainy days drop to about 9, the summer timetable runs until early October and every villa keeps its long hours. Visitor numbers fall by about a third compared with August.
October is quieter and cooler, with highs of 62°F. The villas stay open but close earlier: the Villa Melzi gardens close at 6:30pm from 12 October and at 5pm from 25 October, and Villa Carlotta closes at 6pm from 19 October. In early October the Orticolario garden festival fills Villa ErbaMap in Cernobbio (1 to 4 October in 2026).
From late October, many lakeside hotels start closing for the winter. In Bellagio some shut in late October and others in early November, so check your hotel’s dates before you book. Our Bellagio guide has the opening calendar for the town.
Winter at Lake Como (November to February)
Winter is quiet, cold and fairly dry, with highs of 45 to 53°F and 105 to 142 hours of sunshine a month. Frost is common in January, with about 8 frosty nights.
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The lakefront in Como town, where hotels stay open through the winter.
What stays open:
- Ferries, all winter, with fewer boats.
- Villa del Balbianello daily in November and on set days in December and early January.
- Villa Monastero five days a week in November and December.
- Villa Carlotta until 8 November, then some weekends to 8 December.
- Villa Cipressi in Varenna, with its Christmas Garden lights from 1 November to 10 January.
- Como town, with the Città dei Balocchi Christmas lights, light projections on the façades and a Christmas market from late November to 6 January.
Days are short: plan the ferry hops and garden visits for the middle of the day, and check the last boat back before you set off.
What closes: the Villa Melzi gardens (from 1 November) and many lakeside hotels, roughly from November to March. Grand Hotel TremezzoMap, for example, is closed from 3 November to 31 December 2026. Hotels in Como town, such as Albergo TerminusMap, stay open, so make Como your base. Trains to Milan run about every 30 minutes from Como, and the best towns guide explains what each lake town offers out of season.
January and February are the quietest months of the year, with about 2% of visitors each. If you want an empty lake and do not need the gardens, this is the time.
Events and dates to plan around
| Dates | Event | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-March 2027 | Villas reopen | Balbianello opened 14 March and Carlotta 20 March in 2026 |
| 28 and 29 March 2027 | Easter and Easter Monday | Busy weekend, book early |
| 25 April and 1 May 2027 | National holidays | Long weekends, crowded ferries |
| Last weekend of June | Sagra di San Giovanni, Isola Comacina | Fireworks on the lake, evening boat restrictions |
| July and August | Peak season | Book hotels months ahead |
| 15 August 2027 | Ferragosto | National holiday in the busiest month |
| Early October | Orticolario, Villa Erba | Garden festival in Cernobbio |
| 1 November | Villa Melzi closes | End of the main villa season |
| Late November to 6 January | Christmas in Como | Lights, market and events in Como town |
The best month for each kind of trip
| If you want | Go in | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Villas and gardens in bloom | Late April or May | Every villa open, spring flowers |
| Swimming and long evenings | July or August | Highs around 80°F, lidos and pools open |
| The best balance | September | Warm, everything open, fewer visitors than summer |
| Fewer crowds with villas open | Early October or April | About 480,000 visitor nights a month, against 1 million in summer |
| Christmas on the lake | December | Como’s lights and market, Villa Cipressi’s Christmas Garden |
| The emptiest lake | January or February | About 2% of the year’s visitors each month |
For a first trip, two or three nights in the central lake work in any month from April to October. Our Lake Como itinerary has a plan for one to three days, and if you only have a day, the Lake Como day trip from Milan covers trains and ferries for every season. If you are still deciding between the lake and the sea, read our Lake Como vs Amalfi Coast comparison.
Where to stay by season
From April to October, stay in the central lake: Varenna for the train, Bellagio for the ferries, Menaggio for the widest range of prices. From November to March, stay in Como town, where hotels stay open and trains to Milan are frequent. Our guide to where to stay on Lake Como compares the towns and names hotels in each.
If you are combining the lake with Milan, our guide to the best time to visit Milan has the city’s fair and fashion week dates, when hotel prices peak.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Lake Como?
September. Average highs are about 72°F, the villas keep their long hours, and the lake had about a third fewer visitor nights than in August in 2024. Late May and June are just as good, with every villa open, but they are the wettest months.
Is Lake Como worth visiting in winter?
Yes, if you want a quiet lake and do not mind short days. Ferries run all year with fewer boats, Villa del Balbianello and Villa Monastero open on a reduced calendar, and Como town has the Christmas lights and market until 6 January. Many lakeside hotels close from about November to March, so base yourself in Como town.
When are the Lake Como villas open?
In 2026 the main season ran from mid-March (Villa del Balbianello from 14 March, Villa Carlotta from 20 March) to early November. The Villa Melzi gardens close on 1 November and Villa Carlotta's regular season ends on 8 November. Villa Monastero opens most of the year on fewer days in winter.
What is the rainiest month at Lake Como?
May, with about 7 inches of rain over 12 rainy days on average at the nearest official weather station, in Lugano. From April to November every month has 8 to 12 rainy days, while January and February have about 5.
When is Lake Como most crowded?
In July and August. In 2024 those two months had more than a million visitor nights each in the Como and Lecco area, against about 114,000 in January. Summer weekends are the busiest days on the ferries.
Is October a good time to visit Lake Como?
Yes, for the first half of the month. Highs average about 62°F, all the villas are open, and the lake had about as many visitors as in April. The autumn ferry timetable runs to 1 November, and the Villa Melzi gardens close at 5pm from 25 October.
Do Lake Como ferries run in winter?
Yes. Navigazione Laghi runs boats all year, with fewer departures out of season, including the central lake boats between Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio. Check the winter timetable on navigazionelaghi.it before you travel between November and March.
How many days do you need in Lake Como?
One day from Milan is enough for Varenna and Bellagio and the ferry between them. Two or three nights in the central lake let you add Menaggio and the villas at Tremezzo and Lenno without rushing. In winter, when fewer boats run, one or two nights in Como town are enough.
What is the prettiest town on Lake Como?
Varenna and Bellagio, facing each other across the central lake, are the usual first choices, 15 minutes apart by ferry. Varenna has a train station 64 minutes from Milan, while Bellagio has the most ferry connections and the Villa Melzi gardens.
Which is better, the Amalfi Coast or Lake Como?
Lake Como if you fly into Milan and want villas, gardens and short train and ferry rides. The Amalfi Coast if you fly into Rome or Naples and want to swim in the sea; Salerno is about 2 hours from Rome by Frecciarossa, then a ferry.