I’m writing this from a rented Airbnb a few minutes’ walk from the water, in the beginning of September because what better way to spend your paternity leave! We decided to spend a month living on Lake Como rather than just passing through on a two-day itinerary. And I am so glad we did. So, if you are deciding to spend some time in Lake Como, let me help you decide when the best time to go is.
Best Time to Visit Lake Como
Late April through early June, or September into early October, is the sweet spot — warm enough to enjoy the water and the gardens, without the July-August crush of tour buses and fully booked restaurants. If swimming in the lake itself is the priority, you want July or August specifically, crowds and all.
I am a bit biased, and I think the best time to visit Lake Como is in September .There have been much fewer crowds, and the weather has been great. High 70’s to low 80 with one or two days of rain per week.
Visiting Lake Como in Spring
March is still transitional. Days can swing from genuinely mild to properly cold within 48 hours, and you’ll want a real jacket, not just a light layer. What March has going for it is space — the villas and gardens are open, the towns aren’t crowded, and the light on the water in early spring has a clarity you don’t get once the summer haze sets in.
By April, the lake starts to bloom, literally. The azaleas and wisteria come out around the famous gardens (Villa Carlotta, Villa Melzi), and this is genuinely one of the best windows for garden visits specifically — arguably better than summer, since the flowering has more to do with April and May than with peak season.
May is where spring tips into “honestly, just go now” territory. The weather is reliably warm during the day, still cool enough at night to enjoy dinner outside without sweating through it, and the crowds are still a fraction of what they’ll be in July. If I had to pick one non-obvious month to recommend to someone who can only come once, I’d say May.
Visiting Lake Como in Summer
This is peak season, and it’s peak season for a reason. The days are long, the water is genuinely swimmable (not just “technically possible” the way it is in May), and the whole lake feels like it’s operating at full capacity — ferries run later, restaurants keep longer hours, and the towns have that buzzing, alive energy that shows up in every photo you’ve ever seen of this place.
I was speaking with a local tour guide and she mentioned that in the summer, the ferry from Bellagio to Varenna, after 10 AM, has a minimum of 400 people in que. However, you can beat the crowds by arriving as early as possible
July and August are the hottest and driest months, and if you’re someone who wants to actually swim rather than just look at the water, this is your window — but go in knowing you’re sharing the experience with everyone else who had the same idea.
If you’re set on summer, the workaround locals actually use is timing: early mornings and late evenings are when the towns feel like themselves again.
Visiting Lake Como in Fall
September might be the most underrated month on this lake, and I say that as someone currently living through it. It has been the most beautiful weather everyday. Clear skies and temperatures up to the low 80’s. The water is still warm enough to swim in comfortably! Although, I would say that the lake gets cold toward the second half of September.
The crowds thin out noticeably right after the first week. The lakes are nearly empty! And the train stations It’s amazing.
October is where things start to shift more seriously — cooler, the first real rain returns, and by late in the month some seasonal restaurants and smaller guesthouses start closing for the year. This is quietly one of the best-value windows of the year, because prices start dropping while the weather is often still cooperating.
TLDR: Shoulder season, specifically late September through October, or April. Accommodation prices drop meaningfully once peak season ends, while the weather is often still good enough to enjoy fully.
Visiting Lake Como in Winter
Winter on Lake Como is genuinely quiet — many lakeside restaurants and some smaller hotels close for the season, ferries run on a reduced schedule, and the weather is properly cold and often grey. If you come for swimming and sunbathing, you will be disappointed.
I think winter has a real appeal, especially December, when Como town in particular leans into Christmas markets and lights. January and February are the hardest months climate-wise, and it’s fair to call them the least rewarding time to visit unless you have a specific reason to be here. If you are a skier, you would be thrilled to be in Lake Como during this time of year!
TLDR: For a quiet, low-key trip with no crowds at all: Winter, with December offering the added bonus of Christmas markets in Como town if you don’t mind the cold.
****Ferries run on a reduced winter schedule, which matters if your whole itinerary depends on hopping between towns by boat — check timetables in advance rather than assuming summer frequency. Also, a lot of smaller family-run restaurants and some guesthouses in the quieter villages close entirely for a stretch in winter, so don’t assume everything you saw on Instagram in July will be open if you visit in January.
