August works well for Lake Como if you want warm afternoons, villa gardens and days spent on the water.
The catch is summer traffic. Roads and parking around the villas can be heavy, especially on weekends, and the boat ticket offices can have queues. Villa del Balbianello can’t be reached by car at all, so plan that day around the boat or a walk.
At a glance
- Afternoon high: 80°F (27°C) at Bellagio
- Night low: 64°F (18°C)
- Rainy days: 10 in the month
- Sunshine: 8 hours a day on average
- Daylight on August 15: 14 hours 11 minutes
- Ferry stops on the lake: 42
- Traffic: heavy in summer, especially on weekends
What is the weather like on Lake Como in August?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days | Sunshine per day | Daylight (15th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July | 81°F (27°C) | 64°F (18°C) | 6.2 in (158 mm) | 8 | 8.4 h | 15 h 23 |
| August | 80°F (27°C) | 64°F (18°C) | 6.2 in (158 mm) | 10 | 7.9 h | 14 h 11 |
| September | 72°F (22°C) | 58°F (14°C) | 6.5 in (165 mm) | 9 | 6.4 h | 12 h 37 |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
August is warm and mostly bright.
Rain falls on about ten days of the month, and the month adds up to roughly six inches in all. Sunshine averages about eight hours a day. Carry a light rain jacket, and plan the outdoor sights for the morning when the sky looks unsettled, since a ferry or a villa interior makes a good fallback.
July is almost the same, with afternoons a degree warmer and two fewer rainy days. Daylight shrinks to 12 hours 37 minutes by mid-September, against 14 hours 11 minutes in mid-August.
Where to go on Lake Como in August
Bellagio
Bellagio is known as La Perla del Lago. The Villa Serbelloni park opens for guided tours in the morning or afternoon, from Tuesday to Sunday, and the Villa Melzi d’Eril gardens are in Bellagio too. August’s long, bright days leave time for both.
Varenna
Varenna sits on the Lecco branch of the lake and is a stop on the Sentiero del Viandante trekking route. Its Passeggiata degli Innamorati is a walkway of 1,150 feet (350 meters) over the lake, an easy stroll for an August evening. Villa Monastero is here, with the botanical garden of Villa Cipressi next door.
Tremezzina and Villa Carlotta
Villa Carlotta stands in Tremezzo, in the municipality of Tremezzina, and has an original Italian garden. The villa also offers themed tours and workshops.
Lenno and Villa del Balbianello
Villa del Balbianello is in Lenno and is managed by the FAI. The complex includes the villa on six levels, the Loggia Durini, the Loggia Segrè with its historic park, and the Dosso di Lavedo. Lenno also holds its weekly lakeside market on Tuesdays.
Como
The city has the Pinacoteca civica, the Tempio Voltiano and the Cattedrale, plus a funicular to Brunate that starts a stone’s throw from the lake. Museums and a cathedral give a cool, shaded break from the afternoon heat.
Colico
Colico is a place for water sports on the lake, and it is also a ferry stop.
What to do on Lake Como in August
Villa del Balbianello and its terraces
The ticket includes a guided tour of the interiors and a self-guided visit of the garden, terraces and Loggia Durini.
The closest free parking is Mercato Parking in Via Comoedia, in Lenno, and there is also paid parking on the same street. In August, arrive early, because summer weekends bring traffic and parking difficulties.
A boat day to Bellagio and the villas
A guided itinerary includes a 2-hour boat navigation to Bellagio. It lets you visit Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta and the gardens of Villa Melzi. The tour runs every day, weekends included, by reservation.
The guided tour called Le bellezze del Lago di Como starts from €300, and that price leaves out entrance fees and transport. Book ahead for August and read what the price covers before you commit.
The Greenway del Lago di Como
This walk runs from Colonno to Cadenabbia di Griante and covers about 6 miles (10 km). You can cover it with the C110 bus line or the boat service, so it’s easy to walk one way and ride back.
With afternoons near 80°F (27°C), start in the morning. Bring water and a hat, and keep the boat as your way home if the heat builds.
Villa Serbelloni park, Bellagio
The park opens for a 2-hour guided tour, in the morning or the afternoon, from Tuesday to Sunday. Monday doesn’t have the tour, so schedule Bellagio on another day.
The morning slot suits August best, before the day warms up.
Brunate and the lake from above
The funicular connects Como with Brunate and has an intermediate station at Carescione. Brunate lies at 2,300 feet (700 meters) of altitude, reached by rack railway.
The Faro Voltiano viewpoint tower in San Maurizio has a spiral staircase of 143 steps. Pick a clear morning for the view, since August brings about ten rainy days.
Is Lake Como busy in August?
August falls in the summer period when the area’s roads and parking get heavy, especially on weekends. The ferry operator also warns of queues at the ticket offices in summer and during holidays. Weekdays are calmer than weekends, and an early start helps on both.
Some experiences are limited or by reservation. The cellar tour of Révolt da Stazuna takes a restricted number of participants, and the villa-and-boat itinerary runs by reservation. Book these before you arrive.
Access to the Isola Comacina is subject to a fee. Pets are allowed at Hotel Villa Aurora in Lezzeno with a supplement of €10 per night.
What to pack for Lake Como in August
August asks for summer clothes with a few layers.
- A light layer for evenings on the water, when the night low sits near 64°F (18°C)
- A compact rain jacket, because about ten days bring rain
- Sturdy walking shoes for the 6-mile (10 km) Greenway and the 143 steps of the Faro Voltiano
- A sun hat and sunscreen for about eight hours of sun a day
- Comfortable shoes for villa gardens, terraces and lakeside promenades
- A small daypack for water and a printed or saved ferry timetable
What to know before visiting Lake Como in August
Villa del Balbianello can’t be reached by car, and the area gets heavy traffic in summer. Villa Serbelloni’s guided tour doesn’t run on Mondays, and Lenno’s market is on Tuesdays.
The ferry operator is Navigazione Laghi. A car ferry links Cadenabbia to Bellagio and Varenna, and queues at ticket offices are possible in summer and during holidays.
Is August a good time to visit Lake Como?
Yes, August is a good month for travelers who want warm afternoons, villa gardens and boat trips in one stay. It suits people who can handle summer traffic and plan around it.
Compared with July, the weather is nearly the same, with slightly more rain. September trades some warmth and daylight for milder walking weather.
For walking, the Greenway and the Sentiero del Viandante are best done in the morning in August. Families will find equipped harbours, lidos and boat trips along the lake. Water sports fans can head to Colico for the Breva or the Tivano winds.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/index%2Ephp/de/wohin-gehen-lombardei/comer-see), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/attivita/le-bellezze-del-lago-di-como), checked 2026-10-30
- fondoambiente.it (https://fondoambiente.it/luoghi/villa-del-balbianello/visita), checked 2026-10-30
- hotelauroralezzeno.com (https://www.hotelauroralezzeno.com/), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/turismo-in-lombardia/lecco-turismo/varenna), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/visitare-la-lombardia/vacanza-al-lago/lago-di-como-5-ville), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/en/tours/greenway-lago-di-como), checked 2026-10-30