October on Lake Como suits travelers who come for villas, lake boats and the Tremezzina Gastronomica food season.
The catch is the weather. Rain falls on about a third of the days, nights drop to 50°F (10°C), and daylight is down to about 11 hours, so the sights need to be planned around the clear hours.
At a glance
- Afternoon high: 62°F (17°C)
- Night low: 50°F (10°C)
- Rainy days: 9
- Sunshine: 4.6 hours a day
- Daylight on October 15: 11 hours 2 minutes
- Events: Tremezzina Gastronomica (October 3 to December 13), ONde LARIANE festival (October 2 to November 19)
What is the weather like on Lake Como in October?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days | Sunshine per day | Daylight (15th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 72°F (22°C) | 58°F (14°C) | 6.5 in (165 mm) | 9 | 6.4 h | 12 h 37 |
| October | 62°F (17°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 5.9 in (150 mm) | 9 | 4.6 h | 11 h 02 |
| November | 53°F (12°C) | 42°F (6°C) | 6.6 in (167 mm) | 9 | 3.5 h | 9 h 33 |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
Fall has settled in by October. Afternoons reach 62°F (17°C), which is comfortable for walking and for villa gardens, and nights fall to 50°F (10°C).
Nine days in the month bring rain, and the sun shines for 4.6 hours a day. A light waterproof jacket covers most days. On a dry morning, put the outdoor sights first (the gardens, the lakeside walks) and keep the indoor visits, such as the museums in Como, for the wetter hours.
Each step from one month to the next takes close to 10°F off the afternoon high, while the number of rainy days stays at nine in all three months.
Where to go on Lake Como in October
Bellagio
Bellagio is known as La Perla del Lago. The gardens of Villa Melzi stretch for about 2,600 feet (800 meters) along the water, so they work as a long, easy walk on a dry afternoon. The park of Villa Serbelloni opens on a 2-hour guided tour, in the morning or the afternoon, from Tuesday to Sunday. A car ferry links Bellagio with Cadenabbia and Varenna.
Varenna
Varenna sits on the Lecco branch of the lake. Villa Monastero is here, and the botanical garden of Villa Cipressi lies right next to it, so the two make one visit.
Tremezzina
Villa Carlotta stands on Via Statale in Tremezzo and has an original Italian garden, known for its camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons, roses and hydrangeas. The villa also runs themed tours and workshops. The municipality is also the home of the Tremezzina Gastronomica food program, which runs through October.
Lenno
Lenno is the village of Villa del Balbianello, 24 miles (38 km) from Como. The villa has six levels, plus the Loggia Durini, the Loggia Segrè with its historic park and the Dosso di Lavedo. On Tuesdays the weekly market sets up on the lakeside, a good reason to pick that day for a visit.
Como
The museum system includes the Pinacoteca civica, the Tempio Voltiano and the Cattedrale, which is useful on a gray day. The Tempio Voltiano is the only museum in the world entirely dedicated to a scientist.
What to do on Lake Como in October
Villa Balbianello, Villa Carlotta and Villa Melzi by boat
A guided itinerary includes a 2-hour boat trip to Bellagio and visits to Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta and the gardens of Villa Melzi. It runs every day, Saturdays and Sundays included, by reservation. That makes it easy to pick the clearest day of the week once the forecast is known.
The Villa del Balbianello ticket includes a guided tour of the interiors and a self-guided visit of the garden, terraces and Loggia Durini. The boat ride is long enough to be cold on deck in October, so keep a jacket within reach.
The Greenway del Lago di Como
The Greenway is a walk of about 6 miles (10 km) from Colonno to Cadenabbia di Griante.
It can be covered using the C110 bus line or the boat service. Walk one way and ride back, which keeps the day short enough to finish well before dusk, when daylight is down to about 11 hours.
Varenna and the Sentiero del Viandante
Varenna is a stop on the Sentiero del Viandante, a trekking route along the eastern side of the lake. From Varenna, routes of increasing difficulty and length lead to Bellano, Lierna and Albiga.
Start with the shortest one on a morning that looks dry. With rain on about nine days in the month, a path with a village at the end of it is easier to cut short.
Tremezzina Gastronomica, ONde LARIANE and the autumn events
The ONde LARIANE cultural festival runs from October 2 to November 19, 2026. The Floating Stage Lake Como season also has appointments in Cernobbio, Tremezzina, Dongo, Gravedona ed Uniti, Colico and Malgrate.
Check the dates of each event before choosing where to sleep.
Brunate and the lake viewpoints
The funicular from Como stops at Carescione on its way to Brunate. The Faro Voltiano viewpoint tower in San Maurizio has a spiral staircase of 143 steps.
The Pigra Argegno cable car shows the southern part of the Como branch of the lake.
Is Lake Como busy in October?
Summer and holiday periods are the busy ones, with heavy traffic around the lake and queues at the ferry ticket offices. Weekends still bring traffic and parking difficulties around the villas.
The boat itinerary to the villas runs by reservation, and the cellar tour is limited in size. Book those before arriving, and check which days the park of Villa Serbelloni opens (Tuesday to Sunday).
The guided tour Le bellezze del Lago di Como starts from €300, and that price does not include entrance fees or transport. Access to the Isola Comacina is subject to a fee. Hotel Villa Aurora in Lezzeno allows pets for a supplement of €10 per night.
What to pack for Lake Como in October
October asks for layers and a rain jacket, with shoes that handle wet stone and stairs.
- A warm layer for the evenings, when the night low is 50°F (10°C)
- A waterproof jacket or umbrella for the nine rainy days
- A jacket for the deck of the 2-hour boat trip to Bellagio
- Comfortable walking shoes for the 6 mile (10 km) Greenway
- Shoes with grip for the 143 steps of the Faro Voltiano and the six levels of Villa del Balbianello
What to know before visiting Lake Como in October
It is not possible to reach Villa del Balbianello by car. The closest free parking is Mercato Parking in Via Comoedia, in Lenno, and there is paid parking on the same street. Traffic and parking are harder on weekends, so a weekday morning is the easier choice.
The park of Villa Serbelloni is open for guided tours Tuesday to Sunday, so Monday is not the day for it. The Lenno market is held on Tuesdays. The Lake Como ferries are run by Navigazione Laghi, with 42 stops, including Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Cadenabbia, Lecco and Colico.
Is October a good time to visit Lake Como?
Yes, for travelers who want villas, gardens, walks and a food festival, and who accept cool weather. Afternoons of 62°F (17°C) are good for walking, and the events run through the month.
Moving from October to either month changes the temperature more than the amount of rain.
For a food program, October has Tremezzina Gastronomica and the ONde LARIANE festival. For walkers, the Greenway and the Varenna routes suit the temperature. For quieter roads, plan the villas on weekdays. With children, the boat trips and the funicular to Brunate are easy days out.
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