Yes, September suits Lake Como for anyone who wants villas, gardens and boat rides in mild weather, with afternoons of 72°F (22°C). The lake’s autumn festivals start just after the month ends.
The trap is the road. Villa del Balbianello can’t be reached by car, and the area around it gets heavy traffic and parking trouble on weekends, so plan the day around the ferries and the walking paths.
At a glance
- Afternoon high in Bellagio: 72°F (22°C)
- Night low in Bellagio: 58°F (14°C)
- Rainy days: 8.7
- Sunshine: 6.4 hours per day
- Daylight on September 15: 12 hours 37 minutes
What is the weather like on Lake Como in September?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days | Sunshine per day | Daylight (15th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| October | 62°F (17°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 5.9 in (150 mm) | 9 | 4.6 h | 11 h 02 |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
September is mild. Afternoons reach 72°F (22°C) in Bellagio, so villas, gardens and lakeside walks are comfortable at midday, and nights cool to 58°F (14°C). A light layer is enough for the evening boat or dinner outside.
Rain falls on about nine days of the month, roughly one day in three, and the sun shows for 6.4 hours a day on average. Put gardens, the Greenway and the funicular in the morning, and keep an indoor stop in reserve. Como’s Pinacoteca civica and Tempio Voltiano are two of them.
August is warmer, with highs of 80°F (27°C) and 8 hours of sun a day. September sits between the two, which makes it the easy month for walking and sightseeing in the same day.
Where to go on Lake Como in September
Bellagio
Bellagio is known as “La Perla del Lago”. The gardens of Villa Melzi extend along the lake for 2,625 feet (800 meters), an easy walk in September’s afternoon warmth. The park of Villa Serbelloni opens on a 2-hour guided tour, in the morning or afternoon, from Tuesday to Sunday, so Monday is a day for something else.
Lenno and Villa del Balbianello
Villa del Balbianello is in Lenno, on Via Guido Monzino in Tremezzina. The complex includes the villa on 6 levels, the Loggia Durini, the Loggia Segrè with its historic park, and the Dosso di Lavedo. The villa is 24 miles (38 km) from Como. A Tuesday visit pairs well with the weekly lakeside market in Lenno.
Tremezzina and Villa Carlotta
Villa Carlotta stands on Via Statale in Tremezzo, in Tremezzina. Its original Italian garden is known for camellia, azalea, rhododendron, rose and hydrangea blooms. The villa also runs themed tours and workshops, which suit a showery morning when the paths are damp.
Varenna
Varenna sits on the Lecco branch of the lake and is a stop on the Sentiero del Viandante trekking route along the eastern shore. Villa Monastero is here, and the botanical garden of Villa Cipressi is next door, so the two fit into one morning.
Como
Como’s funicular climbs to Brunate from Piazza Alcide De Gasperi, a stone’s throw from the lake. The old center holds the Duomo, the Chiesa di San Fedele, the Porta Torre and the lungolago. The Tempio Voltiano is the only museum in the world entirely dedicated to a scientist, a dry stop if the afternoon turns wet.
What to do on Lake Como in September
A boat day to Bellagio and the villas
One itinerary includes a 2-hour boat trip to Bellagio, with visits to Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta and the gardens of Villa Melzi. It runs every day, Saturdays and Sundays included, by reservation. Book it in advance.
Lake Como has 42 ferry stops, among them Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Cadenabbia, Lecco and Colico. In summer and on holidays the ticket offices can have queues, so buy early on busy days.
The Greenway del Lago di Como
The Greenway is a walk of about 6 miles (10 km) from Colonno to Cadenabbia di Griante. At 72°F (22°C) in the afternoon it’s easy walking weather, and a morning start leaves the afternoon free for a villa.
You can cover the route with the C110 bus line or the boat service, so it doesn’t have to be a round trip on foot. A car ferry also links Cadenabbia to Bellagio and Varenna.
Brunate and the Faro Voltiano
The rack railway reaches Brunate at 2,300 feet (700 meters) of altitude. The funicular has an intermediate station at Carescione. Choose a clear morning for the ride, since the view is the reason to go up.
The Faro Voltiano viewpoint tower in San Maurizio has a spiral staircase of 143 steps. The Pigra Argegno cable car is a second viewpoint, looking over the southern part of the Como branch of the lake.
Water sports at Colico
At Colico, surfers wait for the Breva or the Tivano, the winds of Lake Como. The gentle wind on this stretch of shore makes it a place for water sports on the lake. Arrive with flexible hours, since the day depends on the wind.
The lake offers sailing and other water sports, plus trekking, climbing and paragliding. Families will find equipped harbors and lidos, boat trips and excursions.
Is Lake Como busy in September?
Queues at the ticket offices of the boats are also flagged for summer and holidays. September follows that season, so weekdays are the calmer choice for the villas and the ferries.
Book ahead for anything that runs by reservation, such as the daily villa-and-boat itinerary. The cellar tour of Révolt da Stazuna is limited to a restricted number of participants, so reserve that one early too.
The guided tour ‘Le bellezze del Lago di Como’ starts from €300, and entrance fees and transport aren’t included. Access to the Isola Comacina is subject to a fee.
What to pack for Lake Como in September
September asks for comfortable shoes, a layer for the evening and something for rain. The list below follows from the month’s weather and the walking.
- A light jacket or sweater, for lows of 58°F (14°C) on the water and in the evening.
- A compact umbrella or rain jacket, for the nine rainy days of the month.
- Walking shoes with grip, for the Greenway (about 6 miles, 10 km) and the 143 steps of the Faro Voltiano.
- Sturdy shoes for Villa del Balbianello, a villa on 6 levels with terraces and a garden visited on foot.
- A layer for the deck, since afternoons reach 72°F (22°C) but boats are breezier.
What to know before visiting Lake Como in September
Villa del Balbianello can’t be reached by car. The closest free parking is Mercato Parking in Via Comoedia, in Lenno, and there is paid parking on the same street. The park tours of the villa in Bellagio run Tuesday to Sunday, and a car ferry links Cadenabbia to Bellagio and Varenna.
The festivals start in October. Tremezzina Gastronomica runs from October 3 to December 13, 2026, and the ONde LARIANE cultural festival from October 2 to November 19, 2026. The Floating Stage Lake Como season has appointments in Cernobbio, Tremezzina, Dongo, Gravedona ed Uniti, Colico and Malgrate. For a stay in Lezzeno, Hotel Villa Aurora allows pets with a supplement of €10 per night.
Is September a good time to visit Lake Como?
Yes, September is a good month for travelers who want villas, gardens, lake walks and boat rides in mild weather. The high of 72°F (22°C) makes a full day outdoors easy.
Compared with August, you give up some warmth and sun, with highs of 80°F (27°C) in August. You gain a month that follows the summer traffic. October is cooler at 62°F (17°C) and less sunny, but it brings the start of Tremezzina Gastronomica and the ONde LARIANE festival.
For walkers, the Greenway and the Sentiero del Viandante are comfortable in September’s temperatures. For fewer crowds, weekdays are the better choice, with the Lenno market on Tuesday. With children, the lidos, equipped harbors and boat trips are the places to build the days around. For food, the October 3 start of Tremezzina Gastronomica argues for a trip a few weeks later.
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