December on Lake Como suits travelers who like cool, quiet days of villas, gardens, boat rides and long lunches. Afternoons reach the mid-40s °F, and the food program in Tremezzina is still running during the first two weeks of the month.
The days are short, with under nine hours of daylight in mid-December, so the sights have to fit into the middle of the day.
At a glance
- Afternoon high: 46°F (8°C)
- Night low: 36°F (2°C)
- Rainy days: 6.3
- Rainfall: 3 inches (80 mm)
- Sunshine: 3.5 hours per day
- Daylight on December 15: 8 hours 43 minutes
- Event: Tremezzina Gastronomica, through December 13
What is the weather like on Lake Como in December?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days | Sunshine per day | Daylight (15th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 53°F (12°C) | 42°F (6°C) | 6.6 in (167 mm) | 9 | 3.5 h | 9 h 33 |
| December | 46°F (8°C) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.1 in (80 mm) | 6 | 3.5 h | 8 h 43 |
| January | 45°F (7°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 2.6 in (66 mm) | 5 | 4.0 h | 9 h 03 |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
December is cold and often gray on the lake. The afternoon high is 46°F (8°C) and the night low 36°F (2°C). These figures are for Bellagio, on the central promontory of the lake.
Six days in the month bring rain, and the sun shines about three and a half hours a day on average. Plan the outdoor sights, such as gardens and viewpoints, for the middle of the day, and keep a museum or a lunch for the wet hours. Dress for a damp chill, especially on a boat deck.
November is milder, with afternoons near 53°F (12°C), but it is much wetter, with nine rainy days. January is a touch colder and drier, with five rainy days and a little more daylight than December. December sits between the two.
Where to go on Lake Como in December
Como
Its sights include the Duomo, the last Gothic cathedral in Lombardy, the Broletto, Baradello Castle and Villa Olmo. A rack railway climbs to Brunate at 2,300 feet (700 m), and a cableway also goes up, so a clear afternoon can end with a view over the city and the lake.
Bellagio
Bellagio stands on the central promontory, and its villas include Villa Serbelloni, from the 16th century, and the neoclassical Villa Melzi d’Eril. The gardens of Villa Melzi stretch 800 meters along the water, a walk that suits the middle of a December day when the air is cold but the rain holds off.
Tremezzina
Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello are both here. Villa Carlotta has an original Italian garden and a café, the Caffetteria Antica Serra, for a warm stop. The Tremezzina food program also runs here until December 13.
Varenna
Varenna has the Lovers’ Promenade, which connects the shore to the village, plus Villa Monastero and Vezio Castle above the village. The Bellano gorge, the Orrido, is nearby.
Lecco
Lecco has the Basilica di San Nicolò, whose bell tower is 315 feet (96 meters) high and can be seen from everywhere in the city. Villa Manzoni houses the Museo Manzoniano, an indoor stop for a rainy day.
What to do on Lake Como in December
Tremezzina Gastronomica until December 13
The food program runs from October 3 to December 13, 2026, in Tremezzina. That makes the first half of December the better time to catch it.
Local specialties and wines are also the theme of the Révolt da Stazuna event. Its cellar tour is limited to a small number of participants, so reserve a place if you want it.
Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta
Villa del Balbianello was built in the 18th century on a promontory and is run by the FAI. The ticket includes a guided tour of the interiors and a self-guided visit of the garden, terraces and Loggia Durini. The villa was a set for Casino Royale and for scenes in Star Wars II.
There is no cafeteria inside the villa, but the bookshop sells water, drinks and small snacks. Villa Carlotta, by contrast, has its own café. The area can have heavy traffic and parking trouble at weekends, so a weekday suits a visit better.
A boat trip from Como to Bellagio
The boat trip takes 2 hours. Visits to Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta and the gardens of Villa Melzi can be combined with it, and the tour runs every day by reservation. Water and soft drinks are served on board on the private cruises.
Private cruises on the lake start from €200 for up to 6 passengers, for 1 or 2 hours.
Como: museums, the Duomo and Brunate
The city’s museum system includes the Pinacoteca civica, the Tempio Voltiano and the Cattedrale. The Tempio Voltiano is dedicated entirely to a scientist. The Como Silk Museum covers the local textile tradition, and Villa Olmo is now a venue for exhibitions and cultural events.
The itinerary also covers the Chiesa di San Fedele, the Porta Torre and the lungolago. Museums make the sensible plan for a wet day, with the cableway to Brunate kept for clearer weather.
Isola Comacina
The island is the only one on the lake. It can be crossed on foot in about half an hour, and it is reached by taxi motorboat from Ossuccio or by Navigazione Laghi boats. Access is subject to a fee.
Is Lake Como busy in December?
Summer and holidays are the busy times on the lake. The boat operator warns of queues at the ticket offices in those periods. Weekends can also bring heavy traffic and parking trouble near the villas.
Where you can, go on a weekday. Allow about 20 minutes before departure at a ticket office. From ports without one, you can buy the ticket on board at no extra cost, and you can pay on board by contactless card.
What to pack for Lake Como in December
December calls for warm layers, rain protection and shoes with grip. The night low is 36°F (2°C), and six days bring rain.
- A warm coat and a hat for boat decks, since the winds on the lake are well known and the afternoon high is only 46°F (8°C).
- A waterproof jacket or compact umbrella for the six rainy days.
- Shoes with good grip for the 143 steps of the Faro Voltiano tower and for garden paths at the villas.
- Gloves and an extra layer for the Brunate rack railway, which climbs to 2,300 feet (700 m).
- A bottle of water for Villa del Balbianello, where the bookshop sells only water, drinks and small snacks.
- A light day bag for the guided tour of the villa interiors, with the garden visit on your own.
What to know before visiting Lake Como in December
The U.S. State Department rates Italy Level 2, Exercise increased caution, issued September 10, 2026, due to terrorism. It recommends enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and highly recommends buying travel insurance before you go.
The boat timetable published for the lake is valid from October 4 to November 1, 2026, so confirm the December schedule before you plan around it. Routes may be suspended in bad weather or strong waves, and the guaranteed times during a strike are 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 5:55 to 8:55 p.m. The Como Open Pass costs €15 and includes a return train trip from anywhere in Lombardy to Como plus unlimited daily travel on local ASF buses. The S40 train between Como and Varese runs every 60 minutes from Monday to Saturday.
Is December a good time to visit Lake Como?
Yes, for travelers who want villas, gardens and local food on a cool, quiet lake and can accept short, often gray days. It is not the month for long sunny hours outdoors.
December has fewer rainy days than November (six against nine) and a little less daylight at mid-month.
For the food program, go in the first half of the month, since Tremezzina Gastronomica ends on December 13. For fewer crowds, pick weekdays. For wet-weather days, choose Como’s museums or Lecco’s Museo Manzoniano.
Sources
- italia.it (https://www.italia.it/en/lombardy/lake-como), checked 2026-10-25
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/index%2Ephp/de/wohin-gehen-lombardei/comer-see), checked 2026-10-25
- navigazionelaghi.it (https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/avvisi/guasto-tecnico-sistema-vendita-online/), checked 2026-10-25
- italia.it (https://www.italia.it/it/lombardia/cosa-fare/itinerario-per-le-ville-sul-lago-di-como), checked 2026-10-25
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/index%2Ephp/en/activity/lake-como-villas-0), checked 2026-10-25
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/attivita/le-bellezze-del-lago-di-como), checked 2026-10-30
- navigazionelaghi.it (https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/en/notices/?_sft_lago=lake_como), checked 2026-10-25