Yes, March works for visitors who like walking, gardens and boat rides: afternoons reach 56°F (14°C) and the sun shines about six hours a day.
Nights stay cool, and Villa del Balbianello can’t be reached by car, so the day needs a little planning.
At a glance
- Afternoon high: 56°F (14°C)
- Night low: 41°F (5°C)
- Rainy days: 6
- Rain in the month: 3 inches (75 mm)
- Sunshine: 6 hours a day
- Daylight on March 15: 11 hours 50 minutes
What is the weather like on Lake Como in March?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days | Sunshine per day | Daylight (15th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | 48°F (9°C) | 35°F (2°C) | 2.4 in (61 mm) | 5 | 5.0 h | 10 h 21 |
| March | 56°F (14°C) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.0 in (76 mm) | 6 | 6.2 h | 11 h 50 |
| April | 62°F (17°C) | 47°F (9°C) | 5.4 in (138 mm) | 10 | 6.1 h | 13 h 28 |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
March in Bellagio brings mild afternoons of 56°F (14°C) and chilly nights of 41°F (5°C). Midday is comfortable for a walk or a boat deck. Mornings and evenings call for a real jacket.
Rain falls on 6 days of the month, so most days stay dry. Sunshine averages 6 hours a day, and daylight lasts almost 12 hours in mid-March. Plan lakeside walks and garden visits for the middle of the day, and keep a rain layer in the bag for the wetter spells.
February is colder, with highs of 48°F (9°C) and 5 rainy days. April is warmer at 62°F (17°C), but it brings 10 rainy days and much more rain.
Where to go on Lake Como in March
Como
Its sights include the Duomo, the Broletto, the city tower and the Tempio Voltiano, a museum entirely dedicated to a scientist. The funicular to Brunate leaves from Piazza Alcide De Gasperi, a stone’s throw from the lake, so a clear March afternoon can end with a view from above.
Bellagio
Bellagio is known as “La Perla del Lago”. The gardens of Villa Melzi d’Eril stretch along the water for about 2,600 feet (800 meters), an easy walk at a March pace. Villa Serbelloni park is visited on a guided tour. Check the opening calendar of the gardens before the trip.
Varenna
Varenna sits on the Lecco branch of the lake, about 19 miles (30 km) from Lecco. Villa Monastero is here, and the botanical garden of Villa Cipressi lies next door.
Tremezzina and Villa Carlotta
Villa Carlotta stands in Tremezzo, in the municipality of Tremezzina, and has an original Italian garden. Garden visits suit the 6 hours of daily sunshine in March. The villa also offers themed tours and workshops, so ask what is scheduled for your dates.
Lenno and Villa del Balbianello
Villa del Balbianello is in Lenno, managed by the FAI (Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano). The complex has the villa on 6 levels, the Loggia Durini, the Loggia Segrè with its historic park, and the Dosso di Lavedo. It is about 24 miles (38 km) from Como. Plan on arriving on foot or by boat.
What to do on Lake Como in March
Villa Serbelloni park, Bellagio
The park can be visited on a 2-hour guided tour, in the morning or the afternoon, from Tuesday to Sunday.
Choose a Tuesday to Sunday date and, with cool mornings in March, take the afternoon slot so the park is warmer.
The Greenway del Lago di Como
This lakeside walk runs from Colonno to Cadenabbia di Griante, about 6 miles (10 km). Walk one way and come back on the C110 bus line or by boat, so the legs don’t have to be doubled.
On Tuesday the weekly market in Lenno sets up on the lakeside, a good reason to time the walk for that day.
Varenna and the Sentiero del Viandante
Varenna is a stop on the Sentiero del Viandante, the trekking route along the eastern side of the lake. From here the routes to Bellano, Lierna and Albiga grow in difficulty and length, so start with the shortest.
Brunate by funicular and Pigra by cable car
The rack railway from Como climbs to about 2,300 feet (700 meters), and the funicular has an intermediate station at Carescione. Go up on a clear day, since the view is the point of the trip.
The Pigra Argegno cable car offers a second view, over the southern part of the Como branch of the lake. Pick whichever viewpoint matches the day’s weather.
A boat tour to Bellagio and three villas
One itinerary includes a 2-hour boat trip to Bellagio. It makes it possible to visit Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta and the gardens of Villa Melzi. It runs every day, weekends included, by reservation.
The Balbianello ticket includes a guided tour of the interiors and a self-guided visit of the garden, terraces and Loggia Durini. Reserve ahead, and note that the tour starts from €300 without entrance fees or transport.
Is Lake Como busy in March?
The warnings about heavy traffic and parking trouble around Villa del Balbianello concern weekends and summer. Queues at the ferry ticket offices are likewise flagged for summer and holidays.
Some visits are limited by design. The cellar tour of Révolt da Stazuna takes a restricted number of participants, and the boat-and-villas tour runs by reservation, so book those before arriving.
Access to the Isola Comacina is subject to a fee. Hotel Villa Aurora in Lezzeno accepts pets for a supplement of €10 per night.
What to pack for Lake Como in March
March asks for layers: mild afternoons, cool mornings and nights, and rain on about one day in five.
- A warm jacket for nights near 41°F (5°C) and cool boat decks.
- A light rain jacket or umbrella for the 6 rainy days of the month.
- Comfortable walking shoes for the 6-mile (10 km) Greenway and the paths around Varenna.
- A windproof layer for the 2-hour boat trip to Bellagio.
- A sweater for the shade of garden paths and villa terraces.
What to know before visiting Lake Como in March
Villa del Balbianello can’t be reached by car. The closest free parking is Mercato Parking in Via Comoedia, in Lenno, and paid parking also exists on the same street. Expect traffic and parking difficulties on weekends.
Ferries are run by Navigazione Laghi and call at 42 stops, including Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Cadenabbia, Lecco and Colico. A car ferry links Cadenabbia with Bellagio and Varenna. Villa Serbelloni park tours run from Tuesday to Sunday.
Is March a good time to visit Lake Como?
Yes, March is a good time for travelers who want gardens, lakeside walks and boat trips at a relaxed pace, with 6 hours of sunshine a day.
Shifting back to February means colder days, with highs of 48°F (9°C). Shifting to April brings warmth, with highs of 62°F (17°C), but also 10 rainy days. March has fewer rainy days than April.
For walkers, the Greenway and the Varenna paths fit March well. For garden lovers, the villas are the draw, so confirm their opening dates first. For fewer people, pick weekdays, since the traffic and queue warnings concern weekends, summer and holidays.
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
- italia.it (https://www.italia.it/en/lombardy/lake-como), checked 2026-10-25
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/visitare-la-lombardia/vacanza-al-lago/lago-di-como-5-ville), checked 2026-10-30