A Guide to Visiting Como Lake in Winter

Officially Lago di Como, Lake Como, aka Como aka Lario, has to be the most ‘James Bond’ of all of Italy’s lakes. The neoclassical villas, narrow lakeside towns, and the mountains as the backdrop are what make this picturesque region so iconic, and pricey, might we add. While Lake Como is usually famed for its riotous summer itineraries, it’s largely overlooked in wintertime. That being said, Como Lake in winter is a very romantic season, with a drop in prices, fewer crowds, and a laidback local vibe across the villages.

The emptier squares and harbors gave it an even more secluded vibe, made all the more appealing under a fresh coat of snow. So, if you’re a winter sports or a skiing enthusiast, then why not skip the madness of other Alpine resort towns and come here? Oh, and the best bit? The lake never freezes — yep. Here’s a detailed guide to visiting Lago di Como in the winter.

Did you know that you could rent villas in Lago di Como? Here are some of the top villas in Lake Como for rent.

Winter Weather in Lake Como

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Lake Como in wintertime is milder as compared to actual Alpine standards, but it’s cold, nevertheless. In fact, Lake Como’s villages are nothing like Puglia, and it does get very cold here, with temperatures staying between 3 and 8 degrees Celsius (37 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit) throughout the season.

Moreover, snowfall in Lake Como largely depends on that particular year. Usually, we experienced snow on the ground very little when we visited. However, the mountains around the lake would always be covered in snow, as well as some of the other villages. Also, the snow period usually lasts from December until the end of March, with the most snow falling in February. Here are some other useful tips for visiting Lake Como during wintertime:

• While ferry boats still operate on the lake, make sure to check the schedules as route levels could vastly differ between summer and winter. Check the official website to know more. 
• Many villas, including popular ones like Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Villa Carlotta, and Villa Erba, are closed from November to April. So, ensure that you check the individual websites to see their status before visiting them. Additionally, boat tours, except the expensive ones, usually stop operating.
• The commune of Barzio does operate an extra seasonal bus during wintertime to get travelers to the gondola for getting to Piani di Bobbio.
• Daylight is limited, with the sun setting by 5 pm. So, plan and start your days early, even though Como is pretty at night, most attractions shut.

Explore the Towns Around Como

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One of the best things about the town of Como is its location, as there are many surrounding villages and towns that you can visit in wintertime. One of the best places we visited was Bellagio, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy worth visiting. Its location on the top of the northern promontory dividing the lake makes it perfect for spectacular Lake Como views. This village, whose history goes as far back as the 7th century BC, is all about winding steps, cobblestoned lanes, and oodles of old-world charm. Some unmissable structures in the town are the 18th century Villa Serbelloni and the Romanesque San Giacomo Church.

Another village worth visiting from Como, and quite nearby, is the village of Brunate. Getting to Brunate is memorable too, as you take a funicular to this top-of-the-mountain town. So, it’s no wonder that the lake views from Brunate are jaw-dropping, complete with snow-capped peaks in the background. In wintertime, the Como-Brunate funicular operates from 6am – 10pm in 15-minute frequencies.

Visit Lecco

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Winter is the best time to explore the villages and towns around Lago Di Como. One such hidden, lesser-known gem is the gorgeous town of Lecco on the southeastern branch of Lake Como. Sandwiched between the pristine lake waters and the picturesque Orobian Pre-Alps, Lecco was much less colder than the rest of Como. So, we escaped to what is the second largest town in the area, and there is a lot to see and do in Lecco indeed. For one, it boasts a very nice historic center with several emblematic squares, such as Piazza XX di Settembre. From here, you can even see the mountain that guards Lecco, Monte Resegone.

What’s more, the city has a long list of attractions and sights, including the Viscontea Tower, the Palazzo delle Paure, the Palazzo Belgioioso, and the Basilica of St. Nicholas. The town is also full of restaurants and cafes that were perfect to take a break from the wintry cold.

Visit Luxurious Italian Villas

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One of the most iconic and characteristic symbols of Lake Como are the many luxury villas dotting the region. While the gardens are at their lushest in summers, winters don’t see a lot of crowds, allowing you to see them and soak in their beauty in tranquility. Moreover, with the snowy mountains in the background, the villas have a very differently spectacular touch to them. While there are dozens of villas for you too, some of the must-see ones are Villa Balbianello, Villa Carlotta, Villa Olmo, and Villa Monastero.

Balbianello has been the setting for many movies, from Star Wars to James Bond (where Bond and Vesper recuperate in “Casino Royale”). Carlotta sits in the town of Tremezzo and even has a small art museum on the inside. The most imposing is Olmo, which sits right in the city of Como and is nothing less than a royal palace. However, our favorite was Monastero in the town of Carenna. It boasts an alley lined by citrus trees leading to the lake, making you feel like you’re in Shangri-La. Did you know that historic villas like Monastero, Balbianello, and Carlotta even house museums? Yes!

Since some villas could require advance booking or might be shut in wintertime, do check in advance if the place you want to visit is open or not.

Hike Around Lake Como

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Just because its wintertime doesn’t mean that you have to sit bundled up in Lake Como. There are some wonderful hiking trails and paths that run along the edges of the lake, and most of them are still very accessible during winter. What’s interesting is that many hiking paths follow the ancient Roman roads, a.k.a. mulattiera (centuries-old mule roads). They crisscross the mountains, linking the different towns and villages and are perfect for people with all abilities. What’s more, you’ll have the opportunity to see lush greenery stilling in winter, tall canyons, and powerful waterfalls even in the winter months, like Orrido di Bellano and Orrido di Nesso.

You can easily spot the hiking paths, thanks to the small signs when you walk around the lakefront towns. Some of the most popular are Strada Regia and the Greenway of the Patriarchs. Furthermore, if you don’t want to break a sweat, there are even funiculars that offer the chance to enjoy the views while sitting comfortably in a smoothly ascending cabin. One of our favorite Como trails are the old mule trails of the Sentiero del Viandante. These 28-mi-long (45 km) trails run along the lake, with the section between Bellano and Varenna taking around 2-3 hours.

Stay in Luxury at Grand Hotel Tremezzo

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How would you like to stay in what is the grande dame of Lake Como, right on the shoreline in the charming town of Tremezzo? We’re talking about Grand Hotel Tremezzo, an iconic, one-of-a-kind family-owned decadent hotel that boasts the most made-in-Italy vibe ever. The 1910-established hotel has Italina charm in spades, right from its Liberty-style exterior to sweeping Lake Como and Bellagio views.

When we stepped into the formal lobby with flowers all over, antique, gilt-framed furnishings, marble floors, and a sweeping red-carpet staircase, we knew we were in for something special. The rooms and luxurious suites, including four new junior suites and two freshly minted penthouses, are elegant, cozy, and big on traditional Italian allure. 

Despite its scale, the modern amenities have an intimate touch, like the cocooning T Spa with a heated swim-in, swim-out pool. Our favorite place was the outdoor pool surrounded by a lush forest. There’s even a covetable shop, a popular fine dining restaurant, and a lovely vintage wooden boat for lake excursions. However, the standout feature and pièce de resistance is the third pool, a floating water-over-water pool submerged directly into the lake!

The best bit? The amenities and views are the same in wintertime too!

Go Skiing

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One of the absolute best activities in Lake Como during wintertime is skiing and snowboarding in the stunning Italian Alps. Running from November end to early May, skiing season around Lake Como has tons of options for enthusiasts like us. Some well-known ski resorts include Piani di Bobbio in Lecco, Mount Sighignola on the Italian Swiss border’s Lugano Pre-Alps, and the more northern Valchiavenna. Besides skiing and snowboarding, we also enjoyed hours of ice-skating fun at the temporary rinks around the lake towns.

‘We enjoyed the non-traditional, laidback skiing at Lake Como; it was the experience of a lifetime.”

WOW Travel

Another place we strongly recommend visiting is the gorgeous Alpine village of Bormio, which offered a charming and alluring Alpine feel without all the costly tickets and sore legs. What’s more, Bormio is also spa central and is the epitome of relaxation on Lake Como. Not only does it have iconic spa centers with thermal pools, but they also have Roman baths, thermal massages, wellness food, and whatnot.

Since we were staying in Bormino, we chose the decadent QC Terme Hotel Bagni Vecchi. Besides having excellent rooms, amenities, and views, it boasts pools that are fed directly with thermal water. So, it offered not just an elegant but also the most authentic spa experience in the region.

Experience the Festivals

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Christmas isn’t the only celebrations taking place in Lake Como during wintertime. In fact, many lakefront towns have spectacular events, including reenactments of important local, historic events. One of the most famous is the 400-year-old celebrations of Pesa Vegia in Bellano on the eastern shores of the lake. It essentially melds two celebrations – one that celebrates the jubilation of Bellano’s 17th-century merchants for old measurement units being brought back, and that of Epiphany. This festival, which is held annually on January 5th, sees thousands of people flock to the town to soak in the lavish parade and many accompanying events.

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Another interesting festival is “Carnival” or “Carnevale,” a traditional festival that takes place in the weeks leading up to Easter. It ends with the massive party of “martedì grasso” before Ash Wednesday sometime in February. Carnival time is all about mask competitions, joyous parades, and lots of “frittelle,” dough balls fried traditionally for the festival. One of the most important carnivals is the Carnival in Schignano, a tiny mountain village above the lakefront town of Brienno. Not only does it follow ancient traditions, but it even has its own local masked characters – Brutto and Bello – the focus of the celebrations.

Other festivals include the skating festival of Menaggio on ice at the end of November, Crandola’s St. Anthony’s Abbot Day, and a whole roster of cultural events under “Marvellous Bellagio” in January.

Enjoy a Boat Ride

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Just because you’re visiting Lake Como during wintertime doesn’t mean that you can’t head out on the water. One of the most authentic experiences when Como is surrounded by snow is to enjoy a water taxi or a boat ride. It was one of our favorite ways to soak in and photograph the lake’s winter scenes. Plus, it was one of the most fun ways to get from one lakefront town to another.

Don’t be worried about the boats, as they’re better conditioned in winter. Not only are most of them covered, but some of them are even heated from the inside. So, sailing on the lake isn’t as uncomfortable as you think. Moreover, the boats maintain their schedules in wintertime too, even if their frequency is reduced due to the fewer daylight hours.

Since it will be cold on the lake, bundle up with the best travel winter gloves, the best winter travel leggings, and the best winter hats, among other winter clothes.

Explore The Town Of Como

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One particularly cold day, getting out of the cold was our main objective. So, we thought, why not explore the actual town of Como? The eponymous town, which gives the lake its name, is the closest “lake town” to Milan. It’s also where most of the boats arrive and set sail from, making it one of the most vibrant towns on the lake’s shoreline.

The main tourist attraction here is Duomo Square with the stunning cathedral, one of northern Italy’s largest. Right across from this historic cathedral lie other attractions like the Basilica of San Fedele and the Tower of Porta Vittoria. However, one of the most unmissable sights is the Voltiano Temple, which is closer to the lake shores than any other sight. It was built to honor Alexander Volta, who invented the battery and was born and lived here. When you’re hungry, try the Osteria Del Gallo, which is one of Como town’s more affordable sit-down restaurants. Or you could try the small but affordable counter-service panini shop Passion Como.

We stayed at the Posta Design Hotel, a lovely boutique hotel just five minutes from the central square and the lakefront promenade. Since it sits in a historical building, it has a small, attached bistro and 14 chic and spacious rooms with balconies, comfy beds, and generous modern bathrooms.

Visit Christmas Markets

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This should definitely be at the top of your Lago di Como to-do list! The lake’s villages come alive during Christmas season, thanks to the vibrant and lit-up markets. Italy’s festive season begins on December 8th with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, lasting all the way to January 6th’s Epiphany, when Befana brings well-behaved Italian kiddos sweets.

The Christmas markets in towns like Menaggio, Bellagio, Lecco and more had everything from delicious foods from all around Italy lovely Nativity scenes, stunning decorations, and Befana dolls. What’s more, they were selling even handicrafts and traditional specialties such as cold cuts, cheese, and vin brulé, a kind of mulled wine.

One of the most popular markets is Città dei Balocchi, which stretches from late November to early January. It sees the attractions and structures in the main town of Como dressed up in stunning lighting effects, making for a very exciting atmosphere.

Are there many visitors during this cooler time of year?

Since the Swiss border and Milan are both only an hour away, there definitely are a few visitors, but much, much lesser than in the summer. Otherwise, it’s just locals mostly.

What is the weather like in Lake Como at Christmas?

December is one of Lake Como’s coldest months, with temperatures reaching highs of just 8 degrees Celsius and lows as low as 2 degrees Celsius. Not only are the days short but also temperatures could drop below freezing at night.

Is Bellagio open in winter?

Although many services do shut down, some of the shops, hotels, and restaurants in Bellagio are open during winter, and the town itself is very tranquil.