Month guide · Lake Como · Italy
Lake Como in December
What December is really like in Lake Como: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Maurizio Moro5153, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of 1°C (34°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 8.7 hours of daylight. Quiet on the lake but festive in Como, with lights, markets and light projections in the old town.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / 1°C (34°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 8.7 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Lake Como: days average 7°C (45°F) against a yearly average high of 17°C (63°F), and nights fall to about 1°C (34°F). Rain falls on roughly 6 of its 31 days. Compared with November (11°C (52°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 7°C (45°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:58
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:39
- Daylight
- About 8.7 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold and quiet, with snow on the mountains, a reduced ferry timetable and most central-lake villas and hotels closed; Como city stays open with Christmas lights.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes December one of the better-value months to book.
Events in December
- Città dei Balocchi continues in Como (usually until early January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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Neighbourhood · Bellagio
Bellagio old town and Punta Spartivento
Bellagio's lanes climb in steps from the lakefront arcades, lined with silk and leather shops, to the Romanesque Basilica of San Giacomo.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Shopping
- Photo spot
Waterfront · Varenna
Varenna and the Passeggiata degli Innamorati
Walk the passageway at sunset, when the light falls on Bellagio across the water.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Views
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Experience · Central lake
Central-lake ferry triangle
Navigazione Laghi ferries shuttle between Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and Cadenabbia in about 10–15 minutes per hop, making the crossings themselves one of the best ways to see the lake.
- Time needed
- Half a day or more
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Kids
- Views
- Couples
Viewpoint · Como
Como–Brunate funicular
On a clear day walk about 30 minutes uphill to the Faro Voltiano for a view stretching to the Alps and the Po plain.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Kids
- Iconic
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near 1°C and 6 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Lake Como?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Lake Como in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Lake Como?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Quiet on the lake but festive in Como, with lights, markets and light projections in the old town.
+How warm is Lake Como in December?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Lake Como in December?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.