Month guide · Lake Como · Italy
Lake Como in January
What January is really like in Lake Como: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
January is a month many travellers avoid. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of 0°C (32°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 9 hours of daylight. Cold and quiet; many central-lake hotels, restaurants and villa gardens are closed, but Como city carries on and clear days give sharp mountain views.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / 0°C (32°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 9 hours
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest 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 0°C (32°F). Rain falls on roughly 6 of its 31 days. Compared with December (7°C (45°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around 9°C (48°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:00
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:03
- Daylight
- About 9 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, January rates 1 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 1 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
January has no major recurring festival in Lake Como, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Religious site · Como
Como Cathedral
Look up at the Broletto, the striped medieval town hall right next to the cathedral façade.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Museum · Como
Tempio Voltiano
This neoclassical lakeside temple, built in 1927, is a museum to Alessandro Volta, the Como-born physicist who invented the electric battery.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Garden · Tremezzina (Tremezzo and Lenno)
Villa del Balbianello
Arrive by water taxi from Lenno for the classic view of the villa from the lake, then walk back along the path.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Architecture
Garden · Tremezzina (Tremezzo and Lenno)
Villa Carlotta
Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo combines a museum of neoclassical sculpture and painting, including Francesco Hayez's The Last Kiss of Romeo and Juliet, with about eight hectares of botanical gardens.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Couples
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near 0°C and 6 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Lake Como?
A month many travellers avoid. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Lake Como in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Lake Como?
It is a month many travellers avoid. Cold and quiet; many central-lake hotels, restaurants and villa gardens are closed, but Como city carries on and clear days give sharp mountain views.
+How warm is Lake Como in January?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Lake Como in January?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.