Things to Do in Lake Como in April
April weather, activities, events & insider tips
April Weather in Lake Como
Is April Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season pricing means accommodation costs 30-40% less than summer peaks - you'll find four-star lakefront rooms for 120-180 euros that'll cost 250-plus in July. Gardens are exploding with azaleas, camellias, and wisteria, which is honestly the main reason locals consider April the most beautiful month.
- Ferries run on full spring schedules (typically every 30-60 minutes between major towns) but without the summer crush - you'll actually get a seat with a view rather than standing in the cabin. Villa gardens start opening mid-month, and you can wander Villa Carlotta or Villa Melzi without tour groups blocking every photo angle.
- Water temperature hits 12-14°C (54-57°F), which sounds freezing but means the lake reflects the mountains and sky with that impossible clarity you see in postcards. Morning mist over Bellagio creates genuinely stunning conditions for photography, usually burning off by 10-11am.
- Easter week aside, you're visiting before Italian school holidays and the international tourist wave. Restaurants in Varenna and Menaggio will have tables available even on weekends, and locals are noticeably more relaxed and chatty than during the summer siege.
Considerations
- April weather is genuinely unpredictable - you might get three consecutive days of sunshine and 20°C (68°F), then wake up to 9°C (48°F) and steady rain. The lake creates its own microclimate, and weather apps tend to be wrong about 40% of the time. You need to pack for both spring and late winter, which is annoying.
- Some smaller seasonal businesses don't open until late April or early May. Lakeside gelaterias, beach clubs, and certain hiking rifugios operate on unpredictable schedules - places that should be open according to their website simply aren't. Always have a backup plan.
- Water activities are limited. Swimming is realistically out unless you're very hardy, and while kayak and boat rentals start operating, you'll need proper layers. The famous Lido di Lenno and other beach spots feel pretty desolate, though that has its own appeal if you're not expecting a beach holiday.
Best Activities in April
Villa Garden Tours in Bellagio and Tremezzo
April is genuinely the best month for villa gardens, particularly Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo where over 150 varieties of azaleas and rhododendrons bloom in ridiculous profusion. The microclimate here means things flower 2-3 weeks earlier than elsewhere in northern Italy. Villa Melzi in Bellagio peaks late April with Japanese maples leafing out and camellias still going strong. Crowds are manageable - you'll share the space with Italian day-trippers rather than tour buses. Morning visits (9-11am) offer the best light and fewer people.
Lakefront Walking Routes Between Villages
The Varenna to Bellano coastal path (roughly 5 km or 3.1 miles) and the Greenway del Lago between Colonno and Cadenabbia (10 km or 6.2 miles) are perfect in April temperatures. You'll be comfortable in light layers, and the afternoon rain pattern means starting by 9-10am usually keeps you dry. Spring wildflowers line the paths, and you'll encounter more locals walking dogs than tourists. The Sentiero del Viandante, the historic 45 km (28 mile) route along the eastern shore, is also excellent now - sections between Lierna and Varenna offer stunning elevation views without summer heat.
Como Town Food Market and Cooking Experiences
The Tuesday and Thursday morning market in Como town (Piazza San Fedele, 8am-1pm) peaks in April with spring produce - wild asparagus, fresh peas, agretti, and the first strawberries from lower elevations. This is when you'll see locals actually shopping rather than tourists wandering through. Cooking class experiences that include market visits work brilliantly now because ingredients are genuinely seasonal rather than the same tomatoes and basil all summer. You'll learn dishes like risotto con asparagi and missoltini (dried lake fish) that reflect what people actually eat here in spring.
Mountain Hiking Above Menaggio
The trails from Menaggio up to Rifugio Menaggio (1,400 m or 4,593 ft elevation) and Monte Grona are accessible by mid-April most years, snow permitting. You'll climb through chestnut forests just leafing out, and the views back down to the lake are spectacular without summer haze. Temperatures drop roughly 6°C per 1,000 m (3.3°F per 1,000 ft), so it's pleasantly cool for the climb. Wildflowers start appearing at higher elevations late month. These trails see mostly Italian hikers in April, not the international crowd that arrives later.
Ferry Hopping Circuit with Photography Stops
April's variable weather and morning mist create genuinely dramatic lighting conditions, especially early morning (7-9am) and late afternoon (4-6pm). The ferry system becomes your mobile photography platform - the Bellagio to Varenna to Menaggio triangle (the centro lago area) offers constantly changing perspectives. Morning mist clings to Bellagio's promontory, and when sun breaks through clouds, you get those shafts of light that make the lake look supernatural. Fewer boats running means less wake disturbing the mirror-like water.
Lecco Area Rock Climbing and Via Ferrata Routes
The eastern branch around Lecco offers some of Europe's best limestone climbing, and April temperatures (12-18°C or 54-64°F) are ideal before summer heat makes south-facing walls unbearable. The rock dries quickly after rain, usually within 4-6 hours. Via ferrata routes like the Sentiero delle Vasche near Bellano provide secured climbing experiences with cables and ladders, suitable for fit beginners with guides. This area sees primarily Italian climbers in April, and the dramatic Grigne mountain backdrop is clearer now than in hazy summer.
April Events & Festivals
Easter Week Festivities
If Easter falls in April (it varies year to year - in 2026, Easter Sunday is April 5th), you'll encounter traditional processions in lakeside towns, particularly Como, Varenna, and Bellano. Good Friday evening processions feature locals in historical dress carrying religious statues through cobblestone streets. Restaurants serve traditional Easter dishes like colomba cake and lamb. Worth noting this is also the busiest week of April by far - accommodation prices spike 40-60% and advance booking becomes essential.
Liberation Day
April 25th is a national holiday commemorating Italy's liberation in 1945. Towns hold small ceremonies at war memorials, and you'll see more Italian flags displayed. Practically speaking, many businesses close, banks are shut, and locals treat it as a long weekend for family gatherings. If you're visiting this week, book restaurants ahead and expect slightly larger crowds, particularly if weather cooperates. Ferries run on Sunday schedules.