Things to Do in Lake Como in August
August weather, activities, events & insider tips
August Weather in Lake Como
Is August Right for You?
Advantages
- Water temperature hits 24-25°C (75-77°F) in August - genuinely the warmest swimming conditions of the year, which matters when you're spending half your day on or near the lake. Locals actually swim in August, unlike spring when tourists jump in and immediately regret it.
- The lake villages run their summer evening programs through August - outdoor cinema in Bellagio's piazzas, concerts on Como's waterfront, aperitivo culture that spills onto every lakeside terrace until 10pm. This social energy disappears completely by mid-September when locals shift back indoors.
- Hiking trails above 800m (2,625 ft) like the Dorsale del Triangolo Lariano offer 5-7°C (9-13°F) cooler temperatures than lakeside, meaning you can actually do serious mountain walks in the morning and still enjoy the lake in afternoon - something impossible in the suffocating July heat.
- The villas' gardens peak in August with late-summer blooms - Villa Carlotta's hydrangeas, Villa Melzi's water lilies, Villa Balbianello's climbing roses all hit their stride. Worth noting because spring gets all the garden hype, but August gardens have this lush, almost overgrown quality that photographs beautifully.
Considerations
- This is absolute peak season - accommodation prices run 40-60% higher than June or September, and lakeside hotels in Bellagio or Varenna book solid 3-4 months ahead. If you're watching budget or prefer spontaneity, August works against you on both fronts.
- The SS340 Regina road between Como and Menaggio becomes genuinely frustrating - 15 km (9.3 miles) that should take 25 minutes can stretch to 75 minutes on weekend afternoons when day-trippers from Milan clog every pullout and parking area. Locals avoid driving this stretch between 10am-6pm on Saturdays entirely.
- Afternoon thunderstorms roll through roughly 10 days of the month, typically between 3-6pm. They're dramatic - the kind that turn the lake choppy and send everyone scrambling from beaches - and while they usually pass in 30-45 minutes, they'll derail whatever you had planned for late afternoon. Ferry schedules occasionally get disrupted too.
Best Activities in August
Early Morning Lake Swimming at Public Beaches
August water temps of 24-25°C (75-77°F) make this genuinely pleasant rather than the shock-to-your-system experience of May or June. Hit the lidos in Menaggio, Lenno, or Como city between 7-9am before crowds arrive and while the lake surface is still mirror-calm. The light at this hour is exceptional for photos, and you'll swim alongside locals doing their morning routine rather than fighting for space on crowded beaches by 11am. The 70% humidity means you'll actually want to be in water by mid-morning anyway.
High-Altitude Rifugio Hiking Routes
The trails above Bellagio and Menaggio to mountain refuges like Rifugio Menaggio at 1,400m (4,593 ft) offer escape from lakeside heat and crowds. You're looking at 6-8°C (11-14°F) cooler temps at elevation, which transforms a sweaty slog into actually enjoyable hiking. Start by 8am, reach the rifugio by noon for lunch with panoramic lake views, descend by 3pm before afternoon storms roll in. August is ideal because trails are completely dry and snow-free, unlike June when higher sections can still be muddy or blocked.
Villa and Garden Tours in Morning Hours
The historic villas - Carlotta, Balbianello, Melzi, del Balbiano - are substantially more tolerable before 11am when tour groups arrive. August gardens are at peak bloom but the 28°C (82°F) afternoon heat makes wandering terraced gardens genuinely unpleasant by 2pm. Morning visits also mean better light for photographing the lake views from villa terraces. Villa Carlotta's azalea and rhododendron collection is past prime, but the late-summer hydrangeas and dahlias compensate. Balbianello's loggia offers the best lake panoramas but gets packed by midday.
Sunset Aperitivo Boat Tours
The evening boat culture is peak August - small group tours departing 6-7pm that cruise the central lake during golden hour, typically including prosecco and snacks while you watch the light change on the mountains. You're on water during the prettiest hours and avoiding the hottest part of day. The 7-8pm light in August is exceptional - warm and golden rather than the harsh midday glare. These tours also time perfectly with the post-thunderstorm window when the lake calms down and everyone emerges from shelter.
Cooking Classes in Historic Lakeside Kitchens
August brings peak produce season - tomatoes, zucchini, lake fish, stone fruits - which makes cooking classes substantially more interesting than off-season versions relying on storage vegetables. Classes typically run 3-4 hours in morning or early evening, keeping you indoors during the worst heat while learning regional dishes like risotto al pesce persico or missoltini preparation. You're also in air-conditioned or naturally cool old kitchens rather than suffering outside. The social aspect works well in August when you'll meet other travelers, and you leave with skills and recipes rather than just photos.
Ferry-Hopping Between Villages
The comprehensive ferry network makes village-hopping the smartest way to avoid road traffic and stay cool. August ferry schedules run at peak frequency - boats every 30-60 minutes on main routes - and being on water provides natural cooling that buses and cars lack. The slow ferry routes give you 15-20 minutes of lake breeze between stops, while faster hydrofoils cut travel time but cost more. Strategic ferry use means you can base yourself in one affordable village and still access the expensive ones for a few hours without paying their hotel rates.
August Events & Festivals
Ferragosto Celebrations
August 15th is Italy's biggest summer holiday when basically the entire country shuts down and heads to lakes or beaches. Como sees massive celebrations - fireworks over the lake in multiple villages, outdoor feasts, boats decked with lights doing evening parades. It's genuinely festive but also genuinely crowded - this is the single busiest day of the year. Restaurants book solid days in advance, beaches are shoulder-to-shoulder, and accommodation prices spike even higher. Worth experiencing if you embrace the chaos, worth avoiding if crowds stress you out.
Bellagio Summer Festival
Running through most of August, this brings nightly concerts and performances to Bellagio's lakefront and piazzas - classical music, jazz, occasional opera. Events typically start around 9pm when temps finally drop to comfortable levels. Most performances are free and locals actually attend rather than just tourists. The quality varies - some nights you get Milan Conservatory musicians, other nights it's decent amateur groups - but the settings are consistently beautiful and it adds life to evening hours.
Como Città della Musica
Como city runs an extended summer music series through August with performances in the cathedral, Teatro Sociale, and outdoor venues. Programming leans classical and jazz with occasional contemporary acts. The cathedral concerts are worth seeking out - the acoustics are exceptional and tickets run only 15-25 euros. Shows typically scheduled for 9pm starts. Check the official Como tourism site for current year programming as lineups change annually.