Things to Do in Lake Como in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Lake Como
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + The Christmas markets in Como town transform Piazza Cavour into a German-style wooden-stall village, with Vin Brulé that warms your hands and stalls selling local olive oil soaps wrapped in bergamot paper
- + Hotel rates drop 35-50% from summer peaks, in Bellagio where lake-view rooms that require three-month advance booking in July become available the same week in December
- + The lake's famous villas open their decorated interiors - Villa Carlotta's 18th-century halls strung with Lombard nativity scenes, Villa Monastero's rooms lit entirely by candles on December weekends
- + Morning fog creates the Instagram shots that summer visitors miss - the water disappears and medieval towns like Varenna float above the clouds like islands in the sky
- − Ferry schedules reduce to winter timetables - the fast boat from Como to Bellagio runs only four times daily instead of hourly, cutting off spontaneous lake-hopping
- − Many lakeside restaurants close for seasonal break, in smaller towns like Lenno where half the waterfront dining shuts down from December 10-January 15
- − Daylight ends early at 4:30 PM, limiting hiking on trails like the Greenway del Lago to morning starts only
Year-Round Climate
How December compares to the rest of the year
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December is the only month when Lake Como's historic villas deck their halls with 18th-century nativity scenes and rococo Christmas decorations. Villa del Balbianello offers candlelit evening tours where the guide's lantern throws shadows across the room where Star Wars was filmed, while Villa Monastero in Varenna sets up 200 nativity scenes from Naples to Sicily. The foggy winter light makes the silk wallpaper and Murano chandeliers look warmer than harsh summer sun.
December harvest season means the mountain vineyards above Lake Como are pressing nebbiolo grapes into Valtellina Superiore. Day trips from Como take you through the terraced vineyards when they're striped with snow, into family cellars where the air smells of fermenting grapes and oak barrels. The contrast between lake-level fog and mountain sunshine makes for dramatic photos, plus the wine tastings happen around massive stone fireplaces.
Como's December markets specialize in lake-region foods you won't find in summer - smoked missoltini (dried fish from Lake Como) served hot with polenta, and sciatt cheese fritters that taste like crispy air pockets filled with melted bitto cheese. The market in Piazza Cavour runs December 1-26, but locals prefer the smaller market in Tremezzo for better prices on honey from Gravedona and baskets shaped by lake reeds.
December's temperature differential between warm lake water and cold air creates morning steam that rises off Lake Como like dry ice - good for photographers. The best shots happen 7-9 AM from the ferry between Como and Bellagio, when the steam wraps around Isola Comacina and makes the lake look like a Japanese woodblock print. Professional photography guides know the exact ferry times and deck positions for optimal angles.
The mountain trails above Menaggio stay accessible in December for hikers with proper boots, leading to rifugios where they serve fondue made with local Casera cheese and polenta taragna. The hike to Rifugio Martina takes 90 minutes up through chestnut forests that smell of woodsmoke from mountain cabins, reward is bubbling cheese fondue served with views down to the lake through bare winter branches.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Como's patron saint festival on December 1 transforms the old town into a medieval fair with costumed processions, traditional boat races on the lake, and stalls selling torrone nougat that's been made the same way since 1400. The highlight happens at dusk when locals carry paper lanterns from Piazza Duomo down to the waterfront for the blessing of the fishing boats.
German-style wooden stalls fill Piazza Cavour from December 1-26, but the local twist is regional food stalls serving pizzoccheri (buckwheat pasta with potatoes and cheese) and hot spiced wine made with local nebbiolo. Evenings feature live music from Alpine horn players and traditional Lombard carolers.
Essential Tips
What to pack, insider knowledge and common pitfalls