Things to Do in Lake Como in October
October weather, activities, events & insider tips
October Weather in Lake Como
Is October Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season pricing drops 30-40% compared to summer peaks - you'll find four-star lakefront hotels in the €150-200 range instead of €300+ in July, and booking just 2-3 weeks ahead is usually sufficient rather than the 3-month advance needed for high season
- The autumn light is genuinely spectacular for photography - that golden hour glow lasts longer, the lower sun angle creates dramatic shadows on the mountains, and morning mist over the lake burns off around 10am creating those postcard moments that actually look better in person
- Crowds thin significantly after the first week of October once Italian schools are back - you can actually walk through Bellagio's narrow streets without the shoulder-to-shoulder shuffle, get lakeside restaurant tables without reservations, and the ferry lines rarely exceed 10-15 minutes even on weekends
- Fall foliage peaks mid-to-late October creating layers of color on the mountainsides - the chestnut trees turn golden, the vines around Menaggio go deep red, and the contrast against the dark lake water and still-green cypresses is something you simply don't get any other time of year
Considerations
- Weather unpredictability means you need flexible plans - October sits in that transitional zone where you might get 20°C (68°F) sunshine one day and 12°C (54°F) drizzle the next, so that boat trip to Varenna you planned for Tuesday might need to shift to Wednesday with little warning
- Reduced ferry schedules start mid-October with last departures around 7pm instead of 9-10pm in summer - this matters more than you'd think because it limits evening dining options in different towns and means you need to catch the 6:30pm boat back rather than lingering over dinner
- Some smaller family-run restaurants and shops close for their annual break in late October - particularly in Tremezzo and the quieter eastern shore villages, you'll find 'chiuso per ferie' signs, though the main tourist centers like Bellagio, Varenna, and Como town stay mostly operational
Best Activities in October
Villa garden tours in Bellagio and Tremezzo
October is actually ideal for visiting Lake Como's famous villa gardens - Villa Carlotta, Villa Melzi, and Villa Monastero - because the summer crowds have dispersed but the gardens remain open through October 31st. The camellias are past bloom but the azaleas show autumn foliage, and more importantly you can photograph the formal Italian gardens and lakeside terraces without 50 other people in your frame. The temperature is perfect for the uphill walks through terraced gardens without the sweat factor of July. Morning visits around 9-10am give you the best light and thinnest crowds.
Greenway del Lago hiking route
This 10 km (6.2 mile) lakeside walking path from Colonno to Cadenabbia is genuinely better in October than summer for two reasons - the temperature sits in that perfect 14-16°C (57-61°F) range where you can hike without overheating, and the autumn light filtering through the olive groves and chestnut trees creates constantly changing shadows. The path is mostly flat, follows the old Via Regina Roman road, and passes through tiny villages where you'll find locals harvesting olives in October. Takes 3-4 hours at a leisurely pace with photo stops. The western shore position means afternoon sun, so morning starts work better if rain is forecast.
Como town funicular and Brunate village exploration
The 7-minute funicular ride up to Brunate at 715 m (2,346 ft) gives you the classic Lake Como panorama, and October offers something special - on clear days after rain systems pass through, visibility extends to Milan's skyline 50 km (31 miles) south. The village itself is worth 2-3 hours of wandering, with the Faro Voltiano lighthouse providing 360-degree views and several hiking trails leading higher into the mountains. The cooler October temperatures make the uphill walks from the funicular station actually pleasant. Locals come up for Sunday lunch in October specifically because summer tourists have left.
Kayaking the Piona Peninsula and Abbey
The northern lake near Colico offers calmer waters than the windy central basin, and October's reduced boat traffic makes kayaking genuinely peaceful. The Piona Peninsula with its 11th-century abbey is the standout destination - you can paddle the 5 km (3.1 miles) from Colico, beach the kayak, and explore the abbey where monks still produce herbal liqueurs. Water temperature drops to around 16°C (61°F) in October so you're not swimming, but the air temperature in the 14-18°C (57-64°F) range is perfect for paddling without overheating. Mornings tend to be calmer before afternoon breezes pick up around 2pm.
Cooking classes focusing on autumn ingredients
October brings specific seasonal ingredients to Como - fresh porcini mushrooms from the mountain forests, chestnuts, pumpkin, and the tail end of tomato season. Several agriturismi and cooking schools run half-day classes where you'll actually go to the morning market in Como or Menaggio, select ingredients, then prepare traditional dishes like risotto ai funghi porcini or chestnut flour pasta. The smaller October class sizes mean more hands-on instruction, and you're learning dishes that actually make sense for the season rather than generic Italian cooking.
Scenic drives through mountain valleys
October's autumn colors make the valley drives genuinely worthwhile - particularly Val d'Intelvi behind Argegno and Valle di Muggio near the Swiss border. These routes climb through chestnut forests turning gold and red, pass stone villages where you'll see smoke rising from chimneys as locals fire up wood stoves for the season, and offer elevated lake views without the summer haze. The roads are narrow and winding but October sees minimal traffic compared to summer weekends. Budget a full day for either valley including stops at small churches, local cheese producers, and village trattorias.
October Events & Festivals
Sagra del Torchio olive oil festival in Lenno
This traditional olive pressing festival happens in mid-October when the first olives are harvested from the western shore groves. You'll see the actual stone pressing wheels in action, taste fresh olive oil on bread, and locals selling bottles of their family production. It's not a big tourist event - maybe 200-300 people, mostly Italian families - which is precisely what makes it worth attending if you're around. The festival centers on Lenno's lakefront piazza with food stalls selling local products.
Chestnut festivals in mountain villages
Various small villages above the lake - particularly Pigra, Schignano, and Val d'Intelvi communities - hold weekend chestnut festivals throughout October. Expect roasted chestnuts, chestnut flour cakes, local wine, and sometimes traditional music. These are genuine community events where you might be the only non-Italian speaker, and that's the appeal. Villages are typically reached by winding mountain roads or funicular, making them feel properly remote.