Things to Do in Lake Como in September
September weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
September Weather in Lake Como
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
73°F (23°C)
High Temp
55°F (13°C)
Low Temp
6.3 inches (160 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Thunderstorms brew fast over the Alps. They strike between 2-4pm. Wind gusts cancel boat tours. Watch the sky.
Is September Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Lake water still warm enough for swimming - locals call this the 'second summer' when afternoon temperatures hit 23°C (73°F)
- + Grape harvest season means fresh vino novello appears in trattorie around Domaso and Varenna, and the smell of crushed nebbiolo drifts air
- + Ferry schedules still run summer timetable until September 30th - you get full lake access without July's elbow-to-elbow crowds
- + Mountain trails above Menaggio and Bellagio are at their best - crisp mornings, stable weather windows, and the chestnut forests start turning copper
Considerations
- − Afternoon thunderstorms roll in fast from the Alps - they hit around 3pm and can strand you on the wrong side of the lake if you miss the last ferry
- − Hotel pools start feeling chilly - most aren't heated, and once that sun drops behind Monte San Primo, the temperature crashes
- − Some lakefront lidos close after the second weekend - the good ones in Cernobbio and Lenno shutter regardless of weather
Best Activities in September
Top things to do during your visit
Lake Como in September shifts gear. The sun loses its summer bite, the air stays warm enough for shirt-sleeves at midday, then turns crisp the moment the light slips behind the mountains. That light softens to gold, glazing the villas and villages that grip the shoreline, while the lake, emptied of speedboats, lies glassy and still. Locals reclaim their piazzas. The passeggiata settles into a pace that feels both active and peaceful. This month is the sweet spot. The water is still swimmable, yet July's furnace heat has gone. Rainfall mirrors spring, so brief showers can sweep through. But they usually exit on clean, sharp mornings. With the crowds gone, you meet Como as it is: damp stone after rain mixing with the last oleander blooms, a ferry horn echoing farther across quiet water.
Lake Como Private boat tour from Bellagio with a local
cruiseA private boat tour from Bellagio in September shows the lake mid-breath. You glide past grand villas whose gardens remain lush, feel cool spray as the captain opens the throttle, then hear only the gentle putter while drifting into coves where waves lap sheer rock. Layered green and shadow slide over the mountainsides under the shifting light, a spectacle best absorbed from the water itself.
It is the singular way to comprehend the scale and beauty of Lake Como, accessing perspectives and intimate corners utterly unreachable by land.
Insider tip: Book a late afternoon departure. The angle of the September sun bathes the western shore's villas in a warm, photogenic glow, and you'll often have the water more to yourself as day-trippers return to port.
This month: The water temperature is still comfortable for the swimming stop often included on these tours, a pleasure that becomes less appealing in the cooler months that follow.
Ghisallo Pilgrimage - Road and E-bike Tour
adventureThe Ghisallo Pilgrimage tour, by road bike or e-bike, climbs through air scented with pine and late-summer herbs to the chapel of cycling's patron saint. Your legs burn, your breath mingles with the distant whir of other riders, then the lake's middle basin spreads below, a deep blue sheet under the September sky.
This is a rite of passage for any cycling enthusiast, combining physical challenge with a profound sense of place and history at one of the sport's most hallowed sites.
Insider tip: Start early in the morning to avoid the potential for afternoon haze or the occasional September shower, and to enjoy the quietest roads on the climb.
Lake Como Motorbike - Motorcycle tour around Lake Como and the Alps
guided_experienceA motorbike tour around Lake Como and into the Alps in September means leaning into curves on roads free of summer congestion, petrol and cool mountain air in your nostrils. The landscape flips from subtropical gardens to rugged alpine passes, temperature dropping fast as you climb, a blunt reminder that the season is turning.
It delivers an outstanding sense of freedom and geographic drama, connecting the elegant lake with the raw, towering landscapes that frame it.
Insider tip: Pack a windproof layer. The temperature difference between the lakeshore and the alpine passes can be sharp in September, when you stop to take in the views.
Premium Pizza Making Class at a Pizzeria in Como
otherA premium pizza making class in Como moves you from an espresso-scented street into the flour-dusted warmth of a professional kitchen. You feel dough under your palms, hear the wood-fired oven crackle, then taste the sweet tang of San Marzano tomatoes and the stretch of mozzarella on your own creation, a world away from chain delivery.
It has a hands-on, satisfying immersion into a fundamental Italian craft, led by pizzaioli who treat the dish with serious artistry.
Insider tip: Come hungry. But not starving. The process is as important as the meal, and you will appreciate each step more on a comfortably empty stomach.
Private Tour Lake Como - 2h of Villas, Bellagio, Wine & Swimming
private_tourA private two-hour tour of Lake Como's villas, Bellagio, and wine tasting is a concentrated burst of la dolce vita. You see opulent frescoes inside a villa, hear glasses clink in a sun-dappled garden above the water, perhaps feel the lake's cool shock during a swimming stop, all with a guide attuned to September's slower beat.
It maximizes luxury and personalization in a short timeframe, well suited for travelers who prefer a curated, in-depth experience over independent exploration.
Insider tip: Clearly communicate your priorities to your guide at the start. With only two hours, focusing on either villa architecture, Bellagio's lanes, or a relaxed wine stop ensures you get the depth you desire.
Lake Como: Classic Fiat 500 Vintage Car Rental
transportRenting a classic Fiat 500 for a day around Lake Como in September is nostalgia on four wheels. You hear the tiny engine putter, feel breeze through open windows along lakeside lanes, catch admiring glances as you park in a piazza, the car's cheerful paint popping against stone.
It transforms practical transportation into an essential part of the experience, offering a slower, more charming pace to find the villages at your own rhythm.
Insider tip: Plan a route that avoids the tightest, most trafficked streets of central Bellagio. The car is at its best on the scenic secondary roads connecting smaller hamlets.
Where to Stay in Lake Como in September
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for September travellers.
September Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Third weekend of September
Sagra dell'Uva - Grape Festival
Domaso's annual grape festival erupts the third weekend of September - the whole lakeside town strings purple lights between buildings and local wineries pour vino novello from booths along the lungolago. The highlight happens Sunday at 4pm when costumed locals parade a 3-ton grape cart through town, throwing clusters to spectators. Food stalls serve missoltini (dried shad) with polenta, a combination that makes perfect sense after your third glass of nebbiolo.
September 21, 2026
Concorso d'Eleganza - Classic Boat Parade
Vintage wooden boats gather at Villa d'Este's dock for the most photogenic Saturday of the year - September 21st, 2026 marks the 75th anniversary, so expect the lake's largest collection of Riva Aquaramas in decades. Boats form up at 11am off Cernobbio, then cruise north in formation toward Bellagio at vintage speed (barely 15 knots). Best viewing is from the Passeggiata degli Artisti in Cernobbio, where the morning light hits polished mahogany well.
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View Lake Como Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Locals eat lunch at 1pm sharp - if you want a table at lakefront restaurants, arrive by 12:45pm or wait until 2:30pm when Italians finish their three-hour lunch
The 4:30pm ferry from Bellagio to Como is where you'll overhear the real gossip - it's when villa owners head to Milan for dinner and discuss who's selling what property
Above Menaggio, a mountain refugio ladles wild boar stew on Thursdays. Hunters haul the meat that morning. It never hits the printed menu. Ask. They will serve it.
September skies stay stable. Seaplane tours leave Como almost daily. They skim the western shore at 300m (984 ft). Villas flash below, invisible from the road.
Avoid These Mistakes
Book lakefront hotels blind and you may pay for a cold puddle. September sun lacks muscle. Unheated pools stay frigid. Check before you commit.
Bellagio dinner at 7pm sounds romantic. The last ferry from Varenna departs at 6:20pm. Miss it and a 40€ taxi owns your night.
Limestone trails above Tremezzo look summer-dry. September rain turns them into slides. Rescue sends a bill. Pack tread and caution.
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