Lake Como Holidays in October

Lake Como in October

Not only does autumn inject incredible colours into the landscape (and some stonking sunsets), it’s a much milder time of year for serious hikes and bike rides, gets gorgeously quiet for a proper getaway AND tends to be a cheaper time to visit.

Lake Como weather in October

If you’re visiting for the day hikes and infamous bike rides, this milder month is marvellous. Chances are it’ll still be wonderfully warmer than home – average temperatures tend to peak at around 18°C and dip to 10°C at night, giving you ample opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors without risking sunstroke or frostbite. Each day sees around 11 hours of sunlight. The water temperature cools down to about 15°C at this time of year, so unless you’re a hardy paddler, you’re probably best off with a heated hotel pool. October does see rain, but only on 8 days with an average of 145mm throughout the whole month.

Lake Como events in October

Every month here seems to celebrate a different food, and October’s the month of the chestnut! You’ll often find Chestnut Festival events in Lenno, Mezzegra, Ossuccio, Menaggio to mark this local autumn celebration.

Music-wise, look out for live music events at the Villa del Balbianello and see if the north end of the lake is hosting its Pianomaster concerts again this year featuring international artists.

We’ve loved Como’s Urban Art Festival in recent years, which has seen sculptures and arrangements installed all around the city.

This is the best month to visit for sporting events – the Bellagio Skyrace marks the end of the Skyrunner Italy Series, taking participants from the promenade through awesome autumn landscape. Whether you’re running with the rest of them or cheering on participants, it can be great fun to get involved! The main event here is the legendary Giro di Lombardia bike race, bringing bike champions to the hill climbs and panoramic paths behind Bellagio, with a big celebration in Como’s main square.

See what this lake’s like at other times of the year with our guides to Lake Como in May, June, July, August and September. We’ve also put together guides on the various destinations around the lake, such as Bellagio, Mennagio, Lenno, Tremezzo and Cadenabbia.

October weather in Lake Como: climate, temperature & rainfall