Lake Como in Autumn – 12 Things to Do

Are you planning to visit Lake Como in October or November and wondering whether you’ve made the right choice? The answer is yes! Let us show you 12 amazing things to do in Lake Como in autumn!

Let’s start with good news – autumn is my favourite time to visit Lake Como!

Most tourists plan their Lake Como visit in summer, but to be honest, the lake is far too busy at that time. It also gets incredibly hot, trains from Milan are packed to capacity, and the streets of smaller (but popular) towns like Varenna and Bellagio are lined with crowds of tourists.

In recent years, Lake Como has been plagued by overtourism, with all its economic and environmental implications. For this reason, I always recommend people to avoid Lake Como between the months of June and August, when during which the tourist influx is at its highest.

As soon as the summer holiday end and schools start again in Europe and North America, tourist numbers rapidly decrease – and so do accommodation prices. Clearer skies, autumn colours and lower temperatures make for a much better experience. So, if you can, plan your Lake Como visit in autumn!

Let’s have a look at 12 fun things to do in Lake Como in September, October and November.

What to do in Lake Como in Autumn

1) Admire the Gardens

One of the best reasons to visit Lake Como from September onwards is that the autumn colours make everything so much more beautiful.

The lake is surrounded by mountains that look spectacular when the trees start turning flaming orange and yellow, but if you’re not up for mountain hikes you can also appreciate the beauty of autumn in Lake Como’s parks and gardens.

There are many parks to choose from – our favourites are the English-style garden of Villa Olmo, which is public and free to access, the botanical garden of Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo and the terraced gardens of Villa Monastero in Varenna.

2) See the Autumn Colours

In October and November, the trees and forests surrounding Lake Como change colour, turning into a sea of flaming, yellow, orange and red hues.

It’s hard to predict exactly when the autumn display, known as “foliage” in Italy, is at its best – from experience, it usually happens in the second half of October. If you’re lucky, you’ll also get warm days and sunshine, perfect to walk around to explore this amazing show of nature!

So, where should you go to admire autumn colours when visiting Lake Como in Autumn? The gardens of mansions like Villa Carlotta and Villa Pizzo in Cernobbio are a good option, but can be busy, especially at weekends.

An alternative is renting a car for a day and exploring one of Lake Como’s side valleys, like Valle d’Intelvi, stretching between the western arm of Lake Como and Switzerland. Pro tip: have lunch at Rifugio Prabello, a mountain hut with delicious local food. The tagliatelle ai funghi are to die for!

3) Visit Stunning Villas

The parks and gardens found around the lake are usually located on the grounds of beautiful villas and mansions, which are also wonderful places to visit if you’re planning to visit Lake Como in autumn.

We have a full article dedicated to the best villas around Lake Como – just remember to double check if the villa you wish to visit is open, as many close from November to March. Villa Olmo is open year round, and Villa del Balbianello is only closed in January and February.

4) Wander around Lakeside Towns and Villages

Many of the small towns and villages surrounding Lake Como get so busy during the high season that touring around becomes a real nightmare. However, in October and November you may have them to yourself, especially if you decide to visit midweek!

Como is always worth visiting, but we also recommend adding one or more smaller towns to your itinerary. Bellagio and Varenna are the most popular options, and it’s a great idea to visit them with no crowds in autumn (or even winter).

Other Lake Como towns I love are Brunate, Tremezzo and Menaggio – or you can have a look at our guide to the best towns and villages around Lake Como to find your own favourite!

5) Tour Unusual Museums

One of the downsides of visiting Lake Como in October and November is that it might rain. Now, Lake Como is wonderful with all kinds of weather, even on a moody day with low clouds, but we all agree that sightseeing in heavy rain is no fun!

That’s where Lake Como comes to the rescue, with a whole collection of interesting museums to visit. Here are some of the best:

• Museo della Barca Lariana (Pianello del Lario), with an exhibition of vintage boats from Lake Como and beyond
• Mu.R.A.C. (Como), a museum in an anti-aircraft shelter accessible with prior booking
• Museo del Ciclismo (Magreglio), dedicated to the history of cycling where you can see amazing bikes and pink jerseys from Giro d’Italia
• Museo della Seta (Como), where you can learn about the history of the silk industry around Lake Como
• Museo Moto Guzzi (Mandello del Lario), with rare motorbikes and vintage engines
• Museo Ornitologico Scanagatta (Varenna), founded by a local naturalist, with an exhibition about birds and other animals found around Lake Como

You can also visit the interior of many villas, housing interesting exhibitions and period furniture. My favourite is Villa Balbianello, where you can see memorabilia collected around the world by former owner Guido Monzino.

6) Go Trekking around the Lake

Summer can get brutally hot around Lake Como, while early autumn is much cooler and temperatures are perfect for trekking.

One of the best multi-day itineraries is Sentiero del Viandante, a 70 km itinerary along the lake’s eastern shore, following ancient paths and mule tracks with scenic views throughout. The entire itinerary typically takes 3/4 days to cover, or you can just hike sections of it and make your way back to where you started by train.

If you don’t feel like such a long hike, there are many other shorter options. One is the Lake Como Greenway, 10 km along a former railway from Colonno to Lenno, or the climb to the Faro Voltiano in Brunate, just 20 minutes from the top station of the funicular railway.

Sunny early autumn days when the sky is clear are also ideal to summit Monte Legnone, the highest mountain overlooking Lake Como at 2600 meters above sea level. The trail to the top starts from Premana and includes approx 1500 meters elevation gain – allow at least 7/8 hours to get to the top and descend safely.

7) Or Opt for a Scenic Bike Ride

Lake Como is also a fantastic destination if you love cycling, and autumn is the perfect time to do it, as the weather is cooler and there’s much less traffic on the roads.

Those who want to do a truly legendary route should opt for the famous climb from Bellagio to Ghisallo, where you’ll find the cycling museum described above and the Madonna del Ghisallo church, dedicated to the patron saint of cyclists. The climb is 10 km long, with 600 meters elevation gain, so it’s quite steep – if you’re not a good cyclist, opt for an e-bike.

From Ghisallo, you can retrace your steps or continue up the Muro di Sormano, one of the hardest climbs in the world, just 2 km long but with an average gradient of 15.5%.

Since the whole of Lake Como is surrounded by mountains, most road bike outings will include climbs. Two other well-known climbs near Como are Monte Bisbino, located near the Swiss border, and Monte San Primo, also near Bellagio.

8) Learn to Cook Delicious Food – Or Just Eat It!

All this sport and sightseeing will surely make you hungry! Well, you’re in luck, because near Lake Como there are some excellent restaurants and many opportunities for cooking classes.

Check out a selection of cooking classes below, including tiramisù and pizzoccheri, a specialty from nearby Valtellina.

• Como Area: Pizza Training Experience
• Como: Half-Day Authentic Market Tour and Cooking Class
• Como: Small Group Pasta-Making Class at a Local’s Home
• Como: Pasta- and Tiramisu-Making Class With Tasting & Wine
• Lake Como: Pizzoccheri Cooking Class in Valsassina – don’t forget to try this local specialty!

If you don’t feel like cooking, there are also many excellent restaurants like Michelin-starred Materia in Cernobbio and Kitchen in Como, or Ittiturismo Mella near Bellagio, with a menu focused on locally-caught fish. Don’t miss it if you’re visiting Lake Como in autumn!

9) Take a Trip to the Alps

I’ll let you in on a little secret. You see all those mountains surrounding Lake Como? They are part of the Alps!

Valleys like Valsolda and Valle d’Intelvi on the western side of Lake Como offer good hiking opportunities, but if you want higher trails you should head to the Lecco branch of the lake, and look for hikes around higher mountains like Legnone, Grigna and Resegone. Make sure you ask locally for trail conditions before setting off, as it may start to snow at 1500/2000 meters as early as mid-October.

If you don’t want to hike but just see cute Alpine towns surrounded by towering mountains, my tip is heading to Bormio in nearby Valtellina, about an 1 hour 30 drive from the northern tip of Lake Como. Or you could drive 2 hours to Livigno, another scenic mountain town which also has the benefit of being tax free (shopping lovers take note!)

10) Go to a Festival

Autumn in Lake Como is also a popular time for festivals! Ask your accommodation because there are new ones on every year, and of course it all depends on where you stay and when you visit.

At Villa Carlotta, one of the most magical villas around, there’s an Autumn Festival taking place during the second half of October, with a pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving, and tastings with local producers. A great activity if you’re with kids for example!

Another interesting and very local festival is Colico Autunno Lago, taking place in Colico on the northern tip of the lake every year in October. The programme is quite diverse, including nature walks, historical reenactments, piano concerts and a walk with donkeys in search of chestnuts… more on this later!

11) Spend a Night at the Theatre

Going to the Opera is one of those iconic Italian experiences that many visitors have on their list, so can you do it around Lake Como?

The Teatro Sociale in Como often has opera on their calendar – or you can also find classical concerts, ballets and even evenings dedicated to sports or the region in general.

Another good theatre to check out is the Teatro della Società in Lecco. On the calendar there’s rarely opera, mostly concerts and prose in Italian, but the theatre interior is really scenic and worth visiting, with the iconic horseshoe-design and tiered boxes.

But if the opera is what you want, don’t forget that Milan and La Scala theatre are only about an hour away!

12) Pick Chestnuts and Mushrooms

Another quintessential Italian experience for those visiting Lake Como in autumn is going chestnut and mushroom picking!

Chestnut-picking walks are known in Italian as “castagnate”, and are often organized by local tourist offices throughout the month of October. Places like Varenna and Cernobbio organize castagnate, as well as smaller mountain towns like Lanzo d’Intelvi and Valbrona. Exact dates change yearly, so your best bet is asking locally.

Just remember that these outings are not tourist-focused, you’ll need your own transport and there’s no guarantee anyone will speak English.

There are also several good mushroom-picking locations near Lake Como – especially in Valle d’Intelvi, near the Swiss border, near the villages of Ronago, Uggiate, Bizzarone e Drezzo. Other good places a little further away are Alta Valtellina, especially near Oga, and Val Brembana.

Good locations are always a closely-kept secret, so you can’t really rely on local tips. Your best bet will be setting off early in the morning, after it’s been raining if possible. Don’t forget to take your mushrooms to a mycological office to be checked before you consume them – there’s one in Como, Via Castelnuovo 1.