10 Things to Do in Lake Como in December

At the foot of the imposing Rhaetian Alps and just 1 hour from Milan lies the beautiful, inverted Y-shaped Lago di Como, surrounded by some of the most enchanting villages in northern Italy. Exclusive dream villas, picturesque houses overhanging the shore and a landscape that looks like something out of a movie are just some of the many attractions of this place.

Although most tourists choose to visit Lago di Como during the summer, there are things to see and do in this extraordinary destination at any time of the year. And if you decide to visit during December, you can enjoy a quieter atmosphere and cheaper accommodation prices.

Lake Como is one of the largest lakes in Italy and one of its main attractions is that it is flanked by the towering Rhaetian Alps which, reflected in the crystal clear waters, create a picture postcard image. However, if there is one time when the beauty of this place stands out more than ever, it is in winter, when the snow covers the tops of these mountains creating a breathtaking winter landscape.

There are numerous spots and viewpoints to enjoy this beautiful scenery, but one of the best locations is from the charming village of Bellagio. Bellagio, nicknamed the Pearl of Lake Como, is in a privileged position, as it is situated in the so-called Larian Triangle, right where the two branches of the lake branch off.

Bellagio is known for its beautiful pastel-coloured houses, its historic centre with narrow, steep streets and for housing some of the most luxurious villas with the best views of the lake.

If you are lucky and enjoy nice weather during your trip, you can even book a bike tour of the Bellagio area, so you can ride around and enjoy the magnificent views of the lake and the imposing snow-capped Alps.

Every year in December, the Christmas spirit invades the charming villages around the popular lake area, as well as the town of Como, whose streets are decked out in honour of the festive season. While all of the towns in the area are filled with glittering decorative lights, in Como you'll find other attractions such as Christmas markets set up in the main squares.

Although winter is the low season in Lago di Como, during the festive season there is a slight upswing in tourism, and in this part of Lombardy there are plenty of things to do at Christmas time, such as strolling under the colourful festive lights, browsing the specially decorated shop windows or sampling some of the Christmas food specialities.

Also, if you are lucky, the area may be under a blanket of snow during your visit, creating a beautiful winter scene that perfectly matches the atmosphere and the Christmas season.

Although some of the most popular activities in the area include lake tours or outdoor hiking trails, the low temperatures at this time of year mean that it's best to head indoors to combat the cold. Therefore, a good option for one of your travel days would be to take the opportunity to get to know the city of Como and alternate walks through its streets with visits to museums and monuments where you can take refuge from the cold weather.

Como, as well as being the town that gives its name to the extensive lake, is the largest city in the area. Surrounded by a 12th-century medieval wall, it is home to a fascinating historic centre that is well worth exploring. Some of the town's main attractions include the The Basilica di San Fedele, one of the largest temples in northern Italy, the Basilica di San Fedele and the Porta Torre.

If the weather is fine, don't forget to walk along the promenade by the lake, where you can enjoy magnificent views. Also, if it is open to the public during the dates of your trip, another visit of great interest is the The palace, a majestic 13th century palace on the shores of Lago di Como.

There is also a wide range of cafes and restaurants where you can take a break and enjoy a hot meal. A great way to get to know the city better is to book a guided tour of Como.

If there is one thing that characterises Italy, it is its acclaimed gastronomy, whose dishes are admired and enjoyed almost everywhere in the world. However, as in many other places, there are seasonal dishes that are only served during a specific time of the year.

Therefore, the next plan I am going to propose is that you take advantage of your visit to taste some of the delicacies of Italian winter cuisine. In Lago di Como you will find a large number of restaurants where you can enjoy the local cuisine, especially in the big cities of Como and Lecco.

However, if you want to get to know the local cuisine in depth, I recommend that you book a gastronomic tour or even a cooking class, where you will have the opportunity to learn the recipes of the most emblematic dishes of Italian gastronomy yourself.

Some of the most typical winter dishes of northern Italy are polenta and Cassoeula. Polenta is a dish that can be easily found in local restaurants and consists of corn grits usually served with butter and local cheese, although there are many variations. As for Cassoeula, it is a kind of stew without pulses, consisting essentially of vegetables, potato and pork.

There are two main reasons why December is an ideal time to visit the second largest city on Lago di Como, Lecco. The first is the low number of tourists, which makes for a more comfortable visit, and the second is that Lecco has no shortage of restaurants, shops and monuments to shelter you from the cold temperatures

Lecco is guarded by the imposing Monte Resegone, which can be seen from many parts of the city, with the beautiful Piazza XX di Settembre in particular standing out. Lecco's historic centre is also full of picturesque alleys and lively squares to stroll through.

Some of Lecco's main attractions are the Basilica di San Nicolò, which is free to enter and is particularly notable for its stylistic mix, the Palazzo Belgiojoso, the Palazzo delle Paure and the Villa Manzoni, the residence of the Manzoni family for two centuries.

If you decide to include Lecco in your travel itinerary, I recommend that you consult the Lecco Travel Guide. for all the latest information on ticket prices and opening times.

In addition to its exquisite gastronomy, Italy is known for being one of the world leaders in wine production, which is admired for its excellent quality. Therefore, one of the best things to do in Lago di Como is to visit a winery and enjoy a tasting of its best wines.

Moreover, it is a perfect plan for this time of the year, as you will be able to shelter from the cold while enjoying the local delicacies. The winery in question is located in the small fishing village of Domaso, which dates back to 2008 and is just over an hour's drive from Como.

During the tour you will learn about the stages of fermentation and production of this drink and at the end of the visit, you will have the opportunity to taste several wines of different kinds accompanied by local snacks such as cheeses, jams and artisan bread.

If you decide to make your trip during the month of December you will find many advantages, but also some disadvantages. The low number of tourists at this time of year will make it much more convenient to visit the main places of interest. Unfortunately, some of them may be closed during this season, such as some of the famous villas of Lago di Como.

However, December is perfect to visit the historic centre of some of the most charming villages in the area, as you can enjoy their restaurants and cafes, as well as enter the monuments and museums without waiting in long queues. Therefore, I encourage you to take the opportunity to visit one of the jewels of Lago di Como, Varenna.

In addition to walking through its picturesque historic centre, you can enter some of its most emblematic churches such as the or the Church of San Giorgio. And if you're lucky and the weather is nice, don't miss a stroll along its famous Lovers' Walk, a path over the water connecting Varenna's quay with the old town, from which you'll have spectacular views of the lake.

Weather permitting, an ideal way to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the snow-capped Alps would be to go up to the small town of Brunate, from where you can marvel at the magnificent views of Lake Como, Monte Rosa and even, if the skies are clear, some of the most famous villas in the area such as Villa Erba or Villa D'Est.

To get to Brunate, the most used and also the most fun way is the Funicular Como-Brunate, which departs from Piazza Como. The Piazza Bonacossa, which starts in Piazza Alcide de Gasperi in Como and ends in Piazza Bonacossa in Brunate, is the most popular way to get to Brunate.

During the journey, you will travel in a carriage that maintains a liberty aesthetic that will make you feel like you are travelling back in time. It also has panoramic windows and heating, so you can enjoy the scenery or even take some photos while you travel in comfort and without worrying about the cold.

The tram departs every 15-30 minutes, depending on the time of day, and the journey takes about 7 minutes. The average fare is about €3.30 one way and about €6.10 return.

Together with Bellagio and Varena Menaggio is one of the most visited towns in Lago di Como, and its historic centre has an impressive artistic heritage, as well as a large number of local shops and excellent restaurants.

Thanks to the absence of large groups of tourists, you can visit Menaggio in peace and quiet and enjoy the restaurants and cafés where you can stop and warm up with a good cup of coffee.

The centre of Menaggio consists of an upper area in medieval style and a lower area with a beautiful lakeside promenade. It also consists of three adjacent villages or towns: Loveno, Croce and Nobiallo.

Considering the low temperatures in December, it is advisable to alternate outdoor walks with indoor visits by entering some of the main points of interest:

• The Church of Santa Marta
• The Church of Santo Stefano
• The Sanctuary of the Madonna della Pace
• The Church of San Carlo

Although the cold temperatures may prevent you from enjoying some of the activities on offer on the lake, such as kayaking or boating, you can't end your holiday without at least taking a boat trip on Lago di Como.

This is a must if you decide to travel to this destination, and during the winter there are boats that are better conditioned for the cold and have heating, so you don't have to worry about the freezing winter air spoiling your pleasant trip.

From the boat you can enjoy the beautiful views of the villages in the distance and you will also have the opportunity to see the luxurious lakeside villas, which is a good alternative if they are closed to the public for the season.

If you travel to Lago di Como during the winter you can expect the weather to be cold. Although northern Italy reaches quite low temperatures during these months, the humidity caused by the lake and the proximity to the Alps can make both the temperature and wind chill colder in this area.

On average, the minimum temperature in Lago di Como during December is around -2°C, while the maximum temperature is around 7°C. As for rainfall, it is not very frequent at this time of year, with an average of 6 days of rain in December. However, being in a mountainous area, it is not unusual to see snow on some days during the winter.

With all of the above in mind, it is possible to enjoy a trip to Lago di Como during the month of December as long as you are properly equipped for the cold. However, there are some activities that are only possible during the warmer months.

December is part of the low season in Lago di Como, which starts in November and lasts until March. Consequently, if you travel during this time you can expect a much smaller number of visitors compared to spring or summer, although there may be a small spike during the Christmas season.

Also, if you decide to visit Lago di Como during December, you will have the advantage of being able to find flights and accommodation at much cheaper prices than in the busier months. However, many of the restaurants, hotels, shops and attractions are closed during the low season so you will need to take this into account when planning your trip.