10 Things to Do in Lake Como in December

At the foot of the imposing Rhaetian Alps and just 1 hour from Milan is the beautiful Lago di Como, which, shaped like an inverted "Y", is surrounded by some of the most charming villages in northern Italy. Exclusive dream villas, picturesque houses hanging over 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, in this extraordinary destination you will find things to see and do at any time of the year. In addition, if you decide to make your trip during the month of December you can enjoy a quieter atmosphere and cheaper prices for accommodation.

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 on the crystal clear waters, create a picture postcard image. However, if there is a time when the beauty of this place stands out more than ever, it is in winter, when the snow covers the top of these mountains creating a breathtaking winter landscape.

To enjoy this beautiful picture there are numerous points and viewpoints, but certainly 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 located in the so-called Larian Triangle, right where the two branches of the lake branch off.

Bellagio is known for its beautiful pastel-colored houses, its historic center with narrow, steep streets and for hosting 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 around 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, as well as the city of Como, whose streets are decked out in honor of the holidays. Although all the towns in the area are plagued with glittering decorative lights, in Como you can 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 holidays tourism is slightly up, and in this area of Lombardy you can find plenty of activities to do during Christmas, such as strolling under the colorful festive lights, go to see the shop windows specially decorated for the occasion or try some of the Christmas gastronomic specialties.

Also, if you're 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 this time of year invite you to stay indoors to combat the cold. Therefore, a good option to dedicate one of your travel days would be to visit 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, besides 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 center that is well worth exploring. Some of the main attractions of the city are 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 that runs alongside the lake, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view. In addition, if it is open to the public during the dates of your trip, another visit of great interest is the The "Palazzo dell'Oro", a majestic 13th century palace located on the shore of Lago di Como.

You can also find a wide range of cafes and restaurants where you can take a break and have a hot meal. A fantastic option to get to know the city better would be to book a guided tour of Como.

If there is one thing that characterizes 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, Como and Lecco.

However, if you want to know in depth the cuisine of the area, I recommend you to 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.

Some of the most typical winter dishes of northern Italy are polenta and Cassoeula. Polenta is a dish that you can easily find in restaurants in the area and consists of corn grits that are usually served with butter and local cheese, although there are many variations. As for Cassoeula, it is a kind of stew without legumes, 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, thanks to which you can enjoy greater comfort when visiting, and the second is that in Lecco you will not lack restaurants, stores and monuments where you can take shelter from the low temperatures

Lecco is guarded by the imposing Monte Resegone, which can be seen from many parts of the city, especially the beautiful Piazza XX di Settembre. In addition, Lecco's historic center is full of picturesque alleys and lively squares for a pleasant stroll.

Some of the main attractions of Lecco are the Basilica di San Nicolò, which is free of charge and stands out especially for its stylistic mix, the Palazzo Belgiojoso, the Palazzo delle Paure and the Villa Manzoni, residence of the Manzoni family for two centuries.

If you decide to include Lecco in your travel itinerary, I recommend that you check out the 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 activities 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, since you can take shelter from the cold while enjoying the local delicacies. The winery in question is located in the small fishing village of Domaso, has its origins in 2008 and is just over an hour from Como.

During the tour you will learn the stages of fermentation and production of this beverage and to culminate the visit, you will have the opportunity to taste several wines of different kinds accompanied with local snacks such as cheeses, jams and homemade bread.

If you decide to make your trip during the month of December you will find many advantages, but also some disadvantages. The low tourist influx at this time will make it much more comfortable to visit the main places of interest, unfortunately, some may be closed during this season, as is the case with some of the famous villas of Lago di Como.

However, December is perfect to visit the historic center 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 touring its picturesque historic center, 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, be sure to stroll along the famous Walk of Lovers, a path over the water that connects the dock of Varenna with the old town and from which you will have spectacular views of the lake.

Weather permitting, an ideal option to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the snowy 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 sky is 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 leaves from Piazza Como and runs from the Piazza Como-Brunate. The Piazza Bonacossa, which departs from Piazza Alcide de Gasperi in Como and ends the route in Piazza Bonacossa in Brunate.

During the trip, you will travel in a carriage that maintains a liberty aesthetic that will make you feel like you are traveling back in time. In addition, it has panoramic windows and heating, so you can enjoy the scenery or even take some pictures while traveling comfortably and without worrying about the cold.

The streetcar departs every 15-30 minutes, depending on the time of day and the trip lasts about 7 minutes. The average price of a one-way ticket is about €3.30 and a round-trip ticket is about €6.10.

Along with Bellagio and Varena is one of the most visited towns of Lago di Como, and its historic center has an impressive artistic heritage, as well as a large number of stores selling local products 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 cafes where you can stop to warm up with a good cup of coffee.

The center of Menaggio consists of an upper area in medieval style and a lower area with a beautiful promenade along the lake. It also consists of three adjacent burghs or villages: 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 low temperatures may prevent you from enjoying some of the activities offered on the lake, such as kayaking or taking a boat ride, you can not end your vacation without at least sailing on a boat on Lago di Como.

This activity is a must if you decide to travel to this destination, in addition, during the winter there are boats better conditioned for the cold that have heating, so you will not have to worry about the cold winter air spoil the pleasant ride.

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 villas on the shore of the lake, which is a good alternative in case they are closed to the public due to the season.

If you travel to Lago di Como during the winter it is to be expected that the weather will 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 ºC while the maximum temperatures are around 7 ºC. As for rainfall, it is not very frequent at this time of the 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.

Taking all the above into account, it is possible to say that 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, you should keep in mind that there are some activities that can only be done 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 make your trip during these dates you can enjoy a much lower tourist influx compared to spring or summer, although there may be a small upturn during the Christmas season.

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