Are you wondering what to wear in Lake Como? In this guide we will tell you what to pack for Lake Como for Winter, Summer, Spring and Fall with alongside some amazing Lake Como outfit inspiration.
Important Note: This post may contain affiliate links which means if you click through and make a purchase I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you!
But before we get onto the specifics of what to wear in Lake Como along with some outfit inspiration we thought it would be worthwhile to talk about exactly what and where Lake Como is, and how the seasons will affect your Lake Como Packing List.
Where is Lake Como?
Lake Como, or Lago di Como as it is called in Italian is situated in the foothills of the stunning Italian Alps. It is one of the five major lakes that make up the Italian Lakes region along with Lake Maggiore, Lugano, Iseo and Lake Garda.
Lake Como is just an hour away from the Italian city of Milan and is also very close to the Swiss border.
As such Lake Como experiences all four seasons and a range of weather so you really need to pack carefully for the season you are traveling to.
Lake Como Dress Code
As with many places in Italy, Lake Como doesn’t really have a dress code per se. However Lake Como is renowned for its luxury lifestyle and celebrities so you can expect to see a lot of stylish people.
The only real place in Lake Como that has a strict code is of course in the churches of Lake Como. All Italian churches have strict dress codes so be sure to read up on what to wear here if you plan to visit a church while in Lake Como.
Also you will notice that when out for dinner in Italy generally but specifically in Lake Como people will stick to smart casual dress codes. I would therefore have nice blouses and maxi dresses at the ready for going out to dinner in Lake Como for the summer.
It is also worth noting that Lake Como is a tourist destination which does have a peak and off-peak season. As such peak season will run from April to October and if you visit Lake Como in Winter you will find there to be far fewer tourists.
However we will cover all the seasons in this guide to help you know what to wear no matter what time of year you visit.
What to Wear in Lake Como in Summer (June, July and August)
Chances are if you are looking to visit Lake Como wondering what to wear is that you will be visiting during the Summer Months. This is characterised as June, July and August, although peak tourist season runs longer than this.
During the Summer in Lake Como you can expect lots of sunny days and with 8 days of rain. In terms of temperatures, in the summer you can expect July to be hottest month with temperatures being
an average high of 26C/79F and average low of 18/64C.
The coldest summer month is June with an average high of 23C/73F and average low of 16C/61F. It is also the rainiest of the summer months with 10 days on average.
With this in mind we recommend putting the below on your Lake Como Summer packing list:
Maxi Dresses
One of our favorite things to wear on the Italian Lakes are Maxi Dresses. Loose and flowing clothes are better for Lake Como in Summer as they will keep you cooler. They are also great for wearing down on the lake and out for dinner.
Maxi Skirts
Maxi Skirts are also great for pairing with T shirts, blouses and Tank tops in Lake Como. Just be sure you have one item that covers your knees (i.e. nothing with a slit) for wearing if you decide to visit a church.
Tank Tops and T Shirts
These are perfect for out exploring Lake Como and can be paired with skirts or shorts.
Trousers and Blouse
Trousers and blouses are a great alternative to maxi dresses for exploring towns and having dinner as they are a great day to night transition outfit.
Linen trousers are popular with the locals and are good in the hot weather however you will want to check out our tips for packing linen if you do decide to bring these with you.
Shorts
Although we don’t tend to recommend wearing shorts in the cities in Italy, they are perfectly acceptable on the beaches and around the towns of the Italian Lakes.
Pashmina
I never travel anywhere in Italy without a pashmina. It is great in the evenings in case you get chilly dining al fresco and can also be used to make an outfit more modest for visiting churches in Italy.
Although churches won’t be the primary activity you do in Lake Como, I am sure you will head into one so having at least one church outfit is a good idea.
Swimwear
If you are visiting Lake Como in Summer chances are you will be spending time on the lake or on a boat or even hanging around the pool at your accomodation. Therefore you will want to have some stylish swimwear with you.
As there are no dress codes on the Italian Lakes so you can choose whatever swimwear you feel most comfortable in whether that be one pieces or bikinis.
I would recommend packing at least two swimwear pieces so one can be drying while you are wearing the other for this time during.
Sun Hats
Sun hats are a staple on any Italian Lakes packing list. Be sure to pick a wide brimmed straw hat instead of a baseball cap to for more in with the locals.
Underwear
Goes without saying
PJs
We recommend packing lightweight PJs as not everywhere on Lake Como will have Air conditioning. You may want to check out whether or not your accommodation has air conditioning before booking.
Note: If you want to know what to wear in Lake Como for men I recommend packing a mixture of chinos and linen trousers and some smarter shorts alongside plain t shirts and polos and short sleeve shirts for summer.
And if you are visiting other areas of Italy in Summer be sure to check out our other Italian Summer packing Lists:
- what to wear to Venice in Summer
- What to wear to Cinque Terre in Summer
- What to wear to Rome in August
- What to wear to Rome in July
- What to wear to Italy in August
- What to wear to Italy in July
What to Wear in Lake Como in Winter (December, January and February)
Lake Como can be cold in Winter. The coldest winter month tends to be January with average high and low temperatures of 8C/46F and 2C/35F respectively.
But what is surprising about visiting Lake Como in Winter i.e. December, January and February is that this is the driest time of year to visit with only around 5 days of wet weather on average in each month.
And while there is seldom any heavy snowfall in the towns on Como itself you will be able to see beautiful snow-capped mountains from Como in Winter.
And on top of that, if you do decide to visit Lake Como in Winter you will be rewarded with fewer crowds and cheaper accommodation.
So knowing that what should you put on your Como Winter Packing List? Well we recommend packing:
Jacket, waterproof
You will definitely want a warm jacket for Lake Como in Winter . Warmth is the most important factor for a coat at this time of year, as it doesn’t tend to be rainy in the Winter in Como.
Cardigans, Sweaters and Top Layers
We recommend packing a few different types of top layers with you for instance a combination of cardigans, sweaters and hoodies of different weights so you have enough variety in case of a very cold snap.
Long Sleeve Tops
It is unlikely you will be wearing short sleeve t shirts on Lake Como in Winter so we recommend packing a variety of long sleeve tops and blouses with you including some smarter ones for dinners.
Jeans
Although linen trousers are perfect for Lake Como in Summer and the shoulder seasons, they are simply too lightweight in Winter. We recommend going with heavier weight trousers in Winter. We tend to recommend packing jeans for Lake Como in Winter.
Pashmina
I never go to Italy without one.
Underwear
Goes without saying
Pjs
A slightly heavier weight pair are better in Winter.
What to Wear to Lake Como in Spring (March, April, May)
Depending on what time you are visiting Lake Como in Spring will depend on the range of temperatures you will experience.
For instance in March you can expect average temperature of 10°C (50°F) which slowly climbs to 17°C (62°F) in May.
As the temperatures climb you will also find that so do the tourist numbers. So what should you bring to Lake Como for Spring?
Cardigan
Evenings on Lake Como in Spring can be cold so be sure to add a cardigan or two to pair to your dress and trousers outfits.
Sweater
This is great for exploring in March and Early April in Lake Como.
T Shirts / Blouses
T Shirts and blouses are great for Lake Como in spring. The earlier in the year you travel the more longer sleeve tops you should bring with you.
Jeans / Trousers
Jeans are a great Spring packing list pick especially for the earlier months. As Spring moves more towards Summer some more lightweight trousers are a good pick.
Jacket
This is definitely needed if you are visiting Lake Como in Spring. And for Spring evenings we recommend bringing a blazer for evenings.
What to Wear to Lake Como in Fall (September, October and November)
What to wear to the Como in Fall is very similar to what to wear in Lake Como in Summer.
In particular, if you are visiting Como in September you can pretty much select the same outfits as you would in August.
However the later in Fall you visit the cooler it becomes and peak season tends to end in mid–October.
If you are visiting in late October and November you probably wont be needing lots of swimwear as it will be too cold to get in the water everyday.
Also you will want cardigans and sweaters on your packing list, and in November you may even need a jacket.
Best Shoes for Lake Como
Sneakers
Sneakers are perfect for Lake Como no matter the season you visit.
Sandals
Sandals are perfect for the beach and dinner in summer and shoulder seasons. However if you are there in Winter boots are more appropriate.
Boots
Boots that have a good sole are perfect for those traveling in Winter instead of Sandals.
Flip Flops
Flip flops aren’t great for wondering around Como but are ok if you plan to spend time around a pool during your trip.
What Else to add to your Lake Como Packing List
- Sunscreen
- Aftersun cream
- Phone / Camera
- Charger
- Sunglasses
- Reusable Water bottle
- Toiletries
- Backpack
FAQs About what to wear on the Italian Lakes
What to wear to go hiking in Lake Como?
There are some great hikes near Lake Como. If you want to hike in this area we recommend hiking boots for the Winter and shoulder seasons and hiking sandals for summer along with zippable hiking trousers and t shirt and fleece.
What to wear to dinner in Lake Como?
Dinner in Lake Como doesn’t have a special dress code unless you go to a restaurant that stipulates one. We recommend Maxi Dresses and pashminas and blouses and linen trousers for summer and in winter a pair of smart trousers, blouse and a blazer.
Have you been to the Lake Como? What did you wear? We would love to hear in the comments below!