I am planning a unexpected trip to Lake Como and wonder if anyone can advise what the weather is like in late September and is everywhere closed or closing. I do have the choice to go in May next year but am impatient.

Thanks.

We have always gone in September, sometime late. Once we had rainy even cold weather and another time we were able to swim in the hotel pool. Take a chance. Not sure you wouldn't run into similar possibilities in May.

Clos<b>ing?</b> well yes, kind of... but clos<b>ed</b>? no. I base this on my single trip there, around September 10-13 in 2000 - - a headwaiter of our hotel's restaurant told us that much of the seasonal help (wait staff, etc) would be leaving &quot;in a week or two&quot; to move on to their &quot;winter jobs&quot; (ski resorts, for example). Presumably a reflection of the normal seasonal dwindling of how many people go there.

This was in Menaggio, which always has less tourist trade than Bellagio itself. I think you will find plenty open, and for all I know, some merchandise might start to end up as &quot;end of season&quot; sales.

Late September weather will surely be cooler and crisper, particularly in the evenings and early mornings, than earlier in the summer, of course. But part of the appeal of Como is a paradise-y tropical oasis-like climate that is enjoyed 9 or 10 months of the year. It has to do with how the &quot;basin&quot; is a warm air &quot;reservoir&quot; (I think) that makes it milder than other areas equally far north or at similar elevations. I think it will probably be fairly similar to May, except for the natural spring &quot;bloomi-ness&quot; and greenness that comes in the spring.

How about going there BOTH times!?

Best wishes,

Rex

We were in Bellagio is early October and everything was open and the weather was great...in the 60s!
Sure, there's always a chance of rain, but the odds of you encountering good weather are favorable.

It's a great time to go, don't worry about weather at all. Maybe a few things are closed, but it won't detract from the area at all. I went two years ago at about that time, and it was sunny, maybe over cast and a light shower once. Temps where nothing but a light jacket would be needed for the coldest day. I happen to like those conditions alot.

Ditto. Great time to go. We had mild weahter all four days late last September. We stayed at the Hotel Florence, had outdoor lunches, took numerous trips across /around the lake to neighboring villages. Hotel Florence was great. It and many others were scheduled to close early in October but were in full swing right up until then.

I really would like to thank you all for your excellent replies to my question. The suggestion from Rex to go in May and September is the one I like best.

The hotels that do close after &quot;the season&quot; is over seem to do so in very late October or early November.