Lake Como

Why Visit?

Lake Como is a beautiful lake in the Italian Alps about 50 km North of Milano. Immerse yourself in the untouched beauty of nature, captivated by the extraordinary charm of quaint villages inspired by this remarkable land’s rich culture and traditions, and embark on thrilling outdoor adventures. Lake Como has been a beloved romantic destination for renowned poets such as Stendhal and Mark Twain and a residence for numerous celebrities, including Madonna, George Clooney, Gianni Versace, Ronaldinho, and Sylvester Stallone.

Lake Como, also known as Lario, is the third largest among the Italian lakes (after Garda Lake and Maggiore Lake) and boasts one of Europe’s greatest depths with a maximum depth of approximately 410 meters. Its distinctive shape, resembling an inverted Y, was shaped through centuries by the melting glaciers. For avid hikers, Lake Como features an abundance of natural trails. Surrounded by rolling hills and soaring mountains, it provides ample opportunities for hiking and trekking adventures catering to different difficulty levels. You may stumble upon charming refuges or rustic inns where you can savour delectable traditional cuisine.

Lake Como’s special conditions make it a paradise for water sports enthusiasts, from sailing and windsurfing to kitesurfing! Lake Como’s microclimate weather system assures a nearly daily wind during the summer months.

Kiteboarding on Lake Como

When visiting Lake Como, rest assured that there will always be something exciting to captivate your senses!

Wind and Weather

The windy months to go kitesurfing in Lake Como are April, May, June, July, August, September, and October.

The weather in Lake Como is very similar to the Mediterranean climate, but its alpine location and proximity to the lake possess a unique microclimate. This unusual weather system fosters diverse trees, including palm trees, which one wouldn’t expect to find in a mountainous area.

Lake Como session

In the summer, the weather is excellent even for kitesurfing, just in a short wetsuit, yet from May until mid-July, and in September, we recommend wearing a long wetsuit for comfort. The water temperatures can reach an average of 24 °C during July and August.

Lake Como provides an ideal kiting experience thanks to the consistent thermal winds that create excellent conditions from April to October. The lake experiences four significant winds!

• Breva: Blowing from the south, this thermal wind is the prevailing wind regime on Lake Como when it is sunny. The thermal wind usually starts mid-day at the city of Dervio and Cremia level, where the lake has a narrow part, creating a bottleneck. (producing a venturi effect). The stretch of this wind ranges from about 12 to 22 knots, making it the perfect wind for kitesurfing or learning kitesurfing.
• Tivano: occasionally blows when the Foehn pressure and Swiss weather conditions support it, usually from 6-12 am from the Northeast; this thermal Advanced kiters may find this wind favourable for early morning sessions as it usually reaches a strength of about 15-25 knots.
• Ricadutta: “the falling pressure” originating from the North. This wind often occurs after a thunderstorm in the mountains or above the lake. This wind can bring gusts of up to 25-30 Knots. It is not recommended for inexperienced kitesurfers without supervision. This wind lasts mostly not more than 3-4 hours.

Forecasting the wind: We recommend relying on something other than Windguru or Windfinder, as they are entirely inaccurate for Lake Como and do not predict thermal winds. These platforms base their forecasts on larger-scale pressure systems and do not account for the smaller-scale thermal regimes or the influence of local topography in accelerating the wind. The strength of the thermal wind is well predictable with the right tools.

• MeteoSwiss app or webpage that extends its visual predictions outside of Switzerland, so even Lake Como and Lake Garda are visible.
• Using Foehn charts is also a way of predicting the thermal wind – if the chart is rising, there is a high likelihood of a decent thermal wind for the day. Finally, wind stations around the Lake are where the actual wind is told. All this combined can be found on the http://www.comowind.org webpage.

What Do Kitesurf Lessons Look Like on Lake Como?

The kitesurfing schools on Lake Como begin their lessons directly on the water by launching the kites from a boat in the middle of the lake. The thermal wind (Breva) is ideal for beginners and is typically strongest at Dervio and Cremia due to the venturi effect caused by the narrowing of the lake.

Teaching from a boat ensures maximal safety and an endless playground for the kitesurfing students on Lake Como. They first practice body dragging, board recovery, and finally, water starts, riding, and tricks with the help of the instructor. The best thing in a kitesurf lesson from a boat is that the walking-upwind-on-the-beach – part is completely missing. The boat lessons on Lake Como allow the student to have a 10 km downwind area and endless practice space.
From the many kite school options, we recommend the top-rated Epic Gust kitecoaching. They offer semi-private and private lessons, even wingfoil lessons, with radio assistance to provide the highest quality instruction. This approach allows the student to fly a kite uninterrupted during the session; hence, kitesurfing students on Lake Como can reach riding level on the first day. After the session, enjoy the evening at the Kite Bar with fellow kiters!

Visit the Best Cities of Lake Como

Exploring the beautiful Lake Como is a delight, especially with the convenience of public and boat transport options. Discover picturesque ports in each enchanting town and village. Additionally, you can easily reach every village via well-connected train stations, including the vibrant city of Milan. We highly recommend visiting Menaggio, Varenna, and Bellagio on a less windy day or before or after a kite session. These cities are south of the windy zone and are connected by ferry several times a day from the north of the lake to the south.

Food and Drink

Although Larian cuisine is prominent by the lake, plenty of delightful mountain flavours or hillside delicacies exist. They uphold the true essence of tradition. You will come across plenty of charming ‘trattorie’ and restaurants and numerous agriturismos where you can taste everything from the best local wines to the homemade pasta or the fish of Lake Como.

Nightlife of Lake Como

The northern part of the Lake, where the wind blows, offers little to no nightlife. Small Clubs in cities like Domaso, Colico, and Dervio can be found, but one does not find big parties here. The social culture revolves around aperitivo, where next to an Aperol Spritz or other locally famous beverages, the bars serve small snacks and sandwiches for free. These afternoon activities can go up until 11-12 pm. Yet after the nightlife will be mostly over.

There’s a more vibrant nightlife in the southern significant towns such as Lecco and Como, which also offer outdoor concerts and festivals during the summer, along with many pubs and clubs. These places are relatively far from the windy zone – 1-2 hours of driving.

Teaching on Lake Como

No Wind Activities

Luckily, Lake Como’s wind system is reliable, offering 5-6 windy days per week during the summer. On non-windy days, boredom is not an option when visiting Lake Como, especially for those who thrive on outdoor adventures! Additionally, Colico boasts a remarkable wakeboard park that caters to water sports enthusiasts regardless of the wind conditions. Moreover, paragliding remains a highly sought-after activity with tandem flying options in the northern region of the lake, offering unparalleled views of the mesmerizing scenery.

In addition, you can also decide to go sightseeing in Milan, and it is optional to explain how many things there are to do in this city!

Internet

Internet connection is always present in every restaurant or hotel. The internet can be slower during the summer months due to higher demand.

Rescue Boat on Lake Como

Accommodation

Accommodation on Lake Como varies from basic and close-to-nature campings to much fancier campings, up to hotels, five-star lakeside, lakeside Airbnb’s, and fabulous villas. In Domaso, various campsites can be found, depending on your needed services.

Many villages are north of the lake, from Dervio up to Colico and on the northwest coast, from Domaso, Dongo, Gera Lario to Cremia. Some of the mountain villages are small, offering excellent relaxation. The bigger towns provide plenty of restaurant and accommodation options. Depending on what you are looking for, you can stay near nature, waterfalls, rivers, or the old towns that give a medieval Italian feeling!

Where are the Best Kitesurfing Beaches in Lake Como?

• Cremia: Cremia is a fantastic beach, but only for experienced riders, as the beach is very narrow. Once you launch the kite, you can safely cruise between the mountains. They have a rescue service as well. Always talk to the locals before going out at this spot. If no one is kiting, there is a reason for that, so it is better to stay on land. Make sure to checlakesidelakesidee restaurants!
• Dervio: The opposite side of Cremia. It works in the south and north wind as well. There are two launching spots here – one is the river bank that works only in the south wind. The other is a platform that works in every wind condition, but this spot is only for advanced riders.
• Dongo: Dongo is great for the south wind, yet it only sometimes blows into this corner of the lake. You can kite out to the’ point’ of the lake, a corner known for its wind acceleration.
• Gera Lario: Spacious launching is perfect on south wind days. It is forbidden in North Wind—this spot in front of a watersport centre that regulates the rules there. Make sure you get familiar with those rules before launching. It has a big grassy area where it is forbidden to start kites! The wind is good between 12-4 pm. After that, the wind turns slightly offshore, making it hard to return to your launching.
• Colico: Colico is on the opposite side of Gera Lario. It’s a famous local spot, probably the easiest to launch kites. The spot is rideable in both wind directions. Make sure you respect the locals and the rules they have. This spot can get very crowded during July and August.
• La Punta: With almost onshore wind, this spot between Gera Lario and Colico offers only the lake's shallow section. Great for wakestyle and for those who are looking for more flat water. Parking is tricky here as camping sites fully occupy the beach. This part is a natural reserve with many birds and other wildlife.

Lake Como

Beautiful Lake Como

What a backdrop!

One to remember!