Lake Como Riding Conditions
Riding in the Lake Como area ...
The best time for cycling in the Lake Como area is from mid-March until the end of October. Temperatures can still be low in early March and late October, especially at higher elevations. During these periods, it’s always best to have both fall and spring cycling gear, such as gloves, a windbreaker or vest “gilet,” especially if you’ll be riding any long descents. This gear is always available for purchase at our shop!
Weather: Do not use the weather app on your smartphone! We find the most reliable weather site for our area to be 3bmeteo.it, when checked 1-3 days in advance. Forecasts greater than 3 days in advance are unreliable given our location. Luckily, in Summer it typically rains in the late afternoon or evening (if it does rain at all!).
For a month-by-month weather breakdown, visit our blog post
Weather: Do not use the weather app on your smartphone! We find the most reliable weather site for our area to be 3bmeteo.it, when checked 1-3 days in advance. Forecasts greater than 3 days in advance are unreliable given our location. Luckily, in Summer it typically rains in the late afternoon or evening (if it does rain at all!).
For a month-by-month weather breakdown, visit our blog post
Bellagio is the ideal place to stay for cycling on Lake Como given its vicinity to the Madonna del Ghisallo and Cycling Museum, and because it offers one of the four main car ferry ports on Lake Como, where bikes are allowed. Take the ferry to the west and east sides of the lake to expand upon your riding possibilities, it only takes 10 minutes to get to a new starting point! The car ferry ticket with a bike is €5.60 per person, one-way.
Find the ferry schedule here: Navigazione Laghi Car Ferry
We recommend the Bellagio-Cadenabbia track on Lake Como’s west side, as it runs most frequently.
Download the ferry schedule app: Navigazione Laghi App
Find the ferry schedule here: Navigazione Laghi Car Ferry
We recommend the Bellagio-Cadenabbia track on Lake Como’s west side, as it runs most frequently.
Download the ferry schedule app: Navigazione Laghi App
MTB Conditions & Info
In Bellagio, and all around Lake Como, there are hundreds of trails that were the ancient passageways used for transportation and communication on Lake Como. The local trails, especially those starting from Bellagio’s town center, are quite difficult, as they are mostly all up or down hills, with very few flat sections. We therefore suggest that you have at least intermediate mountain biking experience before taking on these technical trails. Due to the difficulty and steepness of the tracks, we recommend our E-MTB rentals for an extra boost! For more information and personalized gpx files, stop by our shop to chat! On request, we also offer guided MTB tours.
Road Conditions & Info
The roads around Bellagio and Lake Como are among the most famous in cycling history, not only the Madonna del Ghisallo but also the infamous Muro di Sormano, its feasibility is at the limit of human possibility! All the famous cycling champions have made the climb to Madonna del Ghisallo at least once … now here’s your chance too!
Every week the lakeside and internal valley roads are ridden by thousands and thousands of cyclists, and not just Italian! There are infinite riding possibilities, from the “flat” roads around the lake, the hills in Brianza and Valsassina, and the high mountain roads, where some passes can even take you across the border into Switzerland! Go from a Mediterranean climate to the alpine air in a matter of a few kilometers—this is Lake Como!
Road conditions are typically good and they are well-maintained. However, it is still possible that there could be some rough or gravel sections on some secondary roads.
Lakeside traffic is moderate during the week, but can be quite crowded during the weekends especially near Como city. It’s best to stay on secondary roads or to do some climbs on the weekends to avoid the traffic. Cars are generally respectful around Lake Como and give you the space you need. Motorcycles can go especially fast and are quite noisy on the weekends from May until August, so beware and make sure to always stay in single file and on the right side of the road!
Please contact us or visit us about your ride plan, and we’ll give you advice on what rides to do based on the traffic conditions. At our shop, we offer complimentary GPX files for your rides upon request. We also have Hammerhead Karoo GPS devices available to rent. For riding ideas, check out our routes pages.
Every week the lakeside and internal valley roads are ridden by thousands and thousands of cyclists, and not just Italian! There are infinite riding possibilities, from the “flat” roads around the lake, the hills in Brianza and Valsassina, and the high mountain roads, where some passes can even take you across the border into Switzerland! Go from a Mediterranean climate to the alpine air in a matter of a few kilometers—this is Lake Como!
Road conditions are typically good and they are well-maintained. However, it is still possible that there could be some rough or gravel sections on some secondary roads.
Lakeside traffic is moderate during the week, but can be quite crowded during the weekends especially near Como city. It’s best to stay on secondary roads or to do some climbs on the weekends to avoid the traffic. Cars are generally respectful around Lake Como and give you the space you need. Motorcycles can go especially fast and are quite noisy on the weekends from May until August, so beware and make sure to always stay in single file and on the right side of the road!
Please contact us or visit us about your ride plan, and we’ll give you advice on what rides to do based on the traffic conditions. At our shop, we offer complimentary GPX files for your rides upon request. We also have Hammerhead Karoo GPS devices available to rent. For riding ideas, check out our routes pages.
