Destination guide
Lake Garda weather by month
June to August is the best time for warm-weather holidays at Lake Garda, with daytime averages rising from 26°C to 28°C. September is a good alternative if you prefer gentler warmth, averaging 23°C. The catch is that summer is not reliably dry, so keep some flexibility in your plans. Spring suits travellers happy to wear layers, while winter is better for cool-weather days out than sitting outside for long stretches.
- Hottest month
- 27.9°CJuly
- Coolest month
- 7.1°CJanuary
- Rain per year
- 1014mmaverage total
- Flight from London
- 2h/dayShort-haul (up to 4.5 h) · estimated
Lake Garda, month by month
A little perspective
Lake Garda through the year
Every month at a glance; "best" marks our three top months on warmth, dryness and sunshine.
| Month | Day | Night | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.1°C | 1.0°C | 3.9 | 51 | 7 | 0% |
| February | 9.0°C | 1.4°C | 4.7 | 55 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 13.3°C | 3.8°C | 5.5 | 64 | 9 | 0% |
| April | 17.0°C | 7.4°C | 5.8 | 87 | 12 | 1% |
| May | 21.4°C | 12.0°C | 6.4 | 101 | 13 | 15% |
| Junebest | 25.5°C | 16.6°C | 7.8 | 91 | 12 | 55% |
| Julybest | 27.9°C | 19.5°C | 8.8 | 79 | 10 | 83% |
| Augustbest | 27.7°C | 20.0°C | 8.0 | 92 | 11 | 80% |
| September | 22.7°C | 16.2°C | 6.3 | 103 | 11 | 24% |
| October | 17.5°C | 11.6°C | 4.2 | 109 | 11 | 1% |
| November | 11.9°C | 6.7°C | 3.3 | 113 | 11 | 0% |
| December | 7.6°C | 2.4°C | 3.6 | 69 | 8 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
When to go to Lake Garda
For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: June, July, August. November is the wettest month (113 mm, about 11 rainy days) and January the driest (51 mm).
Getting there
A direct flight from London Gatwick to Verona Villafranca Valerio Catullo Airport (VRN, 29 km from Desenzano del Garda) takes roughly 2 h - short-haul (up to 4.5 h) by UK standards. Time-zone: Europe/Rome.
Records and extremes, 1991-2020
The hottest day recorded in Lake Garda between 1991 and 2020 reached 37.7°C on 5 August 2017; the coldest fell to -8.7°C on 15 February 1991. In July one day in ten tops 31.8°C and about 25% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to -1.8°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was November 2019 with 286 mm, against a November average of 113 mm.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Lake Garda
Local time on the 15th of each month; daylight-saving rules as of 2020.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sunshine/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:55 | 16:59 | 9.1 h | 3.9 h |
| February | 07:21 | 17:43 | 10.4 h | 4.7 h |
| March | 06:30 | 18:23 | 11.9 h | 5.5 h |
| April | 06:32 | 20:03 | 13.5 h | 5.8 h |
| May | 05:47 | 20:41 | 14.9 h | 6.4 h |
| June | 05:29 | 21:08 | 15.7 h | 7.8 h |
| July | 05:44 | 21:04 | 15.3 h | 8.8 h |
| August | 06:19 | 20:26 | 14.1 h | 8.0 h |
| September | 06:56 | 19:30 | 12.6 h | 6.3 h |
| October | 07:34 | 18:33 | 11.0 h | 4.2 h |
| November | 07:17 | 16:48 | 9.5 h | 3.3 h |
| December | 07:51 | 16:35 | 8.7 h | 3.6 h |
Winter into spring: cold evenings, then milder days
December, January and February call for a proper coat rather than a light holiday wardrobe. Daytime averages move from 8°C in December to 7°C in January and 9°C in February, with nights close to freezing. January is the driest month, but that does not make it a warm outdoor choice. March brings a useful lift to 13°C, though evenings still need warm layers. April reaches 17°C and May 21°C, making spring progressively more comfortable for walking and spending time outside. Rain is the trade-off: April averages 12 rain days and May 13, so a waterproof belongs in your bag. May offers the strongest warmth of spring, but its 12°C nights mean you should not pack as though summer has fully arrived.
Summer: the strongest choice for warmth and sunshine
June brings summer warmth without quite reaching the heat of July and August: days average 26°C and nights 17°C. July and August both average 28°C by day and 20°C at night, so they suit travellers who want warm evenings as well as hot afternoons. Plan more active outings for the morning if midday heat bothers you, and pack light clothing alongside sun protection. July has the most sunshine, averaging 9 hours daily, compared with 8 in June and August. The catch is rain: even July averages 10 rain days, while June has 12 and August 11. A light waterproof and flexible outdoor plans still make sense.
Autumn: September warmth gives way to cooler, darker days
September is the autumn choice for lingering warmth, with average days of 23°C and nights of 16°C. It suits travellers who find peak-summer afternoons too hot but still want comfortable outdoor time. October steps down to 18°C by day and 12°C at night, so layers become more useful, especially when sitting outside. Sunshine also falls from 6 hours in September to 4 in October. November feels much cooler at 12°C by day, with just 3 hours of sunshine. Although these months each average 10 rain days, November is the wettest month overall. Choose it only if cool conditions and wet-weather flexibility fit your holiday plans.
A little more detail
Lake Garda weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
What is the best time to visit Lake Garda?
Judged on warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, the best months in Lake Garda are July, August and June. July is the hottest month (average high 27.9°C) and January the coolest (7.1°C).
How many months a year is Lake Garda over 25°C?
3 months in Lake Garda average a daytime high of 25°C or more, and 5 average 20°C or more.
When is the rainy season in Lake Garda?
November is the wettest month in Lake Garda (113 mm on average) and January the driest (51 mm). Annual rainfall averages 1014 mm.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in Lake Garda?
The hottest day recorded in Lake Garda between 1991 and 2020 reached 37.7°C on 5 August 2017; the coldest fell to -8.7°C on 15 February 1991. Records come from daily data for 1991-2020, not from a single station's all-time history.
When is best for walking without summer heat?
May and September offer a useful balance, with daytime averages of 21°C and 23°C respectively. September has fewer rain days on average, at 10 compared with May's 13, and warmer evenings. Both suit outdoor plans with a waterproof kept handy.
Will I need a jacket in the evenings?
Outside high summer, bringing a layer is sensible. June nights average 17°C and September 16°C, while May and October average 12°C. July and August have the warmest nights at 20°C, making them the easiest months for packing light evening clothing.
Is Lake Garda dry in summer?
No - summer warmth comes with regular chances of rain. June averages 12 rain days, July 10 and August 11. July offers the best summer combination of sunshine and fewer rain days, but it still makes sense to leave room for changes to outdoor plans.
See also: Italy weather by month · where else is hot in July
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Desenzano del Garda (Desenzano del Garda (south shore)). Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C