Weather in Lake Garda in January

How January compares

January is the 12th warmest month of the year in Lake Garda and ranks 126th of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within Italy it is 15th of 16 (Italy in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Lake Garda is 0.3°C cooler by day and 1.2°C cooler at night.

Daytime and night-time in January

The typical January day in Lake Garda peaks at 7.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 10.3°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 1.0°C; one night in ten drops to -1.8°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day here reached 15.8°C (2007-01-19) and the coldest night -5.3°C (2017-01-07).

Rain in January

Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 7 days with 1 mm or more, 51 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2014 with 196 mm, the driest 1993 with 4 mm. Humidity averages 81%.

Sunshine and daylight

Around 3.9 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 8.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:55 and sets about 16:59 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 56%.

Is January a good time to visit Lake Garda?

January is not the strongest month here: cool days. The best months for Lake Garda on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug.

Pack for cold days and freezing nights

Treat this as a winter trip, not a mild Italian getaway. A warm coat, layers, gloves and closed, comfortable shoes make more sense than relying on a light jacket. The warmest 10% of days reach 10.3°C or more, which may make an afternoon outdoors more comfortable, but that is not dependable warmth. At the other end, the coldest 10% of nights fall to -1.8°C or below, so keep warm layers handy for evenings. If sitting outside comfortably is central to your holiday, January is a poor fit. It works better when you are content to alternate outdoor time with breaks indoors.

Make the most of the limited daylight

Rain is a consideration rather than a reason to rule January out: there are about 7 rainy days during the month. Take a waterproof outer layer and leave room to change outdoor plans when the forecast looks wet. The tighter limit is daylight, with just 8.9 hours available and sunshine for only part of that time. Put longer walks around the middle of the day, when temperatures are likely to be more comfortable, rather than leaving them until late afternoon. This is a better choice for an unhurried winter visit than for filling each day with outdoor activities from morning into evening.