Weather in Lake Garda in March

How March compares

March is the 8th warmest month of the year in Lake Garda and ranks 117th of 134 destinations we compare for March - see where else is hot in March. Within Italy it is 13th of 16 (Italy in March). Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, Lake Garda is 2.8°C warmer by day and 0.5°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in March

The typical March day in Lake Garda peaks at 13.3°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 17.9°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 3.8°C; one night in ten drops to 0.3°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day here reached 23.3°C (2012-03-30) and the coldest night -5.5°C (2005-03-05).

Rain in March

Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 9 days with 1 mm or more, 64 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 2001 with 175 mm, the driest 2003 with 9 mm. Humidity averages 74%.

Sunshine and daylight

Around 5.5 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.6 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:30 and sets about 18:23 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 52%.

Is March a good time to visit Lake Garda?

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

Comfortable in layers, cold after dark

The main catch is the gap between a mild afternoon and a cold evening. A jumper and jacket give you more flexibility than packing for spring sunshine alone, and a warm outer layer makes sense if you plan to stay out after dark. The warmest 10% of days reach 17.9°C or more, so pleasantly mild spells are possible, but they are not the baseline. At the other end, the coldest 10% of nights fall to 0.3°C or below. Keep outdoor plans focused on the warmer part of the day, and do not assume that a comfortable lunch outside means an equally comfortable evening.

Allow room for rain in your plans

March suits travellers who can move outdoor plans around rather than depend on dry weather throughout their stay. About 9 rainy days makes a waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet ground sensible packing choices. There is still useful time outdoors: average sunshine is about 5.5 hours within 11.6 hours of daylight. That leaves scope for enjoying brighter spells without treating every day as a washout, though sunshine is not guaranteed to arrive when you want it. Keep some flexibility for wet periods and check the forecast before committing to a long stretch outside. The appeal here is a cool spring break, not reliable sun.