Riva del Garda
Northern tip
Cliff paths, a moated castle and the clearest swimming on the lake, where the Alps meet the water
Lake Garda weather · November
Lake Garda Weather in November
November is the wettest and quietest month at Lake Garda: 12 °C days, the boats and parks closed, and Christmas markets opening from mid-month.
November is the month the lake takes off. It is worth knowing exactly what shuts and when, because the first day of the month and the second are very different.
Is November a good time to visit Lake Garda?
For most visitors, no. November has the highest rainfall of the year (about 85 mm over eight or nine days), the least sunshine alongside December, and highs of 12.4 °C.
After 1 November 2026 the passenger ferries stop, Gardaland closes until 5 December and the Monte Baldo cable car shuts for maintenance. Campsites close in the first days of the month. The brighter spots come later: Christmas markets open in Riva del Garda and Arco from 13 November. We rate it 1 out of 5.
What's open in November
- Limited Ferries — Passenger boats run on 1 November only. From 2 November 2026 just the Torri del Benaco–Maderno car ferry operates.
- Closed Gardaland — Last day 1 November 2026, then closed until Magic Winter starts on 5 December. The SEA LIFE aquarium next door opens at weekends.
- Closed Monte Baldo cable car — Maintenance closure from 2 November to 25 December 2026.
- Closed Lidos and beach clubs — Beaches are public all year. Staffed lidos and beach bars are seasonal businesses with no shared calendar; shut for the winter.
- Closed Campsites — Bella Italia lists 1 November and La Rocca 3 November as the last day of the season.
Events in November
-
Garda Trentino Half Marathon
Half marathon starting from the Palafiere in Riva del Garda, with a 10 km race the same morning and children’s races in Arco the day before.
-
Di Gusto in Gusto Christmas food market
Riva’s food market opens for the season with stalls of Trentino specialities. It runs to 6 January.
-
Arco Christmas market
About 40 wooden huts in the centre of Arco, running to 6 January 2027.
What to pack
- A waterproof coat and waterproof shoes
- Warm layers and a scarf
- An umbrella
- A book: this is a slow month
- Running kit if you are here for the half marathon
Where to base yourself in November
Riva and Arco are the only places with much going on, between the half marathon and the Christmas markets. Desenzano keeps its shops and restaurants open and has the railway for days out in Verona or Brescia.
What November feels like
Grey more often than not. The sun averages under five hours a day and rain falls on eight or nine days, sometimes for a full day at a time. Temperatures slide through the month from the mid-teens to single figures.
It is not all gloom. Between weather systems you get still, clear days when the lake is flat and the first snow shows on the peaks. The water, still close to 15 °C in the readings we use, keeps the shore milder at night than the plain.
What is still worth doing
Come for the towns, the food and a hotel with a spa, and use the lake as a base for the cities. Verona and Brescia are both on the railway that serves the south shore; our trains guide has the routes.
From the 13th, Riva and Arco switch to Christmas. If that is your reason to come, you will get more from December, when Gardaland and the cable car reopen too. Our events page lists what is on.
Good to know
Is November a bad time to visit Lake Garda?
For a typical lake holiday, yes. It is the wettest month, and ferries, Gardaland, the cable car and campsites are all closed after the first days. It suits a quiet city-and-spa break.
How much does it rain at Lake Garda in November?
About 85 mm over 8.4 days on the 1991–2020 averages, the highest monthly total of the year.
Do the ferries run in November?
Passenger boats stop after 1 November 2026. From 2 November until 12 March 2027 only the car ferry between Torri del Benaco and Maderno runs. See the ferry timetables page.
Is Gardaland open in November?
Only on 1 November. It then closes until the Christmas season begins on 5 December 2026. Our Gardaland guide covers the winter opening.
When do the Christmas markets start at Lake Garda?
In 2026 the markets in Riva del Garda and Arco open on 13 November and run to 6 January. Other towns start later, from late November or early December.