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 · December
Lake Garda Weather in December
December at Lake Garda is cold and festive: 8 °C days, Christmas markets in Riva and Arco, Gardaland’s winter opening and very few tourists.
December gives the winter lake a reason to visit. The weather is no better than January’s, but the towns are lit, the markets are open and two of the big attractions come back for the holidays.
Is December a good time to visit Lake Garda?
For a festive weekend, yes; for a classic lake holiday, no. Days average 7.7 °C, nights are around freezing and there are about eight rainy days, with under five hours of sun a day.
What December has is atmosphere. Riva del Garda and Arco run Christmas markets to 6 January, Gardaland opens for Magic Winter from 5 December 2026, and the Monte Baldo cable car starts its winter season on 26 December. There are still no passenger ferries. We rate it 2 out of 5.
What's open in December
- Limited Ferries — Only the Torri del Benaco–Maderno car ferry (to 12 March 2027).
- Limited Gardaland — Magic Winter 2026: 5–8, 12–13, 19–24 and 26–31 December, 10:30am to 6pm. Closed on Christmas Day.
- Limited Monte Baldo cable car — Closed for maintenance until 25 December 2026. Winter season starts on 26 December.
- 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 — The large lakeside sites are closed until late March.
Events in December
-
Di Gusto in Gusto Christmas food market
Food stalls in the centre of Riva, with extra days around 8 December. It stays open into the small hours on New Year’s Eve.
-
Arco Christmas market
About 40 wooden huts with crafts, decorations and Trentino food, plus a children’s area and light installations in the gardens.
-
Gardaland Magic Winter
The park’s Christmas season with lights, decorations and shows.
What to pack
- Winter coat, hat, scarf and gloves
- Warm, waterproof shoes for standing at markets
- Thermal layer for the cable car or Gardaland after dark
- An umbrella
- Something smart if you are booking a New Year’s Eve dinner
Where to base yourself in December
Riva and Arco are neighbouring towns and have the two confirmed markets. Castelnuovo del Garda is the place to stay for Gardaland’s winter days. Bardolino had a lakefront Christmas village with an ice rink last winter and is the liveliest of the east-shore towns in December.
Riva del Garda
Arco
Northern tip
A castle on a rock, Habsburg gardens and Italy's best sport climbing, ten minutes inland from the lake
Castelnuovo del Garda
Southern shore
Gardaland's home town, with quiet beaches, Custoza vineyards and Peschiera and Lazise either side
Bardolino
Eastern shore
Wine cellars, olive groves and the easiest lakefront stroll on the eastern shore
What December feels like
Cold, damp and dark by late afternoon. It rains on more days than in January or February, and the sun is at its weakest. Dress for standing still outdoors, which is what markets involve.
The lake, at about 11 °C, is still giving back some warmth, so hard frost on the shore itself is less common than our inland night-time figure suggests. Snow belongs to the mountains.
Christmas around the lake
The north has the markets with published 2026 dates: Di Gusto in Gusto in Riva del Garda and the Christmas market in Arco, both from 13 November to 6 January. Riva’s opens on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for most of December, then daily from the 23rd.
On the Veneto shore, Bardolino, Lazise and Garda all held lakefront Christmas markets last winter, running into early January. Their 2026 dates were not confirmed when we checked, so look at our events page nearer the time. For families, Gardaland‘s Magic Winter is the main draw.
Good to know
Is Lake Garda worth visiting in December?
For Christmas markets and a quiet, festive weekend, yes. Riva del Garda and Arco are the best bases. For boat trips, beaches or hiking, wait until spring.
How cold is Lake Garda in December?
The average high is 7.7 °C and the average low 0.2 °C at Verona Villafranca, with about 63 mm of rain over eight days. The shore is usually a little milder at night than that inland figure.
Is Gardaland open at Christmas?
Yes, on selected days from 5 December 2026 to 6 January 2027, from 10:30am to 6pm. It is closed on 25 December. Our Gardaland guide has ticket advice.
Where are the Christmas markets at Lake Garda?
The two with confirmed 2026 dates are in Riva del Garda and Arco, from 13 November to 6 January. Bardolino, Lazise and Garda also held markets last winter.
Is the Monte Baldo cable car open in December?
Only from 26 December 2026, when the winter season starts. Before that it is closed for maintenance. See our cable car guide.