Key facts
Piedmont at a glance
Areas and places
Piedmont area by area
Each area has its own page, with its own character, plans and map.
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Getaways from Turin
Plan the trip
Piedmont, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Piedmont
May, June, September, October and November. Autumn is the big season: grape harvest in September and white truffle in Alba from October to early December. In spring the gardens of Lake Maggiore bloom. July and August are hot on the plain, and winter brings fog to the hills and skiing to the Alps.
How you travel
Piedmont your way
The ways of travelling that suit Piedmont. We are writing a guide to each one: where to stay, how to get around and which services you will need.
By carBy plane
Nearby
Near Piedmont
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
45.61° N · 7.36° E
Aosta Valley
By carBy campervanCampingBackpackingOn foot
44.10° N · 6.63° E
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
By carBy planeBy campervanCampingCar-freeOn footBy bikeBy motorbike
44.13° N · 9.68° E
Liguria
By planeCar-free
46.23° N · 7.91° E
Valais
By planeCar-freeLuxuryOn foot
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Book wineries in advance
In the Langhe most are visited by appointment, and autumn weekends have few places.
- 2Turin without a car
Arrive by train, tour the centre on foot and hire the car the day you head for the hills.
- 3Try the vermouth in Turin
It's the city where it was born. Have it before dinner in a historic café, with something to nibble.
- 4Lake Maggiore on weekdays
On spring weekends the boats to the Borromean Islands are full of visitors from Milan.
The roads of the Langhe are narrow and winding. Choose a driver, spit at tastings or hire a transfer with a chauffeur.
Which part of Piedmont should you choose?
Piedmont is the north-west corner of Italy, surrounded by Alps on three sides, and one of Europe's great food and wine destinations. It's less well known than Tuscany and therefore quieter, with somewhat lower prices. It breaks down into three trips: Turin, the wine hills and the lakes and mountains of the north.
The Langhe, to the south, are the reason for the trip for many: hills of vineyards where Barolo and Barbaresco are made from the nebbiolo grape, castle villages on every ridge and, in autumn, Alba's white truffle. Their wine landscape is a World Heritage Site together with the Roero and the Monferrato, the neighbouring hills. Allow three nights, a car and reservations at the wineries.
Turin is an elegant, uncrowded city of arcades, historic cafés and palaces of the House of Savoy, a World Heritage Site. It has the Egyptian Museum, with an enormous collection of ancient Egyptian art, and the Cinema Museum inside the Mole Antonelliana, the building that dominates the city. It's worth two days, and it's the city of vermouth and gianduja, the hazelnut chocolate.
The north changes the landscape. The western shore of Lake Maggiore is Piedmontese: from Stresa boats leave for the Borromean Islands, with palaces and gardens above the water. Next to it, little Lake Orta, with the island of San Giulio, is more intimate. And towards France, the Alpine valleys, such as the Susa valley, have ski resorts that hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics.
A good split for five days: two nights in Turin without a car and three in the Langhe with a car. With a week, add two nights on Lake Maggiore.
How do you get there from Spain?
By plane, to Turin, with direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Málaga, Alicante and Ibiza, among others. If you're going to Lake Maggiore, fly to Milan Malpensa, which is a short distance from the lake. For the Langhe, either works.
By car, from Barcelona you cross France to Ventimiglia and head up the motorway towards Cuneo or Turin. Another entry, through the north of France, is the Fréjus tunnel, tolled, which reaches the Susa valley. By train, Turin is an hour from Milan on the Frecciarossa, on the high-speed line that continues to Bologna, Florence and Rome.
How do you get around Piedmont?
Turin, on foot, by metro and by tram; the centre is flat and compact. The Langhe and the Monferrato, by car: Alba has a train from Turin, but the wineries and wine villages are scattered across hills with narrow roads. If you're going tasting, the one who doesn't drink should drive, or hire a transfer. Lake Maggiore, by train from Milan or Turin to Stresa and on the public boats between the islands and the villages.
When should you go and what does it cost?
Autumn is the star season. The grape harvest is in September; from October to early December, Alba holds its white truffle fair, and the hills turn red and yellow. It's also when accommodation fills up most: book weeks ahead. May and June are good for Lake Maggiore and for seeing the hills green. July and August are hot on the plain; many Turin restaurants close for part of August. Winter brings fog to the hills and skiing to the Alps.
Piedmont is more affordable than Tuscany or Lake Como for sleeping. White truffle, on the other hand, is one of the most expensive things you'll taste: a plate of tajarin with grated truffle costs a fair amount.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need for Piedmont?
Five: two in Turin and three in the Langhe. A week if you add Lake Maggiore or the Monferrato.
When is the Alba truffle fair?
In autumn, from October to early December. In 2026 it runs from 10 October to 6 December.
Can you visit Piedmont without a car?
Turin, Alba and Lake Maggiore yes, by train. The wineries and hill villages need a car, a taxi or an organised excursion.
Which wines are from Piedmont?
The nebbiolo reds, Barolo and Barbaresco, as well as Barbera, Dolcetto and the sweet sparkling Moscato d'Asti.
Should I fly to Turin or Milan?
To Turin for the city and the Langhe. To Milan Malpensa if you start with Lake Maggiore.
Is it a good region for children?
Yes, with a mixed plan: the Egyptian and Cinema museums in Turin, the Lake Maggiore boats and truffle hunting with dogs in the Langhe.