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September 1, 2022
Piedmont Italy - An underrated destination
On our trip to Turin, Italy we spent our days road tripping around the Piedmont region, and straightaway it took us by complete surprise. This part of Italy is a completely underrated budget destination and should be on the top of your list for your next trip to Italy. We travel to Italy from Ireland a lot because of the number of destinations that RyanAir service, and we have to say this has been one of the best trips we’ve taken so far.
Suggested: Looking for more Italian destinations? Read our guides to Matera, Puglia and Venice here. We also have a skiing guide to the Dolomites, and a road trip guide to the Dolomites in winter.
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In this article
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Why you should visit Piedmont, ItalyWhy you should visit Piedmont, Italy
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When should you visit Piedmont?When should you visit Piedmont?
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How to reach PiedmontHow to reach Piedmont
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How long do you need?How long do you need?
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Getting around PiedmontGetting around Piedmont
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Where to stayWhere to stay
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Best day trip ideasBest day trip ideas
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AlbaAlba
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BaroloBarolo
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NeiveNeive
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SaluzzoSaluzzo
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VogognaVogogna
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StresaStresa
Why you should visit Piedmont, Italy
We booked a plane ticket to the capital of Piedmont, Turin, without altogether knowing much about the city or region. Basically we decided to go because flights cost us €20 return from Ireland. Turin is actually the fourth largest city in Italy and is sometimes referred to as Little Paris because of its beautiful wide boulevards and coffee scene. It is also way less touristy than other popular Italian city destinations like Milan. Leave Turin, and you will discover a beautiful pastoral landscape similar to Tuscany, but set in the foothills of the alps. The opportunities for day trips and activities are surprisingly extensive. There are options for literally every season, from wine regions in the summer, to truffle hunting in autumn or skiing in winter.
When should you visit Piedmont
Turin is an underrated destination and is nowhere near as busy as cities like Venice and Milan. So even if you visit during summer, you won’t be battling crowds. The surrounding towns were even quieter. However, with tourism picking back up in 2022 you should consider booking ahead for experiences you’re really interested in, like truffle hunting.
Piedmont in the shoulder season
Autumn is the wine harvest season. We visited Piedmont during November, and although the weather was crisp we could still enjoy strolling the streets all day and could even sit outside for dinner. The Langhe landscapes that you will drive through to the south will be most beautiful in autumn when the red foliage pierces through.
Most people head to the Dolomites for skiing in Italy, however Turin is a gateway to the Alps. You could be on the slopes in just an hour’s drive. Being able to stay in Turin where there are plenty of affordable accommodation options makes this a great budget ski destination.
How to reach Piedmont
Ryanair, WizzAir, easyJet, British Airways, and Iberia all fly direct to Turin and you can often find incredibly cheap flights.
Traveling to Italy from Ireland is very easy and there’s usually cheap flights to at least one or two areas any time of the year. We flew to Turin for just €20 return per person in November.
If you’re including Piedmont as part of a larger road trip, Genoa is less than 2 hours drive away from Barolo, and Nice is under 3 hours.
How long to spend in Piedmont
Three to four days in Piedmont is perfect. This allows you to spend a day in Turin, and a couple of full days road tripping to the beautiful villages in the region. If you are going in winter and want to tack on some ski days though, extend your visit to a week.
How to get around
Turin itself is very walkable, but for the day trips we’re recommending in this guide you will need your own transport. Renting a car in Turin was incredibly cheap. Driving through the city itself was a bit crazy, but not avoidable if you will be basing yourself here.
The amount of parking available right in the city centre was amazing. There was free parking on the street close to our hotel, or paid parking in a secure parking lot which we chose to do overnight. The parking lot we left our car in was the ‘Parking Vittorio Park’ that has a daily maximum charge of €16. We thought this was incredibly cheap for overnight parking in the centre of a major city.
Beware there are a lot of tolls, each costing €1-3 each. These can add up when you’re driving around a lot. They all take card payments if you don’t have cash on you. Just look for the card sign above the toll booth.
Where to stay
Piedmont is not a very big region and it’s nice to have a home base. We think staying in Turin is perfect for this. There are plenty of cheap accommodation options and it’s close to the airport you’ll fly into. There are also plenty of options for food and activities for your down time when you’re not day tripping.
Accommodation in regional Piedmont
If we go back to Piedmont, we are planning on staying in Barolo. We fell in love with this little town and we want to explore this area more slowly. If you are a wine lover, you should also consider staying in Barolo to make the most of this famous region. Imagine crisp mornings, waking up in an Airbnb like this one with views over the beautiful rolling hills of the Langhe valley, perfection!
Alba
Alba is most famous for its white truffle. Every November, the Alba Truffle Festival is held and you will want to book well ahead for accommodation or truffle hunting tours during this time. Truffle hunting tours are quite expensive, one of the cheapest tours I could find is this one for €145 per person. The medieval centre of Alba was built on top of the Roman city and you can take tours to explore this underground world.
Barolo
Our favourite town in Piedmont
Undoubtedly, Barolo was by far our favourite village that we visited in Piedmont. This tiny town packs in a lot of beauty. It’s most famous for the wine of the same name, and plenty of wine tours are offered here. It’s a romantic destination set in the beautiful Langhe valley, with plenty of great restaurants and a well preserved old town. We had lunch here at Barolando which we would highly recommend. Unsurprisingly, the food was delicious and well priced and the service was phenomenal.
As you’re walking around, you won’t be able to miss the imposing Castello Falletti di Barolo. From here enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding hills that are almost entirely vineyard cultivated. Make sure to stop by the very photogenic Chiesa di S. Donato, a typical Italian church with a bright pink facade.
Neive
Enjoy the slow, local life of lovely Neive, considered to be one of Italy’s prettiest villages. Soak up the history in one of the chapels such as San Rocco, visit the 13th century clock tower and get lost in the cobble street laneways. You could easily spend a full day here appreciating the beauty of the town. But, if you’re ready to move on there are plenty of wineries nearby to visit. The four most famous wines you should try in Neive are Barbaresco, Barbera, Dolcetto d’Alba and Moscata d’Asti.
Saluzzo
Saluzzo is off the beaten path and has plenty of charm. This picturesque town makes for a quick stop. Grab a coffee and stroll its beautiful streets that look like they’re straight out of a movie set.
You can find plenty of parking close to the city centre. Then take a self-guided tour of the town stopping at the Civic Tower, making your way past Antico Palazzo Communale towards La Castiglia. In the Old Town, which is the lower part of the village, you will find the gothic Cathedral and arcades of beautifully restored shopfronts.
Vogogna
Heading north this time from Turin, you’ll find this tiny village set against the backdrop of towering mountain ranges, and only a short drive from the beautiful Lake Maggiore. This is the only town in the province to have preserved the 14th century architecture and is a great starting point to explore the National Park of Val Grande. Like Neive, Vogogna is one of Italy’s most beautiful villages in Italy – I Borghi più belli d’Italia, so take your time and explore slowly.
Stresa
After visiting Vogogna, head to Stresa on the waterfront of Lake Maggiore. The best thing to do here is a hop on hop off tour of the Borromean islands: Isola Madre, Isola Bella and lastly Isola dei Pescatori. It’s incredibly affordable at only €15 per person. Although there will be tours running all year, it’s best to avoid winter as the palaces on the islands will be closed and most restaurants and cafes will be shut for the season.
Thanks for stopping by!
We hope we’ve inspired you to go to explore the lesser known region of Piedmont, Italy. This underrated destination in Italy has so much on offer from wine to skiing or truffle hunting. Turin, the capital of Piedmont, won’t feel over touristy like other major cities in Italy making this a great budget destination for any season.
Suggested: Looking for more Italian destinations? Read our guides to Matera, Puglia and Venice here. We also have a skiing guide to the Dolomites, and a road trip guide to the Dolomites in winter.
If you have any questions, please let us know, and please subscribe!
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