Piedmont in Northern Italy: What to See and Why Visit

If you are planning a trip to Northern Italy, Piedmont deserves more than a quick stop.

This region combines elegant cities, vineyard-covered hills, Alpine valleys, lakes, historic residences, food traditions and some of Italy’s most important wine areas.

SlowDays was born here, so this guide is not simply a list of places. It is a way to help you understand which parts of Piedmont might suit your trip, how many days to spend here and what you can combine.

If you are still planning a wider Northern Italy journey, you may also want to read our Northern Italy itinerary guide.

Where is Piedmont in Italy?

Piedmont is in northwestern Italy. It borders France and Switzerland and lies between the Alps, Liguria, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and the Aosta Valley.

Its capital is Turin, but the region includes very different landscapes: Alpine valleys, lakes, rice plains, vineyard hills and historic cities.

That variety makes Piedmont especially suitable for travellers who prefer to combine several experiences rather than stay in one type of destination for the entire trip.

How many days should you spend in Piedmont?

The answer depends on what you want to see, but Piedmont works particularly well for travellers who want to slow down after visiting the larger cities of Northern Italy.

Piedmont’s lake district

The northern part of Piedmont is home to some of the region’s most relaxing landscapes. Lakes can work well as a short break, a first stop after Milan or an extension to a longer Piedmont itinerary.

Lake Orta

Lake Orta is smaller and quieter than many of the better-known Italian lakes. Orta San Giulio is its most famous destination, with narrow streets, lakeside views and boats connecting the town with the small Island of San Giulio.

The nearby Sacro Monte di Orta is part of the UNESCO-listed Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy.

For travellers interested in gastronomy, the area is also home to Villa Crespi, the historic property associated with chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo.

Lake Maggiore

Lake Maggiore stretches between Piedmont, Lombardy and Switzerland. Stresa is one of the best-known bases for exploring the Piedmontese side of the lake and the Borromean Islands.

The area also includes gardens, historic villas and several UNESCO-related cultural sites, including the Sacro Monte of Ghiffa.

Lake Viverone

Lake Viverone is smaller and less famous, which can be exactly its appeal.

Parts of the shoreline remain natural and quiet, and the lake is connected with prehistoric pile-dwelling settlements included in the UNESCO transnational site dedicated to prehistoric dwellings around the Alps.

It can work especially well as a peaceful final stop after several days in the Langhe or Monferrato.

Piedmont and the Alps

Piedmont is surrounded by mountains, so Alpine landscapes are never far away.

Winter brings skiing, while summer opens the valleys to hiking, cycling, scenic drives and cooler temperatures.

Sestriere and the Via Lattea

Sestriere is one of Piedmont’s best-known mountain destinations and part of the large Via Lattea ski area.

The area became internationally known through major winter sporting events, including the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics.

Outside winter, the mountains attract cyclists, walkers and travellers looking for a very different landscape from the vineyard hills further south.

Limone Piemonte

Limone Piemonte, in the province of Cuneo, is another historic mountain destination.

In winter it is linked to the Riserva Bianca ski area, while in summer it becomes a base for walking, cycling and exploring the high-altitude routes between the Piedmont Alps and Liguria.

For many local families, Limone has traditionally been the mountain retreat closest to the Langhe and Cuneo.

Other Piedmont valleys

Piedmont’s mountains extend far beyond the main ski resorts. Valle Maira, Val di Susa, Valli di Lanzo and the valleys around Gran Paradiso offer many possibilities for walking, nature and slower stays.

If mountains are an important part of your trip, it often makes sense to dedicate several days to one valley rather than trying to combine too many areas.

Turin: Piedmont’s capital

Turin deserves at least one or two days in a Piedmont itinerary.

It was Italy’s first capital and still has a very distinct character: long porticoes, wide avenues, Baroque architecture, historic cafés, museums and views towards the Alps.

• Egyptian Museum: one of the city’s most important cultural attractions.
• Mole Antonelliana: home to the National Cinema Museum.
• Royal Residences: part of Piedmont’s historic Savoy heritage.
• Historic cafés: ideal for discovering bicerin, chocolate and Turin’s aperitivo tradition.
• Porta Palazzo: one of Europe’s largest open-air markets.

Turin is also extremely useful from a travel-planning point of view. It connects well by train with Milan and can be followed naturally by several days in the Langhe.

Langhe, Roero and Monferrato

This is the area SlowDays knows most closely.

The vineyard landscapes of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato are one of the main reasons international travellers choose Piedmont: wine, food, panoramic roads, castles, cycling, walking and local producers can all become part of the same trip.

Langhe

The Langhe are home to some of Piedmont’s best-known wine landscapes, including Barolo and Barbaresco.

Alba is the area’s main town and a practical base for travellers who want restaurants, shops and evening life within walking distance.

Among the best-known places are La Morra, Barolo, Monforte d’Alba, Serralunga d’Alba, Grinzane Cavour, Neive and Barbaresco.

This is also an ideal area for combining winery visits with cycling, walking, truffle experiences and local food.

Roero

Across the Tanaro river from the Langhe, Roero has a different landscape of vineyards, orchards, sandy soils and the distinctive Rocche.

Canale, Guarene, Govone and other local centres provide a quieter alternative to the better-known wine routes.

Roero is closely connected with Alba, even though Alba itself belongs historically and geographically to the Langhe area rather than the Roero.

Monferrato

Monferrato extends across a wide area around Asti and Alessandria.

Its landscape is more open and less concentrated around a few famous wine names, which can make it particularly rewarding for travellers looking for wineries, local restaurants and panoramic roads away from the busiest routes.

Asti, Nizza Monferrato, Canelli, Moncalvo, Casale Monferrato and Cella Monte are among the many possible stops.

If you would like to explore this area in more detail, our Langhe, Roero & Monferrato guide goes much deeper.

Other cities worth considering

Piedmont is not only Turin and wine country.

Novara

Novara lies between Milan and the Piedmont lake district. Its skyline is dominated by the dome of San Gaudenzio and it can work well as a stop on a route towards Lake Orta or Lake Maggiore.

Asti

Asti is closely connected with the wine landscape of Monferrato and is known for its medieval centre, food traditions and surrounding vineyards.

Alessandria

Alessandria can be useful as a gateway to eastern Monferrato and the hills between Piedmont and Liguria.

Cuneo

Cuneo sits between the plains and the southern Alps. It is a convenient starting point for exploring mountain valleys and western Piedmont.

Piedmont food and wine

You cannot really understand Piedmont without its food.

The region is famous for wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera and Arneis, but the food traditions are just as important.

Hazelnuts, cheeses, fresh pasta, agnolotti, tajarin, meat dishes and truffles all reflect different parts of the region.

Alba is closely associated with the white truffle and its autumn fair, while Bra is internationally known through Slow Food and the Cheese event.

The Ferrero company was also born in Alba, linking Piedmont’s hazelnut tradition with one of Italy’s best-known food brands.

If food is one of your priorities, do not treat meals as an afterthought. In Piedmont, restaurants, wineries and local producers can become some of the most important stops in the itinerary.

You can also explore our guide to Piedmontese cuisine.

Things to do in Piedmont

Piedmont works particularly well for travellers who want to mix sightseeing with experiences.

• Wine tastings: from famous Barolo and Barbaresco wineries to smaller family producers.
• Cycling and e-bike: vineyard roads, hills and country routes.
• Trekking and walking: Langhe trails, Alpine valleys and countryside paths.
• Truffle hunting: particularly meaningful during the autumn season.
• Food experiences: cooking, local producers, traditional lunches and restaurant itineraries.
• Wellness: SPA hotels and slower days between more active experiences.

For cycling ideas, see our Piedmont bike experiences.

For walking holidays, explore our Langhe trekking experiences.

What could a Piedmont itinerary look like?

3 days: a first taste of the Langhe

Stay around Alba or in the hills, visit one or two wineries, explore Barolo or Barbaresco and include one slow experience such as an e-bike ride, a walk or a long local lunch.

5 days: Turin and wine country

Spend two days in Turin and three days in the Langhe, Roero or Monferrato.

7 days: a more complete Piedmont trip

Combine Turin, the wine hills and either Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore or a mountain area.

10 days: travel slowly

With ten days you can combine Turin, Langhe, Roero, Monferrato and one lake or Alpine area without turning the trip into a sequence of check-ins and departures.

Real trips organised by SlowDays

Over the years we have created very different Piedmont journeys for international travellers.

One group of ten friends from Iceland spent a week between Langhe and Monferrato with private transport, cycling days, wineries, restaurants and truffle experiences.

Guests from Alaska returned to travel with SlowDays three times. Their most recent itinerary combined Lake Como, Pavia, the Langhe, Monferrato and Lake Viverone over eleven days.

These trips show why a Piedmont itinerary does not need to follow a fixed package. Cycling, wine, food, lakes, cities and countryside can be combined according to the group.

Read real tailor-made travel stories →

FAQ about travelling in Piedmont

Is Piedmont worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you enjoy food, wine, landscapes and travelling at a slower pace. Piedmont offers major cities, lakes, mountains and some of Italy’s best-known wine regions without requiring you to cover huge distances.

How many days do you need in Piedmont?

Three days are enough for one area, while five to seven days allow you to combine Turin and the wine country. With ten days, lakes or Alpine areas can be added comfortably.

What is Piedmont famous for?

Piedmont is known for Turin, Barolo and Barbaresco wines, white truffles, hazelnuts, Alpine landscapes, historic residences and the vineyard hills of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato.

Do you need a car in Piedmont?

Not in Turin. For the Langhe, Monferrato, lakes and mountain areas, however, a car or private driver gives much more flexibility.

When is the best time to visit Piedmont?

Spring and autumn are particularly attractive for food, wine, walking and cycling. Summer works well for lakes and mountains, while winter is the main season for skiing.