Things to see in the Langhe in 3 days: complete itinerary

There are dozens of articles that tell you about the Langhe, what to see, and list all the must-visit spots. So, I’d like to take a different approach: let’s take a journey together, as if we were spending three days in the Langhe, discovering what to see day by day. We’ll break down each day in the best possible way—always the SlowDays way.

Of course, the three days in the Langhe I’m suggesting can be enjoyed all at once, or… one day at a time on separate weekends you decide to spend in the Langhe!

• Day 1: Arrival in the Langhe and first wonders to discover

We’ll start our morning in Alba and head toward Verduno. We’ll skip Grinzane Cavour for now—it’s planned for another day.

First stop of your day in the Langhe: Verduno

Here you’ll find a small, well-kept village with a beautiful panoramic terrace: not many people know about this hidden gem in Verduno. Unlike other, more crowded viewpoints, it’s easier to find a peaceful moment to enjoy the view here. The balcony has signs to help you identify the towns you can spot on the horizon. Just a few steps from the terrace, a visit to the Pelaverga wine shop is a great way to discover this excellent native grape variety.

Of course, there’s also a charming medieval castle, with donjon-style towers reminiscent of the nearby Castle of Serralunga d’Alba.

Visiting this area without dedicating at least a few hours to the Langhe castles is practically impossible!

Second stop: La Morra

Let’s head to La Morra, passing panoramic hills lined with neatly arranged vineyards. A short detour will take you to the famous Red Giant Bench.

It’s known as the “bench of serenity”: take a short break and climb onto this oversized seat, which is not part of the official Big Bench project by Chris Bangle.

After your photo op, continue toward La Morra.

Once you reach the town, don’t head straight to the center—follow the signs to the large, convenient parking area. From there, walk up to the village of La Morra (population 2,700) and head toward the main scenic overlook, which opens onto the Barolo hills of the Langhe.

Here’s also an excellent idea for a walk in search of Langhe viewpoints.

Enjoying this spot at sunset in autumn or late spring offers a truly one-of-a-kind experience: you’ll be immersed in warm tones and colors, surrounded by endless vineyards and patches of woodland, with floral and fruity scents wafting through the air. You’ll be in a prime position overlooking the Barolo Langhe—rolling green hills and vineyard-covered slopes. In the distance, the Castle of Barolo. If the bell tower is open, don’t miss the climb—the view from the top is spectacular!

On the way to the viewpoint, you’ll find several wine bars and a fantastic gelato shop!

La Morra is also home to two iconic symbols of the Barolo Langhe: the Lebanon Cedar on the Cordero di Montezemolo estate and the extraordinary and colorful Barolo Chapel. A short walk will get you to the cedar tree, while a slightly longer one leads to the Chape—a perfect prelude to lunch in one of La Morra’s many wine bars or trattorias. Always best to reserve in advance!

Third stop: the Floating Grape

After La Morra, head back toward Alba. A highly recommended detour will let you end your day in style: stop by Ceretto’s winery and discover the “Grape” at the Monsordo Bernardina Estate. This unique and innovative structure is the headquarters of the Ceretto family. The original building dates back to 1850, but the Cerettos have boldly blended past and future, breathing new life into tradition. You’ll be amazed by the suspended glass bubble that lets you float over the Langhe landscape. It will feel like you’re an astronaut hovering above rolling hills. Stunning in every season!

Back in Alba for the evening, take a stroll through town, the capital of the Langhe. Discover dozens of peaceful, interesting corners along its streets. Don’t miss a visit to the small Church of La Maddalena, built in the 18th century. This example of Piedmontese Baroque has an imposing portal that leads you to a richly decorated interior. Look up to admire the dome with its lantern.

For dinner, choose among the many restaurants and trattorias. But before that, why not stop at a wine bar? Many offer excellent local wines and new vermouth-based cocktails. Here are a few tips on how to spend some time in Alba, the capital of the Langhe

Finding a place to stay overnight in Alba or the Langhe isn’t always as easy as it seems. There aren’t enough rooms to match the number of visitors, especially on weekends. And during events like the Truffle Fair or Vinum, it’s even harder. If you plan to stay overnight, be sure to book in advance!

• Day 2: Discover the surprising Barbaresco area

We’re starting again from Alba, so you can stay two nights in the same place and enjoy Alba in the evening.

Set your GPS for the village of Treiso. Leaving Alba, you’ll head toward Altavilla. From here, you’ll get a higher vantage point over Alba and its towers.

Descending from Altavilla, you’ll pass through the hamlet of Pertinace—named after the Roman Emperor Publius Helvius Pertinax, son of freedmen from Alba Pompeia. He ruled for just three months before dying in a Praetorian Guard conspiracy in 193 AD.

You can also explore this area on foot with a scenic hike around Alba: Trekking in and around Alba.

First stop of your day in the Barbaresco Langhe

From Pertinace, head toward Loc. Tre Stelle, and then on to the village of Barbaresco. This charming town gave its name to the famous wine and is perfect for a stroll, a coffee, an aperitivo, or a lovely lunch. Don’t miss the climb up the Tower for a beautiful panoramic view of the surroundings. You might even enjoy your aperitivo right at the foot of the Tower!

Second stop: Neive

Time to hit the road again and head to Neive, one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy”. It’s a small medieval town with elegant brick buildings and charming cobblestone streets, surrounded by vineyards of Barbera, Dolcetto d’Alba, Barbaresco, and Moscato d’Asti. Highlights include the beautiful Town Hall, the nearby Clock Tower, and the “Wild Woman’s Grappa” Museum, dedicated to a world-renowned local spirit. There are also plenty of viewpoints offering stunning views of the Langhe.

If you didn’t have lunch in Barbaresco, you’ll be tempted by one of Neive’s lovely osterias—welcoming and full of local flavor!

Discover more in: what to see in Neive, one of the most beautiful villages in the Langhe.

Third stop: Treiso

We’ll end our day in Treiso. Here, you’ll find several wineries and wine bars, as well as a famous, highly acclaimed restaurant. It’s the Ciau del Tornavento, which could be your dinner destination! Reservations are required, and you must arrive at the time agreed upon when booking. The food is excellent and refined. Suppose you’d rather go for a generous charcuterie board. In that case, there are plenty of wineries and wine bars to choose from (again, it’s best to book in advance!) where you can taste Barbaresco, but also Nebbiolo d’Alba, Barbera, Moscato d’Asti, and many other fine wines.

Just steps from Treiso’s main street, you can admire a spectacular natural phenomenon, especially striking in autumn and spring: the “Rocca dei Sette Fratelli”, a dramatic chasm created by centuries of water erosion. The deep ravine has cliffs and protrusions that stretch toward the center, almost entirely bare of vegetation.

A local legend says this chasm was formed due to the disbelief of seven brothers, local farmers, who blamed God for their poverty. One day, during a religious procession led by the parish priest, they cursed and raged instead of kneeling and praying like their sister. They challenged God to prove His existence by opening the earth and swallowing them. And so it happened—the abyss swallowed the seven brothers, leaving only their sister unharmed.

This wraps up our second day, dedicated to the Barbaresco area.

• Day 3: Wrapping up the journey between castles and Barolo

Once again, we’ll assume departure from Alba for all the reasons we mentioned earlier.

First stop: Diano d’Alba

Let’s head toward Diano d’Alba, taking Corso Langhe and Corso Enotria, passing by the Umberto I School of Enology and Agriculture. Then take Strada Santa Rosalia, which leads out of town and into the village of Diano d’Alba. On the left, just before reaching the historic center, you’ll find a small shrine or temple carved into the rock, dedicated to the goddess Diana, after whom the village is named. It reminds us that these hills, before the Roman era, were covered in forests protected by pagan deities like Diana and Mars.

Climb to the top of the town, where a green area has been created on the ridge, and you’ll enjoy panoramic views over the Langhe hills.

In Diano, yyou’llfind Big Bench no. 65, inaugurated in 2019 and named the “”olcetto Bench.”Its ruby-red color matches the local Dolcetto wine!

For more information about the Big Benches in the Langhe, follow the link!

Second stop: Grinzane Cavour

Leaving Diano, we head toward Grinzane Cavour. The hill is crowned by a majestic castle, whose elegant yet imposing brick towers blend beautifully into the surrounding landscape.

Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, was mayor of this town—now bearing his name—from 1832 to 1848. He cultivated and managed these precious lands and vineyards. Cavour worked closely with General Staglieno, a famous 19th-century oenologist and castle cellar master, and with Louis Oudart, considered the father of modern Nebbiolo.

At Grinzane, Cavour wasn’t just involved in politics and winemaking—he also brought agricultural innovation to the region, such as the experimental cultivation of sugar beets.

Visiting the Castle, strolling around it, and stopping at the in-house wine shop are great reasons to… slow down a bit!

The castle hosts:

• The Regional Wine Shop of Piedmont
• The Ethnographic Museum
• Cavourian memorabilia
• The Hall of Masks
• ttheCastle’ssown restaurant
• The World Truffle Auction of Alba

Third and final stop: Barolo

From here, we continue to Barolo. The town of Barolo and the Barolo wine go hand in hand, both centered around the iconic Castle.

Here’s a deeper dive into Barolo the town vs. Barolo the wine

A glance toward the Castle of the Volta will take you back to a more lavish time and the roots of this extraordinary wine, now renowned worldwide.

Legend has it that the Castle once hosted wild banquets and decadent feasts—some say in league with the devil. One stormy night, the floor collapsed, swallowing all the guests. To this day, people say the old walls echo their cries during dark and stormy nights. Between the Renaissance and the 18th century, the Castle underwent several modifications. After the fall of the Falletti dynasty, it was abandoned.

Since 2009, Barolo has been the stage for the famous “ollisioni” Literature and Music Festival, which brings internationally renowned artists to perform in this charming village every summer, beneath the Castle, in its streets and piazzas.

The Castlee houses the Wi-Mu, Italy’s most innovative wine museum. This interactive exhibit will guide you through the fascinating world of Barolo. Historical figures such as Cavour, Silvio Pellico, and Massimo d’Azeglio passed through these rooms during the Risorgimento. They were guests of Carlo Tancredi Falletti of Barolo and his wife, Marchesa Giulia Colbert, who was known for her philanthropic work, including the Opera Pia Barolo orphanage and Roman prisons in Turin. The building also contains a rich library of rare books and manuscripts.

We also recommend visiting the quirky and unique Corkscrew Museum, one of a kind in Italy!

Your day will be truly comprehensive if you’ve booked one or more tastings at local wineries. Several restaurants in Barolo align perfectly with our Slow philosophy!

Langhe travel: what to see and how?

From Barolo, you’ll head back toward Alba via a beautiful road also known as the Langhe Highway, lined with wineries and vineyards. You’ll pass through the Gallo industrial area before reentering Alba along a scenic, green road through the hills, connecting back to Strada Santa Rosalia and into town.

Everything I’ve described can be enjoyed by car—or even better—by bike. An e-bike would be ideal. Or why not hop on a shiny Vespa for the ride!

As you’ve probably noticed, the kind of tourism we promote has nothing to do with quick in-and-out trips. We believe in slow travel—just like our name suggests. It’s the kind of travel that lets you explore, chat with locals, stop whenever you want, buy a small souvenir, and truly immerse yourself in all this beauty!

Langhe: what to see… and what to eat and taste?

What I’ve shared with you is just one of the many possible vacations in the Langhe. You can adapt each day to your liking and pair it with one or more wine tastings at our top wineries or sample some of our extraordinary local dishes.

The Langhe won’t be easy to forget!

But which picture should I choose?

For now, here’s one I picked! Then you can send me yours.