Alba
Alba is a Piedmont town known for white truffles and Langhe wine, with medieval towers in its old centre.
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Alba is a town in the Province of Cuneo, in the Piedmont region of north-western Italy, on the right bank of the Tanaro river. It lies about 50 km south-east of Turin and about 50 km north-east of Cuneo, among the vine-covered Langhe and Roero hills. Alba is also one of the main towns in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato. The town is known for white truffles and wine, and UNESCO named it a Creative City for gastronomy on October 31, 2017.
Medieval towers still rise in the old centre. Alba was once called the city of a hundred towers, since many were built in the 14th and 15th centuries, and only a few remain. The Romanesque Duomo of San Lorenzo and the Gothic church of San Domenico are the two churches to see first. The White Truffle Fair runs each October, but November and December can bring fog, so autumn is the season to plan around.
Alba in five
- Decide on truffle season before you bookThe white truffle fair runs in autumn, and rooms in Alba and the Langhe fill early. Dates change each year, so check the official fair site before you commit to a weekend.
- Rent a car to reach the wine villagesBarolo, Barbaresco and La Morra are hill villages with few public buses. Drive carefully on narrow lanes, and nominate a driver before tasting.
- Book winery visits aheadMany small producers taste by appointment, especially outside peak weekends. Email or book through the winery's own site, and allow time between visits.
- Take the train from TurinTrains link Turin and Alba, but they are slower than driving and not frequent. A bus or a short transfer fills any gap if you do not rent a car.
- Add the wider Langhe landscapeThe surrounding hills are a UNESCO wine landscape and have their own guide. Read it to plan routes between villages and the Roero and Monferrato areas.Langhe, Roero and Monferrato
Need to know
- Airport
- Turin Caselle (TRN), about 1 to 1.5 hours; Milan Malpensa is farther
- Getting there
- Train from Turin, or car on the A33 and local roads
- Getting around
- Car for villages; on foot inside Alba
- Best base
- Alba for restaurants, a farm stay for vineyard views
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days; more for several tasting days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy6 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low0°Cold, foggyJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 38 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, foggy
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low2°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh14°Low4°Early springMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Early spring
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Green hillsAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green hills
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Mild, quietMayRain
Good
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 114 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh27°Low17°Warm, long daysJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- JulyClear9 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low19°Hot, tastingJulyClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, tasting
- AugustClear10 rainy daysHigh30°Low19°Hot, quiet townAugustClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, quiet town
- SeptemberClear9 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Harvest beginsSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Harvest begins
- OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Truffle seasonOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Truffle season
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Fog, trufflesNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fog, truffles
- DecemberPartly cloudy7 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Cold, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
Average daily high and low in Alba, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Alba
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
3
- Feels like
- 0°
- Humidity
- 99%
- Wind
- 3 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 8%
Alba
01:50 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today14°1°8%Tuesday: Fog. High 14°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed11°8°65%Wednesday: Rain. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 65%.
- Thu11°8°75%Thursday: Rain. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 75%.
- Fri11°6°53%Friday: Rain. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 53%.
- Sat12°6°37%Saturday: Fog. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 37%.
- Sun12°4°21%Sunday: Rain. High 12°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 21%.
- Mon10°8°41%Monday: Rain. High 10°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 41%.
Updated 11:57 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- SepPalio di AstiPiedmont, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Barolo and La Morraabout 20 to 30 min by carWine villages with tastings, viewpoints and small museums.
- Langhe, Roero and Monferratoabout 30 to 60 min by carThe wider hills, castles and Roero's sandy cliffs.Read the guide
- Turinabout 1 to 1.5 hours by train or carPiedmont's capital, a long day trip or a separate stay.Read the guide
Before you go to Alba
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Rules for Alba, checked
- Many nationalities need no visa for Italy's Schengen area. Check entry rules at vistoperitalia.esteri.it before you book.Source
- Carry your passport or ID card, since Italian police can ask to see it at any time.
- Italian town centres often use ZTL limited-traffic zones with camera fines. Check Alba's city website before you drive in.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy. Check the bill for a cover charge (coperto) before you tip.
Plan around Alba
Regions, cities and the rules every visitor needs
Read the guideLanghe, Roero and MonferratoThe wine hills around Alba, village by village
Read the guidePiedmontTurin, the Alps and Lake Orta in one region
Read the guideAostaAlpine valley two and a half hours north
Read the guideBest time to visit ItalySeasons, crowds and harvest months
Read the guideItaly by train off-peakPlanning rail from Turin or Milan
Read the guideAlba FAQ
Is Alba worth visiting without the truffle fair?
Yes. Wine, hazelnuts and Piedmontese food are good all year, and spring and early summer are quieter. The fair adds energy, but also crowds and higher prices.
Do you need a car in Alba?
For the villages and wineries, yes. Alba itself is walkable and has a train station, but buses to Barolo and Barbaresco are limited. A rental car gives you freedom, and a driver should skip tastings.
How many days do you need in Alba and the Langhe?
Two to three days cover Alba, a Barolo day and a Barbaresco day. Add one or two nights if you want to see the Roero and Monferrato hills.
When is the white truffle season in Alba?
It runs in autumn, with the main fair in October and November. Exact dates change, so check the official calendar and book rooms as soon as you can.
Can you visit Alba as a day trip from Turin?
Yes, by car or train in about an hour each way. A day is enough for the town and one village, but wine tasting is easier with a night in the hills.