Aosta
A Roman town in the Alps, with its walls and ruins still standing, and a base for the valley's mountains.
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Aosta is the capital of the Aosta Valley, a bilingual Alpine region in northwestern Italy, about 110 km north-northwest of Turin. The Romans founded it as Augusta Praetoria Salassorum in 25 BC after their campaign against the Salassi, and laid the town out like a military camp. Much of the Roman town wall still stands, with towers and four gates, and the double Porta Praetoria marks the old eastern entrance. It is often called the Rome of the Alps.
The city sits at about 583 metres in a valley ringed by mountains, near the Italian entrances to the Mont Blanc and Great St Bernard tunnels. Give a day or two to the Roman theatre, the forum, the cathedral and the regional archaeological museum (MAR), then head into the mountains. The Aosta-Pila cable car climbs about 1,200 metres to the Pila ski area. Winters are cold, with snow and nights often below zero in December and January, while June and July often reach 32 to 33 °C.
Aosta in five
- Pick a valley before you pick a hotelCourmayeur faces Mont Blanc, Cogne is the gate to Gran Paradiso, and Aosta sits between them with trains and buses. Choose by where you want to walk, since transfers add time.
- Check lift and trail status before you go upCable cars, mountain huts and high trails open on dates set by weather and the operator. Look at each lift or hut's official page, since snow can stay into early summer.
- Take the train from Turin, with a changeThe rail line from Turin to Aosta runs in about 2 to 2.5 hours, usually with a change at Ivrea. Buses and a car fill the side valleys.Italy by train off-peak
- Use the town for Roman sights and foodAosta's Roman gate, theater and arch fit in a half day, and the region's food leans French, Alpine and cheesy. Try fontina and local mountain cuisine.
Things to do in Aosta
See all attractions in Aosta
Need to know
- Airport
- Turin (TRN) or Milan Malpensa, about 2 to 2.5 hours; Geneva also works
- Getting there
- Train from Turin with a change, or car via the A5
- Getting around
- Buses and a car for the side valleys
- Best base
- Aosta for trains, Courmayeur or Cogne for walking
- Time needed
- 2 to 4 days for the valley
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh4°Low-3°Snow, ski seasonJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 125 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, ski season
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh7°Low-1°Snow, ski seasonFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 7°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, ski season
- MarchRain13 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh8°Low0°Late snowMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 140 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Late snow
- AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Spring thawAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 141 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring thaw
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Walks beginMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 180 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Walks begin
- JuneRain17 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh22°Low13°High trails openJuneRain
Good
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 154 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
High trails open
- JulyPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh25°Low15°Peak hikingJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Peak hiking
- AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh25°Low15°Peak hikingAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 96 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Peak hiking
- SeptemberRain12 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh20°Low11°Clear, autumn colorSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Clear, autumn color
- OctoberRain11 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Quiet, coolOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 152 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, cool
- NovemberRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low1°Early snowNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 157 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Early snow
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh5°Low-2°Snow, marketsDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, markets
Average daily high and low in Aosta, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Aosta
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
-2
- Feels like
- -6°
- Humidity
- 60%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Valle d'Aosta
09:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today8°1°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue7°1°0%Tuesday: Rain. High 7°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed4°0°3%Wednesday: Rain. High 4°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu5°1°3%Thursday: Rain. High 5°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri4°2°15%Friday: Rain. High 4°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Sat5°2°11%Saturday: Drizzle. High 5°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sun4°1°29%Sunday: Rain. High 4°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 29%.
Updated 09:32 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- SepPalio di AstiPiedmont, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Courmayeurabout 40 min by car or busMont Blanc views and the cable car to the high ridge.
- Cogne and Gran Paradisoabout 45 min by carThe park's main gateway, with easy valley walks.
- Fenis Castle and Bardabout 30 to 45 min by carMedieval castles in the lower valley, a good rainy-day plan.
Before you go to Aosta
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Rules for Aosta, checked
- Italy is in the Schengen area. Many nationalities need no visa for short stays; check entry rules on the official Italian visa portal before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, ambulance or fire anywhere in Italy.
- Tipping is not required. Some bills add a coperto (cover charge) or service charge, so check the bill before you add a tip.
Plan around Aosta
Regions, cities and the rules every visitor needs
Read the guidePiedmontTurin and the Alps next door
Read the guideAlbaTruffles and Barolo, a long drive south
Read the guideLake MaggioreThe nearest big Alpine lake to the east
Read the guideBest time to visit ItalySeasons, snow and summer crowds
Read the guideSchengen 90/180 ruleHow long you can stay across the Alps
Read the guideAosta FAQ
Is Aosta worth visiting?
Yes, for Roman ruins and as a base for the Alps. The town itself is small, and the draw is the valley, so plan day trips to Courmayeur or Cogne.
What is the best base in the Aosta Valley?
Aosta for trains, buses and food; Courmayeur for Mont Blanc; Cogne for Gran Paradiso. Pick based on where you want to walk.
How do you get from Turin to Aosta?
By train in about 2 to 2.5 hours, usually with a change at Ivrea, or by car in about 1.5 to 2 hours. Check the operator's timetable before you travel.
When is the best time to visit Aosta?
June to September for hiking, and December to March for skiing. Spring and late autumn are quiet, with some lifts and huts closed.
Can you visit Aosta from Milan in a day?
It is possible by car, but long. A night in the valley gives you a better visit, especially if you want to ride a cable car or walk.