Where To Stay In Piedmont Italy: a Complete Guide to the Best Towns and Villages

Last Updated: February 5, 2025

Piedmont is a dream destination for lovers of wine and Italian countryside. You’ll enjoy all the same highlights as the more heavily-touristed Tuscany, but everything about this northern Italian region is gentler. The wines are smoother, the sun is softer, and lush hillsides flow effortlessly among rich vineyards and centuries-old hilltop towns. This guide summarizes where to stay in Piedmont Italy, to help you determine the best base from which to explore this enchanting region.

Jump to:

• Alba | Best for: bigger town, more amenities
• Barolo | Best for: small-town tourist hub
• Barbaresco | Best for: escaping the crowds
• Neive | Best for: small town charm
• Castiglione Falletto | Best for: centrally-located, Tuscan hilltop vibes
• Montfore d’Alba | Best for: picturesque village
• La Morra | Best for: quality wines, a quieter Barolo alternative
• Asti | Best for: sparkling and sweet wines

Alba

Best for: bigger town, more amenities

Alba is one of the biggest towns in the Piedmont wine region. While it’s still only moderately sized (comparable to Tuscany’s Siena), the medieval center is fairly expansive, with numerous shops, restaurants, and historic sites.

If you prefer a more urban feel, with plenty of things to see and do just steps from your front door, Alba is a good home base.

Begin at Piazza Duomo, which houses the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo and Palazzo Comunale (now city hall), both dating to the 12^th – 13^th centuries. Alba was once nicknamed the “city with a hundred towers” and many of its 14^th century towers are still standing.

For a comfortable wine bar in the heart of the old town, pop into Vincafe or Divina for a glass of a local vintage. Or, closer to the edge of town, 100 Vini is well worth the short walk. As their name suggests, they have one of the most extensive wine lists available for a reasonable price point. The menu offers 18 varietals of Nebbiolo alone!

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, you’ll find plenty of restaurants offering up regional specialties. Most notably, make sure you try both the truffles and tajarin (the local pasta dish).

We found La Piola, while in the heart of the tourist center, to be perfectly good. And while we didn’t eat there, the number of locals packed into Osteria dei Sognatori on a Wednesday night spoke volumes. We’ll definitely be trying that one on our next trip to Alba.

Barolo

Best for: small-town tourist hub

Among Piedmont wines, Barolo reigns supreme. It is consistently one of the highest-rated wines in Italy, if not the world. It’s therefore no surprise that the varietal’s namesake town is a popular stop on the regional wine trail.

What may be a drawback to some (crowds) is a positive to others (buzz). Either way, expect plenty of bustle in this quaint stone town.

While you’re here, make sure to stop for a tasting of the famous local wine. La Vite Turchese is a comfortable spot to pop in for a glass or flight, as is Vinoland.

Barbaresco

Best for: escaping the crowds

As one of the quieter villages in the region, Barbaresco is well-suited for those who truly want a muted escape. (We just caution that it may be too quiet for some.)

As with many towns in Piedmont, the name Barbaresco correlates with its local wine varietal.

Just like its more esteemed cousin Barolo, Barbaresco also derives from the Nebbiolo grape. However, the vineyards’ lower elevations give Barbaresco more fruit, thus making it more approachable for most people.

After strolling up the main road and taking in the sweeping views from the Torre di Barbaresco, there isn’t much left to do besides sampling the native wine. Luckily, that’s a task easily undertaken in Barbaresco.

Gaja, considered one of the most renowned estates in Italy, is based right in town. You can contact them via email for a tour and tasting.

If you prefer a more casual experience (or simply a glass), La Barbarica or Koki Wine Bar are both great options. Koki, with friendly Japanese owners, also infuses delicious Japanese bites into the standard Italian fare on its food menu. The kaarage and gyoza are particularly good.

Neive

Best for: small town charm

Quaint Neive, despite being small, packs plenty of charm into its small footprint.

You can easily walk the cobblestoned old town in 15 minutes, but you’ll want to save time to linger at one of the local wine bars or trattorie. Tables frequently spill outside, where locals and visitors alike gather al fresco to savor a local Nebbiolo, Barbera, or Barolo.  

One of our favorite wine bars in the area is Neive’s La Cantinetta di Barun. It’s a small space, but the casual, unassuming environs belie an extensive inventory. You can sample regional specialties by the glass, or purchase a bottle to bring home (they offer worldwide shipping).

Additionally, the Castello di Neive offers a genteel tasting experience. You’ll be able to tour the castle’s 1700s-era wine cellars and learn the history of the on-site wine making process, before sommeliers guide you through a tasting of Castello wines, including both still and sparkling varietals.  

Castiglione Falletto

Best for: centrally located, Tuscan hilltop vibes

As with most villages in Piedmont, Castiglione Falletto is not big – the circumference is easily walked in 10-15 minutes. However, it’s very centrally located, just about halfway between Alba, Barolo, and La Morra.

The town itself feels unchanged by time, as narrow stone roads wind uphill to the medieval center.

One of Castiglione Falletto’s best assets are the panoramic views from the town walls. Here, gentle rolling hills and lush vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see. Walk the footpath that rings the top of the village, and you’ll catch plenty of dramatic viewpoints (and corresponding photo ops).

While here, popping in Cantina Comunale di Castiglione Falletto is a must. As the town’s communal wine store and restaurant, you can enjoy a tasting or stay for a full meal. The wine selection is voluminous, and they offer worldwide shipping for any bottles purchased. The food menu spotlights regional specialties and rotates with the flavors of the season. Either way, you’ll leave satiated and feeling like family among owner Ezio and his friendly staff.   

Note: Vietti, one of the most famous producers to come from Piedmont, is headquartered in Castiglione Falletto, and remains a big name in the industry. However, it was sold to new owners a few years ago, and locals warn that the quality isn’t quite what it was.

You can still have a lovely experience at their winery and wine shop, and most will enjoy visiting a place that carries such historic weight. It’s just a minor note of caution to the more discerning wine snobs.

Monforte d’Alba

Best for: picturesque village

Monforte d’Alba sits just south of Castiglione Falletto, and the shared terroir creates many similarities among each town’s wines.

What stands out to us about Monforte d’Alba is how picturesque the village is, with dreamy scenes around every corner.

Built vertically into the surrounding hillsides, you can expect plenty of elevation gain as you explore the quaint pedestrian streets the rise above the town center.

But with the climb comes lovely views stretching over the hills of Piedmont, all framed by brightly painted homes with flower pots and cheerful shutters. It all adds a subtle romance that makes Monforte worth stopping by.

While here, enjoy traditional Piemontese cuisine at one of the village’s two Michelin Guide restaurants, Il Giardino Da Felicin or Le Case della Saracca.

La Morra

Best for: quality wines, a quieter Barolo alternative

If you want to prioritize Barolo wine, but can do without the crowds that flock to its namesake town, La Morra is just down the road and is a great alternative.

You’ll still get gorgeous views from the hilltop vantage points, and wines from the local terroir overflow from La Morra’s many bars and tasting rooms.

Belvedere di La Morra, the observation deck on the edge of town, provides ample photo ops, and you can climb the Torre Campanaria bell tower for even more views.

For dinner, L’Osteria del Vignaiolo serves up delectable regional specialties on their patio overlooking the hillsides of the surrounding Langhe.

For a comprehensive look at La Morra’s local wines, head to Cantina Comunale La Morra, which features 70+ local producers. They will happily pour you a sampling of Barbera, Barolo, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, Arneis, and others originating from the surrounding hillsides.

Additionally, Oddero Poderi e Cantine is one of our favorite wineries in the region. The tasting room is just 5 minutes down the road, and definitely worth visiting. The tour starts in the cellars and guides you through the production process, before concluding with a tasting of their (primarily red) wines.

Oddero specializes in Barolo, but also produces excellent Barbaresco, Barbera, and Nebbiolo.

Asti

Best for: sparkling and sweet wines

If you best enjoy sparkling or dessert wines, you’ll want to head to Asti, which is renowned for both its spumante and Moscato d’Asti.

Some of the top-rated local producers right now include Bera, Cascina ‘Tavijn, and Carussin.

When you’re ready for a break from tasting, you’ll find plenty to explore in Asti, which is twice the size as Alba. You can catch most of the main sights along the Corso Alfieri, which runs east-west through the length of the old town.

Enjoy the Piazza Alfieri, along with the town’s medieval towers and 14^th century Cattedrale di Asti.

If you happen to visit in September, you can even catch the historic Palio di Asti, which dates back to the 13^th century and rivals the more famous palio in Siena. It takes place the first Sunday of September each year.   

Featured image courtesy Kelly.