I guess I'm going to Piemonte

... except for a day seeking out Asti wines, but we both agree that 1 day on a wine tour is enough

Asti (Asti Spumante, Moscato d'Asti, Barbera) ... not bad. But don't forget to consider Barolo, The King of Wines ;-)

Yo fellow Canuck Allan,
There is a long-time poster over on the Fodors forum who goes by 'maitaitom'. He and his wife have travelled extensively and have a blog. Piedmonte is apparently their all-time fave place. We met the two of them for lunch in Carpinteria (near Santa Barbara) this past February and can vouch for their friendliness and approachability.
I am sure that if you were to either go over his related blog posts or Fodors posts, you could learn more about that part of Italy. One assumes that his blog allows for questions. He knows wines, among other things.

We ourselves have only ever been to the far north of that area. We especially enjoyed Lago di Orta. Some folks prefer Stresa.
One thought: might it be a good idea to make a deliberate contrast with Big Cities by basing in a small town or village somewhere throughout your journey?
Good luck.
I am done. the Albertanz

We spent about 8 days in Piemonte about 15 years ago. We chose Alba as our base and were happy with that choice. Our B&B was VILLA FAVORITA. Although it now has new owners, reviews are still strong. One of the best meals we had was at OSTERIA DELLA POSTA. I recommend booking all meals in advance.

The wines you might want to seek out are not the frizzante Asti, but the reds: Barolo, Barbaresco, etc.

We ended our trip with about three nights in Turin, a lovely city. We picked up and dropped off car at Milano Malpensa.

https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/le-langhe-and-turin-a-week-in-the-land-of-barolo-bagna-cauda-and-bicerin-781768/

We stayed in Turin for five nights and then went to Aosta. Turin was fantastic and I wished we could have spent a couple more days in the city, let along more time for day trips.

We flew direct from the US to Milan. From Malpensa, you can take a direct bus to central Turin, avoiding the need to take the train into central Milan and then the train to Turin. (Departing, we drove our rental car from Aosta to Malpensa.)

I’m going, too - so take notes. LOL.

I was in Turin for a few days in October and it’s lovely. Once I started researching, I knew I hadn’t planned enough time, so I will be back - probably fall of 2027. When I go, I will probably include a week in Verona and a week in/near Bologna, as well. So I will try to fly in to Milan. Last fall I flew to Turin from Bucharest and out of Turin to Salzburg (not a plan I recommend - just to say Turin has an airport).

You could also combine this area with Switzerland, if that appeals.

I've been wanting to do Piedmonte for a while, but keep running up against the lack of direct flights to Northern Italy. I assume you are trying to fly West Jet? Here is my goal, but I have to wait until retired as it takes too many weeks the way I would want to do it.
Direct to Paris, train to Lyon
Lyon to Turin - Man in seat 61 has some good info on this, and there was a video I saw a while ago on his site
then when done Piedmonte, make my way to Rome to fly home.

KLM flies to Turin from Amsterdam Schiphol. We spent a week in Turin last year and absolutely loved it. We flew via Amsterdam to Venice for our 6 days in Padova, then train to Turin and flew back to AMS. We love Schiphol and choose it for European connections if we are not going to France or the UK.

I'm gathering information of a trip to that area myself. One thing I've uncovered is that the region has an annual sightseeing pass that might pay off for folks staying more than a few days. I believe it covers primarily museums. The Piemonte pass also covers some things in the Val d'Aosta area.

Although I find major-city sightseeing passes don't usually pay off, often having short durations, I find some regional and national passes can be very worthwhile for those inclined to travel slowly.

https://abbonamentomusei.it/en/

We found the Torino + Piemonte card valuable for our time in Turin. I would definitely recommend it if you will visit a lot of the sites covered.

Where we were there, Turin offered a "chocolate pass" that allowed you to try the chocolate specialities at several top chocolatiers and cafes. See if they still offer that...

A Turin chef was once shown during an episode with Tony Bourdain telling the latter that the city's pastries were the best in all Italy.
Any foodies here care to comment?
I am done. the sweet

Heading to Asti, Torino and beyond in September. I’m following your comments and recommendations.

I've been wanting to do Piedmonte for a while, but keep running up against the lack of direct flights to Northern Ital

You can fly direct to Milan - there is a bus drom the airport to Turin

Thanks for the help so far. Probably the earliest we'd go is September, if not then it will likely be May 2027. We're simultaneously planning two trips; this one and also London to Bamburgh. I'm anxiously waiting for tickets to go on sale for the Bayeaux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum. If I manage to get tickets to that then the England tour takes priority.

As for how to get to Peidmonte; Rome, Florence and then Piemonte, or start in Lyon or Nice; there appears to be no bad answer.

Season may have some effect. We came via Milan one May and encountered a green but rainy spring (foiling our plans for countryside ambling). If you go in early fall, take truffle season into account, such as Alba’s festival in October.

Visiting Piemonte in December 2018 we first spent 3 nights in Saluzzo, mostly to visit the Manta Castle and see its painted rooms (these frescoes include secular subjects like an early 15th century fountain of youth — startling and amusing even for those not fond of art), the kitchen, and the views over the countryside. Castello della Manta.

We used 6 nights in Alba and 3 nights in La Morra as bases to drive to Castello Grinzane Cavour⁩, Mondovi, Barolo, Barbaresco, Neive, and Bra. I can’t find my notes about Piemonte, but it was all food, wine, castles, museums, medieval towns, and winter scenery.

Then 4 nights in Torino after returning the rental car — we especially loved the Egyptian museum and the car museum. The car museum was more proof that Italians can create an interesting and fun museum for people with no interest in the subject.

We took the bus to Malpensa, then the hotel’s shuttle to La Pista hotel for the night before our early morning flight home.

If you enjoy full-bodied white wines, seek out Nascetta and Timorasso, both made from rare indigenous grape varieties brought back from near extinction, and also try my favorite white, Arneis.

Eat and bring home hazelnuts. They are the best. There were still truffles in the street markets in December.

Oh, nancys8, I couldn’t remember but I bet it was you I heard about Osteria della Pista from! I stayed there in Jan 2020 for a night before flying home and the area told me I needed to come back with more time. Thank you! We took a train to the small station and then the hotel shuttle to the airport the next morning.

We went in mid October specifically to visit Alba durning the International Truffle Festival. I HIGHLY recommend this if you are a foodie. The truffle flavor that I know here in the States is blah compared to the fresh truffles you will have there. It is also a major festival time there coinciding with the end of the grape harvest. Simply a wonderful time to visit.

Consider focusing on the area around Alba as it is central to the wine region - both white and red.

We have done two private wine tours with Evan Byrne with PiemonteMio.com. He does a great job!

I visited Piemonte in early December of last year. I met my partner in Bologna, then we headed for Turin and visited a number of the small towns in the area (he's a wine buff and had never been to Asti, Barolo, or Alba, despite being Italian) for four days by rental car. I really enjoyed walking around the cobblestone streets, visiting little shops, and seeing the Christmas markets. It was a whirlwind of a trip — and the absolute highlight was our one night stay at a refurbished castle outside of Turin. Very romantic and wonderful food.

Rocca di Arignano
https://www.roccadiarignano.it/

Winter is my favorite time in Italy! I'm headed to Rome tomorrow, in fact.

We've been to the Piedmont (Piemonte in Italian) several times, and really like the area. Especially if you love wine, of course. It's scenic, with beautiful drives. We've also visited Turin (Torino in Italian), and unlike almost everyone else, we didn't like it much. I can't really say why, except perhaps that the buildings were all so large and grandiose; I guess that in Italy, we like smaller towns and buildings?

We've stayed several times in the village of Monforte d'Alba. We like the town; it's cute and walkable, with a number of great restaurants, both special and more casual. This is in the Barolo area, so if you like Barolo, try to visit this part of the Piemonte.

When visiting, we had a rental car. One time, we flew into Venice, spent time there, then took the train to Milan. We spent time there, then picked up a rental car and drove to Turin, then to Monforte d'Alba. More recently, we visited Tuscany, then drove up to to the Piedmont, then departed Italy from Milan.

We're simultaneously planning two trips; this one and also London to Bamburgh.

Allan, London to Bamburgh will be wonderful! I am really looking forward to reading your trip report for that one!

Mardee, I've got so many things on my list for that trip that I may have to make it two trips. I've have your TR bookmarked and it's not helping me cut my list down. Having a theme to help with ideas had been helpful. My Piemonte trip is more challenging because there's nothing yet for me that's a must-see. Neither one of use are wine connoisseurs or foodies which seems to be what most posters are mentioning are the highlights of the area.

Eleven or twelve years ago we spent three weeks in the lake region, splitting our time between a base close to Orta San Giulio, followed by Mezzegra on Lake Como. We had a car and needed it for the most part.

Re the Piedmont part of the trip. Two or three drives over to Lake Maggiore, the same into Switzerland close by. South of the lakes we visited a couple of Sacred Mounts and a church in Vercelli (?). Another day we drove further south to somewhere between Asti and Alba and had a wonderful lunch. I'd read and been told that the countryside was similar to Tuscany; maybe it is elsewhere in Piedmont but I didn't get that impression from what little I saw, though I could have been spoiled by the Val d'Orcia.

Never made it to Turin. I thought Orta was a fabulous little spot; it has received negative reviews by some on this forum.

Allan, ha ha, I feel your pain! Right now I'm trying to decide whether to go back to England for two months in 2027 or go to Japan. Still up in the air. And either way I will have a hard time pinning things down.

With regards to Piemonte, though, I'm a little surprised that the two of you are heading there, since neither of you are wine connoisseurs or foodies, as that is the reason many people go to Italy. Italian food is wonderful and the wines are even better. Even the cheap table wines are good. But of course there's more there than just food and wine.

I was curious about Piemonte as I've never been there. So I asked AI what its attraction was:
Piemonte (Piedmont), Italy, attracts visitors with its stunning Alpine scenery, world-class wines (Barolo, Barbaresco), gourmet food (truffles, Slow Food movement), elegant Baroque cities like Turin with royal history, beautiful lakes (Maggiore, Orta), medieval castles, and rich cultural heritage, offering a blend of outdoor adventure, culinary delights, and regal history at the foot of the Alps.

So it does sound like a really nice place to visit. And now that I know that Turin's there, and I know several people who have been to that area (thanks, nancys8 and TexasTravelMom) and really liked it, that puts it high up in my book. And I am a foodie and I do love good wine, so it really appeals to me. So thank you, Allan, you just added another place to my ever-burgeoning list of destinations. 😂

Hi Allan,
We are making our 5th trip to Piemonte this spring, spending one month. On our first trip to Piedmonte we had no intention of returning as many times as we have, but we have so much fun and always find something new. When it is time to leave we are so charmed that we cannot help but come back. Our favorite villages to stay in are Neive, Verduno and Monforte d'Alba. Our usual day is to walk to lunch via the vineyard trails to a neighboring village, Neive to Barbaresco; Verduno to La Morra or Roddi; Monforte to Barolo or Serralunga or Novello. In the evening back in the village where we are staying, we join the community in the central square of and enjoy watching the comings and goings of the village. There are no major sites, but there is a lot of community, the terrain is beautiful and returning as we have has allowed us to get to know people that we look forward to seeing again.

I’m grateful for all these tips! We’re headed there in early April 2026.

We do love food and wine but it’s great to consider other options! Flying from Paris to either Genoa or Turin, then to Alba, then taking the train to Briancon over to Lyon.

Curious for your thoughts on two nights/one day (Fri-Saturday) in Turin itinerary and 3-4 days staying in Alba.
The Car museum, Egyptian and the cinema museum all sound interesting!

Allan- fyi, we are spending a week in Lyon afterwards bc it’s the gastronomy capital of France but I’m finding lots of cool activities there. Would be interested in hearing what you’re thinking for your travels there too.

Thank you all, and look forward to hearing more and sharing our experiences!