Where to stay in Barolo wine country or the larger Piedmont wine region: an insider’s guide to what you need to know.
A question I get from a lot of would-be Piedmont travelers is where to stay in Barolo, Italy. With so many options, consider some practicalities to get the most of your time in the area.
To start, make sure you are clear on the area’s most used geographical terms to ensure your location meets your Barolo, Italy travel goals.
I am here to for all your Barolo Italy and Piedmont region travel planning needs!
Wine tours, truffle experiences, culinary and cultural activities – unguided or unguided as well as logistical support.
Inquire today!
It’s common to research the area using the following interchangeably, so let’s clarify:
- Barolo wine region: Within the larger Piedmont region – 20 / 30 minutes from the primary wine town of Alba, Italy.
- Piedmont wine region: More than just Barolo and Barbaresco, including Alto Piemonte, Monferrato, and the Roero.
- Alba, Italy: The Langhe’s primary wine town, directly between Barbaresco and Barolo. The city of about 32000 residents makes a great home base area exploration. The Alba station services the Torino Porta Susa station with a direct route and Torino Porta Nuova with one transfer.
Barolo Italy Travel Planning: Functionality, practicality, geography
First, where do you want to stay in Barolo, Italy?
- in the countryside (quieter, more isolated),
- a village (a little more going on), or
- a city (more amenities, walkable)?
Travel Planning Considerations:
- Will you have a rental car? If yes: Stay pretty much anywhere as amenities are easily accessible. Will you get your rental car at the airport or pick it up when you get to the area? If the latter, note that here opening hours and locations aren’t always convenient. That said, plan in advance for 1) transportation to the rental car location, and 2) know the opening hours. Remember: rental car places close during lunch.
- If you aren’t driving, public transit into and around the area is limited, so consider the following for staying in a small village or the countryside:There are trains into Alba and Asti (but no directs between the two) and a bus route connecting Alba and Asti. This means that getting to countryside or village accommodations may require a driver or a taxi service. Taxi services are easier to find at the train station in Asti but are not always immediately available in Alba. You can schedule a driver service in advance; often your lodging can help with that. Public transportation for visiting Barolo and Barbaresco proves challenging without wheels (or, good hiking boots!) Ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft do not exist here. And, taxis generally need advanced booking. So, consider if you plan to stay in a more isolated location.
- A handful of bigger villages have enough going for a good selection of restaurants, wine bars, etc. I recommend those for folks who want something quieter, away from a city. Find a list of those villages below.
- Asti hotels and lodging are popular, but note that the city itself is about 25 to 30 minutes from Barbaresco and 40+ minutes from Barolo. There is a bus into Alba, but access to the Langhe and Roero is limited. That said, for those looking for convenience and accessibility, I recommend staying in Alba.
For our recommendations on Driver Services and area Car Rental locations, click here.
Geographical orientation: Map It!
Often people think they are staying in Alba, Italy but find their lodging is actually outside the city proper. So I stress using Google Maps to know the location in respect to your Barolo Italy travel goals.
I’ve had clients disappointed to realize they are staying well outside of the city of Alba and even further from the area’s main popular destinations of Barolo and Barbaresco because the information wasn’t communicated well during the booking process.
It can be that they are 5 to 10 km / 3 to 6 miles outside of Alba, so not walkable to the city center as they’d hoped. Or they are actually about 20 / 30 minutes away from Alba in a village or the countryside when they wanted the city itself.
Planning Tip:
For a benchmark in Alba, Italy, use Piazza Michele Ferrero (formerly Piazza Savona) or Piazza Risorgimento. These are Alba’s two main piazzas in the historic center.
Barolo Map: The Geography for choosing where to stay in Southwestern Piedmont wine country
Where to stay in Barolo wine country: The city of Alba, Italy
Alba is located about 50 km / 31 miles from Turin, the capital of the Piedmont region. The city is almost directly between Barolo and Barbaresco and near to the Roero. So, while not properly in Barolo, it’s quite close and is central for exploring the entire Southwestern Piedmont wine region.
Visitors enjoy easy access to amenities like restaurants, shopping, grocery stores, outdoor markets, post office, tourist office, etc.
Alba, Italy:
For Alba lodging, the historic center is your best bet. It’s small enough for a life-in-Italy vibe with everything you need nearby. Plus, the train station is less than five minutes by foot from Piazza Michele Ferrero.
Where to Stay in Barolo wine country: The Villages
Want to stay in a village, but don’t want to hassle with a car? Below is a list of villages where you will find dining options, walk-in tasting rooms, and shopping.
These villages are great for folks using a Barolo wine tour service and / or want to explore the area on foot or by bike. There are tons of vineyard hikes and nearly every village has a bike rental location (traditional road or mountain OR electric bike, which is so nice for the hefty hills).
Barolo Italy Villages
- Barolo: The village of Barolo has a pharmacy, restaurants, enotecas/wine shops, wineries, walk-in tasting rooms, and more. Don’t miss Enoteca La Vita Turchese – often we organize specialty tasting during my Barolo wine tours.
- La Morra: The highest point in the Langhe with a gorgeous viewpoint of the Barbaresco and Barolo villages as well as Alba. Great restaurants, bakeries, a tourist office, wine bars, and walk-in tasting rooms.
- Monforte: For me, probably the most charming Barolo village with captivating views and medieval architecture.
- Novello: One of the lesser-known villages with great energy, plenty of restaurants, and a gas station in the village!
- Verduno: I adore Verduno. It’s a little more sleepy than the others listed, but oozes character. Don’t miss the fabulous, rustic Trattoria dei Bercau.
- Castiglione Falletto: Also small, but bursting with fabulous authentic and fine dining options, as well as great lodging options. Visit Renza’s for lunch with one of the Langhe’s most amazing views.
And, there you have it: considerations for where to stay in the Barolo wine region.
More on Piedmont & Barolo Travel:
- When to visit Piedmont? Let’s review.
- Barolo wine tour planning tips
- Piedmont Travel: Alba White Truffle FAQs
- Barbaresco and Barolo wine tastings without appointments
- Insider’s Guide to Alba, Italy Restaurants
- Insider’s Guide to Barbaresco and Barolo Restaurants
- How to get to Alba, Italy: Planes, Trains, Automobiles
- How to do a Barolo day-trip from Turin
