Mmmm, delicious Alba! Capital of white truffles, white peaches, dark cherries, dark chocolate and dark wine. Beautiful Alba too, surrounded by vineyards growing the dark grapes which will eventually fill your bottle of Barolo, hazelnut groves, orchards, woods, and lush vegetable fields. Add to the views castles, medieval villas and Roman ruins, and you get a town that’s as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the palate. For our Gurus some of the best places to stay in Alba will always be restaurants with rooms, but in the oldest part of town there are some charming traditional hotels, villa conversions, and B&Bs, and just outside of town, there are a number of fantastic agriturismo and converted farm estates.

During the 14th and 15th centuries Alba was known as the ‘City with a hundred towers’, now it doesn’t have that many, but it still has more than you’d expect from a centre of this size. Alba also has a number of beautiful churches, impressive Roman ruins, and an excellent archaeological museum. So there’s plenty to entertain yourself outside meals and cooking classes. Some of the churches present regular choral and chamber concerts, and there are food festivals arranged throughout the year. Some of the best places to stay in Alba play host to some of these events too, which could add something extra special to your visit. The landscape around Alba is dominated by vine rows — there are around 300 local wineries. And if you need something to bribe the kids with, Alba is where Nutella and Ferrero Rocher were born! It’s well known for its gelato too. 

But don't forget to book well ahead if you're planning to visit during one of the town's many festivals or truffle season, the best places to stay in Alba are extremely popular!

The Best Places to Stay in Alba

For a Rural Escape

• The Castello di Sinio is a rather grand castle, set on a hill overlooking its own lands and vineyards. You can see the castle’s clock tower for miles around. Within the traditionally square stone facade are 18 rooms and suites, with rustic features, like exposed stone and beams, and tiled floors. but very comfortable, even opulent, furnishings. Outside are beautiful gardens, with fountains, fragrant herbs and kitchen gardens. The hotel restaurant offers cooking classes, and wine tastings of estate wines. It also offers cheese, chocolate and truffle tastings in season. Children over ten welcome.

For Foodies

• Cascina Barac is a beautiful agriturismo surrounded by vineyard-clad hills. Within the villa are ten rustic rooms and suites, decorated with warm shades of terracotta and antique furniture. Wine grown on the estate is served in the excellent restaurant, and in season you’re able to search for truffles on the estate. Children are welcome — and are often excellent truffle hunters!
• The Villa La Favorita is a charmingly rustic converted villa in the countryside just outside Alba. Its seven individually designed rooms are decorated with an Italian eye for style and plenty of character. Breakfast is hearty, and there’s an excellent wine list, built up using wines from the estate and other local vintages. The estate also produces cherries, figs and pomegranates, and between September and December you can go truffle hunting with the hotel’s local expert.

For Great Value

• The Casa Pavesi is a pretty,19th Century house turned small hotel, in the countryside just to the south of Alba. It has 12 rooms and suites, all elegantly decorated — some with four-poster beds and views of the Langhe hills. Breakfast is served on the sunny terrace, which also has panoramic views, and there are large gardens all around the hotel. 

For a Private apartment or villa

• If you think a self-catering option would best suit your needs then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• The closest international airports to Alba are: Turin Airport, which is about an hour away by car, or just under three hours by public transport; and Milan’s Malpensa Airport and Linate Airport, which are just under two hours away by car, or four hours by public transport. If you’re travelling within Europe you might also want to consider travelling by train.
• If you plan to hire a car, which we would advise if you want to get out and explore further afield, we recommend you visit our online partner Rentalcars.
• The most famous time of year in Alba is truffle season! Which is during late autumn, with the truffle fair running between October and the beginning of December. Autumn is also wine harvesting season, but the major wine events in the Langhe are in late April, early May. If you’re considering the weather when planning your visit, it’s useful to know that Alba’s climate is temperate, with plenty of rain in the spring and autumn. Summers are warm, with maximum temperatures in the mid 20°Cs. Easter is a wonderful time to visit Italy, because there are festivities everywhere, and Christmas offers similar cheer to break the cold, and frequently snowy, weather.

Still not sure where to stay?

• You could expand your search to include all the best places to stay in Piedmont
• Or just the best places to stay in nearby Turin or Asti
• You might also refine your search by the type of accommodation you’re looking for, the best wine hotels in Piedmont, for example
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.