Piemonte: 7-day Itinerary
Discover Piemonte on a 7-day itinerary through elegant cities, vineyard-covered hills, historic villages and beautiful lakes, with mountain views and some of northern Italy’s most scenic countryside.
Day 1.
Turin Airport → Turin
Driving: ± 30–45 min
Pick up your rental car at Turin Airport and head into Piemonte’s elegant capital.
Explore Piazza Castello, walk beneath the city’s historic arcades and stop for a coffee in Piazza San Carlo. If your arrival time allows, cross the River Po and walk up to Monte dei Cappuccini for a beautiful view over Turin’s rooftops.
End your first day with dinner in the lively Quadrilatero Romano district.
Stay: Turin
Day 2.
Turin → Sacra di San Michele → Avigliana → Turin
Driving: ± 2–2 hr 30 total
Head west towards the mountains and visit the Sacra di San Michele, a dramatic abbey rising above the entrance to the Susa Valley.
Allow time for the walk from the parking area and the steps inside the abbey, with sweeping views across the surrounding landscape.
Continue to Avigliana for a wander through its medieval old town, then enjoy a relaxed stop beside Lago Grande before returning to Turin.
Stay: Turin
Day 3.
Turin → Alba → Barbaresco → Alba
Driving: ± 1 hr 45–2 hr total
Leave the city behind and travel south into the rolling countryside of the Langhe.
Spend the morning exploring Alba’s historic centre, with its red-brick cathedral, narrow streets and shops selling local specialities. After lunch, continue to Barbaresco for a stroll through the village and views over the surrounding vineyards.
Return to Alba for dinner and try a local dish such as tajarin pasta.
Stay: Alba or a nearby countryside agriturismo
Day 4.
Alba → La Morra → Barolo → Monforte d’Alba → Alba
Driving: ± 1 hr 30 total
Spend the day exploring the vineyard landscapes and hilltop villages of the Langhe.
Start in La Morra, where the Belvedere opens onto a patchwork of vineyards and distant villages. Continue to Barolo for a walk through its compact centre before heading to Monforte d’Alba, with steep lanes leading towards its atmospheric upper square.
Take your time between stops and enjoy a long lunch. If you book a wine tasting, arrange transport or choose a designated driver.
Stay: Alba or a nearby countryside agriturismo
Day 5.
Alba → Orta San Giulio → Isola San Giulio
Driving: ± 2 hr 15–2 hr 45, excluding boat trip
Travel north towards Lago d’Orta, where wooded hills surround one of Piemonte’s most beautiful lakes.
Explore the narrow streets of Orta San Giulio and stop in Piazza Motta for your first view of the island. Take a boat to Isola San Giulio and follow its quiet lanes past historic buildings beside the water.
Return to the village for a relaxed evening and dinner overlooking the lake.
Stay: Orta San Giulio or nearby
Day 6.
Orta San Giulio → Stresa → Borromean Islands
Driving: ± 45–60 min, excluding boat trips
Continue to Stresa on the western shore of Lake Maggiore and spend the day exploring the Borromean Islands.
Visit Isola Bella for its palace and terraced gardens, then continue to Isola dei Pescatori for narrow lanes, colourful waterfront houses and a lakeside lunch.
Return to Stresa in the late afternoon for a walk along the promenade. Check seasonal palace opening dates and boat timetables before planning your island visits.
Stay: Stresa
Day 7.
Stresa → Mergozzo → Turin Airport
Driving: ± 2 hr 15–2 hr 45 total
If you have a late flight, enjoy one final lakeside stop before heading home.
Drive to Mergozzo, where colourful houses and a small village square overlook the water. Wander through the stone lanes, enjoy a morning coffee and take a short walk beside the lake.
Continue to Turin Airport, return your rental car and fly home. For an earlier departure, skip Mergozzo and drive directly from Stresa to the airport.
Explore more of Piemonte
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Piemonte Travel Guide
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