October 2018
Perfect 4 Day Itinerary for Alba, Italy’s International White Truffle Festival
We feel in love with the Piedmonte region of Italy hard. On our second tour of Italy, we stumbled into the small town of Asti for the Douja d’Or festival, and it changed Italy for us forever. It was highlighted by so many wonderful memories- the wine, the festivals, the food- it was an experience that exceeded all expectations.
Returning to the Piedmont region in Italy was never a question of if, but when. While in Asti, we were told by multiple locals that the next visit to Piedmont had to be for the International White Truffle Festival– the gem of Alba. Coveted white truffles? We were all in.
Know before you go
- Getting to Alba is not the easiest journey but it is 100% worth it. We flew into Milan and took a series of three trains – one from the airport to Milan, one from Milan to Torino, and then the last leg from Torino to Alba.
- It is certainly handy to have some basic Italian under your belt as Alba attracts more local and European tourist than International ones. But do not worry, you will find English is still widely spoken.
- The city is not big so walking is the best way to get around.
- Make sure if you have a credit card with no foreign transaction fee – highly recommend getting one if not – that will be fine for your trip. You can also take out euros to use.
- Starting in 2025, if you are traveling international to any country in the Schengan Zone, you will have to complete a form prior to arrival, including a 7 euro application fee, for the ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorization System.
Get the Free DESKRIB Guide to learn how to use Google Flights to find the best flight deals – sign up here!
Where to stay?
Alba is not a large town so picking where you want comes down to which place fits your taste and budget. We stayed in this Airbnb – a converted convent – which worked perfectly.
Get the Free DESKRIB Guide “How to Find the Perfect Airbnb” – sign up here!
What is there to do?
We came to truffle and truffle we did. The International White Truffle Festival (Internazionale Tartufo Bianco d’Abla) takes place during weekends of October and November.
- The Truffle Show: There is the festival itself that has individuals selling hunted white truffles and other local vendors, as well as an area to order freshly made food with white truffle and regional wine.
- Events: There are events associated with the festival (some are free!), including educational session around cooking so make sure to check the schedule ahead of time.
- Donkey Palio: Taking place the first Sunday in October of the festival, I would suggest planning to make a part of your trip.
Not here for the festival? Fill the time exploring the nooks and crannies of Alba.
Go wine tasting! Piedmont is one of the kings of wine in the world – Barolo and Barbaresco reign supreme. Take advantage of discovering multiple areas in a general Piedmont wine tasting or focus on an area such as Barolo.
There are also many day trips to neighboring villages, such as Asti – the train connects this network very well.
Where to eat?
We came to truffle and truffle we did. There are endless opportunities to eat in Alba inside and outside of the festival and each of them is delicious.
- The going rate for an entree with white truffles was 40 euro – a steal because you get a mound of truffles. It’s heavenly and you will never had a white truffle meal at a cheaper price. Every meal we had was excellent – take a look at some of the dining reviews in the itinerary.
- For wine bar experience, head to Voglia di Vino
- Go to La Romana for gelato each and every daily
- La Piola for dinner was unique because of the massive cheese cart and very relaxed atmosphere
- Lalibera was the perfect introduction to our white truffle adventure
- For dinner in a cave, heard to Enoclub for a more formal experience
- And finally for a rustic, traditional meal go to Osteria dell’Arco
Here is a complete itinerary outline how to spend four days for Alba, Italy’s International White Truffle Festival!
| Day 0 | Arrive in Milan Transfer to Alba |
| Day 1 | Explore Alba |
| Day 2 | Wine tour: Barolo Wine Tour Piedmont Wine Tour |
| Day 3 | Truffle festival and Palio |
| Day 4 | Depart |