How to Get to Piedmont, Italy

Whether you’re flying over the Alps, taking a high-speed train from Rome, or driving along the stunning Ligurian coast, getting to Piedmont is all part of the magic. 

Nestled in Italy’s northwest corner, the region stretches from the Alps along the French and Swiss borders down to the rolling hills of Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato, with Turin as its elegant capital. 

Whether you’re planning a weekend of wine tasting, a ski trip in the mountains, or a city break, this guide breaks down the main options for getting to and around Piedmont.

What Airport Do You Fly into for Piedmont, Italy?

The main airport for the region is Turin-Caselle (TRN), about 16 km north of Turin. 

It’s well-connected to European hubs (London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, Madrid), and has seasonal flights to other destinations.

How to Get from Turin Airport to Turin City Centre

Getting from Caselle Airport into Turin is straightforward, with options to suit everyone.

• By bus: Two companies, Arriva Italia and Flibco, run frequent services linking the airport with central Turin. Journeys take 30–50 minutes, and fares start from €3.70 if booked online.
• By train: The new SFMA line whisks you to Porta Susa station in around 30 minutes for just €3.70—a quick and affordable way to arrive in the heart of the city.
• By taxi or Uber: For the most direct route, taxis and Ubers charge a fixed fare of €28–32, with travel times of about 30–40 minutes depending on traffic.

How to Get from Milan Airport to Turin

For long-haul flights, you’ll often arrive via Milan Malpensa (MXP) or Milan Linate (LIN).

From Malpensa (MXP):

• By train: Malpensa Express to Milan Porta Garibaldi (40 min, €15) + high-speed train to Turin Porta Susa/Nuova (2–2.5 hrs, €19–€61).
• By bus: Direct coaches via Flibco (€22) or FlixBus (€15), 1.5–2 hrs.
• By car: Turin is about 140 km from Milan Malpensa (1 hr 45 minutes).

From Linate (LIN):

• By train: Metro M4 "blue line" (€5, 30 min) or the Linate shuttle bus (€7, 25 min) to Milan Centrale, then a train to Turin. High-speed trains <1 hr (~€70), slower trains ~1h40min (~€25).
• By car: Milan Linate is about 160 km from Turin (2-2.5 hrs)

Other Airports

Genoa (GOA) can be useful if you’re combining Piedmont with the Ligurian coast. Bergamo (BGY) mostly serves budget airlines and is a longer onward journey.

How to Get to Piedmont, Italy by Train

Taking the train to Piedmont can be a romantic, leisurely way to travel. Turin is well-connected throughout Europe thanks to its location on international high-speed routes and regional lines that fan out across the region.

How to Get to Turin by Train

• Paris → Turin: High-speed TGV INOUI (SNCF) and Frecciarossa (TrenItalia), ~5h 40min direct. TGV: 3/day, Frecciarossa: 5/day. Fares from €27 in advance.
• Milan → Turin: Frequent Frecciarossa & Italo trains, 2–2.5 hrs. Fares €19–61. Serves Porta Susa & Porta Nuova.
• Rome → Turin: Trains throughout the day, 4.5–5 hrs. Hourly departures (first 06:00, last 19:00). Fares from €55. Arrives Porta Nuova.
• Florence → Turin: High-speed trains via Milan & Bologna, ~3 hrs. 53 departures/day (first 06:53, last 20:00). Fares €33–118.
• Geneva → Turin: SNCF Connect: 4/day; TrenItalia: 4–5/day. 5–5.5 hrs with change at Chambéry. Fares from €116 with Omio or €72 with RailEurope.
• Zurich → Turin: TrenItalia, 4.5–5 hrs via Milan Centrale, 37 departures/day. Fares €23–99 (Omio/RailEurope).

How to Get to Piedmont, Italy by Car

Piedmont is well connected by Italy’s autostrade network, making it an easy region to reach by car. Major motorways include the A4 (Milan–Turin), A21 (Turin–Asti–Alessandria–Piacenza), and A6 (Turin–Savona).

Driving from Milan to Turin takes around 1.5–2 hours (150 km), from Genoa 2.5 hours (200 km), and from Nice 3—3.5 hours.

Be aware that Piedmontese motorways are notoriously bad (think tunnels, narrow lanes, and looping, twisting flyovers through the mountains) and are almost always under maintenance, so journeys can take longer than you might expect.

If you’re coming from northern or central France, the quickest crossings are through the Mont Blanc Tunnel (towards Aosta and Courmayeur) or the Fréjus Tunnel (towards Susa and Turin). 

From southern France, enter Italy at Ventimiglia on the Ligurian coast, then follow the A10/A6 motorway north via Savona into Piedmont. This avoids the Alpine passes and lets you enjoy sea views before heading inland.

From Switzerland, you can enter via the Simplon Pass into Domodossola, or through Ticino and down the A9/A26 via Lake Maggiore.

In rural and mountainous areas, expect winding roads and occasional narrow stretches. In winter, snow chains or winter tyres are mandatory in Alpine zones.

How to Get Around Piedmont, Italy

Piedmont is a region of contrasts, and exploring it successfully means adapting your travel plans to its diverse landscapes—bustling cities, rolling vineyards, sparkling lakes, and towering mountains all have varying levels of accessibility.

Many visitors choose to hire a car for their entire stay, preferring the freedom to explore hidden corners and scenic backroads at their own pace—but the best way to get around often depends on where you’re headed.

Keep reading for a practical guide to getting to some of Piedmont’s most popular destinations.

Turin

If you’re staying in Turin, you won’t need a car. The city has a metro, tram, and bus system run by GTT, as well as taxi services.

Alba, Asti, and Alessandria

These three towns are the main gateways to Piedmont’s wine hills and are all reachable by regional train from Turin:

• Alba: Around 1 hr 10 mins, €6–8. Trains depart hourly from Turin Porta Nuova.
• Asti: About 35–45 mins, €4–6, with frequent departures throughout the day.
• Alessandria: Around 1 hr, €5–9, with multiple departures daily.

While the trains are reliable, services between smaller towns are limited. Alba has a small station but is walkable to the historic centre. From Asti and Alessandria, you can connect to local buses, but schedules are infrequent. 

The Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato (Wine Country)

Exploring this UNESCO-listed vineyard landscape is easiest by car—local buses are infrequent, taxis are scarce, and Uber is almost non-existent.

You can rent a car at Turin, Milan, or Genoa airports (€35–50/day) and drive straight to the Langhe, or take a train to Alba and pick up a car there.

The views make the journey unforgettable, though the narrow lanes and sharp bends require a small car and nerves of steel.

If you’d rather skip driving for wine tastings, hire a private driver or join a guided wine tour. For a slower, more active pace, e-bike and Vespa tours are a fun way to explore the countryside.

The Alps

For skiing and hiking, the Alps are easiest to access by car, although some train and bus services run to certain destinations.

• Turin → Sestriere: 1.5-2 hrs by car (100km). Or take a train to Oulx (one per hour, 1 hour 40, €4–15).
• Turin → Courmayeur: 1.5-2 hours by car, no direct train. 
• Turin → Chamonix: Flixbus offers a service with one change at Santhià (€24-€30, only Friday-Sun)
• Turin → Domodossola (gateway to the Simplon Pass and Switzerland): 1 hour 40-2 hours 15 hrs by regional train (Regionale), €11 with Omio.

The Lakes (Lake Maggiore & Orta)

Both lakes make easy day trips by car: 1.5–2 hrs from Turin, 1–1.5 hrs from Milan.

They’re also accessible by regional trains, though connections are more straightforward from Milan than Turin.

• Lake Maggiore (Stresa): From Milan Centrale it’s just 1 hr 15 mins (€8), while from Turin Porta Nuova it takes about 2 hrs 15 mins (€13). Stresa station is within walking distance of the lakefront and ferry terminal.
• Lake Orta (Orta-Miasino): From Turin, the trip takes 2 hrs 15–2 hrs 30 mins with a change (€13). Orta’s station is 1.5 km uphill from the lakeside village of Orta San Giulio—a pleasant walk if you’re travelling light, otherwise taxis and local buses are available.

The Sustainable Option: MaaS Piemonte

To encourage greener travel, Piedmont has launched MaaS for Tourism (Mobility as a Service), a digital initiative designed to make public transport more accessible for visitors. 

Travellers who sign up receive a €30 credit valid for 30 days, which can be used for trains, buses, taxis, shared mobility, and paid parking—all in one app. After your first trip, there’s an extra €10 bonus if you complete a short survey.

Currently, MaaS is available through partner apps WeTaxi and MooneyGo, which combine different transport modes into a single, personalised itinerary. The goal is to simplify travel across the region while reducing environmental impact—a useful option if you’d like to avoid renting a car but still move around with flexibility.

Seasonal and Practical Planning

Travel times and transport options vary by season. In spring and autumn, schedules are regular and the weather makes travel easy. 

Autumn is particularly popular in the wine hills thanks to the harvest and the Alba truffle fair, so book trains, cars, and accommodation well ahead.

In winter, Turin’s airport has additional flights to cater for ski travellers, and trains/buses to the mountains are more frequent. Be prepared for snow if driving into alpine areas.

In summer, flights and trains are plentiful, but the lower parts of Piedmont can be very hot. The mountains are more pleasant at this time of year, and resorts that are busy in winter become peaceful hiking bases.

Can't decide which part of Piedmont to visit first? Check out this Piedmont highlights infographic.

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