Getting to Piedmont is simple: the region is well connected with the rest of Italy and abroad, thanks to an international airport, high-speed lines and a motorway network that touches every corner, from the Alps to the lakes, from the wine hills to the plain. The choice of transport depends above all on the area you want to reach and where you’re coming from, as well as the kind of trip you have in mind.
In this guide we look at how to arrive by air, by train and by car, how to get around once you’re there, and where it’s best to start for each area. For the complete picture of destinations, start instead from our guide on where to stay in Piedmont.
By air
The region’s main airport is Turin-Caselle “Sandro Pertini”, about fifteen kilometres north of the capital, with domestic and international flights. It’s linked to the city both by bus and shuttle and by train: since September 2025 the railway line with the “Caselle Aeroporto” stop is running again, taking you conveniently towards the centre of Turin. It’s the most direct choice for those heading to Turin, the Langhe, Val di Susa and the south of the region.
For the lakes (Maggiore and Orta) and the east of Piedmont, the most practical airport is often Milan Malpensa, very close to the Verbano area and well connected by bus and train to Lake Maggiore. Alternatively you can also use Milan Linate, Bergamo-Orio al Serio and Genoa, depending on the routes and your final destination.
Finally, there’s Cuneo-Levaldigi airport, handy for the south of the region but with very limited traffic and few routes: it should be considered a minor airport, not a real alternative to Turin or Milan. It’s always worth comparing the options based on your departure point and the area you want to reach.
From all the main airports it’s easy to rent a car, the most flexible option for those who then want to explore the hills, the valleys or the lakeshore. Alternatively, from Malpensa and Turin-Caselle buses and trains run directly to the main cities and to Lake Maggiore, handy for those travelling light and choosing a well-connected base. Those arriving from abroad will find Turin and Milan the two reference hubs, with quick connections to the whole region.
By train
Piedmont is well served by high-speed rail. Turin has two major stations, Porta Nuova and Porta Susa: the latter is the through stop for fast trains, with frequent connections to Milan (just over an hour) and direct trains towards Rome and the south. It’s the most convenient and sustainable way to reach the capital and, from there, continue by regional train to the other areas. Fast trains also link Turin with Bologna, Florence and Venice, making Piedmont an easy destination from much of Italy; at peak times it’s worth booking a seat a little in advance.
In the north of the region, Domodossola is a major international rail junction on the Simplon line (Milan-Domodossola-Brig-Bern), from which the scenic Vigezzina-Centovalli line also departs towards Locarno, in Switzerland. The plain cities — Novara and Vercelli on the Turin-Milan line, Alessandria a junction towards Genoa — are all well connected, as is Cuneo, on the lines from Turin and on the scenic railway towards Ventimiglia and the Riviera.
The latter, the Cuneo-Ventimiglia, is one of Europe’s most scenic railways, though today its regular service is reduced; in the warmer months the historic “Ferrovia delle Meraviglie” trains return, a real travel experience. Those arriving from France by train pass through Turin thanks to the fast links towards Lyon and Paris: in 2026, however, the Fréjus-Maurienne line is affected by works with scheduled suspensions (including a closure between mid-September and early October 2026, with replacement buses), so it’s always worth checking updated timetables on Trenitalia and SNCF before travelling.
Within the region, the regional rail network connects the cities and many smaller destinations extensively, with Turin as the main interchange hub. In the capital, the automatic metro and the tram and bus lines make it easy to move around without a car between stations, museums and districts. For those travelling with lots of luggage or ski gear, though, it’s worth checking regional connections towards the valley resorts in advance, as they aren’t always very frequent in the evening: in those cases a car or local shuttles can make the difference.
By car
For those arriving by car, Piedmont sits at the centre of a dense motorway network linking every area. The main ones are: A4 Turin-Milan; A5 Turin-Aosta, towards Mont Blanc; A6 Turin-Savona, towards the Riviera; A21 Turin-Piacenza, the “wine motorway” touching Asti and Alessandria; A26 Genoa-Gravellona Toce, climbing towards the lakes; A32 Turin-Bardonecchia, towards the Fréjus tunnel and France; and A33 Asti-Cuneo, towards the south of the region.
The car is especially useful for reaching the hills of the Langhe and Monferrato, the Alpine valleys and the lakeshore, where public transport only goes so far. In Turin and the larger cities it’s worth checking restricted-traffic zones (ZTL) and parking in advance, often paid in the centre. For those entering or leaving towards France, besides the Fréjus (A32) there’s the Colle di Tenda pass, on the Cuneo side: the tunnel, however, runs on single-lane alternating traffic with time windows and is subject to works and scheduled closures in 2026, so it must always be checked in advance on official channels before planning the trip.
Internal distances are short: from Turin you reach the Langhe, Val di Susa or Lake Maggiore in about an hour, and much of the valleys and ski resorts in an hour and a half. In winter, on mountain roads and many stretches, winter equipment is compulsory — winter tyres or chains on board — generally from mid-November to mid-April: it’s best to equip yourself before heading up to the snow resorts, where conditions can change quickly.
Getting around Piedmont
Once you’ve arrived, the best way to get around depends on the area. Between the cities — Turin, Novara, Vercelli, Alessandria, Cuneo, Asti — the train is convenient and frequent, and lets you move without worrying about parking. For the wine hills, the Alpine valleys and the small villages, however, the car remains almost essential: scenic roads link farmhouses, cellars and villages that public transport only partly serves.
On the lakes, the most charming way to travel is by boat: on Lake Maggiore the service links Stresa, the Borromean Islands, Verbania and the Lombardy shore, while on Lake Orta boats take you to the Island of San Giulio. In the mountains, in winter many ski resorts offer ski-buses and shuttles to the lifts, handy for leaving the car at the hotel. In any case, for the more remote villages and valley destinations the car gives you the most freedom.
Piedmont is also a region to enjoy by bicycle: among the rice paddies of the Vercelli and Novara areas and on the hills of the Langhe and Monferrato run much-loved cycle routes, often well signposted and served by rentals, including e-bikes. It’s a slow, pleasant way to discover the territory in the warmer months, to combine with a handy local base. Those who prefer not to drive can also count, in the cities, on taxis and rental services, and on a good number of bus connections to the smaller towns.
Where to start, area by area
Here, in brief, is the most convenient way to reach each area of Piedmont, with a link to the dedicated guide on where to stay.
Turin and Val di Susa. Turin-Caselle airport and the high-speed stations of Porta Nuova and Porta Susa; for the snow of Val di Susa you continue by car on the A32 or by train to Oulx and Bardonecchia. The starting base for everything: Turin.
The wine hills. For the Langhe, Asti, Monferrato and Alessandria you arrive by train at Alba, Asti or Alessandria and continue by car among the vineyards, or directly by car on the A21 and A33. The car is the best choice for touring the cellars.
The lakes. For Lake Maggiore, Verbania and Lake Orta the handiest airport is Milan Malpensa; by train you reach Stresa and Verbania on the Simplon line, or Orta-Miasino on the Novara-Domodossola line. On site, boats and car.
The northern mountains. For Alagna Valsesia you drive up from the A26 (Romagnano-Ghemme exit); for the Val d’Ossola the reference is Domodossola, a Simplon junction, and the A26 to Gravellona Toce. In the valleys, the car is the most practical option.
The Cuneo area and the Southern Alps. For Cuneo, Mondovì and Limone Piemonte you arrive by train from Turin or by car on the A6 and A33; Limone is also on the scenic line to Ventimiglia. A quiet, well-connected base.
Biella and the rice cities. For Biella, Vercelli and Novara you arrive easily by train (Novara and Vercelli are on the Turin-Milan line) and by car on the A4 and A26. Handy plain bases.
And if your journey continues towards the great mountains of the north-west, discover also where to stay in the Aosta Valley, beyond the border of the Alps.
Practical travel tips
A few extra precautions help you set off with peace of mind. In high season — the truffle-and-harvest autumn in the Langhe, summer on the lakes, snowy winter weekends in the mountains — it’s worth booking both your stay and, if needed, your rental car in advance: the most popular destinations fill up quickly. Outside these periods Piedmont remains a quiet region, where getting around is easy even at the last minute.
For those travelling by car, much of the network is tolled: an electronic toll device speeds up the tollgates, but you can also pay easily by card and cash. Electric cars now find charging points in the cities, along the motorways and in the main tourist spots, though in the more remote valleys the network is sparser: it’s best to plan charging in advance. An eye on the weather, finally, is always useful in the mountains and on the passes, where conditions can change rapidly.
The underlying advice stays simple: choose your transport based on the area. For the cities and the lakes, train and boat are more than enough; for the wine hills and the Alpine valleys, the car gives you the freedom to stop at every farmhouse, cellar or viewpoint along the way.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we’re asked most often about how to get to Piedmont.
Which is the most convenient airport for Piedmont?
The main airport is Turin-Caselle, ideal for Turin, the Langhe, Val di Susa and the south of the region, and connected to the city by train too. For the lakes (Maggiore and Orta) and the east of Piedmont, Milan Malpensa is often more practical. Cuneo-Levaldigi is a minor airport with few routes.
Can you visit Piedmont without a car?
Partly yes: cities like Turin, Novara, Vercelli, Alessandria and Cuneo are well connected by train, and on the lakes you get around by boat. But for the hills of the Langhe and Monferrato, the Alpine valleys and the small villages a car is almost essential, because public transport only goes so far.
How far is Turin from Milan by train?
With high-speed rail, Turin and Milan are connected in just over an hour, with frequent trains from Porta Susa and Porta Nuova. Fast direct trains also run from Turin towards Rome and southern Italy. It’s the most convenient and sustainable way to reach the capital and then continue by regional train to the other areas.
How do you get to Piedmont from France?
By car through the Fréjus tunnel (A32) towards Turin, or over the Colle di Tenda pass on the Cuneo side; by train with the fast Turin-Lyon-Paris links. Be aware, though: in 2026 both the Fréjus-Maurienne railway line and the Tenda tunnel are affected by works and scheduled closures, so it’s worth checking timetables and the status of the passes on official channels before travelling.
What is the best way to tour the Langhe and Monferrato?
For the wine hills the car is the best choice: it lets you reach cellars, farmhouses and villages scattered among the vineyards, linked by scenic roads that public transport only partly serves. You can arrive by train at Alba, Asti or Alessandria and rent a car, or arrive directly by car on the A21 and A33 motorways.
