Alessandria is an often underrated city, yet full of history and character: an elegant capital in the heart of the plain, where Piedmont meets Lombardy and Liguria. It was born as a fortress and grew as a city of business and trade, and still today it’s a practical base for those travelling between the great cities of the North-West or exploring the hills of Monferrato. Here is where to stay best, with the small addresses we choose one by one, never by hearsay.
Choosing where to stay in Alessandria is simple and concentrated in the city: most of the places are in the centre or just outside, handy for the station and well connected. Let’s look at the city, what makes it special and where it’s best to stop.
Alessandria, the star-shaped city
Alessandria’s symbol is the Citadel, an imposing 18th-century star-shaped bastioned fortress with an unmistakable hexagonal layout: it’s one of the best-preserved of its kind in Europe, today open to visitors and a stage for events, even if parts of the complex are still under restoration. Crossing its bastions and vast military spaces, just beyond the river Tanaro, is a plunge into history. In the centre, the city offers elegant streets, squares and arcades, churches and palaces that tell of its past as a capital of trade.
Alessandria is above all the “city of the hat”: this is where the famous Borsalino was born, the felt hat that became a style icon around the world. That story lives on in the Borsalino Museum, dedicated to the brand and its craft, with its extraordinary collection: a unique piece of the city’s identity (it’s worth checking opening days and hours before your visit). It’s the thread linking the city to fashion and quality craftsmanship, one more reason to stop.
Just outside the city stretches the plain of Marengo, which evokes the famous Napoleonic battle of 1800: here Napoleon won a decisive victory, remembered by the Marengo Museum, in the setting of Villa Delavo (opening usually limited to weekends, best to check before going). It’s a corner of great historic charm, a few minutes from the centre. The addresses we choose in the city:
Alli Due Buoi Rossi
A historic hotel in the heart of Alessandria, among the city’s most famous and long-standing, with elegant rooms and well-kept spaces a stone’s throw from Piazza della Libertà. The charm of a long-established hospitality tradition, in a truly central position. Ideal for those who want to experience the centre on foot, between history, shops and good food.
LVG Hotel Collection – Al Mulino
A modern, well-equipped four-star, appreciated for the comfort of its rooms and its practical location for those travelling by car. The convenience of a full-service hotel, ideal both for a business trip and for a stop between the cities of the North-West. A solid, reliable base for discovering Alessandria and its surroundings.
La Suite del Doge
An intimate private suite with a jacuzzi, fireplace and independent entrance, for a private, secluded stay in the city. The pleasure of a romantic getaway for two, with that extra touch of pampering that makes the difference. Ideal for a couple seeking privacy and atmosphere, away from the larger hotels.
All the small hotels in Alessandria →
When to go
Alessandria is worth a visit all year round, but it’s at its best in the shoulder seasons. In spring and autumn the weather is ideal for strolling in the centre, exploring the Citadel and heading out into the hills of Monferrato, with the colours of the grape harvest in autumn. Summer on the plain can be hot and humid, but it’s lively with events and festivals in the surroundings; winter is quiet and suited to a city stay, among museums, cafés and good food. As a convenient, well-connected base, it lends itself to short stays at any time of year.
Getting there
Alessandria has always been a major railway junction: the station is a crossroads of lines linking Turin, Genoa and Milan, which makes it very easy to reach by train from across the North-West. By car you arrive from the exits of the A21 (Turin–Piacenza) and A26 motorways, with several exits serving the city. Its strategic position, halfway between the great cities, has always been its distinctive trait.
For the full picture on roads, trains and getting around the region: how to get to Piedmont. Alessandria is the gateway to Monferrato and pairs well with the town of art of Asti and the vineyards of the Langhe.
This guide is part of our grand tour of the region: discover all the destinations and areas in Where to Stay in Piedmont.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we’re asked most often about where to stay in Alessandria.
Where is the best area to stay in Alessandria?
The most convenient choice is the city centre or its immediate surroundings: this is where most of the places are, within walking distance of squares, arcades and museums, and well connected to the station. As a practical base for those travelling between Turin, Milan and Genoa, the central location and proximity to the rail junction are what matter most.
What is there to see in Alessandria?
The symbol is the Citadel, an imposing 18th-century star-shaped fortress among the best preserved in Europe. In the centre, the squares, arcades and elegant palaces tell of the city of the hat, home of Borsalino, celebrated by the Borsalino Museum. Just outside, the plain of Marengo evokes the Napoleonic battle of 1800, with its museum.
Why is Alessandria the “city of the hat”?
Alessandria is the home of Borsalino, the famous felt hat founded here in the mid-19th century and turned into a style icon around the world, from cinema to fashion. This craft tradition is one of the city’s defining traits and is told by the Borsalino Museum; it’s worth checking its hours and opening before visiting.
What is the Citadel of Alessandria?
It’s a great 18th-century military fortress with a hexagonal layout and star-shaped bastions, built beyond the river Tanaro: one of the best-preserved bastioned fortresses in Europe. Today it’s open to visitors and hosts events, though parts are still under restoration. It’s the city’s symbolic monument.
How do you get to Alessandria?
By train it’s very convenient: the station is a major railway junction linking Turin, Genoa and Milan. By car you arrive from the exits of the A21 Turin–Piacenza and A26 motorways. Its strategic position halfway between the great cities of the North-West makes it an easy base to reach from any direction.
