Asti is one of the finest and liveliest towns of art in Piedmont: an old town rich in medieval towers — it once had so many it was called the “town of a hundred towers” — of churches, palaces and elegant squares like Piazza Alfieri. But above all it’s a wine capital: it’s the home of Barbera d’Asti and the famous sparkling wines, in the heart of the Monferrato wine landscapes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you’ll find where to stay best, with the small addresses we choose one by one, never by hearsay.
It’s a town that’s easily visited in a couple of days, but it also works as a base for exploring the surrounding hills, among cellars, villages and excellent tables. The choice of where to sleep, then, depends on what you’re after: the convenience and life of the centre, or the quiet and the views of the vineyards. Let’s look at both.
In town: sleeping among the towers
The centre of Asti is a tangle of arcaded streets, towers, churches and squares, all made for walking. From Piazza Alfieri, the town’s drawing room, you reach on foot the Collegiate of San Secondo, the Cathedral and the many venues to taste Asti cooking accompanied by a glass of Barbera. It’s here that, every year, the town lives its headline moments: in September the famous Palio with its historic race, the Festival of the Sagre and the Douja d’Or, the great wine fair. Staying in the centre means having everything on the doorstep and living the town in the evening too. The addresses we choose in town:
Hotel Lis
A family-run hotel in the heart of Asti, a short walk from the station, with private parking and air conditioning in every room. The convenience of a well-placed hotel for those arriving by train or moving around a lot, with the old town within reach. Great for a visit in town and as a practical base in Monferrato.
WellHome Asti Premium Apartments
Air-conditioned apartments in the centre of Asti, fitted with a private terrace, an equipped kitchen and access to the garden. The independence of a home in the heart of town, with outdoor space and services within reach. Ideal for families and for those who want their own rhythm, staying on foot from towers, squares and restaurants.
Ex Villa Gastaldi
A refined bed and breakfast in Asti, with a garden, a terrace and views over the town, free private parking and well-kept spaces. The charm of a residence with a panoramic outlook, handy for the centre yet set in the green. Attentive hospitality. Perfect for a couple after elegance and quiet a stone’s throw from the towers.
All the small hotels in Asti →
On the hills of the Asti Monferrato
The real charm of Asti are the hills that surround it: a sea of UNESCO vineyards dotted with farmhouses, villages and cellars, where Barbera and the sparkling wines are born. Sleeping among the vines, in a farmhouse or a country relais, means waking up in the silence of the rows, with the pool and good food within reach, and the tastings a few minutes away. It’s the choice for lovers of wine, nature and relaxation:
Al Canei B&B
A country bed and breakfast among the hills of the Variglie hamlet, with free bicycles, a garden, a terrace and private parking. The quiet of the vines a few minutes from the town, perfect for cycling among the rows and returning at sunset. A warm welcome. Ideal for those who want to experience Monferrato between nature and cellars.
Tenuta degli Angeli Rossi
A bed and breakfast set among the Asti hills, with an outdoor pool, a garden and air-conditioned rooms: a relaxing base for exploring the Monferrato vines. The pleasure of a swim after a day among cellars and villages, with the rows all around. Perfect for a couple or a family after quiet and greenery.
Le Cattedrali Relais
A luxury relais set in the Asti countryside, with a seasonal pool, a spa with sauna and Turkish bath, an in-house restaurant and elegant suites. The height of comfort among the vines, for those after a stay to savour at leisure, between wellness and fine dining. Ideal for a romantic escape or a special occasion in Monferrato.
When to go
September, the month of the Palio
It’s the headline period: the town lives its most intense moment with the Palio di Asti, the historic horse race traditionally held on the first Sunday of September in Piazza Alfieri, the Festival of the Sagre and the Douja d’Or, the great wine fair. They’re wonderful but much sought-after days: book well ahead, because the town and the hills fill up.
Spring and summer
The ideal seasons for the hills: mild weather for cycling and walking among the vineyards, cellars open and farmhouses with a pool at their best. Spring brings the deep green of the rows, summer the long evenings and the village festivals. A perfect time for wine tourism and for experiencing Monferrato in the open air.
Autumn and winter
Autumn is the season of the harvest and of flavours, with warm colours on the hills and Asti cooking at its best, from tajarin to raw meat accompanied by Barbera. Winter is quieter, with the town cosy and prices gentler: ideal for an escape of art and taste away from the crowds.
Getting here
Asti is very easy to reach: it’s on the Turin–Genoa railway line, with fast links from both cities, and it’s well served by the A21 Turin–Piacenza motorway. The reference airports are Turin-Caselle and Milan Malpensa. The town is wonderful to get around on foot, but to explore the hills and cellars of Monferrato a car is almost essential.
For the full picture on trains, roads and getting around the region: how to get to Piedmont. From Asti you carry on easily among the wine hills: take a look too at where to stay in Monferrato and, a little to the south, where to stay in 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 Asti.
Which is the best area to stay in Asti?
The old town, among the towers and Piazza Alfieri, is the choice for experiencing the town on foot, with restaurants and venues on the doorstep; it’s handy for those arriving by train too. Those after nature and wine can instead sleep on the hills of the Asti Monferrato, in a farmhouse or a relais among the vines, a few minutes from the town.
Is Asti a good base for wine tourism in Monferrato?
Yes, it’s one of the best: it’s the home of Barbera d’Asti and the sparkling wines, in the heart of the UNESCO Monferrato wine landscapes. Sleeping here, in town or among the hills, you reach cellars, villages and excellent tables in a few minutes, and you’re close to the Langhe too.
When is the Palio di Asti held?
The Palio, the historic horse race, is traditionally held on the first Sunday of September in Piazza Alfieri. September is the town’s headline month, with the Festival of the Sagre and the Douja d’Or wine fair too: on those days demand for accommodation is very high, so it’s worth booking well ahead.
What is there to see in Asti?
The old town with its medieval towers, Piazza Alfieri, the Collegiate of San Secondo and the Cathedral, among arcaded streets and palaces. Then the hills of the Asti Monferrato with their cellars. It’s a town of art and wine, ideal to experience on foot between a monument and a glass of Barbera.
How do you get to Asti?
By train, on the Turin–Genoa line, with fast links from both cities; by car on the A21 Turin–Piacenza motorway. The reference airports are Turin-Caselle and Milan Malpensa. The town is walkable, but for the hills and cellars it’s best to have a car.
