White Truffle Season in Piedmont: A Fall Trip to Alba and the Langhe

White truffle season in Piedmont is the best reason to plan a fall trip to northern Italy. From October 10 to December 6, 2026, the town of Alba hosts its International White Truffle Fair, now in its 96th edition, while the surrounding Langhe hills turn gold and red after the Barolo and Barbaresco harvest.

This guide covers when to go, how the fair works, what a truffle hunt is really like, where to eat, and three historic hotels in the heart of the Langhe where you can base yourself for a few nights.

When is white truffle season?

The white truffle, Tuber magnatum Pico, is harvested in Piedmont from early fall to the end of the year, with the best specimens usually found between late October and November. The Alba White Truffle Fair runs on weekends throughout that period: the heart of it is the World White Truffle Market in the Cortile della Maddalena, where certified truffles are weighed and sold, alongside tastings, cooking shows and wine events.

Prices change every week with the season and the weather, so treat any figure you read in advance as indicative. A few grams shaved over fresh egg pasta at dinner are enough to understand what the fuss is about.

What a truffle hunt is really like

A truffle hunt is less a show than a walk in the woods with someone who has done it all his life. The trifolau leads the way with his dog, often a Lagotto Romagnolo, the breed most used in Italy for its nose and temperament. Truffles grow underground, near the roots of oaks, poplars, willows and lime trees, and there is nothing to see until the dog stops and starts to dig. That is when the hunter steps in with a small spade, the sapin, to lift the truffle out without damaging it or the roots around it.

Hunts usually take place in the morning and last an hour or two. The white truffle is the prize from October to mid-January; outside that window the dogs look for the summer and winter black truffle, less rare but just as good a reason to spend a morning in the woods.

At Foresteria delle Vigne, one of the three hotels in this guide, the hunt takes place in the Bosco dei Pensieri, the last surviving wood of the Barolo Langa, inside a 120-hectare nature reserve on the Fontanafredda estate. The Truffle Hunt in the Land of Barolo experience combines a night at the hotel with a private hunt for two, led by an expert trifolau and his dog.

What to do in the Langhe in the fall

• Go on a truffle hunt. Local trifolau (truffle hunters) take small groups into the woods with their dogs, usually in the morning. Book a few days ahead and wear shoes you do not mind getting muddy.
• Taste Barolo where it is made. The villages of Barolo, La Morra and Serralunga d'Alba are 15 to 20 minutes apart. Many wineries receive visitors by appointment only, so plan two visits a day at most.
• Visit Pollenzo. The former royal estate near Bra is home to the University of Gastronomic Sciences and its Wine Bank, a good stop to understand Piedmont's food culture.
• Walk a UNESCO landscape. The vineyard landscapes of the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014: even a short walk between two villages gives you the views.

Where to eat: practical tips

• The classic dishes: tajarin (thin egg pasta), vitello tonnato, beef tartare and fonduta, all better with white truffle on top.
• Ask before it is shaved. Truffle is usually priced by the gram and weighed at the table: agree on the amount before the waiter starts.
• Book weekends early. During the fair, the best-known restaurants around Alba fill up weeks in advance, especially on Saturday nights.

How to get there

Alba is about an hour's drive from Turin airport and around two hours from Milan Malpensa. A rental car is the easiest way to move between villages; if you prefer not to drive after wine tastings, hire a local driver for the day. For a longer route through the region, see our Turin, Langhe and Monferrato journey.

Where to stay in the Langhe

Foresteria delle Vigne – Serralunga d'Alba (Piedmont)

Built in 1864 and 1865 inside the Villaggio Narrante at Fontanafredda, the historic estate linked to the House of Savoy, a few steps from the Villa Reale. The Foresteria blends its 19th-century architecture with modern comfort and puts you among the vineyards, 15 minutes from Alba.

Le Case dei Conti Mirafiore – Fontanafredda (Piedmont)

Also inside the Villaggio Narrante, this four-star hotel occupies the houses built in the 1930s for the estate's workers and their families. Today the rooms look out over the vineyards, and you can walk to the cellars for a tasting before dinner.

Albergo dell'Agenzia – Pollenzo, Bra (Piedmont)

In the royal estate of Pollenzo, next to the University of Gastronomic Sciences: 47 rooms and suites named after the great crus of the Langhe and Roero, with coffered ceilings, fireplaces and Savoy-style furniture. A good base for travelers who put food first.

Check availability for your truffle season dates: fair weekends are the first to sell out in the Langhe. Choose your hotel and dates below.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Alba White Truffle Fair in 2026?

From October 10 to December 6, 2026, with the main market and events on weekends.

How many days do I need in the Langhe?

Three nights let you combine the fair, a truffle hunt and two or three winery visits without rushing.

Do I need a car?

It is the easiest option, since villages and wineries are spread across the hills. A private driver is a good alternative on tasting days.

Keep planning

Not sure how to fit Piedmont into your first trip to Italy? Our Plan your trip page can help you build the route, and our journeys connect several historic hotels in one itinerary. We are a small team based near Venice, and you always book directly with the hotel.