Asti and a good glass of red wine. Shaped by Gothic towers, palazzi and wine bars, this is a place to truly unwind. Set gently among the hills of Astesana, Monferrato and Langa, the surroundings invite lovely trips into the vineyards or to nearby Alba, the truffle capital. Come in September if you want to feel the tingle of Italy’s oldest palio.
Top Highlights of Asti
Itinerary for 1–2 Days in Asti
Day 1: Explore the City
In the afternoon, Palazzo Mazzetti offers fascinating insights into the region’s art and history. Evening is best spent in a wine bar: a glass of Barbera d’Asti or Nizza DOCG shows the difference between elegant and fruity versus deep and spicy, while Moscato d’Asti or a sparkling Alta Langa provides a sweet or lively finish. Tip: The Smarticket makes it easy to enter several museums in one day.
Day 2: Trips into the Surroundings
In September Asti is in a festive mood. Whether at the Douja d’Or, when palazzi turn into wine salons, or at the Festival delle Sagre, when whole streets become a village fair, be sure to catch at least one of these events.
More info at Visit Asti.
Travel Essentials
How many days do you need for Asti?
One day is enough to see the cathedral, the tower and Palazzo Mazzetti. With two days you have time for a trip into the beautiful countryside.
Best time to visit Asti
April and May, and September to October are ideal for city strolls and vineyard walks. September is peak season with the palio, the Douja d’Or and the Festival delle Sagre.
Spring (April to June)
Mild days, blossoms in the hills, clear views from the tower. Average temperatures around 10 to 20 °C, less rain than in autumn.
Summer (July to Aug.)
Warm to hot, 18 to 30 °C. In the evenings the squares come to life and museums provide welcome shade.
Autumn (Sept. to Nov.)
Harvest, golden light, festivals. 10 to 20 °C, often the best weather for hiking and good food. Perfect for trips into the UNESCO wine landscapes.
Winter (Dec. to Feb.)
Quiet season, 0 to 8 °C. Clear skies bring far reaching views; museums and cafés are cosy retreats.
Key Events
Palio di Asti
When: 7 September 2025
Tip: Grandstand seats sell out quickly, so reserve in good time.
Douja d’Or
The Douja d’Or is a wine and food festival that turns Asti’s palazzi into elegant tasting rooms. DOC and DOCG wines from all over Italy are awarded and can be tasted on site. The programme also includes masterclasses, show cooking and exhibitions.
When: mid September (12 to 21 September 2025), runs for ten days
Tip: The Salotto del Vino on Piazza San Secondo is ideal for tasting your way through Piedmontese wines.
Festival delle Sagre
At the Festival delle Sagre, Piazza Campo del Palio becomes a huge village fair. More than forty associations from the surrounding area serve traditional dishes, from bagna cauda and Barbera risotto to sweet hazelnut specialities.
Highlight is the big parade on Sunday morning with more than 3,000 participants in historical costumes, old farm equipment and floats.
When: second Sunday in September (starts the evening before)
Getting There
Airports
Turin Caselle (TRN)
A train runs every 30 minutes between Porta Susa and the airport. From there take a regional train to Asti in 35 to 60 minutes. Trenitalia Torino Caselle
Note: Due to construction work a replacement bus was in place until 7 September 2025; check the current situation before you travel.
Genoa (GOA)
By train via Genova Piazza Principe to Asti, from about 1 hr 15 min to 2 hr 15 min depending on the connection.
Train
Asti lies on the main Turin–Genoa axis. Trains run most days every 30 to 60 minutes. The key hubs are Torino Porta Nuova/Porta Susa and Genova P. Principe.
Right next to Stazione di Asti (on Piazza Guglielmo Marconi) is the Movicentro for easy transfers to city and provincial buses.
Typical connections
- Turin 35 to 50 min, mostly direct from Porta Nuova or Porta Susa (SFM/Regionale)
- Milan 1.5 to 2.5 hrs, usually with a change in Alessandria or Tortona
- Genoa 1 to 1.5 hrs, several direct trains daily
- Alessandria 20 to 30 min, very frequent
- Alba 45 to 60 min, partly by bus or regional train
Buy tickets via the Trenitalia app, ticket machines or counters; validate tickets before boarding.
Car and parking
The old town is partly a ZTL (camera controlled restricted traffic zone) with a new area around via Monsignor Rossi / piazza Roma. Park outside and explore Asti on foot.
Parking in Asti
- Campo del Palio very large, central parking area by Piazza Campo del Palio. Market on Wed and Sat mornings, times vary by zone.
- Parcheggio Via Natta / Via Testa multi storey near the centre, barrier controlled 24 hours, weekdays 8:00 to 19:00
- FS Park Stazione Asti (Via Artom): car park by the station, 160 spaces
More parking info at Asp Asti.
You can also use the Asti Park app or the EasyPark app.
Getting around Asti
The old town is compact; the main sights are only a few minutes apart. Buses run by ASP Asti cover the city.
Info and tickets are available in the AstiSmartBus app and at sales points.
Day Trips from Asti
In Turin, visit one of the largest Egyptian museums in the world and stroll past elegant Baroque squares and wide boulevards. Start at Porta Nuova, amble to Piazza San Carlo and continue to Palazzo Reale. Pause over a bicerin in one of the many cafés and round off the evening with an aperitivo on the riverbank of the Po.
Getting there: Regional train to Torino Porta Nuova or Porta Susa
More details in our Turin guide.
Alba
The city of a hundred towers charms with a medieval backdrop, fragrant truffle shops and cosy wine bars. Wander the old town, peek into the cathedral and try regional specialities: fresh truffle dishes, hazelnut dolci and a glass of Nebbiolo. In autumn the famous truffle fair beckons.
Getting there: Bus FS45/Granda Bus from Asti Movicentro or regional train with a change
More details in our Alba guide.
Canelli and the Underground Cathedrals
Canelli is considered the cradle of Italian sparkling wine and is famous for Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti. Historic cellars run through the tuff beneath the town, and tours with tastings make the day something special.
Above the town, wander the picturesque maze of the old centre with narrow lanes and pretty little squares. For a fine view over the vineyards, climb up to Castello Gancia.
Getting there: Bus line 41 from Asti Movicentro to Canelli
Acqui Terme
Half day · 60 to 75 min by train
The spa town of blends Belle Époque charm with healing springs. On Piazza della Bollente a hot sulphur spring bubbles up from a small temple right in the centre. Arcades, cafés and elegant baths make it ideal for a relaxed half day.
Regional Specialities
Piedmont stands for bold flavours and authentic cooking. In Asti that comes with sparkling to aromatic wines.
Typical dishes
- Bagna cauda warm anchovy garlic sauce with vegetables for dipping
- Agnolotti del plin small pinched pasta, usually with a meat filling
- Finanziera traditional braise made with offal, a historic feast day dish
- Bonèt cocoa pudding with amaretti and rum
Wines from the area
- Barbera d’Asti DOCG juicy, red cherry and plum, lively acidity, low tannin; fuller as Superiore
- Moscato d’Asti DOCG lightly sparkling, sweet, peach, sage, orange blossom, low alcohol
- Asti Spumante DOCG sparkling wine, fine bubbles, fruity and floral, grape and white flowers
- Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG aromatic, rose and red berries, gentle spice
History
The origins of Asti reach back to Roman Hasta, where major trade routes crossed. Today’s Corso Alfieri still follows the line of the ancient decumanus. After the upheavals of the Migration Period, Asti established itself as a Lombard seat and later as a Frankish county. In 1095 the bishop’s town became a free commune that gained wealth and influence through markets, finance and stout towers. The red watchtower still recalls this era.
In the Middle Ages Asti was among the richest cities in northern Italy. Merchants and bankers financed princely courts across Europe. Later the city passed to the House of Savoy, which left its mark with Baroque palaces. In the nineteenth century Carlo Gancia in the hills around Canelli perfected the first Italian sparkling wine, a legacy now part of the UNESCO wine landscape of Langhe Roero Monferrato.