Day trips

Alba White Truffle Fair 2026: How to Visit from Milan in One Day

Name: Mercadante Suite Milan
Price range: €€

Every autumn weekend, Alba becomes the capital of the white truffle: market, tastings, cooking shows and the Barolo hills just a short drive away. Here’s how to plan a day trip starting from the suite, near Milano Centrale.

When: 96th edition from October 10 to December 6, 2026; the World White Truffle Market is open Saturday and Sunday, 9:30–19:30 (last entry 19:00)
Where: Cortile della Maddalena, entrance from Piazza Falcone, historic center of Alba (CN)
Tip: leave early from Milano Centrale and buy your ticket online: it also includes the MUDET, the Truffle Museum

2026 Fair dates and hours

The 96th International White Truffle Fair of Alba runs from October 10 to December 6, 2026. At its heart is the World White Truffle Market of Alba, open only on Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 to 19:30 (last entry at 19:00) in the Cortile della Maddalena, with entrance from Piazza Falcone. If you can choose, aim for a weekend in October or early November: it’s the liveliest period, but also the most crowded, especially in the early afternoon.

Full calendar and events at fieradeltartufo.org.

Tickets and what to see at the Market

A ticket to the Market costs €6 (online, plus presale fees). If bought online, it also includes entry to the MUDET – Truffle Museum, new for 2026; tickets bought on site do not. Children and teens up to age 15 get in free. Dogs are welcome on a leash.

Certified white truffles, sold directly by trifulau (truffle hunters) and dealers, under the supervision of the Quality Commission: ask the judges for advice before buying.
Grande Enoteca AIS Piemonte: with the Tasting Coupon (€10 online plus fees, €11 on site) you get 2 glasses at the wine bar and unlimited tastings with producers at their stands.
Food area with traditional truffle dishes.

Cooking shows, wine and folklore

Every Saturday and Sunday of the Fair there are cooking shows with guest chefs (at 11:00 and 18:00, Sala Beppe Fenoglio) and Vinum Alba tastings led by AIS speakers (at 11:30 and 16:30). Many sessions sell out: book online.

The Palio degli Asini (Donkey Palio) with its historical parade already took place in 2026, on Sunday, October 4. Still on the calendar are the Baccanale dei Borghi (Saturday, October 17, 18:00–24:00 and Sunday, October 18, 10:00–19:00) and the Festival della Bandiera (Flag Festival; Sunday, October 25 at 15:00, Piazza Risorgimento). On Saturday mornings and Sundays there is also the Slow Food Mercato della Terra in Piazza Pertinace.

Getting there from Milan by train

From the suite it’s a 10-minute walk to Milano Centrale (or one metro stop on the M2 from Loreto, or on the M1 from Lima, with a change). There are no direct Milan–Alba trains, so you’ll need at least one change:

Via Turin (the best choice for weekends): Milano Centrale → Turin (Frecciarossa or regional train), then the SFM4 regional train to Alba via Bra. Note: until October 18, 2026 the SFM4 line runs on a modified timetable due to works between Carmagnola and Bra.
Via Asti: Milan → Asti by regional train, then Asti → Alba. The Asti–Alba train, reactivated in 2023, runs on weekdays; on Saturdays and holidays the service is provided by bus.

Check timetables and connections on trenitalia.com the day before: with changes and waiting times, allow at least three hours each way. Alba station is about a quarter of an hour’s walk from the historic center.

By car: more freedom in the Langhe

If you also want to explore the Barolo villages, a car is the most convenient option: it’s about 170 km from Milan, roughly 2 hours on the motorway via Asti. On Fair weekends, parking near the center fills up early, so arrive in the morning. And if you taste wine, plan for a designated driver (see the tips below). To leave your car in Milan, also read our guide on cars, Area C and parking in Milan.

Langhe villages to combine with your visit

With a car (or an organized tour) you can round out the day among the UNESCO hills:

Barolo: the village that gives the wine its name, with Falletti castle housing the WiMu wine museum. About twenty minutes from Alba.
La Morra: the viewpoint on the village square offers one of the widest views over vineyards and the Alps, splendid in the colors of late October.
Castello di Grinzane Cavour: a few kilometers from Alba, home to the Piedmont Regional Wine Bar (Enoteca Regionale Piemontese), tied to the figure of Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour.

Wineries are almost always visited by reservation: write a few days ahead.

Practical tips for the day

Cash and a cooler bag: if you buy truffle, keep it cool and wrapped in absorbent paper.
Clothing: days are short and fog is frequent; bring something warm for the trip back.
Lunch: Alba’s restaurants and osterie are full on Fair weekends, so book ahead.
If you drive, don’t drink: at tastings use the spittoon, or let someone who isn’t tasting do the driving.

Looking for more ideas? Check out our day trips from Milan and, if you change trains in Turin, the guide to Turin in a day. To return in the evening to a comfortable base near the station, book the suite: on our website you pay 20% less.

Stay just steps away

Mercadante Suite: two suites at Via Saverio Mercadante 10, a 10-minute walk from Centrale Station. Book on our website and pay 20% less.

More guides

Milan in 1 or 2 days · What to see near the suite · Getting around by metro · Where to eat