Campervan hire in Turin — Langhe, Aosta Valley, Gran Paradiso and tips for 2027

Turin, the first capital of united Italy, is a city of baroque squares, arcades and grand cafés, and the best way to see it is on foot and by public transport. As a base for a campervan trip it is ideal: the vineyards of the Langhe start an hour to the south, the Alps rise straight behind the city, and within two hours you can be in the Aosta Valley, in the Gran Paradiso National Park or at the foot of Mont Blanc. This guide covers routes, places to stay and the rules travellers run into most often.

Turin itself

Leave the campervan at a campsite or motorhome area on the outskirts and go into the centre by metro, tram or bus. The historic centre is a camera-controlled limited traffic zone (ZTL), and from autumn to spring Turin also applies anti-smog measures that can restrict older diesel vehicles on certain days. Most rental campervans are recent, but ask the rental company which emission class yours is. The Egyptian Museum, the Mole Antonelliana with the National Cinema Museum and the arcades of Via Po are all best on foot; the basilica of Superga on its hill can be reached by rack railway from Sassi, and the royal palace of Venaria lies just outside the city.

Langhe, Roero and Monferrato

• Alba and the Langhe (about 60 km): the town of truffles and the UNESCO-listed vine hills around Barolo, La Morra, Barbaresco and Grinzane Cavour. In October and November the white truffle fair draws crowds to Alba.
• Roero and Monferrato: quieter wine hills north of the Tanaro river and around Asti, with castles, hilltop villages and small motorhome areas.
• Narrow roads climb between the vineyards, so keep the campervan on the main roads and walk or cycle into the smallest villages.

The Alps

• Sacra di San Michele (about 40 km): an abbey on a rocky peak above the Susa valley, one of the symbols of Piedmont.
• Susa valley and Sestriere (about 100 km): Roman Susa, the Fenestrelle fortress and the 2006 Olympic ski resorts.
• Aosta Valley (about 110 km to Aosta): Roman Aosta, the castles of Fénis and Issogne and the Fort of Bard along the main road.
• Gran Paradiso National Park (about 140 km to Cogne): Italy's oldest national park, with ibex, chamois and easy valley walks.
• Courmayeur and Mont Blanc (about 150 km): the Skyway cable car climbs towards Mont Blanc from Courmayeur.

Combining Turin with Milan and the lakes? See our Milan campervan guide. For a day on the sea in Liguria, see our guide to boat rental in Genoa.

Where to stay

• Campsites. There are few campsites close to Turin itself, but many in the Alpine valleys and around the lakes. In July and August and around big events, book ahead.
• Motorhome areas. Piedmont and the Aosta Valley have many an area di sosta camper, sometimes free, more often for a small fee, with water and waste disposal, often in wine villages and mountain resorts. Camping apps show the current list and reviews.
• Parking versus camping. In Italy a campervan may generally park like any other vehicle unless it is locally prohibited, but chairs, an awning or levelling blocks count as camping and are only allowed at campsites and designated areas.

Driving tips

• ZTL zones. Almost every Italian historic centre, including Alba and Aosta, has a camera-controlled limited traffic zone. Watch for "Zona a traffico limitato" signs and never follow the satnav through the gate.
• Tolls. Motorways such as the A4, A5, A6 and A21 have tolls, and campervans often pay a higher class than cars because of their height. The Fréjus and Mont Blanc tunnels to France are much more expensive.
• Speed limits. Generally 130 km/h on motorways, 110 km/h on main roads outside built-up areas and 50 km/h in town; heavier motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes have lower limits.
• Mountain roads and winter. On many roads in northern Italy winter tyres or chains on board are compulsory from 15 November to 15 April. Some high passes close in winter, and on the steep descents use a low gear rather than the brakes.

When to go

Late spring (May and June) and early autumn (September and October) are the best seasons for the wine hills; the grape harvest is in September and truffle season in October and November. July and August are the time for the Alpine valleys and the Gran Paradiso, while Turin itself is hot. In winter the ski resorts are open, but you need full winter equipment and many campsites close.

A campervan in Turin with Crystalium Booker

We are still building up our campervan offer in Turin. Send us your dates and number of travellers through the contact page and we will look for a vehicle for you, and keep an eye on the campervans in Turin page for new listings. Do you rent out a campervan in or around Turin? List it with us.