Overview
Cuneo sits in the south of Piedmont, where the plains of northern Italy rise towards the Maritime Alps. It is a handsome, under-visited provincial capital of wide arcaded streets, a vast market square and some of the best chocolate in Italy, and it makes a calm base for exploring the Langhe wine country, Alba's truffle fairs and the mountain valleys along the French border. For UK travellers it is an authentic alternative to the better-known corners of Piedmont and neighbouring Liguria.
Best time to fly to Cuneo
Late spring (May and June) and early autumn (September and October) are the sweet spot: mild days, quiet streets and the grape harvest under way in the surrounding hills. July and August are warm and good for walking in the Maritime Alps, though many locals head away in mid-August. Winter brings snow and ski traffic towards Limone Piemonte. Fares tend to climb around the ski season, mid-summer and the October truffle weeks, so check the When to book chart above for this year's pattern before you commit.
Airlines and routes
Cuneo Levaldigi (CUF) is a small regional airport with a limited, largely seasonal schedule, so there are usually no direct scheduled flights from the UK. Most UK travellers either take a connecting itinerary, often via a European hub with carriers such as Lufthansa, Air France or KLM, or fly direct to Turin (around an hour from Cuneo by road) with easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways or Jet2 from London, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh and other airports. Direct flying time from London to Turin is roughly 1 hour 50 minutes; add transfer time to reach Cuneo itself. Compare both approaches on the price charts on this page.
Things to do in Cuneo
A day or two is easily filled in the old town, with the mountains and wine hills within easy reach.
- Piazza Galimberti: the enormous arcaded main square, at its liveliest during the big Tuesday market.
- Via Roma and the porticoes: kilometres of elegant covered walkways lining the historic centre, ideal in any weather.
- Complesso Monumentale di San Francesco: a former Gothic church and convent that now houses the city museum.
- Cuneo Cathedral (Duomo di Santa Maria del Bosco): the Baroque heart of the old town, just off Via Roma.
- Parco Fluviale Gesso e Stura: riverside paths for walking and cycling on the edge of the city.
At Cuneo Levaldigi Airport (CUF)
The airport lies about 20 km north-west of Cuneo, near Savigliano. A shuttle bus links it with Cuneo and, on some services, Turin; the drive into Cuneo takes around 25 minutes. Taxis and the main car hire firms are available at the terminal, and driving is the easiest way to reach the mountain valleys and Langhe villages.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Cuneo
- Book roughly two to three months ahead for the best short-haul fares; last-minute prices to this region are rarely kind.
- Fly midweek and outside the school holidays, the ski season and the autumn truffle weeks.
- Keep your dates flexible and use the price charts on this page to spot the cheapest departures.
- Compare a connecting flight to Cuneo against a direct flight to Turin plus a transfer, as the Turin route is often cheaper and quicker overall.
Travel essentials
UK travellers do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport must have been issued within the past 10 years and be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave; check the latest EU entry rules, including the new EES biometric checks and the upcoming ETIAS authorisation. The currency is the euro, so you will exchange your pounds before or on arrival. Bring a GHIC or EHIC for state healthcare and travel insurance that covers any mountain activities. Save room for cuneesi al rhum, the local rum-filled chocolates.