Discover the top truffle festivals in Italy. Learn the difference between black and white truffles, why white truffles are so prized, and which fairs to attend this autumn.

Autumn in Italy has its own unmistakable scent: truffle. From early October, the Italian truffle season brings weekend markets, tasting events and lively food festivals across the country. Before diving into the fairs, here’s a quick look at what makes these underground treasures so extraordinary.

They look different, they taste different and, most importantly, their price is different. White truffles are pale and intensely aromatic, and they are usually shaved raw over a dish. They are also the most expensive variety. Black truffles are darker, with a deeper and earthier flavor, and they work well in cooked recipes, which makes them more versatile and far more affordable.

If you’re wondering how much truffles cost, white ones can reach €2,100 to €3,500 per kilo. Black truffles are much more affordable and usually range from €350 to €600 per kilo.

Truffles are expensive for several reasons. They can’t be cultivated, their season is short and they need just the right woodland conditions. Hunters and their trained dogs head out at dawn to find them, usually in closely guarded spots. Rising demand and increasingly unpredictable harvests push prices even higher.

Italy hosts dozens of truffle events each year, but three stand out and are among the best things to do in autumn in Italy. 

Held each fall in Alba, the White Truffle Fair is a globally renowned celebration. In 2025 it runs from 11 October to 8 December.

Its centrepiece is the Alba White Truffle World Market, where visitors can buy truffles directly from “trifulau” (local truffle hunters) and authorized merchants, with the Quality Commission guaranteeing authenticity.

The fair also offers cooking shows, wine tastings, local cheeses and Barolo and Barbaresco pairings.

Acqualagna is sometimes called Italy’s “other” white truffle capital. The town becomes an open-air market dedicated entirely to truffle culture. Acqualagna produces almost two-thirds of Italy’s truffles, which explains the festival’s huge popularity.

In 2025 the fair fills the town on the first four weekends in November, with stalls, tastings and cooking events, all in a friendly and very local atmosphere.

Held over the last three weekends in November, the San Miniato truffle fair spreads across the medieval streets of this Tuscan hilltown. You’ll find white truffles, Tuscan olive oil, pecorino, and restaurants offering special truffle menus.

San Miniato has a long truffle tradition. In 1954, the world’s largest white truffle ever recorded was found here, and a monument in town celebrates the truffle hunter and his dog.

If you’re looking for things to do in autumn in Italy, visiting a truffle fair is one of the most iconic experiences of the season.

If you’d like help organizing your visit to Alba, Acqualagna, San Miniato or any other truffle event, or if you’d love to join a truffle hunt in Italy, email us at info@citylightstours.com and we’ll help you build the ideal itinerary.