Photo: Agnello · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Aosta
Roman ruins ringed by the high Alps.
A small Roman city ringed by high Alps, with a triumphal arch, a theatre wall and old walls still standing. A quiet base for the Aosta Valley's castles, cable cars and mountain walks.
Places to see
- Arch of AugustusSight · A sturdy Roman triumphal arch at the city's eastern entrance, framed by snowy peaks, with…Free
Collegiate church of Saint UrsusChurch · A Romanesque church with a tall bell tower and a cloister of carved stone capitals, plus…Free
Roman TheatreMuseum · A 22-metre-high stone wall of the Roman theatre's stage front, still standing, with the…≈ A$12
When to go
- Jan3° / -7°Mostly dryBusy
- Feb7° / -5°Mostly dryBusy
- Mar13° / -1°Mostly dryBusy
- Apr17° / 3°Some rainQuiet
- May21° / 7°Some rainQuiet
- Jun25° / 11°Some rainBusy
- Jul28° / 14°Some rainBusy
- Aug27° / 13°Some rainVery busy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
The old town. Roman ruins, Piazza Chanoux and the cathedral inside the walls.
Sant'Orso. The east end: the Roman arch and bridge and the medieval collegiate church.
Flying in
Turin Caselle (TRN): Bus to Turin, then a regional train to Aosta, about 2 h 30 min, ≈ A$26.
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Aosta; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
You can walk everywhere. A single ticket is ≈ A$3. Aosta is small and walkable inside its Roman walls. The Pila gondola leaves from near the station for hikes and skiing (check), and buses run up the side valleys.
Tourist tax
Aosta's tourist tax: usually about €1.50–2 a person a night in hostels and B&Bs, more in hotels; under-12s don't pay. Paid at check-in (check).
Day trips
Turin, about 2 h by regional train. Royal palaces and the Egyptian Museum.
