Turin deserves a spot on your Italian itinerary. It’s not a hard city to make a case for, which makes it perhaps all the more surprising that it’s not thronged with tourists. Turin, or Torino in Italian, was Italy’s first capital; it’s the home of mega-Italian exports like Fiat, Lavazza and Eataly; its an elegant city with impressive Baroque architecture; its opulent cafes stand out as spectacular in a country of amazing cafes; and it’s located in a region known for chocolate-hazelnut confections, and yes, that includes Nutella.
We could go on, and we do in this guide, which will offer you three days of reasons for why you should visit Turin. Alongside a day-by-day itinerary, this guide will also give you a brief overview of the city, ideas on where to stay and where to eat, as well as ideas for day trips to take with Turin as your base.
What’s Included:
- Where is Turin?
- How Do I Get to Turin?
- How Long Should I Spend in Turin?
- Where to Stay in Turin
- Three Day Itinerary for Turin, Italy
- How to Extend Your Time Around Turin
Where is Turin?
Turin is located on the western edge of northern Italy in the Piedmont region, which shares a border with France. It’s the capital city of Piedmont and was Italy’s first capital after the country unified in 1861. The city is about 90 miles west of Milan, and about 100 northwest of Genoa. It’s extremely well connected by trains and is the terminus for many of the country’s high-speed services, which go on to other big cities like Milan, Venice and Rome.
How Do I Get to Turin?
Most flights from the US to Turin will have two legs, and arrive in Europe via a nearby hub. Within Italy the most common stop is Rome, but Paris and Frankfurt are also common stops. It is fine to book one of these flights, but we find it much more comfortable, and almost as fast, to book a ticket to either Rome or Milan, then take a high-speed train to Turin.
How Long Should I Spend in Turin?
While Turin has an abundance of sights and history, it lacks the star power of other northern Italian cities. If you’re interested in seeing the highlights and wandering around, two days or about a long weekend should be sufficient.
That being said, there’s absolutely more to explore if you have a few more days to devote to Turin and the surrounding Piedmont region.
Where to Stay in Turin
- Opera 35 – Steps away from the Po River, the train station and Turin’s main Piazza San Carlo, this sleek hotel is our top pick. Minimal rooms mixed with historic touches such as arched ceilings and vintage chairs give the property Italian appeal.
- Grand Hotel Sitea – If you’re keen on staying in a historic property, choose Grand Hotel Sitea. In 2001 it was named a ‘Locale Storico d’Italia’, an honor given to the country’s most storied hospitality spots (Sitea opened in 1925). The glamor is kept intact through ornate carpets, heavy wood furniture and multiple on-site restaurants (though it’s not without a few signs of wear).
- Airbnb, A Stay Inside the First University of Turin – Between the charming balcony and heavy wood ceiling, this centrally located Airbnb has enough amenities to rival nearby hotels. While you probably won’t be there for many meals, you’ll appreciate that you get more space to move around in this studio-style apartment than you would at a comparably priced hotel.
Three Day Itinerary for Turin, Italy
Day One
Morning
After checking into your hotel, walk through the city center in the direction of Caffè Elena, which is tucked underneath the arches that line the Piazza Vittorio Veneto – an unfortunately traffic-thronged square near the Po River that bisects Turin. Your destination is more idyllic. Opened in 1889, Caffè Elena is one of Turin’s many historic cafes. Sit inside the wood-paneled space at a marble-topped table for coffee, lunch or sweet snack.
Piazza Vittorio Veneto is well-positioned for your next destination and first museum, the Mole Antonelliana. The building’s tall spire is visible throughout the city. It currently houses a Museum of Cinema and an observation deck, but the building was intended to be a synagogue when it broke ground in the mid-nineteenth century. In the years since, the building has become something of an Italian icon. You can purchase tickets exclusively for the observation deck (accessible via elevator) or in combination with the museum. Choose depending on how much time you have to spend, and your interest in Italian cinema.
Afternoon
If the weather is nice, take a relaxed stroll over to the Parco del Valentino. Sitting on the west bank of the Po River, it’s been voted one of Italy’s most beautiful parks. As you meander along its pathways, you’ll come across sculptures, a rock garden, an art pavilion and a ‘borgo medievale’ – a nineteenth century imagining of a medieval town.
If the weather isn’t cooperating, consider visiting the Palazzo Madama instead. The building was the site of Italy’s first senate after unification, as well as being the headquarters of the provisional French government during Napoleonic rule (before unification). Today, you can still admire the historic rooms, but the building is also home to Turin’s fine art museum. The museum’s collection spans from the middle ages to the 18th century.
Evening
For aperitivo, wander over to Bar Zucca. While its current location on via Antonio Gramsci dates to 2013, its original location on Via Roma opened in the 1920s and hit its heyday in the 1980s and 90s. Fittingly, Bar Zucca trades on glamor with its ample cocktail list containing over 50 types of gin. The bar snacks are also next-level, including fluffy tramezzini (crustless sandwiches) and miniature pizza.
For dinner, head to Madama Piola. The restaurant blends traditional Piedmontese dishes with a modern sensibility. Try the local specialties like the rich agnolotti del plin (tiny meat-filled ravioli) or bollito (boiled meat with a variety of sauces). We also love the decor: rustic wood tables, checkerboard floors and chalkboard green walls.
Day Two
Morning
If your hotel doesn’t offer breakfast, walk to Gaudenti. This pastry shop-meets-cafe is well known for its brioche and is unique among Turin’s most popular cafes for being relatively modern (it opened in 1971). There are two rooms if you want to sit.
Next, walk to Turin’s Palazzo Reale (royal palace). The building dates to the sixteenth century, when it was constructed for the House of Savoy (Savoia). Your ticket gets you into the palace, armory, gardens, archeological museum, Savoy art galleries, library and chapel of the holy shroud. We recommend exploring the palace rooms, then choosing one or two other attractions that interest you most. We personally recommend the library and gardens.
Afternoon
For lunch, walk over to Caffè Mulassano in the nearby Galleria Subalpina. Caffè Mulassano claims to have invented the tramezzino, a crustless white bread sandwich. The dish earned its name when the poet Gabriele D’Annuzio decided the already popular sandwich should have a more Italian moniker than its previous name, sandwich (tramezzino literally means in-between, like the filling nestled in-between the bread). You’ll probably want two tramezzini per person for a satisfying lunch.
Fueled on sandwiches, hop on the subway to reach the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile, located in the Lingotto district. This sprawling museum opened in 1932 and houses 200 cars from over 80 global brands (surprise: Italian models are the best represented). It’s large and will take a few hours to see, or even more depending on your interest in historic cars.
Evening
Afterwards, walk over to Eataly Lingotto, the first location of the now-global Italian supermarket. It’s located in the former factory of the vermouth brand Carpano, and has a more quotidian atmosphere than the American, German or British outposts. It’s a great spot for an aperitivo or to pick up souvenirs.
For dinner, return to central Turin to eat at Razzo. The restaurant experiments with classic Piedmontese dishes and the menu changes periodically, but you can expect dishes like tagliolini with crab, ginger and lemongrass (served in a crab shell). Opt for a tasting menu of either three or four courses, both of which cost less than 50 euro per person.
Day Three
Morning
Continue your tour of Turin’s historic cafes at Caffe’ Platti, which opened in 1875 and is located on Corso Vittorio Emmanuele, to the west of the Porta Nuova train station. Whether you sit on a velvet banquette or stand at the bar in the frescoed main room, this is likely to be one of the most opulent breakfasts of your trip to Italy, let alone Turin. Order your coffee of choice and a brioche, which are available with both sweet and savory fillings.
After breakfast, wander over to the Museo Egizio. Turin’s recently renovated Egyptian Museum has a collection deep enough to rival – and surpass – the British Museum or the Met. Spread across four floors, you’ll find all manner of ancient Egyptian artifacts alongside interactive, bilingual displays. It’s an absorbing museum and one well worth a few hours of your time, as well as a departure from Italian history.
Afternoon
Take a break from history with a stroll down via Giuseppe Garibaldi, one of Turin’s main commerce thoroughfares. Pop into stores if you wish, or grab a slice of pizza al taglio for lunch.
But don’t fill up too much, because there’s another gastronomic speciality to try in Turin, the Caffè al Bicerin. Continue down via Giuseppe Garibaldi until you reach Piazza della Consolata. Here, you’ll find Al Bicerin. The cafe dominates the square with seats lined up outside during nice weather. You may have to wait for a few minutes to sit down, but it’s worth it to taste the cafe’s eponymous specialty. The bicerin is espresso, topped with hot chocolate and whipped cream – consider it a more indulgent mocha, or marocchino (a Milanese specialty).
Spend the rest of the afternoon walking in the direction of the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Monte dei Cappuccini (the church of Saint Mary on the Capuchin Mountain). While the church is as attractive as any in Italy, the real draw is the view. After about ten minutes of a gentle uphill climb to the top of the Monte dei Cappuccini, you’ll get a perfect panoramic view over Turin, including the Mole Antonelliana and the Alps in the distance. It’s a spot to linger, before heading back toward the center of Turin.
Evening
Return to the area around Porta Nuova for an aperitivo at Isola, a hip bar that serves natural wines and creative cocktails in a modern industrial chic setting. The food here is great as well, if you’re in need of a pre-dinner snack.
For dinner, head just a few steps down the street to Scannabue, a popular restaurant for Piemontese cooking. While the restaurant opened in 2008, the atmosphere is old school. Think traditional dishes, done with finesse but not unnecessary flair, served on simple white plates in a no-fuss dining room. It’s hard to go wrong with any of the dishes, but the agnolotti and the vitello tonnato are particularly popular.
How to Extend Your Time Around Turin
Between the beautiful countryside, historic buildings and charming small towns, there’s plenty to see in the area around Turin. While there are day trips you can do that involve a car, we’re highlighting two trips that are accessible via public transit.
La Reggia di Venaria Reale
This spectacular palace is a sister to Turin’s Palazzo Reale, which you saw on your second day in the city if you followed our itinerary above. Built for the House of Savoy in the seventeenth century, this sprawling complex was built for Duke Charles Emmanuel II and his wife Catherine Michaela of Spain. Today, it’s known as an exemplar of Baroque architecture. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage sight in 1997.
Despite having been built as a retreat, La Venaria Reale barely sits outside the center of modern Turin. It’s just about an hour’s bus ride from the main Porta Nuova train station. If you’re visiting in the high season, it’s a good idea to pre-book tickets online. There are separate tickets to visit the palace, gardens and exhibits. We consider the palace and the gardens to be absolute musts – choose the rest based on your own interests. You can find up-to-date information about ticket costs here.
The palace is divided into two main halves, one which was built in the seventeenth century and the other built in the eighteenth century. Of all the rooms, the most iconic is the Hall of Diana. It lies in the heart of the seventeenth century palace, which is also referred to as the Palace of Diana. Alongside ornate, white plasterwork hangs paintings depicting the Dukes of Savoy and hunting scenes.
The eighteenth century portion of the building extends as two halls out from the central palace. One of the most notable features from this portion of the palace is the Great Gallery. Flanked on either side by tall windows that overlook the gardens, the gallery is stark but sumptuous thanks to its intricate cream colored plasterwork that stretches from the walls to the ceiling.
Be sure to save time to visit the gardens, which are laid out in a French formal style inspired by those at the Palace of Versailles. They’re sprawling and make for a lovely walk if the weather cooperates. Between the palace and the gardens, expect to spend the full day at Venaria Reale.
How to Reach: You can easily reach the Venaria Palace from central Turin by public transport. If you’re leaving from the main train station (Porta Nuova), take the number 11 bus to Stazione Venaria. You can catch this bus from the plaza on the western side of the train station, which runs along via Paolo Sacchi. The bus travels offers a nice view of the center of Turin. Buy your ticket at any Tabacchi (marked with this T sign) before you board. Tabacchi can be found on the streets, or in the train station.
Consult Google Maps for up-to-date arrival and departure times.
Asti
Located just over 30 miles outside of Turin, Asti is a charming town whose name is most recognizable for its eponymous sparkling wine. While the town is indeed a great destination for wine tasting – and for delicious food in general – it’s also a great way to experience Piedmont’s smaller towns without a car.
How to Reach Asti: Asti is an easy train ride from Turin’s Porta Nuova train station. Affordable Intercity and Regionale Veloce trains leave at least once per hour and will deposit you just outside of Asti’s historical town center in less than an hour. Look on Trenitalia.it for the latest timetables. You can buy these tickets the day of.
What to do in Asti: Our favorite thing to do in Asti is simply stroll through the historical center, stopping for coffee when you find a charming cafe, or popping into the churches you encounter.
That being said, there are some sites that are worth seeking out if you’re looking for a more structured day.
- Palazzo Mazzetti: This palace is home to Asti’s city art museum, but what makes it particularly noteworthy are its lavishly decorated Baroque rooms. Between the brocade covered walls and the gold leafing, there’s plenty to admire if you’re a fan of period rooms. The art museum is interesting too, but it’s the historic dwelling that warrants the visit.
- Cattedrale di Asti Santa Maria Assunta: If you visit just one church in Asti, make it this one. The stone nave is covered in frescoes that are at once ornate but subdued for many Italian churches. It’s one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in the region.
- Torre Troyana: If you have it in you to climb the 199 steps (not 200, but who’s counting at this point) to the top of this thirteenth century tower, you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views over the city of Asti. When this tower was built, it was one of nearly 150 in the city, which was fast becoming a wealth center of northern Italy. Now, it’s one of the only remaining. Be advised that the tower closes for winter.
Roam The Reaches 
