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Top Things To Do In Turin (Italy Travel Guide)

From tucking into incredible food and drink (including truffles and Barolo), to enjoying stunning orange-roofed cityscapes, and exploring historic palaces and museums, there are plenty of things to do in Turin, Italy.

Fanfare please! Lonely Planet crowned Italy’s Piedmont region as its No.1 Best In Travel region.

Despite Italy being one of my favourite countries, I’d never been to this region. I had three days in Turin, and couldn’t wait to explore all that the city had to offer.

Best In Travel Region on phone with Turin backdrop
My Turin travel guide shows why it’s a worthy hot spot on Lonely Planet’s latest Best In Travel list

Where Is Turin, Italy?

Turin, or Torino to the natives, is in a unique location, at the base of the Alps in the northwestern corner of Italy. The Swiss and French borders are close by, and it’s a few hours from the coast at Genoa.

Being so close to the borders, Turin has experienced some interesting relationships with its neighbours, as well as its southern Italian counterparts. On this map I’ve marked all the spots I’d recommend visiting, so save this link and treat me as your personal tour guide once you arrive in the city!

When Is The Best Time To Visit Turin?

Turin makes a great city break all year round. Winters are reasonably dry but chilly with average temperatures around 3 degrees. Summers are lovely, but can get pretty warm, with highs around 27 degrees. Usually I’d recommend springtime or early summer, but it’s worth noting that May tends to be the rainiest month, followed by August. I’d recommend visiting Turin in June or September.

I visited in September and the weather was lovely. It’s one of the driest months and temperatures still tend to be between 18-21 degrees. As you’ll see from my photos, it was warm enough to walk around without a jacket during the daytime, and there was plenty of sunshine and blue skies.

While I could go into tonnes of detail about all the amazing and unusual things to do in Turin, I wanted to help by giving an overview of my favourite experiences from my time there.

Lots of people visit Turin for 24 or 48 hours, so in this Turin guide I’ll show you where to go to uncover the city’s history and art, where to sample the local cuisine, where to go shopping in Turin, plus show you the best views and teach you about the all-important aperitivo!

So come with me as I show all the exciting things to do in Turin!

TOP TIP If you’re thinking of visiting lots of the main sights in Turin, I’d recommend ordering a Torino Card before you arrive. It’s great value and gives you access to the city’s highlights, including museums, monuments, exhibitions, fortresses, castles and royal residences. Click here to check latest prices. 


Enjoy The Best View Of Turin At Mont Des Capucins
 

Before visiting Turin I’d seen beautiful photos of the city with the snowy Alps in the background. While many travel guides will suggest you take the lift up Mole Antonelliana, I’d recommend heading to Mont Des Capucins. Just the other side of the River Po, this is THE spot to get the view of the entire city (Mole Antonelliana included) with that stunning mountain backdrop.

things to do in Turin - take in the views
One of the top things to do in Turin – take in the views

Tuck Into The Local Pasta ITurin, Italy

There are plenty of Piedmontese delicacies to sample, but you absolutely HAVE to try the city’s fresh pasta. On my first night I enjoyed a delicious bowl of agnolotti – a Piedmontese style of ravioli filled with roasted meat and served in a sauce called sugo d’arrosto (similar to a tasty gravy).

You’ll also see ‘plin’ on menus across Turin, which is a smaller type of ravioli, in a pinched shape. Plus there’s tajarin – delicate ribbons of fresh egg pasta, similar to tagliatelle.

Try it at Casa Broglia, Via Torquato Tasso, 13, 10122 Torino. 

Agnolotti in sugo d’arrosto, Casa Broglia, Turin
What to do in Turin Italy? Feast on amazing pasta like this Agnolotti in sugo d’arrosto at Casa Broglia

Sample Black And White Truffles In Truffle Season In Turin, Italy

The Piedmont region is famous for this delicacy! Not far away is Alba, a town synonymous with truffles. In fact there’s a whole festival dedicated to the indulgent delicacy every October and November. I was desperate to squeeze some truffle eating into my Turin trip, but I knew that this would come at a price.

Solferino, one of the city’s top restaurants, serves a tasty ravioli del plin topped with grated black truffle for 15 EUR. For those visiting during white truffle season, you can order off their special menu, with dishes starting at 30 EUR that include a generous table side grating of white truffle!

Try it at Risorante Solferino, Piazza Solferino, 3/B, 10121 Torino.

Truffle pasta in Turin
Truffle pasta at Solferino – some of the best pasta in Turin

Learn About Egyptian History At Museo Egezio (Egyptian Museum Turin)

This museum is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Turin, and showcases the largest collection of Egyptian artefacts outside of Cairo. With 24 human mummies, an important statue of Ramses II and the intact tomb of Kha and Merit, it’s a fascinating place to learn about ancient civilisations.

Address: Museo Egizio, Via Accademia delle Scienze, 6, 10123 Torino 

TOP TIP There are sometimes long queues at Museo Egezio, so I’d 100% recommend booking a skip-the-line ticket in advance. Click here to check latest prices. 

Learn about Egyptian history at Museo Egezio - one of the top things to do in Turin
Learn about Egyptian history at Museo Egezio – one of the top things to do in Turin

Try Bicerin – Turin’s Most Famous Drink

Looking for a sweet pick me up after a busy day of exploring? Then head to Turin’s oldest cafe, Caffe Al Bicerin, and order the drink of the same name. Bicerin is a combination of espresso, chocolate and cream or whole milk. While you’ll find the drink on menus across Turin, they’ve been serving them here since the 18th Century.

Stepping foot in the historic café is just like going back in time, with flicking candles on the tables and wood panelling adorning the walls. One glass will set you back over 6 EUR but you have to try it so you know what the fuss is about!

Try it at Caffe Al Bicerin, Piazza della Consolata, 5, 10122 Torino. 

Caffe Al Bicerin, Turin's oldest cafe, Italy
Caffe Al Bicerin, Turin’s oldest cafe, Italy
Bicerin, Turin's most famous drink, at Caffe Al Bicerin
Bicerin, Turin’s most famous drink, at Caffe Al Bicerin  – a must for any Turin city guide

Admire The Baroque Architecture Of Palazzo Real And Palazzo Madama ITurin, Italy

I loved wandering through Turin’s beautiful skinny streets, getting lost in the maze of archways, tiny restaurants and boutiques. Every now and then I emerged at a beautiful piazza like Piazza San Carlo. One of the most striking was Piazza Castello, home to some of the city’s most impressive and important historic buildings.

Palazzo Reale is the former royal palace, constructed in the 16th Century, and now preserved as a museum and gallery of ancient art. Meanwhile, moments away is Palazzo Madama, a design of Italian architect Filippo Juvarra, and where you’ll now find the Turin City Museum of Ancient Art.

Also close by is the famous Chapel of the Holy Shroud, where you’ll find the Shroud of Turin – a piece of linen bearing an image of a man, which some believe is Jesus of Nazareth.

Palazzo Reale, Turin
One of the best things to do in Turin, Italy? Visit Palazzo Reale

Explore Italy’s Liberty Architecture  

As a total contrast, around twenty minutes away from Piazza Castello you’ll reach a part of the city with some incredible Art Nouveau architecture (known as The Liberty Style in Italy). I discovered this part of the city on a free Turin walking tour with local Daniele, who was full of interesting information.

Examples of Italy’s Liberty architecture in Turin
Examples of Italy’s Liberty architecture in Turin

Eat Like A King For Under 10 Euros

A few of you have asked me “Is Turin expensive to visit?” Well… no! It can be if you dine at gourmet restaurants night after night, but this is a city you can enjoy on a budget too.

It turns out this is a city that LOVES a set lunch! Most restaurants offer a set menu for 10 EUR, or single courses for 5-6 EUR. It was amazing value, and a great opportunity to try items I might not have thought of ordering otherwise. So what does 10 EUR get you? A pasta dish, a main course plus bread, water and a coffee.

Try it at Fiori e Caffe, Via Milano, 16, 10122 Torino and Trattoria Caprese, Via del Carmine, 2, 10122 Torino

Shop For Fresh Produce At Porta Palazzo Market

Turin’s main market happens to also be the biggest open-air market in the whole of Europe. I LOVED it! It was so much fun weaving in and out of the stalls and looking at the local produce, which included everything from fennel and colourful tomatoes, to herbs, green veg and citrus fruits straight from Sicily.

There was also cheese, ham, raw meat, clothes, flowers, and a whole heap of random things too! It was a really fun place to spend the morning, and it’s definitely one of my top free things to do in Turin. It’s also a short walk from Porta Palatina – Turin’s famous city gates.

Address: Porta Palazzo Market , Piazza della Repubblica, 10152 Torino. Open til 2pm.

Porta Palazzo Market, Turin- one of my favourite things to do in Turin, Italy
Porta Palazzo Market, Turin – one of my favourite things to do in Turin, Italy
Fresh produce in Porta Palazzo Market, Turin
Fresh produce in Porta Palazzo Market, Turin

Marvel At Mole Antonelliana

What an incredible building! The tower of Mole Antonelliana is visible all over Turin, and has become the landmark of the city. It was initially designed as a synagogue, but was later updated as a monument to national unity. For a small fee you can take the lift up to the 85m platform for views of the city. Just next to it, you’ll find the National Cinema Museum.

Address: Mole Antonelliana, 10124 Turin, Torino  

Mole Antonelliana, Turin
Turin: things to do include visiting the Mole Antonelliana

Enjoy Turin’s Modern Art Scene 

Turin is a really arty, cultural city, so I’d definitely add a gallery or two to your list if you have time. GAM is the modern and contemporary art gallery in the city. There were a few exhibitions on when we visited, one showing Turin’s artists over the decades, while another highlighted artists throughout the last few hundred years, with some of the most fun pieces by Andy Warhol and Lichtenstein. 

Address: Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Via Magenta, 31, 10128 Torino

Enjoying some modern at Galleria Civica d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Turin
Enjoying some modern at Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Turin

Experience Turin’s Aperitivo Scene 

Looking for fun things to do in Turin? Well, in Turin, an aperitivo isn’t just a drink, it’s a social occasion! As with Milan, ‘appy hour’ is big in Turin, with many bars offering a drink plus buffet access for a set price. Some are better than others, so it’s definitely worth having a look around until you find one serving things you fancy.

One of the best we found was at Caffe Lobelix where we paid 12 EUR for a cocktail and unlimited access to an enormous constantly-replenishing buffet, that included tasty meatballs, broccoli, roast aubergine, cod with peppers, fried potatoes, mozzarella and tomato salad and plenty more. If you fill up somewhere like this, you can save your Euros to spend on chocolate to take home! If you only have one night in Turin – this is an experience you just have to have!

Try it at Caffe Lobelix, Piazza Savoia, 4, 10122 Torino

Aperitivos in Turin
I couldn’t write a Turin blog and not mention aperitivos!

Visit Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile

Cars and Turin go hand in hand – in fact the T in FIAT is for Turin! So if you’re a petrol head, definitely find time to visit Turin’s famous automobile museum. It has a collection of around 200 cars from 80 different car brands, so there’s plenty to look at!

Enjoy Turin’s Shopping Scene 

In terms of shopping in Turin, the city has a mix of everything. Wander along pedestrianised Via Garibaldi (the city’s most famous shopping street) and you’ll find brands you know and love. Then there are the picturesque gallerias – elegant covered shopping streets, generally housing high-end brands. Personally I loved venturing off the beaten track and exploring the independent boutiques on Turin’s tiny side streets. That was when I discovered Muta – a jewellery store run by two talented jewellery makers, who use interesting materials and geometric shapes in their work.

Address: Muta, Via San Domenico, 18/e, 10122 Torino

Muta jewellery, Turin - perfect for anyone who wants to go shopping in Turin
Muta jewellery, Turin – perfect for anyone who wants to go shopping in Turin

Indulge Your Sweet Tooth

Chocolate and Turin go way back! Along with bicerin, the city has made a name for itself with its delicious hazelnut chocolates called gianduja. You’ll see the chocolates for sale across the city, but THE place to go is Guido Gobino. In fact, you can’t travel to Turin and not try it!

That choc-hazelnut combo might sound more familiar in its form as the spread, Nutella, and interestingly the history of Nutella also starts nearby. Invented in nearby Alba by Pietro Ferrero, it started off with the name Giandujot, before being renamed Nutella by the mid-1960s. I’ve heard you can still visit the original factory, and some of the surrounding area smells like Nutella too – sounds like a reason to take a day trip from Turin!

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, add GROM to your list too. It’s where you’ll find the best gelato in the city, and with several branches across Turin, you’re never far away from your next ice cream.

GROM Gelato, Turin - best gelato in Turin
Where to go in Turin for the best gelato? I recommend GROM.

Enjoy Pizza In Turin Where The Locals Eat

Well, you can’t come to Italy and not have a pizza! I booked a lovely little apartment in the city centre and asked the owner where to eat in Turin. The owner recommended Ristorante Sicomoro, saying it’s where she goes every Sunday for a big family lunch. Well, when a local recommends a pizza place, you know it must be the real deal!

I enjoyed lunch there on my final day in Turin, and can confirm that the pizza was absolutely incredible!! I can’t say whether it’s the best pizza in Turin as I didn’t try any others… but I’d return in a heartbeat to eat it again!

Address: Ristorante Sicomoro, Via Stampatori, 6, 10122 Torino

Pizza at Sicomoro, Turin - some of the best pizza in Turin
Pizza at Sicomoro, Turin – some of the best pizza in Turin
Check out what happened when I went to Seville – Lonely Planet’s Best In Travel No.1 City for 2018.

Where To Stay In Turin

There are plenty of hotels in Turin, but personally I preferred the charm and character of the city’s apartments.

I stayed at Suite Bellezia, a beautifully decorated one-bedroom apartment in a historic building, right in the heart of the city. It was moments from all the main Turin attractions, and was a really comfortable base for my time in the city. Plus, host Carlotta gave me lots of recommendations for the best things to do in Turin, places to eat and plenty of real local tips!

Suite Bellezia, Turin
Suite Bellezia –  located in a great area for all the things to see in Turin

I hope you’ve enjoyed my Turin travel blog. A big thanks to Lonely Planet for introducing me to the gorgeous region of Piedmont. As always, all opinions are my own.

Looking to travel around the region? How about travelling from Milan to Turin, or adding Turin to a road trip through northern Italy

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Top Things To Do In Turin, Italy

With a passion for food, fun and adventure, Chloe is the content creator behind one of the UK's top travel blogs Wanderlust Chloe. From volcano boarding in Nicaragua, to sailing around Sicily and eating her way around Japan, her travels have taken her to some of the coolest spots on the planet. Named Travel Influencer of the Year in 2022, Chloe regularly works with a number of tourism boards, producing inspirational travel content across multiple platforms. Find out more about Chloe here.

9 thoughts on “Top Things To Do In Turin (Italy Travel Guide)”

  1. Fantastic guide, thanks so much for sharing! I’m really hoping to get to Turin this year…I’ve travelled to so many places in Italy but this one region has remained elusive. And I am always up for a set lunch too 🙂

    Reply
  2. Thank You SO MUCH! My kids and I will be traveling to Italy in 2 weeks, and Turin was not in our itinerary until today. I do not know much about Turin except the soccer team Juventus through my son. YES, we are going there because of the Juventus match on August 14. We have only one full day to tour the city. Now I have your tips to go by.

    Reply
  3. Thanks Cloe
    I am an original “turineis” (local native) living now abroad Italy and appreciated very much your local guide that brought me back to the place I belonging. Grazie, thanks well done.

    Reply
  4. Grazie for this! Leaving in a few days to vacation in Turin – we live in Aix-en-Provence, France. Thanks for this guide, Chloe!!

    Reply

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