Do you have a trip to Turin coming up? It’s quite possibly the most elegant city in Italy, yet often overlooked by tourists. Get off the beaten track in 2024 and come discover this gorgeous Northern Italian city. If you’re a wine lover, you will particularly enjoy Turin (after all the region is home to Barolo!) Keep reading to discover why you should visit and my top 10 things to do in Turin in 2024.

Why visit Turin?

Those who visit my beautiful adopted hometown fall quickly in love with the Parisian vibes, local food & wine and of course the stunning views of the Alps. You should consider a visit to Torino for many reasons including:

• Try local food: Each region of Italy has their own unique food traditions and Piedmont is no exception. Discover local dishes like agnolotti, bagna cauda and more. Find out more about Turin food in this blog post.
• Sample Italy’s best wines: Piedmont is home to Barolo as well as other delicious red and white wines.
• Taste some of the best chocolate: Turin is famous for its gianduiotto chocolate
• Experience a less visited Italian city: You’ll be lucky to hear other English speakers here
• Enjoy incredible museums: The Egyptian Museum, Fiat museum, Resistance museum, and so many more.
• Close proximity to Le Langhe wine region & the mountains: Rent a car and set off to explore the countryside with ease!

Best time to visit Turin?

My favorite season in Turin is Fall/Autumn. The city is at its most beautiful as the leaves change color to stunning reds and browns, the wine harvest kicks off, and you can indulge in some of the region’s heartiest dishes. The weather gets a little cooler making it perfect to snuggle up with a glass of Bicerin at one of the city’s many beautiful bars, or a vermouth later in the afternoon. Perhaps I’m somewhat biased as I moved to Turin in the fall (October to be precise), met my partner, and fell in love with this romantic city during this season.

Where to stay in Turin

There are some beautiful places to stay in town but undoubtedly by favorite luxe option is the NH Hotel in Piazza Carlina. It’s in a fantastic city centre location, quiet at night and boasts comfortable, luxurious rooms. And don’t even get me started on the the amazing view of the Mole Antonelliana! However, the Quadrilatero is another area worth considering if you’re looking for somewhere atmospheric and closer to the market. Just be mindful that it can be a little noisy at night.

• NH Hotel Piazza Carlina – Click to book
• Grand Hotel Sitea – Click to book
• Turin Palace Hotel – Click to book

10 Best Things to do in Turin in 2024

There are really so many fun things to do in Turin, but here are my top 10 for first-time visits. Have you been to Turin before? Leave me a comment to let me know what you thought!

1. Visit the Royal Palace

Did you know Turin has royal roots? It was home to the Royal family of Savoy and they’ve left their mark in the region with no end of castles and palaces to explore. In the heart of Piazza Castello, you’ll find the Palazzo Reale and the Royal Gardens. The gardens are free to visit and quite beautiful to stroll in during Spring and Autumn. The palace is definitely worth a visit, although I’m always a bit disappointed that you can’t visit every room. Consider this skip the line tour that includes a guide and visit to the armoury.

2. Climb the Mole Antonelliana and visit the Cinema Museum

The standout landmark of Turin is the long spire of the Mole Antonelliana that you can see all throughout the city. The Mole was originally a synagogue before being built by the city and transformed into the iconic symbol it is today. Once the tallest brick building in Europe (167.5 metres), you can go up the tower in a glass elevator and look out to a fabulous 360-degree view over the town. Make sure you prebook tickets as this is one of the most popular things to do in Turin! Don’t forget to visit the Cinema Museum afterwards (it’s just downstairs) either. It’s without a doubt my favorite museum ever and a great thing to do with kids in Turin. You can also book combined tickets including with a guide like this one.

3. Visit Porta Palazzo Market

If you’re looking for things to do in Turin for free, this is an idea! The Porta Palazzo market is the biggest open-air market in all of Europe! It’s also our local food market so we’re lucky enough to visit about once a week. My favourite part is the farmer’s market where everything is classified as ‘km 0‘ meaning it’s all grown locally. If you have an apartment and are looking to do some cooking, this is the best and cheapest place to do your food shop. There’s a fantastic fresh pasta place inside the covered market section, and my favourite fishmonger (Gallina) is right across from the farmers’ stalls. Stroll a little outside the market and you’ll find the Porta Palatina, the original Roman gate from the 1st Century.

4. Stroll through the Quadrilatero

The Quadrilatero is the oldest part of town and in my opinion, the most charming. In fact, for a short period I even lived in the Quadrilatero back when I was teaching English in the local highschool. This neighbourhood is full of cobbled, winding streets, medieval flags, great restaurants & bars, and charming tea rooms. Another great thing to do in Turin for free!

5. Sample local food and wine

Piedmont is a total foodie’s paradise – Barolo, truffles, chocolate, rich egg pasta, the world’s best hazelnuts and more. The Piemontese cuisine is heavy on butter and eggs and has some of the best cow cheeses in all of Italy. Try some of the local dishes like agnolotti, tajarin, battuta al coltello (carne cruda), bagna cauda (for garlic lovers), brasato al Barolo, panna cotta and more. Red wine is phenomenal here, so make sure you try the famous Nebbiolo, but also Barbera and Dolcetto wine.

6. Drink a Bicerin

In Turin, the local’s caffeinated drink of choice on a cool Autumn or winter’s day is a bicerin. It is a shot of espresso mixed with the classic hazelnut chocolate of the region and topped with fresh cream. The secret is you must not stir it! My favourite place to try the bicerin in Turin is at the famous Al Bicerin in the Quadrilatero.

7. Visit the Monte dei Cappucini

It’s a bit of a walk from Piazza Vittorio Veneto, up a hill, but so worth it. The Monte dei Cappucini is a Renaissance-style church that looks out over the River Po and over the beautiful Piazza Vittorio Veneto and across the city. When I first moved to Turin, all my students told me it was the most romantic place to go with someone special and where they went on first dates. I love it for the beautiful view on a clear day (which can be a rarity as Turin is famous for the nebbia or fog).

8. Visit the Egyptian Museum

Did you know Turin is home to the best Egyptian museum in the world outside of Cairo? Entirely devoted to Ancient Egyptian culture, it houses an incredible collection of artifacts. For those with even a passing interest in Ancient Egypt, you should definitely visit this museum. Be sure to prebook in advance as tickets are regularly sold out. Have a look at this tour if you’d like to go with a guide.

9. Walk through the Parco Valentino

Turin has many beautiful parks, but perhaps the most beautiful is the central Parco Valentino. In fact, there is even a replica of a palace inside this park! It’s the second-largest park in the city and home to the palace, medieval village replica, and even the Botanical garden. On a warm day, take a picnic basket and relax in the sun overlooking the Po River here.

10. Relax in a beautiful Piazza

There is no shortage of beautiful piazze in Turin like Vittorio Veneto and Piazza San Carlo. Take time to visit them all and relax at one of the many bars on an outdoor table with a gelato, spritz of caffe in hand.

If you’re looking for more advice on Piedmont, have a read of my guide to the best Turin restaurants, my Turin city guide, best Turin food, and Le Langhe guide.