Regal and sophisticated, Turin is the capital of Piedmont and a charming Italian city that was the country’s first capital in 1861. A visit to Turin Piedmont is not complete without chocolate, nebbiolo, mountain views and a side of truffles under the typical cloud of fog. Read on to discover more about this elegant city and how to spend a weekend there.

Where is Turin?

Turin is located in Northern Italy and is the capital of the region Piedmont. To the right is Lombardy, above is Switzerland and to the left is France. Turin Italy is actually very close to the more internationally famous Milan and makes for a convenient side trip. The Milan Turin train is an easy 1.5 hour train ride or slightly less if you’re driving. I like prebooking my train tickets with Omio, it’s all in English and gives you a digital ticket easy to travel with. No printing is necessary! With a small international Turin airport, you can fly into the city from many other European countries or cities within Italy.

Turin Italy Map

You can use the map of Turin below to better understand where is Turin. I’ve highlighted my favorite places to visit for you too – scroll down to read more about each location!

Best time to visit Turin Piedmont

Turin swelters through warm, humid summers and shivers during cold winters. It often snows during the winter in Turin at least once or twice. My favourite time in Turin is the shoulder seasons of Spring and Autumn, although I would recommend Autumn as the absolute best time to visit. Turin and Piedmont are at their absolute best during the wine harvest season- the white truffle is in abundance at this time, the leaves are changing colour and the mist of fog sets a moody, romantic tone over the entire city.

How to get around Torino Italy?

If you’re planning to just stay in Turin, then you can safely get around town either with well-connected public transport links (there is the train, tram or bus) or simply by walking if you stay in the city centre. However, one of the real highlights of visiting this city is escaping to the Langhe countryside (and beyond) where a car is absolutely paramount. For car rental Turin Italy, I recommend going through Rental Cars and definitely pre-booking before you arrive. The most convenient thing to do is rent your car from Turin Airport – this will save you from navigating confusing ZTL rules and the traffic in Turin, which can be a little bit overwhelming if you’re not used to driving in Italy.

What is Turin famous for?

This elegant city was the first capital of united Italy, although the average tourist might not realise it! Turin is probably most famous for the Shroud of Turin (held inside the Duomo which is connected to the Royal Palace), or as the birthplace of Fiat. There are so many reasons to love this city including its role as the birthplace of the Slow Food movement and its fantastic cuisine – truffles, vermouth, Barolo, and more.

How Torino could fit into your itinerary?

Turin remains relatively unknown to English speaking tourists in comparison to other cities in Italy. It is well worth spending at least a few days in the city for a taste of Northern Italian lifestyle away from the crowds. Here are some ideas for how you can work this sophisticated city into your trip:

• From Milan: Only an hour and a half from Milano, take a high-speed train and enjoy a few days of exploring somewhere new if you’ve done Milan before.
• On your way to/from the Cinque Terre: Turin is rather close to Liguria and only 3.5 hours from the Cinque Terre. Break up your trip before you head seaside with a stop in the ‘Paris of Italy’.
• From Provence, France: A great European road trip idea is combining Northern Italy with the beautiful Provence, in France. Just a four hour drive and you’re there!

Places to visit in Turin

There is no shortage of Turin sightseeing and while I’ll go into the highlights reel if you only have 48 hours in town, here is the full list of recommendations for things to do in Turin.

Museums:

• Cinema museum: One of my absolute highlights is a trip to this fantastic, interactive museum inside the Mole Antonelliana (a landmark of the city). Looking for a tour, try this one.

• Egyptian Museum Turin: The world’s oldest Egyptian museum! It houses an impressive collection of artefacts.

• Pietro Micca museum: Find out about the soldier who defended the city against the French and lost his life in doing so. A unique museum that takes you underground.

Markets

• Porta Palazzo: The largest open air market in Europe! This is where we doing our weekly fresh fruit, vegetable, meat and fish shopping. It’s vibrant, bustling and truly fantastic.
• The Gran Balon: The biggest antique market in town where you just might find a vintage gem.

Neighbourhoods

• Santa Giulia: Gentrified in recent years, this is our neighbourhood of choice for aperitivo hour. It’s a little more grown up than San Salvario.
• Quadrilatero: The oldest part of the city, the Quadrilatero dates back to Roman times. I love wondering through this part of town and discovering cheesemongers, bakeries, boutique shops and more.
• San Salvario: Cool and eclectic, there are fantastic restaurants and lots of bars in this area. You can find ethnic food options outside of just Italian cuisine here too.

Churches, Palaces & other monuments:

• Royal Palace of Turin: Since the 16th century, this was home to the Royal Savoy family. Go for a wander inside this beautiful palace and don’t forget to see the pretty gardens afterwards. There is an impressive collection of armoury too!

• Monte dei Cappucini: Dating back to 1583, this church offers a fantastic view over the River Po and onto the city. It is a very romantic stop to enjoy!
• Basilica of Superga: Another icon of Turin, Superga watches over the city on top of a hill. Located 10km outside of the city, it boasts stunning alp vistas and an impressive interior.
• Porta Palatina: The oldest part of town, Porta Palatina is an old Roman gate that marked the entrance to the city.
• Shroud of Turin: A famous linen cloth that is said to have once covered the body of Jesus. No one knows for sure whether or not the tales are true, but it nonetheless remains an important icon for many pilgrims. The shroud is rarely released for public viewings.

Virtual Tour in Turin

Best places to visit in Turin in 2 days

Whilst you could easily spend longer, here’s my perfect itinerary for a foodie, historical weekend in this beautiful city.

Friday evening:

Arrive into town on Friday evening and after checking into your accommodation, hit the pavement for aperitivo hour. Turin is the birthplace of vermouth, so it makes sense to start with a glass of white or red vermouth with a tramezzino (Turin-style sandwich). My pick? For a regal experience, try Caffe Mulassano.

Take a stroll through Piazza Castello and admire the castle and palace at night. When the lanterns turn on, this square becomes even more romantic. It’s actually where I shared my very first kiss with my boyfriend! From Piazza Castello, head down Via Pietro Micca towards one of my absolute favourite restaurants in town. It’s an easy 6 minute walk to Ristorante Consorzio, also recommended in the Michelin guide. It’s noted for its excellent selection of slow wine and local produce and offers a modern take on Piedmontese cuisine. Try the animelle (fried veal sweetbreads), carne cruda and don’t leave without ordering the agnolotti- they’re truly delicious here! The restaurant also has English speaking staff and menus to help if your Italian isn’t quite up to scratch.

Saturday morning:

Start your morning with breakfast standing at the bar as the locals do. Take an espresso and cornetto at any bar in town before wandering over to Porta Palazzo. Stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables if you’re in the mood for shopping, or simply go for a stroll to take in the atmosphere. While you’re in the area, go for a walk to the nearby Porta Palatina to admire a piece of ancient Roman history.

Next, it’s time to return to the Royal Palace, but this time you’re going inside! Book a ticket in advance to ensure you don’t miss out. Admire the beautiful royal rooms before taking a leisurely stroll through the royal gardens. You should budget at least an hour here but could easily fall into two.

After the palace, stretch your legs and head through the park towards the Mole and the cinema museum. It’s essential to pre-book tickets, as there’s often a long queue to go up to the top of the Mole where you have a spectacular view of the city on a clear day. After you’ve enjoyed the panoramic view, all movie buffs will enjoy a trip inside the interactive museum where you can easily while away a few hours. If you’re more of an ancient history fan head to the Egyptian museum instead.

Lunch time is surely calling you now and after all that sightseeing I think you would have worked up an appetite. Take lunch at my favourite bakery Perino Vesco. They make delicious sandwiches on sourdough bread, but my go-to choice is their focaccia slices. Try the classic olive oil and sea salt option, or my personal favourite with the famous raw sausage of Bra.

Saturday afternoon

After a leisurely lunch, take a stroll along the river Po and across to Monte dei Cappuccini. If you’re there on a clear day you’ll have a stunning view of the alps, the river and Piazza Vittorio Veneto.

It’s a bit of a walk up the hill, so refuel on your way back down at one of my favourite cafes in the piazza- Clarissa. Here you can get a hot tea or coffee, but the main reason I love it is for their selection of fresh cakes. My favourite is the apricot tarte tartin!

Saturday evening

If you have time for aperitivo (but when do you never not have the time!) traverse over to Santa Giulia. My pick is a spritz or glass of local wine at Enotecca Botz. It’s super popular with the locals, so try and knab an outdoor table where you can enjoy people watching as you sip on something delicious.

Dinner tonight is at my favourite restaurant – Osteria Antiche Sere. It’s a bit of a hike out of town, so you’ll need to take the bus or organise a taxi to get there, but it’s well worth it! Down a nondescript street in a residential area, you’re ushered through the house and outside to the courtyard where you will dine under the grape vines. Here you will feast on Piemontese classic dishes and your toughest choice will be what not to order! Sit back and enjoy the relaxed, casual atmosphere over a good glass of local wine (Barbera, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto…!) My tip? Leave room for dessert- try the classic Bonet or Pesche ripiene (stuffed peaches with amaretti biscuits).

Sunday morning

Make the most of your final hours in Turin with a morning stroll through the Quadrilatero. The cobblestoned streets are labyrinth-like and eventually lead you to one of Turin’s most famous cafes…Al Bicerin!

If you haven’t heard of Bicerin before, that’s because it’s very Piemontese. It’s a delicious hot drink made with coffee, chocolate and cream. You shouldn’t stir it, just take a sip and allow the flavours to dance across your tongue in delight. The cafe is absolutely stunning, think candles and little tables. It’s all very romantic!

Stop for a final lunch before leaving at Porto di Savona, one of the oldest restaurants in town. Dating back to 1863, you can enjoy a traditional Piemontese-style meal. Whilst it has, of course, become famous amongst tourists, it’s a delight to know that you can still enjoy really good food here. My tip? Order the vitello tonnato and fritto misto!

If you’ve still got some time to spare before leaving, you could consider taking the little tourist train up to the Basilica of Superga. If the clock is ticking, go for a walk through the San Salvario neighbourhood or stretch your legs at the nearby Valentino Park. In the mood for more chocolate? You can’t leave without buying some gianduja (the traditional hazelnut chocolate) at Guido Gobino.

Visit Torino City in 2024

There are really so many things to do in this beautiful city and I hope you will take the opportunity to get off the beaten track and visit if you have the opportunity! If you’d like to get prepared for a future trip, have a read of some of the traditional Turin food you will enjoy here, reasons to visit Turin in 2024, or my guide to the best Turin restaurants. Plus, have a read of my ultimate guide to Turin hotels. Besides a trip to the capital, the region of Piedmont has many fantastic gems waiting to be explored. Check out my guide to Le Langhe if you’re a wine lover – it’s a must-do!

Let me know if you’ve been to Torino Piedmont in the comments or if you have any of your own top tips!