Centro
First-timersAround Piazza Castello and Via Roma. Royal palaces and arcades.
Turin city guide
Things To Do In Turin
The first capital of Italy: arcaded boulevards, baroque squares, the Alps at the end of every street and an Egyptian museum second only to Cairo's. The home of vermouth, and of aperitivo.
9
Hostels in the city
8.9
Average, from 6,436 reviews
1861
Italy's first capital
1763
The bicerin, first served
2nd
Egyptian collection, after Cairo
Italy's most underrated city
Turin was the capital of the House of Savoy, the dynasty that unified Italy, and in 1861 it became the country's first capital. The Savoys built it as a royal city, and it still looks like one: long straight streets on the old Roman grid, arcades for kilometres, grand squares and a ring of royal residences outside the city.
It was then Italy's great industrial city, the home of Fiat, and that reputation kept visitors away for decades. The Winter Olympics in 2006 changed that, and the city is now one of the most pleasant in Italy: elegant, relaxed, full of good food and coffee, and far less crowded than anywhere of comparable interest.
On a clear day, the Alps close the end of the streets. Two or three days covers the city, and the Langhe wine hills are an hour away.
Where to stay
The centre is compact and flat. San Salvario and Vanchiglia are the neighbourhoods to go out in.
San Salvario
NightlifeSouth of Porta Nuova. Multicultural, cheap and lively at night.
Quadrilatero Romano
AtmosphereThe old Roman grid, with wine bars and restaurants.
Vanchiglia
StudentsNear the university and the river. Bohemian bars.
Porta Susa
TransportAround the high-speed station. Convenient and quiet.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 5 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
How long have you got?
The routes we would take, in the order we would take them.
Things to do
Things to do in Turin
The Museo Egizio is the most important collection of Egyptian antiquities outside Cairo, with statues, papyri, mummies and an entire tomb chapel. Allow half a day, and book at busy times.
The Mole Antonelliana, the city's symbol, was built as a synagogue and is now the National Cinema Museum, one of the best film museums in the world. A glass lift rises through the middle of the building to a terrace with views over the city to the Alps.
The Musei Reali, around the Royal Palace, include the royal apartments, the armoury and the Galleria Sabauda. The Cathedral holds the Shroud of Turin, which is almost never on display; a replica and an exhibition tell its story.
Walk the arcades of Via Po to Piazza Vittorio Veneto and cross the river to Monte dei Cappuccini for the view. On Saturday morning, Porta Palazzo is one of the largest open-air markets in Europe.
More on things to do in Turin
Free things
Free things to do in Turin
The arcades are free, and Turin has kilometres of them: Via Po, Via Roma and Piazza San Carlo are the grandest.
The Parco del Valentino, along the river, has a mock medieval village built for an exhibition in 1884. Porta Palazzo market is free to wander and busiest on Saturday mornings.
The view from Monte dei Cappuccini, just across the river, is free and one of the best in the city.
State museums, including the Musei Reali, are free on the first Sunday of the month.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Turin
Turin is a food city with its own traditions. Vermouth was invented here in the eighteenth century, and the city claims the aperitivo too; a vermouth or a spritz with snacks is the evening ritual.
The bicerin, layered coffee, chocolate and cream, has been served in the same café since 1763. Gianduiotti, chocolates made with hazelnut, were invented here. Grissini, breadsticks, are Turinese.
Piedmontese cooking is rich: agnolotti del plin, small pinched ravioli; vitello tonnato, veal with tuna sauce; and bagna cauda, a hot garlic and anchovy dip for vegetables. In autumn, white truffles from Alba appear on menus.
Porta Palazzo market and the neighbourhood trattorias of San Salvario are the cheapest places to eat well.
Nightlife
Going out in Turin
Turin goes out in its neighbourhoods. San Salvario, south of Porta Nuova station, is the liveliest, with bars and restaurants full of students every night.
Vanchiglia, near the university, is more bohemian. The Quadrilatero Romano, the old Roman quarter, has wine bars and aperitivo spots. The Murazzi, the arches along the river, have bars and clubs in summer.
Aperitivo, with a drink and snacks, costs €8 to €12. Turin also has a strong electronic music scene, with festivals in autumn.
Getting around
Getting around Turin
The centre is flat and walkable, and the arcades keep you dry. Trams, buses and a single metro line cover the rest, on a single GTT ticket.
The airport, Caselle, is north of the city, with buses and a train to the centre.
Turin has two main stations, Porta Nuova and Porta Susa. High-speed trains reach Milan in about an hour and Rome in about four hours, and trains cross the Alps to France. For the Langhe wine hills and Alba, a car or a tour is easiest.
The Sassi–Superga rack railway climbs to the basilica on the hill above the city.
Costs
What Turin costs
Turin is good value for a big northern city. Dorms are typically €20 to €30, and a meal in a trattoria is €15 to €25. A careful day is €55 to €70.
The costs that add up are the museums: the Egyptian Museum, the Mole and the Musei Reali each have their own ticket. The Torino+Piemonte Card covers most of them and can save money if you plan several.
Aperitivo is the budget dinner, and the arcades, parks and markets are free.
Safety
Staying safe in Turin
Turin is safe. Ordinary care is needed around Porta Nuova and Porta Palazzo at night, and in the crowds at the Saturday market.
The Murazzi and San Salvario can be rowdy late at night at weekends.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Turin
The wine hills, the royal residences and the Alps are all within reach.
The Langhe and Alba
The Barolo and Barbaresco wine hills, UNESCO-listed, and the truffle town of Alba.
Venaria Reale
The vast Savoy hunting palace and gardens, a Piedmontese Versailles.
Sacra di San Michele
A medieval abbey on a mountain top above the Susa valley.
Superga
A baroque basilica on the hill above the city, with the Savoy tombs.
Milan
The Duomo, the Last Supper and the aperitivo.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Autumn is Turin's season, with the truffles, the film festival and light art in the streets.
21 November
Ariete
Ariete is a concert event taking place at Teatro Concordia in Torino. The show starts at 7:00 PM on November 21, 2026, and is…
1 October
PierC
PierC is a concert event held at Hiroshima Mon Amour in Torino. It offers an engaging live music experience starting at 9 PM. The…
8 October
Paolo Nori
Paolo Nori brings his unique presence to Teatro Concordia in Torino. The event invites you to experience his performance in an intimate theater setting.…
13 October
Leo Middea
Leo Middea will perform a concert at Hiroshima Mon Amour in Torino. The event starts at 9 PM and is intended for attendees aged…
15 October
Blackest Serpent
Nerissima Serpe is a concert event held at Teatro Concordia in Torino. It invites you to experience a unique musical performance in an intimate…
16 October
Digitalism
Electronic music fans will find a compelling night with Digitalism performing live. The event takes place at Hiroshima Mon Amour, a well-known venue in…
19 October
Leon Faun
Leon Faun is a concert event held at Hiroshima Mon Amour in Torino. The show starts at 9 PM and is intended for audiences…
21 October
Carmine Del Grosso
Carmine Del Grosso will be performing live at Hiroshima Mon Amour in Torino. The show starts at 9 PM and is intended for audiences…
Hostels
Where to stay in Turin
Turin has a handful of good hostels near the stations and in San Salvario. These are the top-rated right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
Spring and autumn are best. Autumn has the truffles and the wine harvest; winter brings snow to the Alps.
Jan
Cold and often foggy
Feb
Cold. Snow on the Alps
Mar
Spring arrives
Apr
Good and quiet
May
Book fair. Excellent
Jun
Warm. San Giovanni on the 24th
Jul
Hot
Aug
Hot and quiet
Sep
Harvest in the Langhe
Oct
Truffle season begins
Nov
Film festival. Light art
Dec
Cold, festive
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Turin is colder in winter than most of Italy, and foggy in the Po valley.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Transport assumes walking and the odd tram. Museum tickets add up; the Torino+Piemonte Card covers most.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Turin travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Turin worth visiting?
Yes. It has one of the world's great Egyptian collections, royal palaces, a superb film museum, excellent food and far fewer tourists than other Italian cities of its interest.
How many days do you need in Turin?
Two or three for the city, plus a day in the Langhe wine hills.
Is the Egyptian Museum worth it?
Yes. It is the most important collection of Egyptian antiquities outside Cairo. Allow half a day.
Can you see the Shroud of Turin?
Almost never. It is kept in the Cathedral and displayed only on rare occasions. A replica and an exhibition explain its history.
What should I eat and drink in Turin?
A bicerin, a vermouth at aperitivo, agnolotti del plin and gianduiotti chocolates. White truffles in autumn.
How do I get from Turin to Milan?
High-speed trains take about an hour.
When is the best time to visit Turin?
Spring and autumn. Autumn brings the truffle season and the wine harvest in the Langhe.
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