Turin

Former capital of the House of Savoy, with arcaded avenues, the Egyptian Museum and the National Cinema Museum; birthplace of chocolate treats and the bicerin, with the Langhe wine country close by.

Turin lies in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, on the banks of the Po with the Alps as a backdrop. It was the capital of the House of Savoy and the first capital of unified Italy. The city has an orderly layout, with about 18 km of arcades linking its Baroque squares, and the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy are a World Heritage Site. It is also home to Fiat, Juventus, the bicerin hot drink and fine chocolate. Main areas to explore: the old town centred on Piazza Castello, with the Royal Palace, the Egyptian Museum, Palazzo Madama and Piazza San Carlo all within walking distance; along the Po, the Mole Antonelliana, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Parco del Valentino and the Monte dei Cappuccini on the opposite bank; Lingotto and the Automobile Museum to the south; and nearby, the Palace of Venaria, Stupinigi and Superga. Further afield, day trips go to the Sacra di San Michele and to Barolo and Alba in the Langhe wine country. The best seasons are Apr–Jun and Sep–Nov, with the Alba White Truffle Fair in Oct–Nov; winters are cold but brightened by Christmas lights. High-speed trains from Milan take about 1 hour, and Turin-Caselle Airport has flights across Europe. Allow 3–4 days; the Torino+Piemonte Card covers most museums. Many museums close on Mondays, and popular ones should be booked in advance.

Top sights

• Museo Egizio – The most important museum of ancient Egypt in the world outside Cairo, with its hall of royal statues, complete tombs and linen scrolls tha…
• Mole Antonelliana – The symbol of Turin. The 167-meter spire houses the National Museum of Cinema, and a glass elevator takes visitors straight up to the obser…
• Royal Palace of Turin – The main palace of the House of Savoy. One combined ticket covers the Royal Palace, the Royal Armoury, the Sabauda Gallery and the Archaeol…
• Reggia di Venaria Reale – The Baroque hunting palace of the Savoy royal family. Its Grand Gallery and vast gardens rival Versailles, and it is a UNESCO World Heritag…
• Basilica of Superga – A Baroque basilica designed by Juvarra, set on a hilltop 670 m above the east side of Turin, with views over the city and the Alps.
• Piazza San Carlo – Turin’s “living room,” framed by twin Baroque churches and arcades, with century-old cafés on its sides.
• Piazza Castello – The core square of Turin’s historic center, surrounded by the Royal Palace, Palazzo Madama, the Royal Theatre and the Royal Armoury.
• Palazzo Madama – A palace layering a Roman city gate, a medieval castle and a Baroque facade by Juvarra. It now houses the Civic Museum of Ancient Art.
• Turin Cathedral – Turin’s only Renaissance church, home to the famous Shroud of Turin. The dome of the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, designed by Guarini, is stu…
• Parco del Valentino – A large city park on the west bank of the Po, with Valentino Castle and a medieval village scattered among the trees. Ideal for walking and…
• Borgo Medievale – A recreated medieval village and castle of Piedmont, built for the 1884 exhibition, with lifelike lanes, workshops and castle interiors.
• Monte dei Cappuccini – A monastery viewpoint on a small hill on the east bank of the Po, the classic spot for photographing the spire and the Alps together.
• Gran Madre di Dio – A neoclassical church on the far side of the Po, modeled on the Pantheon in Rome, built to commemorate the Savoy restoration. It faces Piaz…
• Piazza Vittorio Veneto – One of Europe’s largest arcaded squares, linking Via Po with the riverbank. After dark, crowds gather at its bars for aperitivo.
• Porta Palazzo Market – One of Europe’s largest open-air markets, where vegetables, cheese, meat stalls and immigrant street food come together. It is a great plac…
• Quadrilatero Romano – A historic district that preserves the grid street plan of ancient Rome, lined with small squares, artisan shops and bars. It is a hot spot…
• Porta Palatina – A well-preserved Roman city gate from the 1st century BC, with two sixteen-sided towers framing a four-arched gateway, surrounded by an arc…
• Palazzo Carignano – A Baroque palace of undulating red brick designed by Guarini. It was the seat of Italy’s first parliament and now houses the National Museu…
• Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile – One of the world’s oldest automobile museums, displaying about 200 classic cars, from early steam vehicles to Ferraris.
• Lingotto – A complex converted from Fiat’s former factory, where the rooftop test track has become a garden in the sky. It can be combined with a visi…
• Palazzina di caccia di Stupinigi – A Rococo hunting lodge designed by Juvarra, with a bronze stag atop its dome and a dazzling central ballroom.
• Allianz Stadium & Juventus Museum – Juventus’s home ground, where you can take a stadium tour, visit the trophy wall at the J Museum, or watch a Serie A match live.
• Castello di Rivoli – A Savoy Baroque castle left unfinished, converted into Italy’s first museum of contemporary art, where the architecture and avant-garde wor…
• Sacra di San Michele – A thousand-year-old abbey on the summit of Mount Pirchiriano, a symbol of Piedmont, said to have inspired Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Ros…
• Castle of Racconigi – The Savoy family’s summer residence, with a neoclassical facade and a sweeping English-style garden. The park is also home to a white stork…
• Caffè Al Bicerin – A small café founded in 1763 and the birthplace of Bicerin, Turin’s signature hot drink layered with coffee, chocolate and cream.
• Santuario della Consolata – Turin’s most beloved Marian pilgrimage shrine, with a gilded Baroque interior and side aisles hung with hundreds of votive paintings.
• Barolo – The core village of the Langhe wine region and the home of Barolo red wine, with the WiMu wine museum in its castle.
• Alba – The main town of the Langhe, with a medieval old town full of towers, where the autumn white truffle fair draws food lovers from around the…
• Villa della Regina – A 17th-century Savoy royal villa on the hillside east of the Po, one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy, with terraced gardens a…

Where to eat

• Del Cambio – A historic Turin landmark opened in 1757, holding one Michelin star, where you can savor classic Piedmontese dishes in…
• Scannabue – A retro bistro in the San Salvario district, famous for its tender vitello tonnato and agnolotti del plin.
• Consorzio – A Michelin-recommended modern Piedmontese bistro specializing in offal dishes and natural wines from small estates.
• Porto di Savona – An historic 1863 restaurant on Piazza Vittorio, the classic choice for bollito misto and Piedmontese home cooking.
• Piola da Cianci – An affordable piola in the Quadrilatero Romano district with generous portions and low prices. Always packed, it is the…
• Gofreria Piemonteisa – A street food stall in the city center serving freshly baked, honeycomb-patterned gofri waffles, filled with savory ham…

Itineraries

• Turin Royal City & Langhe Wine Country – Explore Turin on foot for the first two days, then drive through the Langhe hills to Alba, Barolo, and La Morra for the…