Top things to do in Turin

Best places to visit in Turin

You can stroll through the city center and go down to the river. Begin in the Piazza San Carlo where you’ll find a monument to Emanuele Filiberto who established Turin as the capital of Savoy in the 16th century. Walk along Via Roma to Piazza Castello and head down to the river by the Via Po, one of Turin’s beautiful arcaded streets. By going through Piazza Vittorio Venetto you’ll reach the river, where you’ll enjoy lovely views. 

Head to the center to see the symbol of the city: the Mole Antonelliana tower. It dominates Turin, as much for its size as its height (at 167 meters, it’s one of the tallest buildings in Europe). Originally it was a synagogue built to celebrate religious tolerance. Today it’s home to the Museo Nazionale del Cinema. If you have time, for 6 euros, you can go up in the panoramic elevator to experience a beautiful, 360 degree view of the city. 

From here, go along the Via Verdi, a pedestrian street dotted with historical buildings like the Teatro Real, the Caballerizas Reales, the Radio and Televison Museum… You’ll arrive once again at the Piazza Castello. Nearby, crossing the Piazetta Reale, you’ll come to the cathedral (Duomo di San Giovani Battista), where the famous Holy Shroud of Turin is kept (although only a replica is on display). 

Another thing to do in Turin is wander through the streets in the city center until you reach Piazza della Consolata. There you’ll find Caffè al Bicerin. It dates from 1793 and its specialty, Bicerin, is a hot beverage made from a mix of espresso, homemade chocolate and whipped cream. You should also ask for a Zabaione, a piedmontese drink made from egg yolk, sugar, Marsala wine and water. 

If you like Egyptian art, then you should visit the Egyptian Museum, which alongside the museums in Cairo and London, has one of the most important collections in the world. Keep in mind that you’ll need several hours to visit all four floors.

Do you always try to find the best views of each city during your trips? 

Then take the cable car that leaves from Stazzione Sassi (Sassi Station) to go up to the Basílica de Superga, located to the east of the city at the top of a 670 meter hill. You’ll be able to see the Alps on the horizon. This location is also infamous for being the site of the 1949 crash of the plane carrying the Turin soccer team. 

If you prefer to exercise in the morning, head to the Parco del Valentino, a huge park on the banks of the Po River. Start from the south on the Fontana dei 12 Mesi. You’ll get a close up view of the Borgo Medievale (a peculiar reproduction of a medieval village built in 1884) as well as the Castello del Valentino. 

Among the things to do in Turin, you have to go to Lingotto Exhibition Center. It’s an historical place: it was previously the old Fiat factory and today it’s a cultural center full of shops and hotels redesigned by the architect Renzo Piano. It houses the art gallery of Gianni and Marella Agnelli, the founders of Fiat. 

Within the Center you’ll find one of our hotels in Turin, the NH Torino Lingotto Congress, which has direct access to the conference and shopping centers. What’s more, the roof is the historic 1.5 kilometer circuit built by Fiat to test their cars (made famous thanks to the movie ‘The Italian Job’). If you stay with us, you can have an exclusive tour. 

Within this guide on what to do in Turin, if you want to go shopping, the best streets for shopping are Via Roma, Via Lagrange and Via Garibaldi. All leave from the Piazza Castello and some of them are covered with beautiful arcades. 

And if you have a sweet tooth, you’re in luck as Turin is the chocolate capital. You can find many places to enjoy pralines, gianduiotti, pies, hot chocolate… In the 1950’s a baker invented chocolate and hazelnut cream that became the famous Nutella. The city also is home to dozens of excellent ice cream shops.

What are the best plans to do in Turin?

Another thing you can do in Turin is to have dinner or drinks at night. There are many bars in the south of the city in the area of San Salvario where you can get an “apericena“: a Turinese custom to meet with friends before dinner to enjoy a drink and some snacks. 

Giuseppe Baretti and Sant’ Anselmo streets have a lovely atmosphere. Many places have live music and DJs. In Lingotto, the club Hiroshima Mon Amour always features the latest musical trends.

If you like jazz, visit Jazz Club Torino in the Piazza Valdo Fusi. And to conclude the day with an excellent cocktail, head to Mad Dog, an elegant club that you can access by obtaining a password from their website.

Where to eat in Turin

The traditional cuisine of the Piedmont region is consistent, with dishes made with butter, truffles, broths and excellent local ingredients. If you want to try the most traditional cuisine, try some of the more historic restaurants in the city. Since 1757, Del Cambio has offered the best regional cuisine and today its dishes are elegant and creative. 

Other more economical options to enjoy piedmontese cuisine are Monferrato (since 1820, on the other side of the Po River) or Lo Spacio Alimentare, in the San Salvario neighborhood. 

To finish with this list of things to do in Turin, we recommend you go to Eataly, which offers the best seasonal and local foods following the tenets of the Slow Food Movement. You’ll find the best breads, cheeses, meats and homemade pastas.