Italy · Italy's chocolate and cinema capital
🍫Turin
Elegant, geometric, and often underrated — Piedmont's Baroque capital gave Italy its first parliament, Fiat, cinema, and the aperitivo ritual. The Alps line the western skyline; 18 km of arcaded streets keep coffee-hopping dry in any weather.
- Best season
- April–June and September–October
- Mid-range
- €90–€150 / day
- Backpacker
- €50–€75 / day
- Country
- Italy
Safety
Very safe. Some caution near Porta Nuova station at night.
Best travel season
April–June and September–October. October Salone del Gusto (biennial) is a food pilgrimage.
Daily budget
Mid-range
€90–€150 / day
Backpacker
€50–€75 / day
Where to stay
- Centro — Piazza Castello, arcades, best for first visit
- Quadrilatero Romano — nightlife, indie bars
- San Salvario — hipster, near Parco Valentino
- Vanchiglia — creative, student area
Hostels
- Tomato Backpackers Hotel — near Porta Susa
- Open 011 Torino — social, near San Salvario
Transportation
Metro
One automated line (M1) — quick, driverless. €1.70 single.
Tram
Historic and modern trams; line 4 runs 15 km north–south.
Bus
GTT network; same ticket as metro/tram.
Bicycle
[TO]BIKE share; excellent lanes along the Po.
Taxi
White cabs, ranks or app (WeTaxi).
Airport — TRN
Torino-Caselle Sandro Pertini Airport
16 km north of the city.
Airport to city center
SFMA train
To Dora station, ~20 min, €3.60.
Airport bus (Sadem)
To Porta Nuova / Porta Susa in ~50 min, €7.50.
Taxi
About €40 to the center.
Attractions
Must-see
Museo Egizio
World's second-largest Egyptian collection after Cairo — 40,000 artefacts.
Must-see
Mole Antonelliana + Museo del Cinema
167 m spire housing Italy's national cinema museum; panoramic lift to the top.
Museum
Palazzo Reale + Musei Reali
Royal Savoy residence complex; Galleria Sabauda inside.
Monument
Piazza San Carlo
'Turin's drawing room' — twin baroque churches and historic cafés under arcades.
Park
Parco del Valentino
River park with the Borgo Medievale, a full-scale 19th-century medieval village replica.
Sunset
Basilica di Superga
Juvarra's hilltop basilica; tram-and-rack-railway climb, Alp panorama.
Hidden gem
Quadrilatero Romano at dusk
Ancient grid of streets full of natural wine bars and cocktail lofts.
Monument
Reggia di Venaria Reale
UNESCO Baroque palace 8 km out; the 'Italian Versailles'.
Food & drink
Local dish
Agnolotti del plin
Tiny pinched ravioli, best at Consorzio or Tre Galline.
Local dish
Bicerin
Layered espresso-chocolate-cream drink invented at Caffè Al Bicerin in 1763.
Local dish
Vitello tonnato
Cold veal in tuna-caper sauce — Piedmont summer classic.
Local dish
Gianduiotto chocolate
Hazelnut chocolate created in Turin. Guido Gobino and Peyrano are benchmarks.
Restaurant
Consorzio
Slow Food–focused Piedmontese menu, natural wine list.
Café
Caffè Mulassano
Belle Époque bar that invented the tramezzino sandwich in 1926.
Vegan
Soul Kitchen
Longstanding vegan restaurant near Porta Palazzo.