12 Best Things to Do in Turin (Italy) 2023: Guide
This list of the best places to see in Turin in one day will help you to experience everything in one of the most exciting cities in Italy, which we are sure will exceed all your expectations.
Surrounded by the Alps and located mainly on the left bank of the Po River, Turin hides a glorious past of more than 2,000 years that includes the period when it was the first capital of Italy and residence of the powerful House of Savoy.
The capital of the Piedmont region has little to envy its neighbor Milan, located just over an hour away by high-speed train, and has enough tourist attractions to spend a fun weekend.
Based on our experience in this city during our trip to Turin in 3 days, we have made a list of what we believe are the 12 most incredible places to visit in Turin. Let’s start!
1. Egyptian Museum
One of the first and best things to do in Turin is to explore the four floors full of statues, sarcophagi, papyri, and mummies of the impressive Egyptian Museum, the second largest in the world for about two hours dedicated to Ancient Egypt, after the one in Cairo.
Among its more than 3,000 exhibits, the impressive statues of Amenhotep I, Ramses II, Tuthmosis II, the Duaenra Sarcophagus, the Temple of Ellesiya, and the Royal Canon of Turin, a great papyrus, stand out.
12 BEST Things To Do in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2023
To learn more about the exciting history of the museum and its main treasures, we recommend you book this guided tour. If you prefer to visit on your own, you can buy the ticket in advance from this page, although we recommend purchasing the Piedmont Card that includes this museum and other tourist attractions in the city. You can read more information in this post about the Torino Piedmont Card.
Visiting hours: every day from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; on Mondays, it closes at 2:00 p.m.
2. Via Roma, one of the places to see in Turin
Via Roma, which connects Piazza Castelo with Piazza San Carlo, is one of the main shopping streets to see in Turin and stands out for its arcades with marble columns that protect the windows of the exclusive shops on the ground floors from the rain.
In an afternoon of shopping, in addition to strolling along Via Roma, we recommend you enter the beautiful San Federico and Subalpine galleries and walk through Garibaldi and Po streets.
To learn more about the city’s history and catch everything necessary, we advise you to book this free tour with a Spanish guide or this private tour, especially for groups.
3. Piazza San Carlo
At the end of Via Po, you will find the beautiful Piazza San Carlo, known as “The Hall of Turin,” which is presided over by two twin churches, that of Santa Cristina and that of San Carlo Borromeo.
This square, surrounded by arcades and with the equestrian statue of Emmanuel Philibert in the center, is perfect for having an espresso on a terrace like the one at the historic Caffè San Carlo, the first place in all of Italy to have gas lighting, and enjoying the daily hustle and bustle. Of locals and tourists.
4. Piazza Castello
Another of Turin’s main squares is Piazza Castello, located in the heart of the city’s historic center and surrounded by historic buildings such as Palazzo Madama and Palazzo Reale.
The Madama Palace is a Baroque jewel with the particularity that, depending on whether you look at it from one side or the other, it shows two completely different façades.
A few meters from this building is the majestic Royal Palace that, despite its sober exterior, falls in love with the beauty of its interior. The former principal residence of the House of Savoy, which made Turin the first capital of modern Italy, this palace houses an excellent armory and rooms full of luxurious period furniture.
10 Best Things To Do in excursions from Miami Tours 2023
We recommend booking this guided tour to learn more about the palace’s history and the Savoy dynasty.
The visiting hours of the Royal Palace are Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
5. Mole Antonelliana
The Mole Antonelliana, a symbol and the tallest building in the city for many years, is another of the most incredible places to see in Turin.
Visible from a large part of the city thanks to its large dome with a square base and crowned by a small temple, it contains the fantastic National Museum of Cinema.
In addition to reviewing the history of world cinema, remember that Turin is the cradle of Italian cinema; through famous objects and films, it is worth going up in its panoramic elevator with transparent walls that will take you to the top of the dome to enjoy incredible 360-degree views of the city.
If you have little time, we recommend you take this offer, which includes the elevator ride, the entrance to the museum, and the tourist bus that stops at the main tourist attractions in Turin.
We were visiting hours: Wednesday to Monday from 9 am to 7 pm.
6. Cathedral, one of the places to visit in Turin
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, or Duomo di Torino, is the central religious building to visit in Turin and is famous for housing the Shroud, which is said to have been used to wrap the body of Christ after his crucifixion.
Although to see the Shroud, you will have to wait for the Pope to decide, the last time was in 2015; it is worth going inside this building with a white marble façade to see its Renaissance architecture and the chapel of the Shroud.
If you want to see a life-size replica of the Shroud, you will have to go to the Shroud Museum, and then you can take the opportunity to try Italian dishes at La Taverna dei Mercanti, one of the best restaurants to eat in Turin.
7. Palatine Gate
The Porta Palatina, the ancient access gate to the Roman city Iulia Augusta Taurinorum, is one of Turin’s best preserved Roman remains.
This gate, flanked by two towers with battlements from medieval times, has two entrances for pedestrians and another two for cars, widely used in Roman times.
A few meters from this door is the Mercato di Porta Palazzo, considered the largest open-air market in Europe, with almost 1,000 stalls selling all kinds of food products and household items.
If your visit falls on a Saturday, near this area, in Borgo Dora, the Balon Market specializes in antiques is set up, which becomes a larger one (Gran Balon) on the second Sunday of each month.
10 Best Things to Do in Rovinj (Croatia): Complete Guide 2023
In addition to visiting the market, we recommend you stroll through the Roman Quadrilateral, the oldest area of Turin, and eat a delicious sandwich at the Master Sandwich
Visiting hours: Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
8. Monte dei Cappucini Viewpoint
At sunset, we suggest you go to the Monte dei Cappucini Viewpoint to enjoy the city’s best views with the snow-capped Alps in the background.
Although you can go by bus, we recommend you do it on foot, crossing the Vittorio Emanuele I Bridge, where you will have a beautiful perspective of the Po river and Monte dei Cappuccino.
After crossing the Po and passing by the beautiful Vittorio Veneto square and the Church of the Gran Madre di Dio, inspired by the pantheon of Rome, you can walk for about 15 minutes uphill until you reach the viewpoint, located next to the church of Santa Maria del Monte.
9. Valentino Park in Turin
Valentino Park, on the banks of the Po River, is another essential point to see in Turin on a day for those who want to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city, play sports or have a picnic.
In addition to a quiet walk through nature, within the park, there are several monuments, such as the Fontana di Dodici Mesi and the Arch of Valentino, and interesting buildings, such as the Valentino Castle, another of the residences of the royal house of Savoy, and the curious Borgo Medievale, a fantastic reproduction of a medieval village built for the universal exhibition of 1884.
Borgo Medievale visiting hours: every day from 9 am to 7 pm.
10. National Automobile Museum
A little away from the center is the National Automobile Museum, considered by The Times magazine as one of the 35 best museums in the world for its educational and scientific value.
If you’re a motor lover, you can’t miss its impressive collection of 200 original cars from 80 different makes, ranging from the first steam-powered to the most modern vehicles, including plenty of Ferraris.
You can buy the ticket in advance from this page.
We were visiting hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm; Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
11. Palazzo Carignano
In addition to Palazzo Reale and Palazzo Madama, another of the palaces to visit in Turin is Carignano, which houses the Museum of the Italian Resurgence and allows you to learn a little about the great history of Italy.
Located in the beautiful Carlo Alberto square, this building is another of the elaborate constructions ordered to be built by the powerful Savoy. It stands out for its wavy brick façade and the atrium with the double staircase.
We were visiting hours: every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
12. Villa della Regina
We suggest you complete this list of incredible places to see in Turin with a visit to the Villa della Regina and the Basilica of Superga, two excellent viewpoints.
The Villa della Regina, another of the residences of the royal house of Savoy, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1997, stands out for its gardens with pavilions and water features, as well as an interior with magnificent halls and royal apartments.
20 Most Beautiful Cities in Spain 2023: Ultimate Guide
To get to the Basilica of Superga, located almost 10 kilometers from the center and 670 meters high, you must take a bus and a funicular. Once up, you will enjoy incredible views of the city and the Alps and the church with the crypt that houses the tombs of many of the princes and kings of the House of Savoy.
Basilica hours: every day from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Is Turin worth visiting?
Considering its history, it’s obvious you’re going to find some incredible landmarks in Turin, which make it one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. One listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a group of palaces and villas in and around the city – the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy.
What is Turin best known for?
Turin is well known for its Baroque, Rococo, Neo-classical, and Art Nouveau architecture. Many of Turin’s public squares, castles, gardens and elegant palazzi, such as the Palazzo Madama, were built between the 16th and 18th centuries.
Is 1 day enough for Turin?
It is possible to see Turin’s highlights in one rushed day, but to really appreciate the city you’ll need three days or more. On the tightest schedule, you could spend a morning in the Palazzo Reale and cathedral, grab lunch, coffee and chocolate at Caffè Baratti & Milano, then take in the Mole Antonelliana.
How do you spend a day in Turin?
One Day In Turin Itinerary
- Visit Museo Egezio (Egyptian Museum Turin) …
- Catch A Glimpse Of The Shroud Of Turin In Duomo Di Torino. …
- Visit Palazzo Reale. …
- Eat Pizza With The Locals. …
- Go Up Monte dei Cappuccini. …
- Lake Orta. …
- The Alps. …
- Alassio.