By Vicky · Published Jan. 11th, 2025
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Discover the best things to do in Turin, from famous museums to historic squares and local delicacies, and much much more.
Page Contents:
Map of the Best Things to do in Turin
Best Things to do in Turin List
- Head to a museum
- Go on a Walking Tour
- Stroll the Shopping Streets
- Check out the Grand Squares
- Try the delicious Food
- Go on a Day Trip
Popular Turin Tours
1. Head to a Museum
Turin has several great museums, and the most popular are the Egyptian Museum, the National Museum of Cinema and the Royal Palace Museum (Palazzo Reale). The Egyptian Museum is one of the largest of its kind and houses many impressive archaeological pieces and several mummies with their fabulous sarcophagi.
On a completely different subject, the National Museum of Cinema is located in the Mole Antonelliana Tower. You can’t miss this building, it’s one of the most distinctive in Turin. The Royal Palace Museum is actually made up of several museums, with displays of grand historic rooms, artworks, and an exhibition about the Turin Shroud.
Best Tours: Take a guided tour of the famous Egyptian Museum*, the National Museum of Cinema* or the Royal Palace Museum* to get the most out of your visit.
2. Go on a Walking Tour
Turin is a fairly compact city, so a walking tour is a great way to explore. However, the Hop-on Hop-off Bus* is a good alternative for those who do not want to walk. For a standard highly rated guided walking tour, check out the Small-Group Walking Tour of Top City Highlights*, or for a different perspective, go on the Historical Walking Tour by Night*.
For something more unusual and definitely memorable, take part in the popular Magic Guided Tour*. On this tour, a shuttle bus whizzes you to different areas of Turin which you explore on foot to learn about their mysterious past…
Or to discover Turin on your own, check out our self-guided walking tour of Turin.
3. Stroll the Shopping Streets
There are plenty of shops in Turin selling everything you’d expect, from standard chain stores to high-end fashion. Via Po and Piazza Vittorio are lined by covered archways housing more quaint, traditional shops. On the other hand, Via Giuseppe & Via Roma are the main pedestrian shopping streets and best for clothing.
4. Check out the Grand Squares
There are several large squares in Turin and these are the central spaces for historic buildings, shops, cafes and restaurants. Piazza Castello is a must-visit while in Turin, which is surrounded by beautiful architecture, museums, and the grand cathedral. Much smaller, but nevertheless lovely and elegant, Piazza Carlo Albert you can find the Risorgimento Museum, about the unification of Italy on one side.
Piazza San Carlo is another one of Turin’s main squares with two twin churches at one end. Finally, Piazza Vittorio is a very large square, though without so much atmosphere as a couple of busy roads pass through.
5. Try the delicious Food
Italy is synonymous with good food and Turin is no exception. Bicerin, a hot coffee-chocolate-cream drink is one of the city’s famous creations, best sampled at the Caffè Al Bicerin. However, if the queues here are too long, Bicerin can be found at many other cafes. Chocolate by itself is also a speciality of Turin, plus little chocolate delicacies filled with gianduja, a local hazelnut paste. For something stronger, try Vermouth di Torino
For more standard good food, head to the large Porta Palazzo Market and its adjacent food court. The market quietens down after lunchtime and many stalls close, so don’t arrive too late.
Best Tour: The Turin Chocolate & Wine Tasting Experience* combines two of everybody’s favourite things while seeing a few of the city’s main sights.
6. Go on a Day Trip
Turin is a great place to base yourself for exploring the surrounding Piedmont region. One great day trip is to the Sacra of Saint Michele Monastery, a monastery perched atop a narrow, rocky hilltop. To get there you can drive, take the train and walk, or on weekends April-October you can take the train and then a bus. Alternatively, you can go on a guided tour from Turin*. Find out more about visiting the Sacra of Saint Michele.
Another great day trip from Turin is to the Alba Region, a scenic area of rolling hills, vineyards and cute hilltop towns. However, there’s lots to do so you could spend several days here! Find the best things to do near Alba.
Best Tour: Go hunting for the famous white truffles of Alba!*
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