Turin Walking Tour

By Vicky · Published Nov. 14th, 2024

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A walking tour is a great way to explore Turin as the city centre is quite compact and has plenty of gardens and pedestrianised streets.

Location

This walk starts from the National Cinema Museum in the centre of Turin. Alternatively, you could start from Turin Porta Nuova Train Station.

Turin Walking Tour Map

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Popular Tours of Turin

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Top Sights in Turin

On this self-guided walking tour, you’ll see the main attractions and sights of Turin. Two days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Turin, although if you don’t go in any museums you could see everything in one day. However, Turin is also a good place to base yourself to explore more of Piedmont.

This is a self-guided walking tour of Turin, though there’s a great guided walking tour of Turin* which visits many of the central sights.

Turin Walking Tour Route

1. National Museum of Cinema

Key Information: Open 9am-7pm, closed Tuesdays. Tickets cost €15. Guided tours* are available.

The National Museum of Cinema is a famous museum located inside the distinctive Mole Antonelliana Tower. You can see antiques to do with cinematography, interesting special exhibits and much more. Another highlight is the panoramic lift you can take to the top of Mole Antonelliana. From here there are great views over the city and beyond to the Alps.

Directions: After visiting the museum, or just admiring the building, head right (when facing the entrance), first left, then right again to Via Po. Turn right.

2. Via Po & Piazza Vittorio

Via Po is a shopping street with porticoes, or covered arcades, on either side. You’ll find a mix of quaint little shops, traditional cafes, boutique clothes shops and much more. The street opens up into Piazza Vittorio, the largest square in Turin.

Directions: Walk through the square, across Ponte Vittorio Emanuele I (a bridge over the River Po), and to the Church della Gran Madre di Dio. The design of this church is based on the Pantheon in Rome. Head right after the church and up the hill to the viewpoint.

3. Monte dei Cappuccini Viewpoint

The Monte dei Cappuccini is a hill with a great viewpoint at the top. From here you can see over Turin and all the way to the snow-capped Alps. You’ll also find the Church of St Mary and the Mountain Museum here.

Directions: Head back down the hill and now turn right and down to the river. Cross the bridge and turn left into the park.

4. Parco del Valentino

The Parco del Valentino is a lovely park running along the banks of the River Po. About 1 km into the park by the river you’ll find the Borgo Medievale. This is a reconstruction of a Medieval Village, built in 1884 for an exposition. It’s under renovation until 2026, though you can still see the outside.

Turn the corner after the Borgo Medievale to head back towards the city centre through the middle of the park. Once you reach the building complex, head left and you’ll reach the front of the grand Castello del Valentino. Home to the architecture department of Turin University, this is a French chateau-style palace from 1620. You can’t go inside but can admire the building’s exterior. Next door to the palace is the Botanic Gardens (€5 entrance).

Directions: Leave the park and cross over the busy road. Walk through Cavour Garden and Aiuola Balbo Garden on the way to Sambuy Garden in front of the train station. Head through the gardens and along the main shopping street.

5. Via Giuseppe & Via Roma

Via Giuseppe & Via Roma are two famous shopping streets in Turin. The former, Via Giuseppe, is pedestrianised and contains many cafes and terraces. Via Roma on the other hand, is lined by designer and luxury stores.

6. Piazza San Carlo

Piazza San Carlo is one of Turin’s main squares. It’s lined by elegant buildings and two twin churches. Big events are held in the square including rallies and concerts.

Directions: After walking around the square, leave to your right and turn left along the pedestrianised Via Guiseppe. You’ll see the Church of San Filippo Neri on your right just before the famous museum on your left.

7. Egyptian Museum

Key Information: Open Mon 9am-2pm and Tue-Sun 9am-6:30pm. Tickets cost €18, with discounts for elderly/students/children. Guided tours* are available.

The Egyptian Museum is one of the largest and most famous Egyptian museums in the world. There are many ancient statues, mummies, jewellery and much more from Ancient Egypt up until more recent times. You could easily spend several hours here and a guided tour* makes it more worthwhile.

Directions: Take the first right after the museum and you’ll soon be at the next stop.

8. Piazza Carlo Alberto

Piazza Carlo Alberto is a lovely, elegant square. It’s surrounded by grand, historic buildings, one of which contains the Risorgimento Museum, about the unification of Italy in the 19th century.

Directions: Head through the square and left on the far side. At the next interchange, you’ll see the Piazza Carignano to your left. This is a small square with the Theatro Carignano and Carignano Palace on either side. Walk down the road to the right to the large square.

9. Piazza Castello

The Piazza Castello is one of the largest and most visited squares in Turin, it’s definitely not to be missed. There are palaces on many sides of the square and it’s very grand. You have to get tickets for the two palaces mentioned below, but the Ducal Gardens are free to enter.

Palazzo Madama

Key Information: Open 10am-6pm, closed Tuesdays. Tickets are €10.

Palazzo Madama (Website, GetYourGuide*) is a castle/palace containing an art gallery, antiques and topical exhibitions. Make sure to walk around the outside – the building looks totally different from the back to the front.

Royal Palace Museums

Key Information: Open Tue-Sun 9am-6pm, closed Mondays. Tickets are €15 and include entrance to the Royal Palace, Royal Armory, Chapel of the Holy Shroud, Sabauda Gallery and Museum of Antiquities. Guided tours* are available.

The Royal Palace, or Palazzo Reale di Torino, once a residence of the Savoys, now houses several worthwhile museums. There are grand rooms in the Royal Palace and plenty of artworks here and in the Sabauda Gallery. The Chapel of the Holy Shroud was built specifically to house the Shroud of Turin. Today however, the original shroud is only shown once every decade or so since it decays in the light. To see many replicas and discover more about the Shroud of Turin, visit the Museum of the Shroud.

Ducal Gardens

Key Information: Open 9am-7pm, closed Mondays. Free entry.

The Ducal Gardens, or Giardino Ducale, are accessed through a courtyard in the Royal Palace. The gardens are normally fairly quiet and there are plenty of benches to have a rest. It’s a nice place to take a stroll and admire the outside of the palace.

Directions: Leave the Piazza in the corner by the palace and you’ll see the cathedral.

10. Cathedral di San Giovanni Battista

Key Information: Open 10am-12:30pm & 4-7pm on weekdays, 9am-12:30pm & 3-7pm on weekends. Free entry.

The Cathedral di San Giovanni Battista (Cathedral of St John the Baptist) is fairly plain inside, but worth taking a look. A highlight is the bell tower outside. Note, the neighbouring Chapel of the Holy Shroud is part of the Royal Palace Museums, for which you have to buy a ticket. To discover more about the shroud, visit the Museum of the Shroud.

Directions: Head through the nearby park to the obvious large red gate.

11. Palatine Gate

The Palatine Gate, adjacent to the Archeological Park, remains from Roman times. It’s roughly 2000 years old and quite an impressive sight, so don’t miss it when visiting Turin.

Directions: Head left along the road on the other side of the gate and you’ll soon find the market.

12. Porta Palazzo Market

Key Information: Open Tue-Fri 8am-2pm and Sat 7am-7:30pm.

The Porta Palazzo Market is a large market selling fresh produce, clothes, and much more. There’s also an indoor food court on the edge of the square. If you want to discover more about the tastes of the Piedmont, book a Gourmet Food Tour of Turin*.

Directions: Once you’ve explored the market, continue to Santuario della Consolata, a nice church on a little square. Here you’ll also find Caffé Al Bicerin. This is a famous cafe founded in 1763. It’s named after Bicerin, a typical drink invented in Turin containing espresso, chocolate and milk. Be prepared to queue.

The cafe is a great place to relax and it’s the end of the Turin Walking Tour. From here, wind your way back through the neighbourhood, or catch a bus back from the stop by the church.