Turin is a small city from the north of Italy, noted for its excellent cuisine and sophisticated architecture. The city is also the capital of the famous region of Piedmont that borders France and is known for its exceptional wines.
Though Turin, or Torino in Italian, is a small city, it is home to important historic sights, automobile museums, and Renaissance architecture. If you enjoy the juxtaposition of traditional grandeur and industrial prowess, you will enjoy exploring Turin.
Getting to Turin
Turin has its own airport, which is about 16 kilometers (10 miles) from the center of the city. Therefore, if you will be traveling to Turin from any other part of Italy, both train and plane are viable options for you.
Unless you are traveling from inside Europe, you will find it a little challenging to locate flights that directly take you to Turin. In that case, you can catch a plane to Milan, which is only two hours away.
Getting Around
As we have already mentioned, Turin is a relatively compact city, which enables you to explore most of the center on foot. If you only have a day to spend in the city and want to make the most of your time, however, there are also hop-on and hop-off buses covering three different routes.
Accommodation
Turin offers a wide variety of options for accommodation and dining, but if you prefer to relax with friends and family in a welcoming spot that feels like home, try Dormire a Torino. Here you'll find a warm staff and all the comforts you need for a flawless stay for as little as €50/night (rates may change, so check before you decide to visit).
Sights
If you only have a day to explore Turin, make sure these highlights are in your itinerary:
Museo Egizio
Surprisingly, one of the most famous places in this Italian city is an Egyptian museum. It is home to the infamous statue of Rameses II.
Mole Antonelliana
Alessandro Antonelli, the architect, built the Mole Antonelliana as a synagogue. Today it houses the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, or National Museum of Cinema.
Royal Crypt
Near Superga Hill, you will find a Catholic church where several royal family members from the House of Savoy are buried.
Shroud of Turin
The Shroud of Turin is a thin piece of linen that carries an impression with a resemblance to Jesus Christ. The original is not always on display but the chapel has a replica you can view.
Good Cafés or Restaurants in Turin
The top eateries in the city include Al Bicerin, Caffè Torino, Guido Gobino, and Ristorante Sicomoro. Fun fact: Al Bicerin was once a regular hangout place for Nietzsche, Puccini, and Dumas.
Caffè Torino
What we found to be the most delicious here was the bicerin. It is a famous delicacy in Turin made up of espresso, hot chocolate, and whole milk. If you find yourself in Turin anytime soon, you must try it out at least once. This is a nice cozy coffee house situated right in the beautiful building of Piazza San Carlo Torino. You can sit at their tables kept in the galleria and spend your time people-watching.
Al Bicerin
Though Caffè Torino will serve you amazing bicerin, this chocolate house, or cioccolateria, actually invented the bicerin in 1763. So be sure to try the versions in both of these places.
Guido Gobino
When it comes to varieties of chocolate, Turin has more than one thing to offer. It has cyet another sweet local delicacy involving the combination of chocolate and hazelnut called gianduja. The best place to try this out would be none other than Guido Gobino. If this name sounds quite familiar to you, then it may be because you are a Nutella fan. Originally hailing from Turin, gianduja has achieved international fame via its commercial cousin, Nutella, a chocolate hazelnut spread inspired by the delicacy from Turin that you can find across the globe.
Ristorante Sicomoro
If you want to experience the city like a resident instead of a tourist, then one of the best ways to do that would be to try out the local eateries. What better way than sitting down to Italy’s favorite dish, pizza? Ristorante Sicomoro is a quaint restaurant that is quite underrated amongst tourists. If you order a pizza there, you will taste what is one of the most authentic pizzas in the entire city.
Cultural and Food Tours
Cultural tours
If you would want to be a part of a guided experience, take a look at the following suggestions:
History and Architecture Private Walking Tour
Italy has always been famous for art, literature, and architecture. If you would like to get a deeper insight into the same, this tour would be perfect for you.
Welcome to Turin: Private Tour with a Local
Nobody can show you around better than a resident who knows the city like the back of their hand. Here, they will take you to every famous nook and corner, curating a special experience for you.
Food tours
If you want to taste more of the local cuisine, the best way to do that would be to participate in tours.
Private Aperitivo Tour and Tasting
If your point of interest coincides between food and tradition, this is the tour for you. In this tour, you will be taken to different restaurants that serve traditional dishes and are considered the best in the city.
3-Hour Traditional Home Cooking Experience
If you believe that you connect with food on a more spiritual level, then this experience has something unique in store for you. Here, you will be visiting a chef at their home or workplace who will then cook for you while teaching and explaining the cuisine of Turin.
