Turin is a city which has been the capital of Italy for over 400 years. It is situated in the north-west of Italy and it borders France while its northern suburbs are following Piedmont’s border with Switzerland. Turin is generally known as “the Capital of Italian Industry” because it hosts many international companies such as Fiat, Lancia, Alcoa, Caffaro, Iveco and Ferrero Group. But Turin also offers visitors other attractions: churches to visit like San Giovanni Battista dei Fiorentini or Santa Maria di Castello; museums like Museo Egizio (Egyptian Museum) or Museo Nazionale del Cinema (National Cinema Museum); theaters to attend like Teatro Regio (Royal Theatre) or Teatro Carignano.
What to see in Turin: places to visit
Turin has lots of interesting spots that might be worth visiting. For example, it hosts some major museums which have an international reputation among them Museo Egizio (Egyptian Museum) and Mole Antonelliana , the symbol of the city built by architect Alessandro Antonelli as a synagogue but now is used for exhibitions. The building was chosen because its height corresponds exactly to 157 meters – one meter per each year passed since Jesus Christ’s death!
Another where tourists can go is Palazzo Carignano . This is a Baroque style palace built in 1679 which has been used for many purposes throughout the time: from barracks, to theater and it’s also a nice museum nowadays.
The city itself is full of places that are worth seeing such as Piazza Castello where you can find Palazzo Madama , one of the most beautiful buildings not only in Turin but all Italy too! In front there is also Teatro Regio (Royal Theatre) with its gorgeous foyer called Salone d’Onore decorated by frescoes made by Gaetano Merchi between 1835-1837 depicting some important events from history of Piedmont and Savoy. Nearby we have other places that are definitely worth seeing such as Palazzo Madama, Via Po and Piazza Vittorio Veneto where you will find many cafés.
Last but not least, don’t forget to visit Parco del Valentino , a large park with lots of greenery which is great for relaxing or enjoying some sport activities like running or biking!
Where to eat: good restaurants in Turin
Turin has a lot of places where you can find great food. Here we list some of them: Osteria del Boccondivino , Trattoria Milano, Trattoria Papei . These are just three examples among many other wonderful places where you should go if you want to taste traditional Italian cuisine at its best! You won’t regret it!
Of course there are also bars or pubs that offer good food for lunch time too. For example – although maybe not the cheapest option- Pizza Margherita is an excellent choice because they serve delicious pizzas with San Marzano tomatoes (San Marzano tomatoes have a specific taste and are considered the best in the world) as well as good craft beers.
Also, if you happen to be there on a Sunday morning – you should definitely go for brunch at The Roulotte . This is an award-winning restaurant which also offers cooking classes (with macaron making included!).
Where to sleep: where to stay in Turin?
Turin has plenty of places where tourists can find accommodation according to their needs and budgets. From luxury hotels like Grand Hotel Royal or NH Lingotto , located right next to Palazzo Carignano; up to hostels like B&B della Posta Vecchia (which has free wi-fi connection), Il Melograno Pinerolese (breakfast included) or Hotel Milano , you will be able to find the perfect place for your stay.
If it’s a vacation on a budget that you are looking for, instead, there is B&B Suisse located in Via Cagliari which offers single rooms starting at 27 Euros per person; as well as many other b & bs like The Mockingbird Rooms located near Piazza Carlo Felice where double rooms start at 45 Euros. There are also some good affordable hotels such as Alpi Resort and Hotel Richmond . Both of them have nice wellness areas with sauna and hot tub (available even free if booked via their websites). Affordable but still high quality!
Last but not least, if you are travelling with your family or friends, why not try a holiday home rental ? There are plenty of options available on different websites like Airbnb or TripAdvisor .
What about Turin’s cuisine?
What food can we taste in this city?
Turin has also its own traditional dishes besides Italian ones. The most famous one is Bagna Cauda – an anchovy dip made of garlic oil (although there are other variations too). It was created by chef Giovanni Battista Bordiga at the end of 19 century who was asked to create an unusual dish for king Vittorio Emanuele II and his wife Margherita di Savoia.
Another traditional recipe is Bicerin . This one is a typical drink made of coffee, chocolate and whole milk served in small cups! It’s the perfect way to start your day with something sweet but not too heavy…
There are also many places where you can try more conventional dishes such as risotto alla Milanese or bagna cauda (anchovy dip) which will definitely leave no space for dinner that evening. One of them is Antica Birreria Peroni – this restaurant/pub has been around since 1846 so it must be doing something right! Their specialties include a variety of dishes made with fresh ingredients, high quality meat and a great selection of local wines.
Last but not least, Turin offers many good restaurants to try out some exquisite food! One place where you can have a real Italian experience is Caffè Mulassano . It’s been there for over 120 years so it must be doing something right because nowadays people still come here from all around the world just to taste their delicious cappuccino or pastries carefully prepared by pastry chefs who know how to use only best products! If you are looking for something more traditional go for Trattoria Della Nonna ! This restaurant serves an amazing pasta tasting menu as well as other typical dishes such as duck breast cooked in various ways (I can recommend you the one with prunes!)
Last but not least, don’t forget to try out some of Turin’s sweet specialties such as chocolate or hazelnut gianduiotto which was invented in 1867 by chocolatier Pietro Ferrero. You will find it wrapped in paper at any pasticceria together with other similar products made from candied orange peels, marrons glaces and nuts!
Where do I sleep in Turin?
Where are good places to stay?
Turin has many hotels for all kinds of tourists’ tastes including big international groups like Marriott or Ibis that have recently opened new properties close to the city center. The most famous ones Alpi Resort Hotel & Conference Center and Hotel Majestic Barolo are top luxury hotels in Turin that also offer special meetings rooms for business purposes.
If you are looking to spend the night with your family then I suggest you book a room at Holiday Inn Express Torino Lingotto Fiere . It’s only few minutes via subway from city center and it has great facilities such as swimming pool, gym and restaurant! Just be careful: holidays in Italy mean long queues so make sure to book your room well before arrival 🙂
The four-star hotel which is closest to Porta Nuova underground station is Mercure Torino Lingotto , just across Autobus Terminal where many bus lines stop – this means easy access by public transport matter if you come from far away! It’s also located very close to Lingotto metro and shopping mall so it can be a good option for people who come here in order to attend some trade show or just shop at these places.
What about Turin attractions?
What is there to see in this city?
Turin has many interesting sites that you must visit if you happen to pass by: there are famous monuments such as Mole Antonelliana , Egyptian Museum, Royal Palace of Venaria Reale , Palazzo Carignano and others which will give you great insight into the history of Piedmont region where Torino lies today. If you want something more interactive don’t miss National Automobile Museum – they have over 100 cars from around the world including the first Fiat ever built! If you want to spend an afternoon walking around then go for Parco del Valentino , a great place that lies next to Po river and it’s perfect if you’re travelling with your kids because there are many playgrounds, green spaces where they can run free as well as some fountains.
What about my travel guide? What else should I know before visiting this city?
Don’t forget to pick up official map of Turin or download Turin City App which is available on both Android OS and iOS . It has all main attractions listed so you can plan ahead what sites you would like to visit depending on how much time do you have 🙂
The currency is Euro (EUR) and the local VAT is included in prices so foreigners won’t have to pay this extra charge.
How can I get there? How do I go around town?
Turin Loves You 🙂
What else should you know about Turin before visiting it for your holidays or business trips? Where are places where people usually hang out when they visit Torino? What are some restaurants, bars, clubs worth checking out while being here with friends on weekends? Check back soon!