Turin—Torino to locals—was the first capital of unified Italy and the seat of the House of Savoy. Its arcaded boulevards, Baroque facades, and grand piazzas give it a stately air, while Fiat, Juventus, and a beloved café culture keep it firmly contemporary. With more than 18 kilometers of porticoes, you can stroll in any weather, espresso in hand.

Two days here deliver a rich slice of Piedmont: the world-class Egyptian Museum, the Royal Palace and Shroud Chapel, and the Mole Antonelliana skyline. Turin also invented Bicerin (a layered espresso-chocolate-cream drink) and perfected gianduja chocolate, making tastings as essential as museum tickets. Evenings bring aperitivo hour—small plates with your drink—before plates of tajarin, vitello tonnato, and Brasato al Barolo.

Practical notes: many museums close on Mondays (check hours), restaurants book up on weekends, and the city center is walkable with easy trams and a one-line metro. Consider the Torino+Piemonte Card if you plan multiple museums, and remember that truffle season (especially Alba white truffles) runs primarily October–December.

Turin

Elegant yet grounded, Turin blends royal grandeur with industrious grit. The Quadrilatero Romano hums with trattorie and wine bars; Piazza San Carlo feels like a living salon; and the Mole Antonelliana anchors the skyline with the National Museum of Cinema inside. Food lovers will find Europe’s largest open-air market at Porta Palazzo and a constellation of historic cafés where the Savoy once sipped their chocolate.

• Don’t miss: the Royal Palace, Egyptian Museum, Mole Antonelliana, Piazza Castello, Piazza San Carlo, Porta Palazzo, and riverside Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
• Local flavors: Bicerin, gianduiotti chocolates, tajarin with ragù, agnolotti del plin, bagna càuda, and Barolo/Barbaresco wines.
• Neighborhoods to wander: Quadrilatero Romano for casual trattorie, San Salvario for aperitivo and nightlife, and the arcades along Via Roma for shopping.

How to get to Turin (TRN) and around:

• Flights within Europe: compare routes to Turin or nearby Milan using Omio flights. From Milan Malpensa (MXP) you can reach Turin in about 2–2.5 hours by train + airport express.
• Flights from outside Europe: compare long-haul options on Kiwi.com or Trip.com flights, often connecting via Rome or Milan.
• Trains in Europe: Milan–Torino Porta Susa on high-speed Frecciarossa is about 50–60 minutes (roughly €15–€35). Rome–Turin is about 4.5–5 hours. Book on Omio trains.
• Buses: budget routes from cities across Northern Italy via Omio buses can take 1.5–2.5 hours from Milan.
• From TRN airport: the airport bus to Porta Susa/Porta Nuova takes about 45 minutes (around €7–€8). Taxis run ~30–40 minutes to the center depending on traffic.

Where to stay in Turin:

• Classic grandeur: Principi di Piemonte | UNA Esperienze (near Via Roma and Piazza San Carlo) — walk to the Royal Palace and Egyptian Museum. Check availability
• Design-forward and quiet: NH Torino Lingotto Congress (inside Renzo Piano’s restored Fiat factory; Eataly Lingotto is a short stroll). Check availability
• Great value in the heart: Hotel Bologna (steps from Porta Nuova station; ideal if you’re training in/out). Check availability
• Budget & social: Tomato Backpackers Hotel (San Salvario; easy to nightlife and parks). Check availability
• Search more stays: VRBO apartments in Turin | Hotels.com: Turin

Day 1 — Savoy Squares, Egyptian Wonders, and Chocolate

Morning: Travel into Turin and drop bags. If you arrive early, ease into the city with coffee under the arcades of Piazza San Carlo. Try Caffè Baratti & Milano for a smooth espresso and a sliver of gianduja, or pop to Caffè Mulassano to taste the tramezzino sandwich they popularized in the 1920s.

Afternoon: Dive into one of Europe’s finest collections at the Egyptian Museum. A guided visit sharpens the story behind the statues, papyri, and the galleries of intact tomb goods.

Book: Turin: Egyptian Museum 2-hour monolingual guided experience

Afterward, stroll Via Roma to Piazza Castello and peek into Palazzo Madama’s courtyard. For a late lunch, consider Poormanger for stuffed baked potatoes topped with Piedmont ragù, or Pescheria Gallina near Porta Palazzo for impeccably fresh seafood plates at the counter.

Evening: Kick off your Turin tasting with a guided pairing of chocolate and local wines—think silky gianduiotto with Barolo Chinato and single-origin darks with Piedmont reds.

Book: The Turin Chocolate & Wine Tasting Experience

For dinner, reserve at Consorzio for nose-to-tail Piedmontese cooking and an encyclopedic wine list, or Scannabue in San Salvario for agnolotti del plin and slow-braised beef cheeks. Prefer a splurge? Del Cambio (1757) serves historic Savoy recipes in gilded rooms; its casual Farmacia Del Cambio next door is ideal for lighter plates.

Nightcap with a Bicerin at Caffè Al Bicerin opposite the Santuario della Consolata, then explore Turin’s famous occult lore on a theatrical night tour—lions, pentagrams, and esoteric symbols you’ve been walking past all day.

Book: Torino Magica® Evening Tour

Day 2 — Royal Turin, Markets, and the Mole

Morning: Breakfast on the go at Torrefazione Giuliano (expertly roasted beans) or grab a buttery brioche at Gocce di Cioccolato. Then step into Savoy splendor at the Royal Palace—staterooms, the glittering Galleria Beaumont of the Royal Armory, and the restored Chapel of the Holy Shroud. A guide brings palace intrigue and symbolism into focus.

Book: Small-group Royal Palace Skip-the-line Tour

After the palace, wander the Roman-era Porta Palatina towers and into the Quadrilatero Romano. If it’s market day, browse Porta Palazzo’s produce mountains and cheese stalls. For lunch, Cianci Piola offers homestyle tajarin and bagna càuda at vintage prices, while Mercato Centrale (inside the market complex) gathers quality counters—from pasta to Piedmont meats—under one roof.

Afternoon: Cap your visit at the Mole Antonelliana’s National Museum of Cinema. Explore silent-era props and immersive sets, then ride the panoramic lift for a bird’s-eye view of the Alps on clear days. If time allows before departure, stroll along the Po River to Piazza Vittorio Veneto and toast your trip with aperitivo: try Affini (craft cocktails with small plates) or La Drogheria on the square for a Negroni and focaccia.

Leaving later? Add a quick specialty stop: Guido Gobino for artisanal gianduja and cremini, or Gelateria Pepino for the original “Pinguino” chocolate-dipped gelato on a stick.

Evening: If you have a late train or extra night, consider a focused themed tour: the Holy Shroud route ties together faith, art, and Savoy politics in the city center.

Book: Turin: Private Tour on The Path of The Holy Shroud

Otherwise, pick up a train snack—grissini were born in Turin—or squeeze in one last espresso at historic Caffè Torino under the arcades of Piazza San Carlo before heading to the station or airport.

Local tips and practicals:

• Transit: single tram/metro tickets cost around a couple of euros; walking covers most sights. Taxis are reliable; rideshare coverage varies.
• Dining: book dinner on Fridays/Saturdays; many kitchens open 12:30–14:30 and 19:30–22:30. Aperitivo often runs 18:00–20:00.
• Seasonality: truffle menus peak in autumn; book tastings early. For a future return, plan a day trip to the Langhe for Barolo cellars and truffle hunting.

Optional add-on tours if you extend your stay:

• Egyptian Museum Skip-the-Line Guided Mystery Tour (small group) — a deeper thematic dive into Egyptomania.

  

• Cesarine: Small group Pasta and Tiramisu class in Turin — roll tajarin and whip tiramisù with a local cook.

  

In just 2 days, Turin reveals its layers: royal courts and mummies by day, chocolate and aperitivo by night. You’ll leave with Alpine views in your camera roll, gianduja in your bag, and a promise to return for Barolo country and truffle hills.