Turin (Torino) is the stately heart of Piedmont, where Baroque boulevards meet café culture under miles of arcades. Once the capital of the House of Savoy and Italy’s first capital, the city marries royal grandeur with inventive industry—from Fiat and vermouth to gianduja chocolate.

Top draws include the Royal Palace complex, the Mole Antonelliana (home to the National Museum of Cinema), and the Museo Egizio—one of the world’s great Egyptian collections. Food lovers come for tajarin, agnolotti del plin, vitello tonnato, and epic markets like Porta Palazzo, Europe’s largest open-air market.

Practically speaking, Turin is walkable and tram-friendly, with affordable day passes and easy rail links to Milan and the Langhe vineyards. Many museums close or shorten hours on Mondays; reservations for popular restaurants are wise. Bring an appetite and leave room for bicerin, the city’s layered coffee–chocolate–cream icon.

Turin

Aristocratic piazzas, grand cafés, and mountain views define Turin. Stroll Via Roma’s arcades between Piazza Castello and Piazza San Carlo, detour through the Roman-era Palatine Gates, and relax by the Po River in Parco del Valentino. When clouds part, the Alps feel close enough to touch.

• Iconic sights: Royal Palace of Turin (Palazzo Reale), Chapel of the Holy Shroud, Palazzo Madama, Mole Antonelliana & National Cinema Museum, Museo Egizio, Basilica di Superga (panoramas), Quadrilatero Romano, Porta Palazzo Market, Parco del Valentino & Borgo Medievale.
• Café and chocolate culture: Historic rooms like Baratti & Milano and Caffè Al Bicerin serve pastries and gianduiotti alongside bicerin; contemporary masters craft single-origin treats and vermouth-led cocktails.
• Local flavor: Slow Food roots, truffles from nearby Langhe, Barolo and Barbaresco wines, and a serious aperitivo tradition around Piazza Vittorio Veneto and San Salvario.

Where to stay (curated picks):

• Principi di Piemonte | UNA Esperienze (stylish, central by Via Roma): Check availability
• NH Torino Lingotto Congress (design-forward, in the former Fiat factory with rooftop test track): See rooms
• Hotel Bologna (smart-value steps from Porta Nuova): View rates
• Tomato Backpackers Hotel (friendly, eco-minded in San Salvario): Book a bed
• Browse more stays: VRBO apartments | Hotels.com hotels

Getting to Turin (TRN) and around:

• Flights (within Europe): Many 1–2 hour nonstop options from hubs like Paris, Frankfurt, London, and Madrid. Compare and book on Omio (flights). Fares often run $60–$180 round-trip off-peak.
• Trains: Frecciarossa/Italo high-speed from Milan to Torino Porta Susa in about 1 hour (~€15–€35); from Rome in ~4–4.5 hours (~€40–€100). Search times and prices on Omio (trains).
• Buses: Budget coaches from Milan in 1.45–2.15 hours from ~€9–€15. Check Omio (buses).
• Local transit: Trams/metro cover key sights; day passes are inexpensive and handy. Taxis and rideshares are easy at stations and major piazzas.

Day 1: Arcades, the Egyptian Museum, and a Savoy-era evening

Afternoon (arrival): Check in and orient along Via Roma from Porta Nuova to Piazza San Carlo. Stop at Baratti & Milano (1858) for a silky bicerin or gianduiotti; then cross to Piazza Carignano’s noble facades.

Afternoon highlight: Dive into one of the world’s premier collections at the Museo Egizio with a guided visit.

Featured experience: Turin: Egyptian Museum 2-hour monolingual guided experience — Reserve on Viator

Expect masterworks like the intact tomb of Kha and Merit, exquisite papyri, and a tour that frames Torino’s 19th-century archaeological heyday. Allow time after for a quiet look in the stately galleries.

Evening: Start with aperitivo under the porticoes at Caffè Torino in Piazza San Carlo (vermouth is a must; Carpano was born here). For dinner, try Consorzio (Slow Food stalwart; tajarin with ragù, finanziera) or Tre Galline (since the 16th century; agnolotti del plin and brasato al Barolo). Cap with gelato at Mara dei Boschi (seasonal fruit, deep gianduja). Stroll Piazza Vittorio Veneto and the Po riverfront for night views of the Gran Madre church.

Day 2: Royal Turin, markets, cinema, and chocolate

Morning: Espresso at Caffè Al Bicerin (1763) by the Santuario della Consolata, then walk to Piazza Castello.

Featured experience: Small-group Royal Palace Skip-the-line Tour — Book on Viator

Step through mirrored halls, the Royal Armory, and the restored Chapel of the Holy Shroud while learning how the Savoys shaped Italy. Afterwards, cross to Porta Palazzo Market for produce pyramids, cheese counters, and piemontese cold cuts.

Lunch: Graze at Mercato Centrale Torino (inside the market complex): try La Granda for Fassona tartare, a slice at Trapizzino, or a plate of agnolotti at a fresh-pasta counter. If you prefer a sit-down Piedmont lunch, Le Vitel Etonné is beloved for vitello tonnato and battuta di Fassona.

Afternoon: Ride the panoramic glass lift inside the Mole Antonelliana for 360° views, then explore the National Museum of Cinema’s playful exhibits—from early optical toys to Italian film icons. If time allows, unwind in Parco del Valentino and peek into the Borgo Medievale riverside village.

Evening (sweet and fortified): Join a guided chocolate-and-wine walk to decode gianduja, bicerin history, and why Turin became Italy’s chocolate capital.

Featured experience: The Turin Chocolate & Wine Tasting Experience — Reserve on Viator

Dinner after your tasting: Scannabue in San Salvario for seasonal piemontese (excellent plin and bollito), or Del Cambio’s bistro, Farmacia del Cambio, for refined classics without the formality of the main dining room. Nightcap at Affini (vermouth-forward cocktails) or La Drogheria (creative drinks with a view onto Piazza Vittorio).

Day 3: Street-food secrets and last tastes before you go

Morning: Meet a chef-guide for a deep dive into Turin’s market snacks, bakeries, and neighborhood favorites—perfect for a late flight or train day.

Featured experience: StreetFood D'Luxe Experience: Tastes of Turin | Semi-Private — Book on Viator

Expect tramezzini lore (Turin helped pioneer them), farinata hot from the oven, seasonal cheeses, and a proper finale of gianduiotti. It’s a delicious primer on everyday Torino.

Late morning options (time-permitting): Quick culture stop at MAO – Museum of Oriental Art, or pop down to Lingotto to browse the original Eataly (great for edible souvenirs like hazelnuts, tajarin, and Barolo vinegar). Coffee nerds should detour to Orso Laboratorio Caffè for a last espresso flight.

Lunch and departure: Grab a plate of tajarin at Eataly’s La Pasta e La Pizza counter or a focaccia sandwich to go. For the airport, the frequent coach runs 45–50 minutes; taxis take ~30 minutes depending on traffic. If you’re continuing by rail, high-speed trains from Porta Susa whisk you to Milan or Rome—check schedules and seats on Omio (trains), and buses on Omio (buses). For flights within Europe, compare fares on Omio (flights).

Want to come back for a deeper Piedmont day trip? On a future visit, dedicate a full day to the Langhe: cellars in Barolo and Barbaresco, hazelnut groves, and truffle-rich woods around Alba. When you have a full free day, consider the guided option below:

Optional full-day for a return trip: Full day Barolo&Barbaresco Wine Tour from Torino with a local winemaker — See details on Viator

Where to eat and drink (save these pins):

• Cafés & pastry: Caffè Al Bicerin (historic drink), Baratti & Milano (elegant pastries, cremini), Caffè Mulassano (birthplace of the tramezzino).
• Lunch ideas: Mercato Centrale Torino (La Granda, Trapizzino), Pastificio Defilippis (fresh pasta), Eataly Lingotto (regional counters).
• Dinner picks: Consorzio (heritage piemontese), Scannabue (seasonal plates), Tre Galline (historic recipes), Casa Vicina (Michelin-level tasting menus inside Eataly).
• Aperitivo & cocktails: Affini (vermouth), La Drogheria (Piazza Vittorio views), Smile Tree (inventive mixology in Quadrilatero Romano).
• Sweet stops: Mara dei Boschi (gelato), Guido Gobino (gianduja), Peyrano (classic pralines).

Three days in Turin reveal a city that pairs royal ritual with everyday pleasures: galleries followed by gelato, palaces followed by pasta. You’ll leave with a pocket of chocolates, a few new wines to love, and plans to return for a full Langhe day—exactly as Turin intends.