Turin (Torino) is where Italy’s royal past meets café society. Capital of the Kingdom of Savoy and Italy’s first capital in 1861, the city is a tapestry of baroque palaces, grand boulevards, and 12 miles of arcades sheltering shoppers, flâneurs, and espresso devotees alike. It’s also a cradle of design and industry—from Fiat and Pininfarina to the Mole Antonelliana crowning the skyline.

Food lovers know Turin as the gateway to Piedmont: home to Barolo and Barbaresco wines, white truffles, and gianduja chocolate. Sip a velvety bicerin where it was invented, taste agnolotti del plin and vitello tonnato in the Quadrilatero, and day-trip to the Langhe hills for cellar doors and vine-laced views. Museums wow, too: the Egyptian Museum rivals Cairo, while the Royal Palace tells the Savoy story in gilded rooms.

Practical notes: the historic center is largely flat and walkable, with a metro, classic trams, and reliable buses. Many museums use timed tickets; book ahead in peak seasons. Driving into the center is restricted by a ZTL (limited traffic zone)—park outside or go car-free. For value, consider the Torino+Piemonte Card for multipass museum entry.

Turin

Turin rewards curiosity: behind its stately façades are gourmet markets, artisan chocolatiers, and atmospheric cafés with gilded mirrors and marble counters. Start in Piazza San Carlo (the “living room” of Turin), stroll Via Roma’s arcades, and fan out to Piazza Castello for the Royal Palace complex and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud.

• Top sights: Egyptian Museum (Museo Egizio), Royal Palace and Armory, Mole Antonelliana and National Cinema Museum, Palazzo Madama, Porta Palazzo market, Parco del Valentino along the Po River.
• Don’t miss tastes: bicerin, gianduiotti, grissini (breadsticks), agnolotti del plin, brasato al Barolo, bagna càuda, hazelnut gelato, aperitivo spreads.
• Neighborhood vibes: Quadrilatero Romano for trattorie and boutiques; San Salvario for lively bars and late-night eats; Lingotto for Eataly and design heritage.

Where to stay (curated picks):

• Principi di Piemonte | UNA Esperienze (elegant, central near Via Roma): Check availability
• NH Torino Lingotto Congress (spacious rooms inside Renzo Piano’s Fiat Lingotto complex; convenient for Eataly): See rooms
• Hotel Bologna (value stay near Porta Nuova Station, great for walkers): View rates
• Tomato Backpackers Hotel (friendly, artistic budget base in San Salvario): Book a bed
• Browse more stays: VRBO Turin | Hotels.com Turin

How to get to Turin: If you’re coming from elsewhere in Europe, compare flights on Omio and high-speed trains on Omio. Milan–Turin takes ~1 hour by Frecciarossa; Rome–Turin ~4–4.5 hours. From outside Europe, search long-haul fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. From Turin Airport (TRN), take the airport bus to Porta Nuova (about 45–50 minutes) or a taxi (about 30–40 minutes, depending on traffic).

Day 1: Arcades, Egypt’s Treasures, and a Magical Night

Morning: Travel to Turin. For European routes, check train times on Omio (Milan–Turin ~1h; Venice–Turin ~3.5h) or short-haul flights. Flying in from farther afield? Compare long-haul options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you arrive early, fuel up at Caffè San Carlo (grand belle époque setting) or Pasticceria Ghigo (try their brioche and seasonal panettone).

Afternoon: Check in, then orient yourself in the “drawing room” of Turin—Piazza San Carlo—before walking to the Egyptian Museum. Book this focused tour to dive straight into highlights and hidden stories:

Turin: Egyptian Museum 2-hour monolingual guided experience
Enjoy curator-level insights into one of the world’s finest Egyptian collections, from intact tomb assemblages to the Papyrus of Iuefankh—all without getting lost in the details.

Afterwards, stop at Caffè Al Bicerin (since 1763) for the city’s namesake drink—layers of espresso, chocolate, and cream served in a glass—or sample gianduja at Baratti & Milano under the arcades of Piazza Castello.

Evening: Ease into Turin’s aperitivo tradition in Quadrilatero Romano: order a Vermouth di Torino at Enoteca Botz and graze on tajarin and vitello tonnato at Tre Galline (historic) or Consorzio (creative Piedmontese). Cap the night with this cult-favorite experience:

Torino Magica® Evening Tour
Explore Turin’s esoteric legends, “black” and “white” magic sites, and the city’s mystical geometry, while strolling by statues, obelisks, and secret symbols you’d otherwise miss.

Day 2: Full-Day Barolo & Barbaresco in the Langhe Hills

Leave the city for vine-striped hills and nebbiolo masterclasses on a small, insider tour led by a local winemaker. Expect cellar visits, structured tastings (Barolo, Barbaresco, perhaps Arneis), and panoramic villages like La Morra or Barbaresco. Lunch typically features regional pairings—tajarin with ragù, carne cruda, aged cheese, hazelnut desserts.

Full day Barolo&Barbaresco Wine Tour from Torino with a local winemaker

On return to Turin, keep dinner light but satisfying: Scannabue in San Salvario dishes excellent agnolotti del plin and seasonal mains; alternatively, head to Eataly Lingotto to graze multiple counters (pizza al padellino, salumi, cheese) under one roof.

Day 3: Royal Turin, Cinema, and Departure

Morning: Start with an espresso and krapfen at Caffè Mulassano (credited with inventing the tramezzino sandwich), then step into Savoy opulence on a guided visit that fast-tracks you through the highlights—throne rooms, the Royal Armory, and the restored Chapel of the Holy Shroud.

Small-group Royal Palace Skip-the-line Tour

After the palace, detour to the Mole Antonelliana for a lift to the terrace and skyline views, or pop into the National Cinema Museum for interactive exhibits that film lovers adore.

Afternoon: Grab a last bite before departure: Mercato Centrale Torino (inside Porta Palazzo) is ideal for quick quality eats—tajarin, farinata, or a plate of cheeses and salumi. For onward travel, check train schedules on Omio or browse European flights on Omio; long-haul flyers can compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Evening (if you have a late departure): Indulge one last chocolate stop: Gelateria Pepino for the original “Pinguino” chocolate-dipped gelato on a stick, or Baratti & Milano for pralines. For dinner, Del Cambio (Michelin-starred) elevates Piedmont classics in a historic dining room, while Antiche Sere keeps it rustic with hearty braises and Barbera by the glass.

Alternative or add-on experiences (if you extend):

• Chocolate lovers: a guided tasting tying Turin’s café culture to its royal past: The Turin Chocolate & Wine Tasting Experience.

Where to eat and drink (save these):

• Breakfast/coffee: Caffè Al Bicerin (bicerin), Caffè Platti (historic pastries), Pasticceria Ghigo (seasonal cakes), Orso Laboratorio Caffè (specialty pours).
• Lunch: Tre Galline (traditional Piedmontese), Banco del Vino counters at Eataly Lingotto (wine-friendly small plates), Poormanger (baked potatoes with Italian fillings—quick and tasty), Da Cianci Piola (casual local classics).
• Aperitivo/bars: Baratti & Milano (elegant vermouths), Affini (signature cocktails riffing on Turin’s vermouth heritage), Piano35 Lounge (sundowners with views), Mad Dog (speakeasy-style).
• Dinner: Consorzio (creative terroir-driven menu), Scannabue (beloved neighborhood osteria), Del Cambio (fine-dining landmark), Osteria Antiche Sere (homey, truffle-season heaven).

Local tips: Book the Egyptian Museum and Royal Palace ahead for weekends. Saturday morning is best for the bustle of Porta Palazzo market. In autumn, consider a truffle-season day trip to Alba (late September–November). Turin’s trams are scenic—carry a validated ticket and enjoy the ride down to Parco del Valentino for a riverside stroll.

Three days in Turin reveal a city that balances royal grandeur with delicious everyday rituals. From museum masterpieces to vineyard horizons and chocolate-scented cafés, you’ll leave with a deeper taste of Piedmont—and plans to return.