Elegant and atmospheric, Turin (Torino) was the royal seat of the House of Savoy and Italy’s first capital. Today its Baroque palaces, arcaded avenues, and café culture create a city that feels both regal and welcoming—framed by the Alps and fueled by ritual: espresso, bicerin, and aperitivo.

Art lovers flock to the Egyptian Museum, second only to Cairo in scope, while history buffs trace Italy’s unification inside the Royal Palace. Food travelers come for agnolotti del plin, decadent gianduja chocolate, and the wines of nearby Langhe—Barolo and Barbaresco among them.

Turin is compact and walkable, with efficient trams and two main rail hubs (Porta Nuova and Porta Susa. Many museums close on Mondays; book top sights and tastings in advance. Expect four seasons: misty autumns perfect for truffles, crisp winters, and mellow spring and summer evenings made for piazza people-watching.

Turin

Turin pairs royal grandeur with creative grit: historic cafés with wood-paneled interiors, covered arcades that make strolling a joy in any weather, and neighborhoods ranging from aristocratic Piazza San Carlo to spirited San Salvario and the Roman-era grid of the Quadrilatero.

• Top sights: Royal Palace and Armoury, Chapel of the Holy Shroud, Egyptian Museum, Mole Antonelliana (National Museum of Cinema), Porta Palazzo market, Valentino Park and Castle.
• Flavors to find: bicerin (layered chocolate, coffee, cream), agnolotti del plin, vitello tonnato, fritto misto alla piemontese, hazelnut-rich gianduja, and Barolo/Barbaresco wines.
• Fun fact: Turin is famed for both white and “dark” magic lore—explored on evening tours that weave legends through its statues and squares.

Where to stay (search and book):

• Find apartments and unique stays on VRBO Turin.
• Compare hotels on Hotels.com Turin.

• Classic elegance: Principi di Piemonte | UNA Esperienze (near Via Roma; spa and skyline views).
• Budget favorite: Tomato Backpackers Hotel (San Salvario; friendly, artsy base).
• Design-forward: NH Torino Lingotto Congress (in the former Fiat factory; great if visiting Eataly and the south side).
• Value in the center: Hotel Bologna (walkable to Porta Nuova and Via Roma).

Getting to Turin (book with these tools):

• From within Europe: compare trains and flights on Omio Trains (Europe) and Omio Flights (Europe). Examples: Milan–Turin train ~1h, €12–25; Rome–Turin ~4h30 on Frecciarossa, €40–90; Paris–Turin ~5h40, often €29–120 when booked early.
• Buses (budget): Omio Buses (Europe), e.g., Milan–Turin ~1h45–2h30, €5–15.
• Flying from outside Europe: search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com Flights. Turin Airport (TRN) to center: ~30 minutes by train or ~€30–35 by taxi.

Day 1: Arrival, Arcades, and Turin by Night

Morning: Travel to Turin. If you’re coming by train, arrive at Porta Nuova or Porta Susa and keep your luggage light—cobbled streets and elegant porticoes make walking pleasant.

Afternoon: Check in, then orient on Via Roma and Piazza San Carlo, the city’s “drawing room.” Pause for a standing espresso at Caffè Torino or try a first bicerin at Caffè Al Bicerin near the Consolata—layers of chocolate, espresso, and cream, invented in the 18th century.

Evening: Start with aperitivo in San Salvario—order a vermouth-based Negroni at Smile Tree or a glass of Nebbiolo with small plates at Scannabue. For dinner, consider:

• Scannabue (San Salvario): seasonal Piedmont dishes—agnolotti del plin, braised beef cheek, and a strong local wine list.
• Tre Galli (Quadrilatero Romano): trattoria classics and Barolo-heavy cellar; lively neighborhood vibe.
• Sotto la Mole (by the Mole Antonelliana): refined takes on regional staples in an intimate room.

Cap the night with a spine-tingling city introduction on the original magic-and-mystery tour:

Torino Magica® Evening Tour — explore Turin’s “white” and “black” magic legends around statues, obelisks, and secret symbols with a storyteller guide.

Day 2: Royal Turin and the Egyptian Treasures

Morning: Breakfast like a Torinese: bicerin and a hazelnut “gianduiotto” at Baratti & Milano under the Galleria Subalpina. Then step into Savoy splendor with a guided visit to the palace that shaped Italian history:

Turin: Royal Palace guided experience — learn courtly rituals in the opulent halls, admire the Royal Armoury, and visit the Chapel of the Holy Shroud.

Afterward, stroll the Giardini Reali and peek into the nearby Roman gates (Porta Palatina) to feel Turin’s deeper past.

Afternoon: Graze at Porta Palazzo, Europe’s largest open-air market: grab thin, peppery grissini, aged toma cheese, and a slice of farinata. Alternatively, head to Mercato Centrale for pizza al taglio, fresh pasta, or fritti from multiple counters. Then meet your Egyptologist guide for one of Europe’s great museums:

Turin: Egyptian Museum 2-hour monolingual guided experience — mummies, papyri, statues, and the intact tomb of Kha and Merit, all brought to life with stories and context.

Evening: Pre-dinner aperitivo at Farmacia Del Cambio (bitters, bubbles, and delicate savory bites). For dinner, choose your mood:

• Del Cambio (Michelin-starred, historic): a splurge in Cavour’s old haunt; try the finanziera if you like culinary history.
• Consorzio (Slow Food stalwart): local producers, bold flavors—tajarin with ragù or buttery plin, plus natural wines.
• Osteria Antiche Sere (rustic): candlelit, down-to-earth Piedmont classics in a traditional setting.

Nightcap ideas: a speakeasy cocktail at Mad Dog, a vermouth flight at a classic bar, or gelato at La Romana or Miretti. If you have energy to spare, ride the glass elevator of the Mole Antonelliana for a nighttime panorama (check hours; book ahead in peak seasons).

Day 3: Piedmont in a Glass, Last Strolls, and Departure

Morning: Coffee and a flaky sfogliatina at Caffè Platti or Torrefazione Giuliano. Then savor the region without leaving the city:

Discover Piedmont Wines in Turin — a guided tasting highlighting Nebbiolo’s many faces (Langhe Nebbiolo, Barolo, Barbaresco), plus whites like Arneis and Timorasso, and food pairings.

Afternoon: Early lunch before you depart. Two easy options: Eataly Lingotto’s counters for salumi, cheese, and seasonal vegetable plates; or Pastificio Defilippis in the center for hand-cut tajarin and agnolotti del plin. If time remains, duck into the Galleria San Federico for a last espresso and a look at its Art Deco curves. Head to your station or the airport, leaving room for traffic and security.

Evening: Departure day—no formal plans. If you’re staying longer, consider a future day trip to the Langhe for vineyards and hill towns, or a design detour to Lingotto’s rooftop test track and art collection.

Optional add-ons for another visit (no booking links here, just ideas): a Turin highlights walking tour to knit the city’s two “souls” together; a fine chocolate tasting at a master chocolatier; or a full-day Langhe cellar tour to see Barolo at the source.

Booking recap:

• Hotels and apartments: VRBO Turin, Hotels.com Turin, or the specific picks above.
• Trains/buses in Europe: Omio Trains, Omio Buses. Flights in Europe: Omio Flights.
• Flights from outside Europe: Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com Flights.
• Activities (featured above): magic night walk, Royal Palace tour, Egyptian Museum tour, and a Turin-based Piedmont wine tasting.

In three days, you’ll taste the city’s essence: Savoy palaces, peerless antiquities, café rituals, and the wines that made Piedmont famous. Turin rewards curiosity—every arcade hides a pastry case, every piazza a story. You’ll leave already plotting your return in truffle season.