Elegant and quietly grand, Turin (Torino) was Italy’s first capital in 1861 and the seat of the Savoy dynasty. Today, it pairs royal palaces and Baroque squares with a thriving café culture, grand arcades, and views of the Alps. This is a city to savor slowly—under vaulted porticoes, over plates of tajarin and agnolotti del plin, and with a glass of Barolo or a classic vermouth.

Turin is home to the world-famous Egyptian Museum, the Royal Palace complex, and the vertical icon of the Mole Antonelliana—housing the National Museum of Cinema. Food traditions run deep: gianduiotto chocolate was born here, the bicerin (layered coffee, chocolate, and cream) is a rite of passage, and nearby Langhe hills produce truffles and wines that shape menus citywide.

Plan on walking—Turin’s center is compact and covered by 18+ kilometers of arcades—but trams and the metro make quick work of longer hops. Consider a museum pass if you’ll visit several sights. Expect refined service in historic cafés, generous “aperitivo” spreads before dinner, and late-evening strolls across Piazza San Carlo or along the Po River.

Turin

Turin blends royal gravitas with modern creativity. Piazza Castello anchors the historic core; from there, arcaded avenues lead to Piazza San Carlo, Piazza Carignano, and the Mole’s soaring silhouette. Between palaces and churches, you’ll find specialty coffee bars, artisanal gelato, and wine bars pouring Nebbiolo in all its expressions.

• Top sights: Egyptian Museum, Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, Mole Antonelliana & Cinema Museum, Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista, Parco del Valentino on the Po.
• Food & drink: Bicerin at a historic café; gianduiotti; handmade tajarin and agnolotti; aperitivo in Quadrilatero Romano or San Salvario; Barolo/Barbaresco tastings.
• Fun facts: Turin helped invent vermouth in the 18th century; its porticoes stretch for miles; and locals swap stories about Turin’s “white and black magic” legends.

Where to stay (handpicked):

• Principi di Piemonte | UNA Esperienze (5★, Centro): Grand Art Deco landmark steps from Via Roma—spa, skyline views, and impeccable service. Check availability
• NH Torino Lingotto Congress (4★): Iconic Renzo Piano conversion of the old Fiat factory; huge rooms, quiet nights, Eataly nearby. See rooms
• Hotel Bologna (3★, Porta Nuova): Friendly, simple base with easy station access—great for short stays. Book Hotel Bologna
• Tomato Backpackers Hotel (budget, San Salvario): Social and sustainable, walkable to nightlife and the park. Reserve a bed/room
• Apartments & townhouses: Browse central stays near Piazza Castello or the Quadrilatero on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com.

How to get to Turin (and around):

• Flights within Europe: Search to Torino Caselle (TRN) or nearby Milan airports on Omio (flights). Typical nonstop times: Paris 1h30, London 1h55, Barcelona 1h35; fares often $60–$180 round-trip depending on season.
• Trains in Europe: Use Omio (trains). Milan→Turin ~1h (Frecciarossa/Italo, ~$18–$35); Rome→Turin ~4h30; Paris→Turin ~5h40 on high-speed service.
• Buses: Budget links on Omio (buses); Milan→Turin ~1h45–2h15 from ~$9.
• Flying from outside Europe: Compare global options on Kiwi.com or Trip.com (flights).
• Local transit: Walk the center; for longer hops use the metro and orange trams. Taxis and app-hailed rides are easy from stations and major squares.

Day 1: Porticoes, Pharaohs, and an Enigmatic Night

Morning: Travel to Turin. If you arrive early, drop bags at your hotel and stretch your legs under Via Roma’s arcades. For a specialty coffee, head to Orso Laboratorio Caffè in San Salvario—baristas pull bright, modern espressos and rotate single-origin filters; pair with a buttery croissant to fuel your first stroll.

Afternoon: Dive into one of Europe’s great museums with a skip-the-line guided visit to the Egyptian Museum. You’ll see statues of pharaohs, painted coffins, and the intact Tomb of Kha that stunned archaeologists.

Book: Skip-the-line Egyptian Museum Guided Tour

Afterwards, wander to Piazza San Carlo—the “drawing room of Turin.” Pop into a historic café: Baratti & Milano displays jewel-box counters of gianduiotti and cremini; or try the classic bicerin (layered chocolate, espresso, cream) at a heritage café to warm up in Turin’s timeless way.

Evening: Start with aperitivo in the Quadrilatero Romano. Try Tre Galli for a Piedmont-heavy wine list and small plates, or grab a stool at Enoteca Botz for Nebbiolo by the glass. For dinner, choose one of these standouts:

• Consorzio: Revered for nose-to-tail Piedmontese cooking—try vitello tonnato, agnolotti del plin in buttery jus, and seasonal offal specials; the wine list goes deep on Barolo and rare producers.
• Scannabue (San Salvario): Lively bistro energy with polished takes on classics like finanziera and slow-braised beef cheek; reservations recommended.
• L’Acino (Quadrilatero): Cozy, unfussy plates—tajarin with ragù, braised rabbit, and a tight, fair-priced Nebbiolo selection.

Cap the night with an atmospheric deep dive into Turin’s esoteric side on the famed Torino Magica evening tour—legends, symbols, and the city’s “white and black magic” lore come alive as you walk by illuminated squares and statues.

Book: Torino Magica® Evening Tour

Nightcap options: slide into the green glow of Bar Cavour (above Del Cambio) for a refined cocktail, or try Smile Tree in the Quadrilatero for creative signatures garnished with herbs and smoke.

Day 2: Royal Turin, Markets, and Chocolate

Morning: Breakfast like a Torinese. At Farmacia Del Cambio, order a cappuccino and a silky-smooth gianduiotto mousse or flaky cannoncino filled to order. Then stroll to Piazza Castello for a skip-the-line guided tour of the Royal Palace—throne rooms, mirrors, tapestries, and the Armory gleam with Savoy grandeur. Don’t miss the restored Chapel of the Holy Shroud.

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

Sweet interlude: Join a guided chocolate tasting to learn how cocoa met hazelnuts during Napoleonic blockades—creating Turin’s signature flavor. You’ll sample hot bicerin, gianduiotti from top artisans, and pralines in storied cafés.

Book: The Turin Chocolate Tasting Experience

Afternoon: Before departure, graze your way through Porta Palazzo—the largest open-air market in Europe—for seasonal produce, cheeses (Toma, Castelmagno), and salumi. If you prefer a sit-down bite, Mercato Centrale inside the market halls assembles top local vendors under one roof; quick winners include agnolotti del plin at a fresh pasta counter, a slice of farinata, or a fish-of-the-day plate at Pescheria Gallina nearby. Depart from Porta Susa or Porta Nuova; both stations are a short tram/taxi ride away. If you’re Europe-based, compare trains and buses on Omio (trains) and Omio (buses); if you’re flying long-haul, check Kiwi.com or Omio (flights) for connections.

Evening (if you’re staying later): Ride the glass elevator up the Mole Antonelliana for city-and-Alps views, then explore the National Museum of Cinema’s playful, scenographic exhibits. For a farewell dinner near Piazza Vittorio, try Sotto La Mole for seasonal Piedmontese plates or Pastificio Defilippis on Via Lagrange for hand-rolled tajarin tossed with butter and sage. Finish with gelato: Gelateria Pepino (inventor of the “pinguino” chocolate-dipped gelato bar) or Mara dei Boschi for creative flavors.

Want to swap something in? If you’re a wine devotee or visiting in autumn, consider a countryside add-on on another day: truffle hunting and tastings near Alba, or a guided Piedmont wine experience in the city. Here are curated options if you extend your stay:

• Truffle Hunting and Cheese, Truffle & Wine Tasting near Alba

  

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• Discover Piedmont Wines in Turin

  

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Neighborhood bites and sips to bookmark:

• Quadrilatero Romano: Vermouth bars and trattorie in medieval lanes; perfect for aperitivo-hopping.
• San Salvario: Hip cafés, wine bars, and bistros bordering Parco del Valentino—great nightlife without losing Turin’s elegance.
• Lingotto: Modern Turin around the redeveloped Fiat factory; swing by Eataly for curated regional ingredients and casual counters.

Wherever you stay, compare top options on VRBO and Hotels.com, and lock in your transport with Omio (trains), Omio (flights), or long-haul via Kiwi.com.

Trip wrap-up: In two days you’ll have traced Turin from Egyptian antiquities to Savoy splendor, tasted its café rituals and Piedmont flavors, and wandered arcades that glow at dusk. It’s a city that rewards curiosity—and invites you back for truffles and vineyards just beyond its elegant streets.