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Turin
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Turin blends Savoy palaces, Egyptian treasures, Piedmontese cuisine and Alpine views, with elegant piazzas, museums and historic cafés to explore in northern Italy.

Royal Streets and Baroque Grandeur

Turin occupies a broad plain in north-western Italy, with the Alps rising dramatically beyond the city’s western and northern edges. Once the capital of the Duchy of Savoy and the first capital of unified Italy, it retains an unusually coherent historic centre shaped by princely ambition. Long arcades line grand avenues such as Via Roma and Via Po, while Piazza Castello, the former heart of Savoy power, gathers palaces, churches and museums around a stately urban stage. The Palazzo Reale, Palazzo Madama and Chapel of the Holy Shroud reveal different chapters of the city’s royal and religious history.
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Museums, Cafés and Creative Energy

Turin’s cultural life extends well beyond its royal architecture. The Museo Egizio houses one of the world’s most important collections of Egyptian antiquities, and the Mole Antonelliana contains the National Cinema Museum beneath its soaring nineteenth-century dome. Historic cafés serve bicerin, a layered drink of coffee, chocolate and cream, while Piedmontese cooking brings agnolotti, tajarin, vitello tonnato and gianduja chocolate to tables across the city. The covered market at Porta Palazzo, the largest open-air market in Europe, gives a more everyday view of Turin, filled with produce, spices and international influences.

Rivers, Parks and Alpine Horizons

The Po marks Turin’s eastern edge, flowing past the leafy Parco del Valentino and the medieval-looking Borgo Medievale. Across the river, the wooded slopes of the Collina Torinese offer viewpoints over the rooftops and towards the mountains. Turin feels measured rather than hurried: a city of long walks, quiet courtyards, industrial reinvention and carefully preserved spaces, where royal heritage, automotive history, cinema and contemporary design occupy the same elegant urban framework.

When is the best time to visit Turin?

Best: April–May, September · 20–27°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January1045
February1337
March1640
April (best)2063
May (best)2674
June2979
July3165
August3174
September (best)2764
October2073
November1359
December1054

Getting to and around Turin

How to get there

Turin is served by Turin Airport, also known as Caselle Airport, north of the city, with onward connections by train, bus and taxi. The city’s main railway hub is Torino Porta Nuova, a central terminus with high-speed and long-distance services, while Torino Porta Susa handles major national and international connections, including high-speed trains. Rail links connect Turin with Milan, other Italian cities and destinations across the Alps, although routes and service patterns vary. Long-distance coaches and the motorway network provide further access by road. Travellers arriving from France may use Alpine road and rail routes, but should check current services before departure, particularly for cross-border journeys.

Transportation

Turin’s central historic area is well suited to walking, with extensive arcades, pedestrian streets and attractions concentrated around Piazza Castello, Piazza San Carlo and Via Po. Public transport is provided by buses, trams and the city’s west-east metro line, making it useful for longer journeys and connections beyond the centre. Taxis are available, while cycling can be practical on flatter routes and along parts of the Po, though traffic and tramlines require care. Turin’s streets are affected by limited-traffic zones, so visitors using a car should check access and parking rules rather than driving into the historic core. The Superga hill is reached by a historic rack railway from Sassi.

Best attractions in Turin

Turin’s principal attractions reveal both its Savoyard past and its modern cultural confidence. The Museo Egizio presents an exceptional collection of Egyptian antiquities, while the National Cinema Museum inside the Mole Antonelliana explores the history of moving images beneath one of the city’s most recognisable silhouettes. Piazza Castello forms the historic centre, with the Palazzo Reale and Palazzo Madama opening onto a sequence of royal and civic spaces. The Cathedral and Chapel of the Holy Shroud add religious and dynastic significance, even though the Shroud itself is not on permanent display. Across the Po, Parco del Valentino offers riverside paths, gardens and the Borgo Medievale, a nineteenth-century reconstruction inspired by Piedmontese villages. The former Lingotto factory, with its celebrated rooftop test track, shows how industrial Turin has been adapted for contemporary cultural and commercial use.

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Best landmarks in Turin

Turin’s landmarks express the authority of the House of Savoy, the city’s religious traditions and its later civic ambitions. The Palazzo Reale on Piazza Castello was the principal royal residence in the city and forms part of the wider network of Savoy residences around Piedmont. Nearby Palazzo Madama combines a medieval gatehouse with a Baroque façade, while Palazzo Carignano, with its undulating brick front, is closely associated with the Risorgimento and Italy’s first Parliament. The Mole Antonelliana, originally conceived as a synagogue and completed in the late nineteenth century, dominates the skyline with its exceptional height and distinctive spire. The Porta Palatina preserves a monumental Roman entrance, and the Basilica of Superga crowns the hills across the Po with a major Juvarra-designed church and Savoy burial site. Together these structures trace Turin’s passage from Roman settlement to royal capital and industrial city.

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Neighbourhoods in Turin

Best restaurants in Turin

Turin’s food culture is rooted in Piedmont, where alpine ingredients, fertile plains and Savoyard court traditions meet. Local specialities include agnolotti del plin, small filled pasta parcels; tajarin, fine egg noodles; vitello tonnato; fritto misto alla piemontese; and bagna càuda, a warm anchovy, garlic and olive-oil dip traditionally shared with vegetables. Hazelnuts from the Langhe, gianduja chocolate and vermouth are central to the city’s culinary identity, while bicerin combines coffee, chocolate and cream in a historic café tradition. Restaurants and osterie around the Quadrilatero Romano, San Salvario and Vanchiglia range from classic Piedmontese cooking to contemporary interpretations. Porta Palazzo adds a more informal dimension, with produce, cheeses, bread and international foods reflecting Turin’s diverse population. Seasonal menus and regional wines, particularly Barolo, Barbaresco and aromatic whites from Piedmont, complete the local table.

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Best bars in Turin

Turin’s evenings often begin with aperitivo, a local tradition strongly associated with vermouth, before moving into cafés, wine bars and restaurants. The Quadrilatero Romano has dense clusters of small bars and late-evening venues in historic streets, while San Salvario offers a broad mix of relaxed bars, international nightlife and music-oriented spaces. Along the Po, the Murazzi riverfront has long been linked with evening social life, though its venues and atmosphere can change with redevelopment and seasonal operation. Vanchiglia has a younger, more alternative character, with bars and cultural spaces near the university. Turin is also closely connected with cinema, theatre and live music, and the city’s cultural programme can provide a more measured night out than clubbing. Visitors should expect local nightlife to follow Italian rhythms, with many venues becoming livelier later in the evening.

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Best nightclubs in Turin

Turin’s evenings often begin with aperitivo, a local tradition strongly associated with vermouth, before moving into cafés, wine bars and restaurants. The Quadrilatero Romano has dense clusters of small bars and late-evening venues in historic streets, while San Salvario offers a broad mix of relaxed bars, international nightlife and music-oriented spaces. Along the Po, the Murazzi riverfront has long been linked with evening social life, though its venues and atmosphere can change with redevelopment and seasonal operation. Vanchiglia has a younger, more alternative character, with bars and cultural spaces near the university. Turin is also closely connected with cinema, theatre and live music, and the city’s cultural programme can provide a more measured night out than clubbing. Visitors should expect local nightlife to follow Italian rhythms, with many venues becoming livelier later in the evening.

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Best shops in Turin

Turin’s shopping ranges from formal nineteenth-century arcades to open-air markets and independent neighbourhood businesses. Via Roma, Via Lagrange and the streets around Piazza San Carlo contain elegant shops and established Italian brands, while Via Garibaldi provides a long pedestrian route through the centre with a more mixed retail character. Porta Palazzo is the main place to browse fresh produce, cheeses, spices, baked goods and international foods, and the nearby Balôn district is associated with antiques, vintage objects and second-hand stalls, particularly at its larger market events. Visitors seeking regional products can look for Piedmontese hazelnuts, gianduja, wines, vermouth and preserved foods. Bookshops, design stores and specialist food retailers reflect Turin’s links with publishing, industry and gastronomy, while the arcades make central browsing comfortable in unsettled weather.

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Turin essentials

Currency and Payment
Italy uses the euro, with the international currency code EUR. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in hotels, museums, larger shops, supermarkets and many restaurants, although smaller cafés, market stalls and independent businesses may still prefer cash or have minimum-spend policies. ATMs are common in central neighbourhoods and at transport hubs; use machines connected to established banks where possible and review conversion options carefully. Carrying a modest amount of euros is useful for markets, small purchases and occasional transport needs. International visitors should inform their bank of travel plans if required and keep a separate payment method available.
Safety
Turin is generally navigable for visitors, but normal urban precautions remain important. Keep wallets, phones and bags secure in crowded markets, on public transport and around major stations, particularly Torino Porta Nuova and Porta Susa. At night, use well-lit streets and take ordinary care around busy nightlife areas and quieter transport routes. Traffic, trams and bicycles require attention when crossing roads, while the Po’s riverbanks and hilly paths should be approached carefully in poor weather. Do not leave valuables visible in a parked car. Visitors should follow current local advice during demonstrations, major events or temporary transport disruptions.
Emergency Situations
In Italy, dial 112 for the unified emergency number, which can connect callers with police, fire and medical assistance. Explain the location clearly and state whether the situation concerns an accident, illness, fire or immediate danger; language support may be available, but simple details and a precise address are helpful. For non-urgent medical needs, pharmacies can advise on local services, while European visitors should carry an EHIC or GHIC where applicable and all travellers should keep travel-insurance details accessible. Keep identification, essential medication information and emergency contacts separate from luggage. For urgent assistance, contact the relevant emergency service rather than relying on a hotel or tour provider.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress respectfully when entering churches and religious buildings, with shoulders and knees covered where requested, and observe signs prohibiting photography or flash. In cafés, clarify whether you are ordering at the counter or sitting at a table, as service arrangements may differ. Tipping is not compulsory in Italy, though rounding up or leaving a modest amount for good service is appreciated; check whether a service charge or coperto is listed. Queue patiently at counters and transport stops, keep voices moderate in historic and residential areas, and avoid touching artworks or leaning on monuments. Learn a few Italian greetings, and do not assume that every regional dish follows the recipes familiar from elsewhere in Italy.
Local Tips
Turin rewards visitors who explore beyond the principal royal squares: San Salvario brings together independent food and evening venues, while Vanchiglia has a more youthful, creative atmosphere near the river and university. The arcades make a useful route between central sights, and the walk from Piazza Vittorio Veneto along Via Po links the city centre with the Po and the hills. Porta Palazzo is most atmospheric as a working market rather than simply a photo stop, while the Balôn area is associated with antiques and second-hand goods. For broad city views, consider the elevated surroundings of Monte dei Cappuccini or the Basilica of Superga, remembering that the latter is outside the central urban grid.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloCiao[chow]
GoodbyeArrivederci[ah-ree-veh-dehr-chee]
YesSì[see]
NoNo[noh]
Please/You're welcomePer favore/Prego[pehr fah-vo-reh/preh-goh]
Thank youGrazie[grah-tsyeh]
Excuse me/SorryMi scusi/Scusa[mee skoo-zee/skoo-sah]
How are you?Come stai?[koh-meh stah-ee]
Fine. And you?Bene. E tu?[beh-neh eh too]
Do you speak English?Parli inglese?[pahr-lee een-gleh-zeh]
I don't understandNon capisco[non kah-pee-skoh]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseVorrei vedere il menù, per favore[vohr-reh veh-deh-reh eel meh-noo, pehr fah-vo-reh]
I don't eat meatNon mangio carne[non man-joh kahr-neh]
Cheers!Salute![sah-loo-teh]
I would like to pay, pleaseVorrei pagare, per favore[vohr-reh pah-gah-reh, pehr fah-vo-reh]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Aiuto![ah-yoo-toh]
Go away!Vai via![vah-ee vyah]
Call the Police!Chiamate la Polizia![kyah-mah-teh lah poh-lee-tsya]
Call a doctor!Chiamate un dottore![kyah-mah-teh oon doh-toh-reh]
I'm lostMi sono perso[mee soh-no pehr-soh]
I'm illSto male[stoh mah-leh]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Vorrei comprare...[vohr-reh kohm-prah-reh]
I'm just lookingSto solo guardando[stoh soh-loh gwar-dahn-doh]
How much is it?Quanto costa?[kwan-toh koh-stah]
That's too expensiveÈ troppo caro[eh trohp-poh kah-roh]
Can you lower the price?Può abbassare il prezzo?[pwoh ahb-bahs-sah-reh eel preh-tsoh]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Che ora è?[keh oh-rah eh]
It's one o'clockÈ l'una[eh loo-nah]
Half past (10)Mezza (dieci) passato[meh-tsah (dyeh-chee) pah-sah-toh]
MorningMattina[maht-tee-nah]
AfternoonPomeriggio[poh-meh-ree-joh]
EveningSera[seh-rah]
YesterdayIeri[yeh-ree]
TodayOggi[oh-jee]
TomorrowDomani[doh-mah-nee]
1Uno[oo-no]
2Due[doo-eh]
3Tre[treh]
4Quattro[kwah-troh]
5Cinque[cheen-kweh]
6Sei[seh-ee]
7Sette[seht-teh]
8Otto[oh-ttoh]
9Nove[noh-veh]
10Dieci[dyeh-chee]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Dov'è un/il...[doh-veh oon/eel]
What's the address?Qual è l'indirizzo?[kwahl eh leen-dee-reet-soh]
Can you show me (on the map)?Puoi mostrarmi (sulla mappa)?[pwah-ee mohs-trar-mee (sool-lah mahp-pah)]
When's the next (bus)?Quando passa il prossimo (autobus)?[kwan-doh pahs-sah eel prohs-skee-moh (ow-toh-boos)]
A ticket (to ....)Un biglietto (per ....)[oon beel-lyet-toh (pehr)]

History of Turin

The Taurini and Roman Augusta Taurinorum

Before Roman rule, the area was associated with the Taurini, a Celtic-Ligurian people whose settlement occupied the strategic plain near the Po and Dora Riparia. Rome established Augusta Taurinorum in the late first century BC, probably after the campaigns of Augustus in the western Alps. The Roman town followed a regular grid, with defensive walls, gates and streets that still influence the historic centre. Turin’s position on routes towards the Alpine passes gave it military and commercial importance. Remains of the Roman theatre and the Porta Palatina, one of the best-preserved Roman gates in northern Italy, provide tangible evidence of this foundation. After the Roman period, the settlement contracted but did not disappear, preserving the site’s strategic value through successive medieval transformations.

Medieval Turin and the House of Savoy

During the Middle Ages, Turin developed around religious institutions, fortified settlements and the authority of the bishops before coming increasingly under the control of the House of Savoy. The city’s location between Alpine routes and the Po valley made it valuable in the political competition of northern Italy. In the fifteenth century, Turin became an important Savoyard centre, and the presence of the court stimulated administrative and architectural growth. The cathedral, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, dates largely from the late fifteenth century and later acquired the Chapel of the Holy Shroud. Medieval Turin was far smaller than the orderly Baroque city that followed, but its street pattern, religious foundations and surviving Roman structures formed the framework upon which Savoyard power would build.

A Baroque Capital of Savoy

In 1563, Duke Emmanuel Philibert moved the capital of the Duchy of Savoy from Chambéry to Turin, transforming the city’s political importance. Savoyard rulers commissioned architects including Ascanio Vitozzi, Carlo di Castellamonte, Amedeo di Castellamonte and Filippo Juvarra to create a capital suitable for a European dynasty. Straight avenues, formal squares and connected residences reshaped the urban centre, while the Palazzo Reale, Palazzo Madama and Palazzo Carignano became expressions of courtly authority. Juvarra’s work at the Basilica of Superga, on the hill east of the city, added a monumental landmark to the surrounding landscape. Turin’s Baroque planning established the arcaded urban character and grand spatial order that remain among its defining features.

Turin and Italian Unification

Turin became the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, following the political and military process known as the Risorgimento. The city was closely associated with King Victor Emmanuel II, Prime Minister Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, and other figures involved in unification. Palazzo Carignano, birthplace of Victor Emmanuel II and later the seat of the first Italian Parliament, embodies this political transition. The capital moved to Florence in 1865 and then to Rome in 1871, but Turin retained an important role in administration, education and national culture. The unification period also encouraged urban expansion beyond the old centre, while new institutions and public buildings reflected the ambitions of the newly formed state.

Industry, Fiat and Urban Expansion

From the late nineteenth century, Turin became one of Italy’s leading industrial cities. The growth of engineering, metalworking and manufacturing accelerated after the foundation of Fiat in 1899, and car production became central to the city’s economy and identity. The Lingotto factory, opened in 1923 and celebrated for its rooftop test track, symbolised Fordist production and Turin’s industrial modernity; its later conversion into a multifunctional cultural and commercial complex reflects the city’s economic transformation. Industrial growth drew workers from across Italy, particularly after the Second World War, changing Turin’s population and neighbourhoods. The city’s factories, technical expertise and working-class culture played a significant role in twentieth-century Italian social and political history.

From Industrial Centre to Cultural City

Turin suffered wartime damage and post-war social strain, yet its industrial base continued to shape national life for much of the twentieth century. From the late twentieth century onwards, changing manufacturing patterns encouraged the reuse of former industrial sites and a stronger emphasis on museums, design, cinema, food and contemporary culture. The 2006 Winter Olympics brought international attention and accelerated improvements to public spaces and infrastructure, while the former Fiat Lingotto and other industrial areas gained new cultural functions. Today, the city’s identity still includes automotive and engineering traditions, but its museums, royal residences, historic cafés, university life and Piedmontese culinary culture are equally important expressions of a layered urban heritage.

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Turin

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Discover Turin like never before with Evendo. Your all-in-one, free travel guide app. Explore landmarks, book experiences, and get local tips right at your fingertips.

  • History of Turin and travel essentials
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  • Easy app and city navigation
  • 'Near me' feature to find nearby attractions
  • Curated local tips for an authentic experience

Planning a trip to Turin? Make the most of your visit with Evendo, the ultimate travel guide app tailored specifically for tourists and travelers. Turin, Italy, is renowned for its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture. Whether you're drawn to the iconic Mole Antonelliana, the historic Royal Palace of Turin, or the picturesque Piazza Castello, Evendo has you covered.

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Features like the history of Turin, travel essentials, tons of good, local advice, and easy navigation through the app and the city ensure you get the most out of your visit. The 'Near me' feature makes it simple to see what's around you, no matter where you are. Plus, curated local tips help you experience Turin like a local.

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