I’ve now stayed in Turin twice, and this is what I’d steer a friend towards who is heading there for a long weekend. This 2-day Turin itinerary covers the royal history, the museums and the food that make the city worth visiting, based on what I did on the ground rather than a list of everything the city has going for it.
My guide to the best things to do in Turin goes into more depth.
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How many days do you need in Turin?
Two days is the sweet spot for a first visit. It’s enough time to cover the Royal Palace, Mole Antonelliana and the Egyptian Museum without rushing any of them, plus a relaxed sit-down dinner both nights.
If you’ve only got one day, grab it with both hands. You’ll get through the city’s three biggest draws, just at a faster pace and with less room for wandering.
Three days gives you the most rounded trip, since it lets you add La Venaria Reale without cutting anything from the core itinerary. Anything beyond that and you’re better off using the extra time on a Piedmont wine day trip or Superga rather than more of the city centre, which you’ll have largely covered by day three.
Day 1: Royal Turin and the Mole
Morning: Piazza Castello and the Royal Palace of Turin
Start in Piazza Castello, Turin’s historical heart. The Royal Palace (part of the Musei Reali complex), one of the finest Savoy palaces, is the obvious first stop. I’d allow a good two to three hours to cover the state rooms and the armoury, more if you want to take in the Sabauda Gallery.
It’s open Thursday to Tuesday, 9 am to 7 pm, and closed on Wednesday. Check times and ticket price on the official website.
Bicerin break for lunch
Rather than a sit-down lunch, I’d use the middle of the day for a bicerin, Turin’s signature drink of espresso, drinking chocolate and cream, layered rather than stirred. I had mine at Caffè Baratti & Milano, an old-world café near Piazza Castello with marble tables and waistcoated waiters, and it made a good break between the palace and the afternoon’s itinerary.
Grab a pastry alongside it if a drink alone won’t see you through to dinner.
Afternoon: Mole Antonelliana and the National Cinema Museum
The Mole Antonelliana is Turin’s tallest landmark and the easiest way to get your bearings on the city. Book your panoramic lift ticket in advance, as the cabin only holds six to eight people and slots sell out.
Inside, the National Cinema Museum covers the history of film in an eccentric, occasionally confusing layout. Between the museum and the lift queue I’d allow two to three hours here.
Opening hours are Wednesday to Monday, 9 am – 7 pm (closed Tuesday). Check times and ticket price here.
Evening: aperitivo in Piazza San Carlo, dinner at Osteria Rabezzana
Piazza San Carlo is Turin’s grandest baroque square and the natural spot for an aperitivo before dinner, with plenty of bars to choose from. For dinner, Osteria Rabezzana was my best meal of either trip.
I had agnolotti del plin al sugo d’arrosto, a Turin classic, followed by bunet, the local chocolate and amaretti pudding, with wine poured from their own cantina.
Day 2: The Egyptian Museum and Roman Turin
Morning: the Egyptian Museum
Museo Egizio is one of the best Egyptian collections anywhere outside Cairo. If you have time for only one museum in Turin, make it this one.
Go early to get ahead of the tour groups and allow at least half a day. It’s open Monday, 9 am – 2 pm; Tuesday – Friday & Sunday, 9 am – 6.30 pm; Saturday, 9 am – 9 pm.
Lunch
For a quick bite to eat between museums, Mercato Centrale Torino near Porta Nuova has a good spread of food stalls under one roof if you want to eat fast and keep moving. If you’d rather sit down for a full plate, look for an osteria near the museum serving Piedmontese staples such as vitello tonnato and risotto.
Afternoon: Turin Cathedral, the Quadrilatero and Porta Palatina
Turin Cathedral is free to visit and houses the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, even though the Shroud itself is rarely on display. From there it’s a short walk to Porta Palatina, a surviving pair of Roman gate towers, and the Quadrilatero Romano, the grid of old Roman streets that’s now Turin’s main nightlife district.
I’d spend an hour or so wandering the Quadrilatero’s narrow lanes before doubling back for the evening.
Evening: wine tasting and dinner at Ristorante Solferino
Piedmont is one of Italy’s great wine regions, and Turin is the easiest place to taste your way through Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera. Book a tasting session before dinner – I did this one – then head to Ristorante Solferino for their cotoletta, a breaded veal chop roughly the size of my hand, crisp outside and tender in the middle.
Only got one day in Turin?
If you’re only passing through for a day, start with a bicerin breakfast at a traditional café rather than saving it for lunch, since you won’t have time to fit it in later. From there, head straight to the Egyptian Museum for the morning, then spend the afternoon at the Mole Antonelliana and a walk around Piazza Castello.
You’ll miss the Cathedral, the Quadrilatero and the second dinner, but you’ll have covered Turin’s three biggest draws.
Got more than two days in Turin?
With a third day, add La Venaria Reale, the Savoy palace a short train or bus ride from the centre. In my view it gives Versailles a run for its money with a fraction of the crowds.
Bus 11 runs from the centre to Venaria train station roughly every fifteen minutes, with a journey time of 40 to 50 minutes. I’ve written this guide to visiting Venaria Palace from Turin.
A third day also gives you room for a Piedmont wine day trip if the Turin tasting room left you wanting more.
Other things to do in Turin if you have time to spare
This itinerary sticks to what I’d call essential Turin, but here are other things to see if your two days stretch further or you’re building a longer Piedmont trip around this city.
- Palazzo Madama, a medieval castle with a baroque facade grafted onto the front, a short walk from the Royal Palace
- Superga Basilica, reached by a rack railway that’s been running since 1884, with the royal tombs of the House of Savoy inside
- The Museum of the Risorgimento, housed in the birthplace of Italy’s first king, for the history of Italian unification
- MAO, the Museum of Oriental Art, a quieter change of pace from the Savoy palaces
If you’re as fond of coffee in Italy as I am, considering adding the Lavazza Museum to your itimerary. It traces the history of the Lavazza family and the wider Italian coffee trade through an interactive, multi-sensory exhibition.
Getting to Turin
Turin’s main train station, Porta Nuova, is right in the centre, so you can walk to most of what’s included in this itinerary off the train. The high-speed rail link from Milan takes under an hour, making Turin an easy add-on if you’re already in northern Italy.
Turin’s own airport, Torino-Caselle, has fewer routes than Milan, so many travellers fly into Milan Malpensa or Linate and take the train from there instead.
Getting around Turin
The historic centre is flat and compact, and I walked between almost everything on this itinerary. For anything further out, such as Superga or Venaria Reale, the metro, trams and buses all run on the same ticket system, with contactless payment accepted on board.
Where to stay
On my most recent trip I stayed at Apartments BeMate Torino, a serviced apartment set-up that suited my longer trip better than a hotel room would have. For something more traditional, the NH Collection Torino Piazza Carlina and Principi di Piemonte are both well rated and central.
Practical tips for your Turin itinerary
- Book your Mole Antonelliana lift ticket in advance
- The Torino+Piemonte Card bundles entry to most of the museums on this itinerary and works out cheaper if you’re visiting more than three or four sights.
- Check opening days before you plan each stop. Several attractions close on Monday, and others on Tuesday or Wednesday
- Pack comfortable shoes. The centre is flat, but this itinerary covers a lot of ground on foot
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.