Turin

You say Turin, you say Fiat. Many people imagine a gray industrial city. That definition might have been partially true up until the early 2000s. In 2006, Turin hosted the Winter Olympics, and for the occasion, the industrial city was completely redesigned. Today, it is one of the most pleasant Italian cities to visit!

A bit of history

In the past, it was a political center, and since 1563, it served as the capital of the Duchy of Savoy, which also ruled over the Kingdom of Sardinia. Several royal family palaces are scattered throughout the city. Turin was the first capital of the unified Kingdom of Italy from 1861 to 1865 and is known as the “Cradle of Italian Liberty” for being the birthplace and home of key figures in the Risorgimento – the movement that led to the unification of Italy – whose names are commemorated on the city’s streets.

Worth a visit? Definitely!

Just like other popular Italian cities, such as Rome or Venice, you can easily spend two or three days here. Turin offers world-class museums, royal residences, stunning piazzas and churches, exceptional cuisine – all set against the backdrop of the Alps and the Po River that runs through the city. It’s easy to find in Turin everything that makes Italy so enchanting.
We’ve created a one-day walking itinerary through the city, and we’ve also added a few spots slightly outside the center, so you can decide what to see and how much time to spend, according to your own schedule.
Plus, there’s a list of great, recommended accommodations to suit every budget.
So, what are the must-see places in Turin? Where should you stay? Let’s find out!

Here we go

Getting there:

• By direct flight from Tel Aviv with Ryanair, or via connecting flights to Turin-Caselle Airport (TRN), located 19 km from the city center. There is public transportation from the airport to Porta Nuova train station.

• By train from various cities across Italy to Torino Porta Nuova train station.

• By car, park at Parcheggio Torino Porta Nuova – Parkinstation.

Inside the city, there are trams and also a subway (metro) that departs from Porta Nuova station toward the southern and western neighborhoods.

Starting Point: Porta Nuova Train Station

Ending Point: Piazza Vittorio Veneto

We’ll begin our city tour in front of the Porta Nuova train station, where you’ll see the Giardino Sambuy, a public garden. On either side begins the network of covered streets – the Portici – one of the iconic symbols of this royal city. These arcades span 18 kilometers throughout Turin, allowing for comfortable walks whether in blazing sun or pouring rain.

Whichever direction you choose will eventually lead you to Via Roma, the city’s main and most elegant street – think of it as Turin’s Champs-Élysées. Within 10 minutes, you’ll find yourself in the heart of a grand rectangular square: Piazza San Carlo.

This is known as “Turin’s living room.” The square is surrounded by historic cafés, and at its center stands the statue of Emmanuel Philibert, the 16th-century leader of the House of Savoy, famously referred to as “bronze horse, iron head.” At the southern end of the square stand two central churches that are nearly identical in appearance.

Piazza San Carlo

First stop is at Caffè Torino to get to know and savor the local drink called Bicerin.
What is Bicerin? The name means “small glass”, and inside it is a drink made of a shot of espresso, melted dark chocolate, milk, and sweet whipped cream. Four distinct, unmixed layers. A bittersweet drink that gives you energy to continue the route.

Walk to the end of the square, turn right, and then take the first left onto Via Accademia delle Scienze, where you’ll find the Egyptian Museum (Museo Egizio), which houses one of the largest collections of Egyptian archaeological artifacts in the world.
There are giant statues and reconstructed stone temples, papyri that provide insight into Egyptian culture, tableware, tools, ornaments, and tombs — all from the collection of Bernardino Drovetti, a native of Piedmont who served as the French consul in Egypt during the Napoleonic Wars.

The Egyptian Museum in Turin

At the end of Via Accademia delle Scienze, there is another rectangular square – Piazza Carignano, which holds historical significance. On its right side stands Palazzo Carignano, one of the most beautiful buildings in Turin, built of red bricks. It was here, in 1829, that the future King of Italy Victor Emmanuel II was born – the man who would go on to lead the unification of Italy in 1861.

After the unification, the palace became the seat of the first Italian Parliament, and today it serves as a museum dedicated to the history of Italian unification. Some of the exhibits and presentations are displayed in the very halls where the historical events actually took place.

In the square itself, many members of parliament would spend time in the cafés, engaged in discussions and political maneuvering aimed at advancing the unification of Italy.

Piazza Carignano

You can enter the palace courtyard and cross the impressive inner courtyard. When you exit on the other side, the building looks completely different, and you’ll find yourself in another rectangular square facing the statue of another duke from the House of Savoy — Carlo Alberto.

Turn left and walk along Via Carlo Alberto, which eventually leads to Via Po. Turn left again, and in front of you is a large, central square — Piazza Castello (“Castle Square”) — from which several main streets branch out. The square itself is surrounded by arcades filled with cafés and shops.

Palazzo Madama

Before we continue the route, we take a break and go to try another Turin delicacy: the tramezzino, a triangular sandwich made from soft, crustless bread. The sandwich originated at Caffè Mulassano, where it was invented in 1925. These small triangular sandwiches come with a variety of fillings. It’s worth stopping by the historic café located under the arcade just after the left turn from Via Po.

We’ll cross the tram tracks and walk to the center of the square. The building in the heart of the square, which looks different from its two sides, is the historic Palazzo Madama e Casaforte degli Acaja. Its rear part is a fortress that protected the city in the 16th century, and its front is Palazzo Madama — named after Princess Cristina of the French Bourbon family, who married a Duke of the House of Savoy and carried out significant renovations on the fortress. Today, it serves as an art museum.

From the square, you’ll find Via Po, a covered street (which we came from and will return to), Via Garibaldi, a bustling pedestrian street with many shops, and the elegant Via Roma (the second part continuing from Piazza San Carlo), lined with luxury brands. If you decide it’s time for shopping, stroll along Via Garibaldi to its impressive and beautiful end, Piazza Statuto.

Piazza Statuto is named after the fundamental law of the Kingdom of Savoy from March 4, 1848 (known as the Statuto Albertino, after King Carlo Alberto who promulgated it). In its center stands a striking pyramid-shaped monument made from stones brought from the Alps, symbolizing the success of tunneling and the railway linking Italy and France beneath the Fréjus mountain range.

Piazza Statuto

We are standing in Piazza Castello, surrounded by historic buildings, looking toward the royal white building enclosed by a fence and gate, featuring statues of two demigod brothers from Greek mythology: Castor, the mortal, and Pollux, son of Zeus, the immortal, both mounted on horses.

Look to the left at the corner building with the rounded dome. This is the Real Chiesa di San Lorenzo (Royal Church of San Lorenzo), one of the most impressive churches in the city. Beyond its Baroque design and its status as the royal church, it hides one of Turin’s most amazing artistic wonders — and for that, you must go inside.

Raise your eyes to the church’s dome and you’ll see a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors, the work of the architect Guarino Guarini. Definitely worth seeing — don’t miss it!

San Lorenzo Church

Let’s return to the palace, which is the Royal Museums of Turin (Musei Reali di Torino), the 17th-century royal palace showcasing an impressive collection of furniture, porcelain, and Chinese vases. A visit to the palace and its adjoining gardens commemorates the memory of the city as the royal capital of Italy.
Enter through the gate and, at the end of the path, turn left under a covered passage. You will arrive at the square of the Turin Cathedral dedicated to St. John the Baptist (Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista), which houses the Chapel of the Holy Shroud (Cappella della Sacra Sindone). The cathedral is located behind the royal palace and holds one of Christianity’s most sacred treasures—the Shroud of Turin.
The Shroud is one of the “relics” — controversial remains — a piece of cloth bearing the image of a man who was crucified, acquired by a member of the House of Savoy. Today, the shroud physically remains in Turin but belongs to the Holy See in the Vatican.

Turin Cathedral

A 5-minute walk from the cathedral is Piazza della Repubblica, which arrives just in time if you’re hungry. From the cathedral square, walk straight along Via della Basilica, turn right onto Via Milano, and ahead of you is a huge square divided into four corners, each with its own market area.
In the northwest corner, inside a modern building, is the Mercato Centrale food market, featuring food stalls arranged around a central space. It’s definitely worth a visit! (It’s like the sibling of the food markets in Rome and Florence.)
We’ll return to Piazza Castello and Via Po and head toward the tower that, along with its tall spire, is considered a symbol of Turin. Walk down the covered Via Po, then turn left onto Via Montebello.
You can’t miss the tall spire of the Mole Antonelliana, an impressive building originally designed to be the synagogue of the city’s Jewish community, but which became a rich and fascinating museum dedicated to the history of cinema. A visit there takes you through the early days of cinema and Italy’s first film years, as well as famous stars from around the world. The museum is partly interactive and suitable for all ages.
Using an elevator, you can go up to a height of 85 meters for a breathtaking view of the city.

Mole Antonelliana

After the visit, return to Via Po and turn left toward the river. You will arrive at a large square crossed by a road — this is Piazza Vittorio Veneto. At the end of the square is a bridge over the Po River, and on the other side stands a large church reminiscent in shape of the Pantheon in Rome, called the Church of the Gran Madre di Dio (Chiesa della Gran Madre di Dio).

This is the final stop on our walking tour. You can relax and enjoy a cup of coffee or an early dinner at one of the restaurants in the square.

Isn’t Turin beautiful?

Additional recommended sites, not within walking distance from the city center:

• Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile (National Automobile Museum) – Housed in a very impressive building overlooking the river. The museum was specially designed for car exhibitions and features Italian-made vehicles, including vintage models and classic designs. The exhibition begins with the invention of the wheel and ends with race cars.

• About a 10-minute walk from the Automobile Museum is the Eataly Torino Lingotto culinary complex – a retail chain showcasing the best of Italian produce, combined with spaces where you can enjoy local cuisine.

• Basilica di Superga – A grand church located on a hill overlooking Turin, offering stunning views of the city and the Alps.

The Basilica of Superga

At the eastern entrance to the city, on the Superga hill overlooking Turin, the basilica was built as a sign of gratitude for the House of Savoy’s victory in a battle fought against the French and Spanish at the beginning of the 18th century. The House of Savoy made the church their burial place and employed the finest artists and sculptors to decorate the tombs.

In 1949, a plane carrying the Torino football team crashed into the mountainside, causing the deaths of all the players of the team, which was considered one of the greatest in Italy’s history. A mass grave commemorates this tragic event.