Things to Do in Turin: Our Top Attractions & Insider Tips

General Tips for Visiting the Sights in Turin

Buy Tickets for Attractions in Advance

If you’re not staying in Turin for long and you definitely want to visit one attraction or another, it’s worth booking tickets in advance.

Especially during peak season between April and September, the most popular highlights can draw long lines.

With an online ticket, you can breeze right past those lines. Here are the places where it’s worth getting tickets ahead of time:

Book a City Tour of Turin

If you don’t have much time and want to learn as much as possible about Turin, a city tour is seriously worth it. You’ll hit all the major highlights and pick up some fascinating background information along the way.

Here are the tours we’d recommend in Turin:

Private Tour with a Local: On this tour, you’ll be picked up directly from your accommodation and taken to Turin’s highlights. Your local guide will also share great insider tips.

3-Hour Bike Tour of Turin: On this small-group tour with a maximum of 12 participants, you’ll cycle to Turin’s top spots. Bike and helmet rental are included.

2-Hour Mystery Tour: What do the Freemasons, the Holy Grail, and astrology have to do with Turin? A lot! On this tour, you’ll explore Turin’s dark past and occult symbols.

Get the Turin Piemonte Card

The Turin Piemonte Card is the city’s handy all-in-one pass. It’s available for 1, 2, 3, and 5 days and covers not only the city’s highlights but also attractions outside of it.

The 2-day Turin Piemonte Card costs €39.90 and includes free admission to most of the city’s top spots, such as the Cinema Museum, the Egyptian Museum, and the Royal Palace.

Since most attractions in Turin cost between €10 and €15 to enter, the card pays for itself after just three sights — so it’s genuinely worth the math.

On top of that, you’ll get discounts on additional highlights, like the suspended glass elevator in the Mole Antonelliana and public transportation.

Note: The Piemonte Card does not let you skip the lines, though. Your best bet is to visit Turin’s highlights with the card early in the morning — that way, entry should go fairly quickly.

To the Turin Piemonte Card

The Best Things to Do in Turin: Our Top Highlights

Turin was once the capital of Italy and for centuries served as the main residence of the Italian royal family. And they had quite a few magnificent buildings constructed throughout the city.

So here are all the important things to see in Turin that you absolutely don’t want to miss.

The Mole Antonelliana

The Mole Antonelliana is Turin’s number one landmark and an absolute must-see.

It’s a nearly 170-meter-tall building with an angular dome, which at the time of its completion in the 19th century was the second-tallest accessible building in the world.

The Mole Antonelliana also appears on the Italian 2-cent coin.

Inside the Mole, you can do two things: visit the genuinely fascinating National Cinema Museum, or ride the suspended glass elevator up to the 85-meter-high observation deck. Or ideally, both.

The National Cinema Museum

Inside the Mole Antonelliana you’ll find the interactive National Cinema Museum. If you have even a passing interest in film and film history, a visit is absolutely worth it.

On display are not only the earliest cameras and photographic equipment — you can also experiment with light and shadow effects yourself, admire Marilyn Monroe’s personal belongings, or watch a large-format 3D film while lying down.

The museum is quite large, so plan on at least two hours for your visit. Admission costs €18. If you also want to go up to the observation deck, the combination ticket costs €23.

Heads up: The museum is very popular and always busy. Be sure to book tickets in advance, otherwise you can expect very long lines.

To the ticket for the National Cinema Museum

The Suspended Elevator

The elevator to the observation deck is something truly special. It’s made entirely of glass and carried up through the dome by cables alone, all the way to the roof of the Mole.

The ride takes 59 seconds and is genuinely thrilling — you practically fly right up through the museum. From the observation deck on the roof, you have a breathtaking panorama over the entire city. When the weather is clear, you can even see the Alps from up here.

To the ticket for the suspended elevator
Our tip: Do both! The elevator and the museum are each definitely worth seeing.

Because both tickets are time-bound, head up to the observation deck first and then visit the Cinema Museum. If you visit the museum first, you might find yourself pressed for time between interactive cameras and film props from Star Wars.

By the way, GetYourGuide offers a really convenient combination ticket with priority entry to the Cinema Museum, access to the glass elevator, and a 24-hour Hop-On/Hop-Off bus ticket, all for €38.

To the combination ticket for the Mole Antonelliana with elevator ride and City Sightseeing Bus

The Egyptian Museum

You wouldn’t normally expect an Egyptian museum to be a standout attraction in an Italian city — but Turin’s Egyptian Museum is seriously impressive.

It’s considered one of the most important museums for Egyptian culture in the world outside of Cairo, with over 6,500 exhibits.

The collection includes mummies, thousands-of-years-old manuscripts, large statues, and everyday objects from ancient Egypt.

The museum spans three floors and is very large. Conveniently, you’ll receive a folding museum map together with your ticket at the entrance.

An audio guide — available in English — comes free with your ticket.

Our tip: If you want to get in quickly, especially during peak season, it’s worth booking your ticket online. It costs a little more, but you’ll skip the line at the entrance.

To the online ticket for a skip-the-line guided tour of the Egyptian Museum in Turin

Café Al Bicerin

This little café is an institution of Turin’s coffeehouse culture. For 250 years, you’ve been able to enjoy delicious pastries, cookies, and the legendary Bicerin coffee here.

The Bicerin is a tall glass drink made up of three layers: hot chocolate on the bottom, a strong espresso on top of that, and a thick layer of fresh cream to finish.

What better way to start the morning?

The prices aren’t cheap, though — one glass of Bicerin costs €8.40.

The café is kept entirely in the style of the 19th century, with an old-fashioned advertisement sign on the outside and large mirrors and wood-paneled walls inside.

It was also frequented by figures like Friedrich Nietzsche and Alexandre Dumas, which makes it a popular tourist spot.

For that reason, it’s worth coming early in the morning, right when the café opens.

The Basilica della Consolata

While you’re in the area, don’t skip the most beautiful church in Turin: the Basilica della Consolata.

It’s located right across from Café Bicerin and is likely the oldest church in Turin. A small church was built here as far back as 1,500 years ago, gradually expanded, and eventually became this beautiful building.

Inside, you’ll be completely overwhelmed by the baroque splendor. The walls are made of multi-colored marble and gilded wooden ornaments, and there are several magnificent side chapels.

Honestly, this church is worth a short visit even for those who don’t normally have much interest in churches and architecture. And admission is free.

Piazza Vittorio Veneto

A visit to Piazza Vittorio Veneto is a must on any trip to Turin — it’s one of the largest urban squares in the world.

The square is simply enormous: 360 meters long and 111 meters wide, with the Po River flowing along its eastern side.

All around the piazza you’ll find cafés and restaurants, making it a popular gathering spot for Turin’s nightlife. Street musicians, street vendors, and Turin’s young crowd fill Piazza Vittorio Veneto in the evenings, giving it that quintessential Italian atmosphere.

During the day, the square can feel a little sparse, so a visit is definitely best in the evening.

Our tip: The restaurant “Il Tabisca” is quite touristy, but it’s situated right on the square and has a lovely outdoor terrace. The prices are reasonable for the location and the pizza is delicious! If you want to eat here on the weekend, though, you’d be wise to make a reservation.

At sunset, the square is at its most spectacular, with views of the Po and the surrounding hills. Perfect for photos!

Piazza Castello

Another really worthwhile stop is the Piazza Castello. By visiting it, you’ll hit several birds with one stone, since it’s home to multiple top picks in Turin: the Royal Palace, the Palazzo Madama, and the Turin Cathedral.

The Piazza Castello is a truly grand square, surrounded by historic buildings, restaurants, and classic coffeehouses.

At all hours of the day, street artists and musicians fill the square, and you can simply enjoy a leisurely stroll or eat an ice cream while taking in the magnificent palaces all around.

Palazzo Reale – The Royal Palace

Italy had a royal family — the House of Savoy — up until the 1950s, and they made Turin their home. Over the centuries, several palaces were built in the city, and one of them is the Palazzo Reale, the Royal Palace.

The palace is very large, but from the outside it looks a little plain.

Inside, however, you’ll find incredibly lavish halls and rooms, with gilded furniture, floor-to-ceiling mirrors, and enormous chandeliers — exactly how you’d picture the living quarters of royalty.

The tour includes the royal chambers, the armory, the royal picture gallery, and the archaeological museum.

Behind the palace you’ll also find the royal gardens, which are included with your ticket. Admission to the palace costs €15.

Since Turin is never really overrun by tourists, you can often buy your ticket spontaneously on-site.

That said, if you’re visiting during peak season and want to be safe, the online ticket is worth it — and it doesn’t cost any extra fee.

To the online ticket for a visit to the Royal Palace

If you’re particularly interested in the life of the Savoy dynasty or would like more background information about the palace, a guided tour is also a great choice. It’s offered through GetYourGuide for small groups of up to ten people.

To the guided tour of the Royal Palace of Turin

Palazzo Madama

Another highlight on the Piazza Castello is the magnificent Palazzo Madama. The palace once belonged to the House of Savoy as well; today it houses a museum of medieval art.

On display are medieval paintings, decorative arts, and ceramic and glass art. Your ticket also includes access to the palace gardens.

Even if medieval art isn’t really your thing, the architecture is fascinating — the palace was built on top of a Roman city gate, which is now integrated into the building itself.

So in addition to the exhibitions, you can climb the towers of the former city gate for a great view over Turin.

There are also frequently interesting temporary exhibitions held in the palace that aren’t necessarily related to medieval art. You can find information about current exhibitions on the official website.

Admission to the Palazzo Madama costs €10. If you also want to see the current temporary exhibition, the ticket costs €13.

There are almost never any lines at the Palazzo Madama, so you can buy your ticket spontaneously at the entrance.

Our tip: The museum is often visited by school groups. If you want to avoid them, your best bet is to visit the Palazzo Madama in the late afternoon or on weekends.

The Turin Cathedral and the Shroud of Turin

Like every major Italian city, Turin has a cathedral.

It’s not quite as spectacular as you might expect, but a visit is still worthwhile if you’re already on the Piazza Castello.

The cathedral stands right next to the Royal Palace and has a fairly simple white facade with a freestanding brick bell tower.

The Turin Cathedral is not known for its exterior, however, but for a treasure inside: the Shroud of Turin. For devout Christians, this is arguably the most significant relic of all, as it is believed to be the original burial cloth of Jesus Christ.

It is a linen cloth over four meters long that bears the image of a crucified man.

The cloth on display in the cathedral is, however, a replica. The original Shroud is only shown to the public on special occasions.

Since admission is free, it’s absolutely worth stopping in to see the Shroud Chapel.

Our tip: If you’re especially interested in the topic of the Shroud of Turin, there’s a small museum dedicated to it: the Museo della Sindone. It explains in more detail the methods used to analyze the cloth and shows a 15-minute video about its history.

Admission to the museum is not free.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Turin?

Turin is a fairly rainy city, though it actually sees the least rain during the winter months. The most rainy days occur in spring, with May being the rainiest month of the year.

That doesn’t mean you should avoid May, though. Spring also brings plenty of sunny days that are perfect for a stroll around the city.

Summer, on the other hand, can be very hot and humid, and the months of July and August can bring intense thunderstorms.

A great time to visit Turin is definitely September through early October. There may be a few rainy days, but temperatures are still pleasantly warm.

Good travel weather also occurs from late May through late June. It may still rain occasionally, but temperatures are mild and the parks and hills are beautifully lush and green.

Tips for Accommodation

In Turin, hotel prices are generally much lower than in many other Italian cities. For your first visit, we recommend booking accommodation right in the historic center.

In our detailed article, we also introduce you to several other neighborhoods to stay in and give plenty of specific hotel recommendations:

Our tips for where to stay in Turin

If you’d rather not read through all of that, here are our three quick hotel picks for Turin’s historic center:

Getting to Turin

Turin’s airport has fairly limited connections from many European cities. Direct flights are available from Munich, Frankfurt am Main, and Berlin. A flight from Berlin takes about one and a half hours.

From the Airport to the City

There are several ways to get into the city, though not all of them are equally worthwhile. Here are your options:

By Shuttle Bus

The SADEM bus line runs from the airport to downtown Turin every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on holidays.

The bus stops at various locations, including the main train station Porta Nuova, which is right in the historic center.

You can buy a single ticket at the ticket machine at the bus stop or from the driver on board. Note that there’s a price surcharge per ticket when buying on board.

The bus stop at the airport is located right at the exit of the arrivals terminal on the right side.

By Train

Getting there by train is a bit more complicated.

There is a train station at the airport, but from there you can only get to Dora station, which is outside the city center. From there, you’ll need to continue by bus on the Dora Express to get into downtown.

This is expected to change in the future, as the connection is currently being expanded so that eventually you’ll be able to take the train directly into the city center.

The journey to Dora station takes 19 minutes. Your ticket is also valid for onward travel within the city.

By Taxi

Taking a taxi is definitely the fastest way to get to the city center.

The ride takes about 30 minutes, depending on which part of the city center your accommodation is in.

The cost is approximately €40–50, and the taxi stand is located right at the exit of the arrivals terminal.

How Expensive Is Turin?

The great thing about Turin is that the city isn’t overrun with tourists the way other Italian cities are. And that’s despite how much there is to see and do in Turin!

As a result, accommodation prices in particular are lower than in cities like Milan or Florence. In the city center, for example, you can find a double room in a good hotel starting at around €60 per night.

Prices for food and museums, on the other hand, are roughly in line with the national average.

Our Verdict

Turin is definitely worth a trip! The city simply has so many things to do, it’s safe, well-kept, and super lively. And the accommodation prices are especially appealing.

Because Turin is more of an under-the-radar destination, you almost never have to wait in line — the city is rarely crowded.

The only downside is that Turin’s airport doesn’t have the widest range of direct connections. So either you’re flying from Munich, Berlin, or Frankfurt am Main — or you give yourself more than just a weekend and accept a connecting flight. But even that is absolutely worth it for Turin!

Photo credits: Basilica della Consolata: poissonenciel; Egyptian Museum: Museo Egizio; Cinema Museum: Museo Nazionale del Cinema