Now is Turin worth visiting? — you might be wondering. The first capital of unified Italy doesn’t get much publicity abroad, yet it is a stunning city where you’re guaranteed to have a memorable stay.
In this post, I’ll highlight the main reasons why you shouldn’t skip Turin on your next trip to Italy. But since I don’t want to come across as too biased, I’ll start off by listing a few things that often keep travelers from visiting the city.
Table of Contents
Why you may not enjoy Turin
It’s not Rome, Venice, or Florence.
This is as straightforward as it gets. Turin is gorgeous and full of history, though it’s not as monumental as the crown jewels of tourism in Italy.
As you’ll see below, Turin is filled with fairytale-like historic buildings. That said, it does lack a homogeneous historic center.
That’s partly because Turin was a backwater in the Po Valley that Milan overshadowed for centuries. It would only become wealthy in the early 18th century, when it was made the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia.
By then, however, Venice, Florence, and Rome already had a vast architectural heritage that spanned several eras and styles.
The nightlife scene can be disappointing.
Don’t get me wrong; Turin has its fair share of bars and nightclubs. Still, for a city of its size, it can feel quite provincial.
It is, after all, an aging city — many young people are leaving for busier places like Milan or for other countries. So after dark, it’s not exactly the hottest spot on the peninsula.
If you like partying hard, make sure you include a more vibrant town in your itinerary. Otherwise, this won’t actually be an issue.
Its climate isn’t the best.
When I visited Turin, the weather was sunny and chilly (my definition of ideal weather). It was the beginning of spring. I later found out I’d been lucky, though.
Winters are the drier season in the city, but they can also be particularly harsh by Italian standards. Summers in turn are pretty hot.
And if you think of visiting in either spring or fall, bear in mind these are the rainiest seasons in Turin. The sweet spots are probably May and September.
Is Turin worth visiting? Of course!
1. The views of the Alps are awe-inspiring.
The snow-capped peaks of the Alps rise along the French border above the western end of Turin, which has been dubbed “the capital of the Alps” for a reason.
Apart from being the perfect launchpad for a day trip or weekend getaway in idyllic mountain towns like Sestriere and Bardonecchia (more on that on number 7), Turin offers the opportunity to soak up a breathtaking panorama without leaving the city.
Just head Monte dei Cappuccini overlook on the eastern side of the Po River and enjoy. Visit near the golden hour to watch the sun set behind the mountains.
2. You can almost touch the history.
Turin was founded by none other than Julis Caesar in 58 BCE, then changed hands a couple of times during the Middle Ages, until the Savoy family made it the seat of their Duchy in the 11th century.
The city was the epicenter of the political movement that achieved the unification of Italy and naturally became the new country’s first capital for a few years.
It would subsequently transition into one of the nation’s industrial powerhouses and the birthplace of espresso machines, Fiat cars, and Olivetti copywriters. This amazingly rich history is visible in ruins, monuments, and museums spread throughout the city.
3. The architecture is on an equal footing with your favorite Italian cities.
Turin is marked by the austere and elegant architecture you’ll find across northern Italy. Yet unlike Milan, for instance, it managed to preserve plenty of its historic buildings.
You have the sumptuous Royal Palace, the 15th-century Cathedral, the Mole Antonelliana towering above the skyline, as well as an impressive Art Nouveau heritage, one of the largest nationwide.
The city was given several palaces and porticoed boulevards from the late 17th century. Palazzo Carignano and Palazzo Madama, specifically, are famous for their highly contrasting facades on each side.
4. You’ll sink your teeth into a ton of delectable food.
Unlike most of Italy’s regional culinary traditions, Turinese cuisine is rather refined, as the city was the seat of a royal court for centuries.
Dishes hailing from either Turin or its surroundings that you should try include vitello tonnato (veal with tuna sauce), agnolotti (a local kind of ravioli), the mandatory panna cotta, and, obviously, espresso.
5. It’s a walkable and bike-friendly city.
The outskirts of Turin to the east of the Po are pretty hilly, which is great for taking in commanding views of the city.
Downtown, on the other hand, is virtually flat, which helps turn a walk around the city into an even nicer experience.
Plus, Turin features 120+ miles of bike lanes. Sadly, the local government has just phased out its comprehensive bike-sharing network. But you can always rent a two-wheeler from a specialized shop.
6. Crowds are nowhere to be found.
As much as I love both Venice and Florence, I felt like walking around in those two cities was annoying, to say the least. That of course speaks volumes about their mesmerizing beauty, yet it can take away some of the magic at times.
That’s not an issue in Turin. Central squares such as Piazza Castello and Piazza San Carlo, as well as shopping streets like Via Garibaldi, are usually busy.
Still, you’ll notice it’s mostly locals all around you, which will give you a stronger impression that you’re discovering a hidden gem.
7. You’ll get to explore the whole of Piedmont.
Piedmont doesn’t get the same hype as Tuscany or Veneto, which is a shame. There’s a lot to see there beyond fabulous alpine destinations.
The region is home to one of the most prestigious wine countries in the nation — Langhe, where you can taste the world-famous Barolo, Barbaresco, and Nebbiolo wines.
You’ll also be able to tour charming villages like Monforte d’Alba and the walled town of Candelo. Since Turin is centrally located within Piedmont, all of these sights are less than 90 minutes away from the city by car.
8. Turin’s laid-back vibes are lovely.
This is a bit hard to explain, as it’s based on a sort of inkling of mine; I’ll do my best. When I was studying in Milan, I didn’t always feel like dressing up just to go errands, which is something the Milanese religiously do.
Oddly, locals would look down on me. Well, in Turin, folks have better things to do than judge whatever you’re doing or dressing. And, personal style aside, the city is much more slow-paced — definitely how you’d expect Italy to welcome you.
9. It boasts a bunch of world-class museums.
The Egyptian Museum is the one museum you can’t miss while in Turin. With 30,000+ artifacts, it is the biggest display of Egyptian archaeological items behind the one in Cairo.
Drop by the Mole Antonelliana, which houses the National Museum of Italian Cinema, and the Lavazza Museum to savor some delicious espresso.
In the Royal Palace, you can see temporary exhibits spanning both contemporary photography and Rembrandt masterpieces at the same time, as well as the astonishing painting collection of the annex Savoy Gallery.
10. The Christmas lights are really special.
From late October through early January, the streets of Turin are taken over by a marvelous spectacle. I’m talking about Luci d’Artista, a magical Christmas light show where contemporary artists come up with one-of-a-kind twinkle light creations.
The city has been hosting Luci d’Artista for 25 years. For the 2022/2023 season, 26 works were set up all over downtown.
11. It’s the Italian capital of chocolate.
Turin gave us gianduja (a 30% hazelnut paste chocolate blend) and gianduiotto confections, while neighboring Cuneo is the birthplace of Ferrero and its crown jewel Nutella, aka the food of the gods.
As proof of Turin’s chocolatey supremacy, the city hosts CioccolaTò, the biggest chocolate fair nationwide, every year from late October to early November.
12. Turin is well-connected to Italy and Europe.
With almost 80 air routes, Turin International Airport has direct flights to London, Paris, Moscow, Tel Aviv, and dozens of destinations across Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East.
What’s more, with a high-speed train you can reach Milan in an hour, Florence in three, and Rome in five hours.
So even if you don’t plan to stay in Turin for longer, you can easily go on a day trip from Milan and cover all the must-sees in the city center.
13. Your finances will thank you.
Because Turin isn’t overrun with tourists like Florence or Venice, it can be a superb option for travelers on a tight budget who still want to get a taste of Italy.
For example, let’s go into accommodation: you can book a good double room right outside the historic core for $80 in places like Hotel Torino Porta Susa.
Better yet, many attractions around town charge extremely affordable entrance fees, such as the lavish Palazzo Barolo and Villa della Regina, which overlooks the entire city.
14. Its parks and gardens are gorgeous.
Strolling along the Po promenade and letting the cool breeze caress your face is pleasant enough. But if you feel like hiking, picnicking, or simply lying on the grass, Turin has no shortage of options.
The Royal Gardens, where you can glimpse the Mole Antonelliana among the trees, is one of the most suggestive spots in town.
Then you have the historic and flawlessly manicured Parco del Valentino, a Turinese favorite on the waterfront.
As you leave the city center, you’ll find larger green areas like Parco della Pellerina and natural reservations like Parco La Mandria.
15. Turin is known for its mystical aura.
Turin has a long association with occultism and the esoteric. Apparently, it’s part of two triangles: a white magic triangle together with Lyon and Prague, and a black magic one with London and San Francisco.
Besides housing the legendary Shroud of Turin (pictured above), Turin has historically been home to leading psychics, prophets, and fortune tellers. You can dive into this mysterious underbelly of the city on a spooky nightly tour.
16. Juventus’ home ground is a sports hub.
Turin is the endpoint of Milano-Torino, the oldest cycling race on Earth, and was the state of the 2006 Winter Olympics.
More importantly, the city is where Juventus, one of the world’s biggest and most successful soccer teams, was created back in 1897. If you’re a fan of the beautiful game, go watch them play with the crowd of supporters at lo Stadium.
Wrap-up
Why is Turin worth visiting, after all? Jam-packed with imposing buildings, boasting a unique aura and pace, and known for its mouthwatering cuisine, Italy’s fourth-largest city is a fantastic destination in its own right.
It’s only natural that you’ll want to tour Rome or Venice before landing in the capital of Piedmont. That said, if you’ve checked off the most popular cities or have the chance to stay in the country for more than 10 days, you should definitely check out Turin.
