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Day Trips from Turin (by a Local)
8 amazing Excursions to Discover the Beauty of Piedmont that surrounds its capital

Looking for a great day trip from Turin? I’ve got you covered!

Turin, the capital of the Piedmont region, has an incredible number of sights to offer: Piazza Castello with the Palazzo Reale and Palazzo Madama, the landmark Mole Antonelliana with the National Cinema Museum, the Egyptian Museum and many more.

If you are looking for a change of scenary after a few days in Turin, you don’t have to go far. There are many great places to visit in the immediate vicinity that are ideal for a half-day or full-day excursion.

For some Turin day trips, a car is useful or even absolutely necessary. For others you can take public transport or book a guided tour from Turin city center.

As I live close to Turin, I have done lots of great excursions in the area. Here you will find my recommendations for 7 of the many fantastic day trips from Turin, you should not miss.

Being a local, you will find some ideas that are not to be found in every Piedmont travel guide.

Ancient fortress amidst mountains, a scenic spot for day trips from Turin.
The fortress of Vinadio in Valle Stura is a perfect day trip from Turin

1. Sacra di San Michele Abbey

One of my favorite days trip from Turin goes to the impressive Sacra di San Michele Abbey

That impressive monastery is located around 40 km from Turin at the entrance to the Susa Valley. It is said to have inspired the writer Umberto Eco for his global bestseller “The Name of the Rose”.

Grandiose architecture, a beautiful spiritual atmosphere in the abbey’s basilica and the fantastic views of the Susa Valley, the Cottian Alps and, in good weather, as far as Turin, are sure to make this Turin day trip an unforgettable experience.

Due to its proximity to the Piedmontese capital, the landmark of Piedmont is an outstanding half-day excursion from Turin and therefore one of my favorites.

If you add the beautiful town of Susa, further down in Susa Valley to the trip, you can make it a fantastic full day trip excusion.

Opening times: Daily 9.30 – 16.30hrs, in summer until 17:30hrs
Price: € 8.00 per person / free of charge with the Torino Piemonte Card

How to get to the Sacra di San Michele Abbey?

If you have a car and enjoy hiking, I recommend parking your car in the valley just below the summit of the Pirchiriano hill.

From there you can hike along the old mule tracks to the abbey. Of course you can also drive up, in which case parking costs € 2.00 per hour.

If you don’t have a car for this recommended day trip from Turin, that’s no problem either. There is a shuttle bus from Turin’s Porta Susa train station that will take you to the Piedmont landmark.

Guided tour from Turin to the Sacra di San Michele

Alternatively, you can also book a guided small group tour directly from Turin. This will provide you with all the information you need to know about the impressive abbey and you do not need to worry about travel details.

The Sacra di San Michele Abbey perched on a hill, a great Turin day trip
Sacra di San Michele Abbey

2. Reggia di Venaria Reale / Royal Palace of Venaria Reale

Venaria Reale is one of the royal residences of the House of Savoy and the second largest castle in Italy.

The impressive hunting and pleasure palace Venaria Reale is located just 10 km north of Turin. Thanks to its proximity to the capital of Piedmont, it is a great destination for a half-day trip from Turin.

However, as there really is a lot to see (2 castles, large castle park, old village, etc.), you can easily spend the whole day in the area.

My saving tip: The day ticket for the entire palace area is quite expensive at € 20.00 per person. As you will certainly want to visit other castles or museums during your stay in Turin, it is worth buying the Torino Piemonte Card if the Venaria is on your list.

Info: The palace and parc are closed on Mondays.

How to get from Turin to Venaria Reale?

You don’t need a car for this day trip from Turin to the Venaria Reale. The royal palace has its own train station “Stazione di Venaria Reale” and is easily accessible from Turin city center, even with 2 bus lines.

As an alternative to public transport, there is the “Venaria Express”, a hop on/hop off shuttle bus that runs several times a day from the city center to Venaria Reale and the neighboring castle La Mandria.

⇨ All info on the Venaria Express shuttle. Just use Google Translate for a translation to english.
Tip: Owner of the Torino Piemonte Card get the € 7.00 dayticket at a reduced rate of € 4,00 per person.

Linda stands with outstretched arms in the Grande Galeria of the Venaria Reale
Reggia di Venaria Reale, the closest of the day trips from Turin, in travel time

Banner offering customized travel planning service for Piedmont

3. Alba, Barolo and a trip to the wine-growing region of Piedmont

Whether it’s the grape harvest in autumn, the blossom in spring or the freezing cold in winter, a visit to the wine-growing region around the city of Alba and the famous village of Barolo should definitely be on your list of Turin day trips.

This region is home to many of Piedmont’s popular culinary specialties and is also the cradle of the international Slow Food movement.

Barolo is probably the most famous village in the region thanks to its world-famous red wine, but there are many other great places to visit on a day trip from Turin.

For this reason, a rental car is recommended for this Turin day trip. Here is my suggestion for a fantastic Langhe road trip:

Drive south on country roads to save on unnecessary tolls on the highway. The first stop for a short tour and a coffee with a view of the vineyards should be the wine village of Novello.

From there it is only a stone’s throw to Barolo. You should continue through the village of La Morra to Grinzane Cavour Castle and arrive in Alba at the end of your journey. Here you can also enjoy an excellent dinner in the old alleyways before heading back to Turin.

Roadtrip: Turin – Novello – Barolo – La Morra – Grinzane Cavour – Alba – Turin
Lenght: 160km
Pure driving time: 3:15hrs

Insider tip: If you have two days for a road trip to the wine region, then you should drive along the romantic road of Langhe and Roero.

Linda sits in front of the Grinzane Cavour wine castle, an outstanding stop during your day trip from Turin
Wine castle Grinzane Cavour

How to get from Turin to Barolo and to the Langhe wine area?

This day trip from Turin to Barolo and the beautiful wine region is best done by car. Alternatively, you can get to Alba from Turin quite easily by train, but unfortunately you can’t really explore the small villages of the wine-growing region by public transport.

⇨ Do not forget to compare different rental car companies before booking!

Organised wine tour

If you don’t want to drive yourself, I recommend joining a guided tour through the wine region.

A really nice half-day tour starts from Alba and takes you through the vineyards of the UNESCO-protected area to the beautiful towns of La Morra and Barolo. The tour also includes a wine tasting at a local winery.

⇨ More details and booking for that half day Barolo wine tour
More Baraolo wine tours & tastings to chose from

View of vineyards on a hillside. One of the best Turin excursions are the vineyards not far from Barolo and Monforte d'Alba
Hiking trail among the vines near Barolo

4. Palazzina di caccia di Stupinigi / Hunting castle Stupinigi

Like the Venaria Reale, the beautiful Stupinigi hunting lodge is one of the royal residences of the House of Savoy. However, the grounds are not quite as large and only half of the castle can be visited.

The magnificent and elegant residence with its large bronze stag on the roof dome is accessible on a self-guided tour. An app provides additional information at 26 points within the castle.

How to get from Turin to Stupinigi?

You can enjoy this half-day excursion from Turin by public transport. Less than a 5-minute walk from Turin’s southern Lingotto train station, bus number 41 runs to the castle in 20 minutes from the “Passo Buole” bus stop. Travel costs: € 1.70 per person.

My Tip: Another beautiful Savoyen Castle you should visit is Castello di Racconigi, located only 40km south of Turin.

Linda stands in the castle courtyard of one of the top 5 Turin day trips: Stupinigi Castle in Piedmont
Stupinigi hunting lodge

5. Monviso – Hike at the foot of the “King of Stone”

At 3841m above sea level, the Monviso is the highest peak in the Cottian Alps. On clear days, it is perfectly visible from Turin.

This Turin day trip is only suitable in summer, as the access road to the starting point of the beautiful circular hike is closed in winter.

Below the striking mountain, on the easily accessible north side, there is a wonderful hike that leads past 4 totally different mountain lakes.

My tip: Be sure to pack your swimsuit and a nice picnic!

Another highlight, right at the start of the tour, is the source of the River Po. Italy’s largest river has its source close to the parking lot at Pian del Re and begins its 650 km long journey through northern Italy to the Adriatic here.

Hiking details for the 4-lake tour below the Monviso
Start- & finish point: Pian del Re
Lenght: 5,6km
Altitude: ↑ 360 / ↓ 360
Difficulty: easy-moderate
Detailed hiking description (with start and finish at Pian delle Regina) in my separate blog post on this beautiful 4-Lac-Hike. Please use Google for translation.

One of the best day trips from Turin: mountain lake Lago Chiaretto with Monviso and Visolotto
Mountain lake Lago Chiaretto with Monviso and Visolotto in the background

How to get from Turin to Monviso

You absolutely need a car to get to this hiking trip. The 95km journey from Turin takes just under 2 hours. Yes, that’s quite a long journey for a day trip, but the beauty of the mountains and the hike below the almost 4000m high giant are absolutely worth it.

In addition to the cost of gas, there is another € 10.00 for the parking lot at Pian del Re. Alternatively, you can extend the family-friendly hike, which is very popular with Italians, by around 1.5 hours and start and finish the tour at the free Pian del Regina parking lot.

⇨ Do not forget to compare different rental car companies before booking!

Source of the Po at Pian del Re, just a day trip away from Turin
Source of the Po at Pian del Re


6. Fenestrelle Fortress & Usseaux

My 6th Tip for day trips from Turin is the alpine fortress Fenestrelle (it.: Forte di Fenestrelle) in the beautiful Val Chisone. It is not only the largest fortress in Europe, but also the next largest wall after the Great Wall of China.

The masterpiece of military architecture actually consists of 3 individual forts, which are connected by the longest covered staircase in Europe (with 4000 steps).

From the lowest point of the imposing structure at 1100 m above sea level to the highest point at 1800 m above sea level, you have to climb 635 meters in altitude.

Without a guided tour and admission, you have free access to the inner courtyard and the main building, where the ticket office is located. All guided tours are exclusively in Italian. If you are not fluent in this language, I recommend the independent “Amici Tour”.

For € 3.00 per person (or free of charge with the Torino Piemonte Card), you can take a self-guided tour of a small section of Fort San Carlo in around 40 minutes. This includes a short section of the covered staircase that you don’t normally get to see.

Afterwards, I recommend a visit to the neighboring village of Usseaux, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Its narrow streets are beautifully decorated and the walls of the houses have many murals.

The combination of the Fenestrelle and the village of Usseaux makes for a fantastic day trip from Turin!

Linda stands in the courtyard of the Fenestrelle fortress, a visit that should definitely be part of your Turin excursions
Within the walls of Fenestrelle fortress

How to get from Turin to Fenestrelle and Usseaux?

You will need a car for this Turin day trip. There are hourly trains from Turin to Pinerolo and from there regular buses to Val Chisone, but I would advise against this odyssey.

From Turin you need about 1:15 hours by car for the 75 km to the Fenestrelle fortress. The beautiful village of Usseaux is only a 5-minute drive away.

⇨ Do not forget to compare different rental car companies before booking!

Die Wandbilder im Dorfkern von Usseaux sind ein Highlight Turin Tagesausflug
Murales in Usseaux

Banner offering customized travel planning service for Piedmont

7. Milan

Of course, one day is not enough to explore Milan, but a day trip from Turin to the fashion capital can be great for a first impression. Milan is very different from Turin. It is loud, vibrant (as they say), hip and cool.

In contrast to Turin, it is crowded everywhere. Where possible, you should buy online tickets for attractions in advance if you are only in the city for one day. You don’t want to waste your short time queuing.

Besites Leonardo’s Last Supper, a visit to Milan Cathedral, the city’s landmark, is definitely a highlight. Both the majestic interior and the impressive view of the city from the cathedral terrace are fantastic.

As Milan is really big and there is a lot to see, find out in advance which sights you really want to see. Othervise you may loose yourself within the city.

Ein Top Turin Ausflug führt nach Mailand und auf die Terrasse des Mailänder Doms auf Mailand
View of Milan from the terrace of Milan Cathedral

How to get from Turin to Milano?

This Turin day trip is super easy and inexpensive to do by train. Depending on the train, the journey takes between 50 minutes and 1:45 hours.

Trains run between the two cities approximately every 30 minutes. The cheapest tickets for the slowest trains (regional connections) cost from € 9.90 per journey.

Please remember: There are two departure stations in Turin. Torino Porta Susa (just outside the city center) and Torino Porta Nuova (in the city center). Trains for your Turin trip to Milan depart from both stations, just make sure you don’t take the wrong one.

⇨ Check rates and departure times for train tickets to Milano

Ein Top Turin Tagesausflug führt in die Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Mailand
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan

8. Aosta in Aosta Valley

Aosta, the capital of the Valle d’Aosta region, is a fantastic option for a day trip from Turin. This beautiful town, surrounded by the majestic Alps, offers a unique blend of Roman history, medieval architecture, and a laid-back mountain atmosphere.

Highlights include the remarkably well-preserved Roman city walls, the Arch of Augustus, and the amphitheater.

I love the historic town center as it is very inviting for a stroll through small streets lined with cozy cafés, restaurants, and local artisan shops, selling regional specialties like Fontina cheese and Aosta Valley wines.

How to get from Turin to Aosta?

Getting to Aosta from Turin is easy and convenient. Aosta is about 115 km northwest of Turin and can be reached via the A5 motorway.

The drive takes approximately 1,5 hours, offering stunning views of the Alps along the way. Keep in mind that tolls for the motorway are around €12 each way.

The Flixbus from Turin to Aosta does need the same amount of time.

Alternatively, Aosta is easily accessible by train. Direct connections from Turin Porta Susa station run regularly and take about 2,5 hours. The town center is within walking distance from Aosta’s train station.

⇨ Check rates and departure times for train tickets to Aosta

Remains of the Roman city wall of Aosta. The peaks of the surrounding Alps are visible in the background of the still impressive remains of the wall.
Roman City Wall in Aosta

Conclusion: Day trips from Turin

My top 8 excursion tips for the Turin area are by no means all the recommended day trips from Turin. There is so much more to see and explore.

Take another look at my list of Piedmont highlights for more tips and maybe at the luxury hotels in Piedmont if you are looking to treat yourself during your trip.

As you have seen, there is a lot to do! When done with your Turin sightseeing tour, plan a little time for the citys surroundings, because there are plenty of fantastic day trips from Turin you should not miss.