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.
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.
⇨ More info on the Shuttle bus to the Sacra di San Michele from Turin
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.
⇨ More infos on the small group tour to the Sacra di San Michele
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.
Tip: Owner of the Torino Piemonte Card get reduced dayticket.
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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 more time for the wine region, I recommend this relaxed two-day itinerary or the romantic road of Langhe and Roero.
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, in order to save money!
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
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.
5. Orta San Giulio and beautiful Lake Orta
Lake Orta is still a hidden gem in Northern Italy and one of my favorite excursions from Turin. Much smaller and quieter than famous lakes like Lake Como or Lake Maggiore, it has a calm atmosphere that makes it perfect for a relaxed day trip.
The small town of Orta San Giulio sits directly on the lake and is considered one of the most charming villages in Piedmont.
Narrow cobbled streets lead through the historic center down to the waterfront and to the beautiful main square, Piazza Motta. From here you have the classic view of Isola San Giulio, the small island with its historic basilica and monastery.
Just above the village lies the Sacro Monte di Orta, a UNESCO-listed complex of chapels surrounded by a peaceful forest park and offering beautiful views over the lake.
A lovely and easy walk leads around the small peninsula below the historic village. The trail follows quiet lakeside paths and shaded forest sections and offers beautiful views across Lake Orta.
Hiking details for the Peninsula walk in Orta
Start & finish point: Orta San Giulio
Length: approx. 5 km / Elevation: minimal / Difficulty: easy
The route circles the small peninsula with the historic village and follows a mix of lakeside paths and shaded forest trails.
How to get from Turin to Lake Orta
You can reach Orta San Giulio from Turin by car in about 1 hour 30 minutes. Parking is available at €10,00 for the day in public parking areas above the historic center. From there it is only a short walk down to the lake and the main square.
In 2 hours travel time, it is also possible to travel by train from Turin to Novara and continue to Orta-Miasino railway station. From the station, a bus or taxi brings you to Orta San Giulio in about 10 minutes. For a day trip, however, traveling by car is usually the easiest option.
⇨ Do not forget to compare different rental car companies before booking!
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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, 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!
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!
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.
⇨ More details and tickets for the visit of the Milan cathedral roof
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.
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
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
Conclusion
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 that I actually recommend this 7 day road trip itinerary for your first visit.
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.
