Is Turin Worth Visiting? What You Need to Know Before You Go
Is Turin worth visiting or should you stick to more famous cities like Milan?
Having lived near Turin for 3 years, I’ve seen firsthand why this city is so often overlooked and why it absolutely shouldn’t be.
Many travelers associate Turin with just a few things like Fiat, Juventus, or the Winter Olympics. But that barely scratches the surface.
Turin is one of Italy’s most underrated cities, with stunning baroque architecture, elegant cafés, and a more relaxed, authentic atmosphere compared to nearby Milan.
Turin feels more like Paris than Rome with its wide boulevards, elegant arcades, but with far fewer tourists and compared to Milan, Turin is less modern but far more relaxed.
In this guide, I’ll show you the must-see attractions, a few hidden gems, and help you decide if Turin is the right destination for your trip.
What to expect from Turin’s attractions
Turin isn’t a city of “one big highlight”, it’s a place where the overall atmosphere and variety of sights make the experience.
Instead of just ticking off famous landmarks, you’ll find yourself walking through elegant squares, historic palaces, and long arcades that give the city its unique character.
One of the biggest advantages: Many of Turin’s main attractions are located close to each other, and large parts of the old town are traffic-free.
That makes exploring the city on foot not just easy, but actually enjoyable, something that’s not always the case in bigger Italian cities.
What I personally liked most is the mix: You have royal history, world-class museums, local markets, and viewpoints. All without the overwhelming crowds you’d expect elsewhere.
1. Piazza Castello – the heart of Turin
If you want to get a first real feeling for Turin, Piazza Castello is the place to start.
This is the historic and cultural center of the city, where many of Turin’s most important sights are located within just a few steps, including the Royal Palace, Palazzo Madama, the Cathedral of Turin, and the Church of San Lorenzo.
What makes the square special isn’t just the buildings, but the atmosphere. Surrounded by elegant arcades, it’s a great place to slow down, walk around, and take in the city without the chaos you might expect from a central square.
And in summer, the fountains on the square ground add a refreshing touch.
2. Palazzo Reale – Turin Royal Palace
If you’re interested in royal history or impressive interiors, the Royal Palace is one of the absolute highlights in Turin.
From the outside, the building looks rather simple, almost understated. But once you step inside, that changes completely.
I’ve rarely seen this much gold and glamour in one place.
The rooms are incredibly ornate, with richly decorated ceilings, huge chandeliers, and endless details that make you slow down and really take it all in. The ballroom alone already feels like something straight out of a movie.
You can visit the royal apartments, the impressive armory, and parts of the royal library. If you enjoy history, it’s easy to spend a couple of hours here.
Included in the ticket is also the Galleria Sabauda, which is a dream if you’re into art.
If I’m being honest though: for me, the sheer number of paintings became a bit overwhelming after a while. So depending on your interest, you might not need to see all of it.
Good to know: The royal gardens and the reading room of the Royal Library can be visited free of charge, which makes this stop even more worthwhile.
My Tip: Save yourself the long queues, especially in high season, and buy a ⇨ skip-the-line online ticket for the Royal Palace in advance.
3. Palazzo Madama
Right in the center of Piazza Castello stands Palazzo Madama — one of the most distinctive buildings in Turin.
What makes it interesting is its layered history. Parts of the structure date back to Roman times, while the elegant façade and grand staircase were added much later. You can clearly see how different eras come together in one building.
Today, it houses the Museum of Ancient Art, with a large collection of ceramics, sculptures, and historical objects, as well as temporary exhibitions.
Compared to other sights in Turin, this is more of a compact cultural stop than a must-see highlight. The exhibitions are interesting, especially if you enjoy art and history, but they can feel quite specific depending on your interests.
A nice extra: you can climb one of the towers for a great view over Piazza Castello.
My Tip: Worth it if you enjoy museums and are already exploring the square. Easy to skip if you’re short on time or not particularly into art collections.
4. Turin Cathedral with the Shroud of Turin
Just a few steps from Piazza Castello, you’ll find the Cathedral of Turin (Duomo di San Giovanni Battista) and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud.
The cathedral itself, built from white marble, is beautiful but most visitors come here for one reason: the Shroud of Turin.
This famous relic is believed by some to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. Whether that’s true has never been proven, which makes it one of the most discussed and controversial religious artifacts in the world.
Before you visit, there’s one key thing to know: The original shroud is not on display.
It is kept protected and only shown to the public on rare occasions, what you can see inside the cathedral is a copy.
Because of that, the experience is more about the story and significance than seeing the actual relic. Still, the place has a certain atmosphere, especially if you’re interested in history or religious topics.
My Tip: Its closed during lunch so plan on visiting before or after. The church is free to enter.
5. Mole Antonelliana – the landmark of Turin
The Mole Antonelliana is without a doubt the most iconic building in Turin. You’ll see it from lots of places within the city and even better from far above.
With its distinctive shape and towering height, it defines the skyline and has become a true symbol of Turin (it’s even featured on the Italian 2-cent coin).
What makes it especially interesting is its unusual history. Originally planned as a synagogue, construction costs quickly got out of control, and the city eventually took over the project.
Today, the Mole isn’t just impressive from the outside. Inside, you’ll find one of the most unique experiences in Turin: a panoramic elevator that takes you right through the center of the building up to a viewing platform.
From the top, you get a fantastic view over the city and, on clear days, even the Alps.
The building also houses the National Cinema Museum, one of the most important of its kind which I’ll cover in the next section.
Definitely worth seeing, even if you don’t visit the museum. Especially for the view and the unique elevator experience. The ride alone already feels like an attraction.
6. Museo Nazionale del Cinema – Cinema Museum
Located inside the Mole Antonelliana, the National Cinema Museum is one of the most unique museums in Turin.
Instead of a classic exhibition, it’s designed as an interactive experience spread across multiple levels inside the building. You’ll find everything from the history of cinema to film sets and themed installations and even watch scenes from famous movies while sitting in comfortable cinema loungers inside the dome.
Even as someone who isn’t a big film fan, I was really glad I visited. The museum feels quite “hands-on”, which makes it much more engaging than a typical exhibition.
The real highlight for most visitors, however, is the panoramic elevator.
With its transparent walls, it takes you right through the center of the Mole up to the viewing platform in less than a minute. From the top, you get a fantastic 360° view over Turin and, on clear days, the Alps.
If you’re short on time, just do the elevator ride which gives you a glims of the museum anyway as you will “fly” right through it.
My Tips:
- The elevator is extremely popular, long queues are common. Buying a skip-the-line ticket in advance can save you a lot of time.
- If you plan to visit both the museum and the platform, start with the elevator. Tickets are time-based, and it would be frustrating to miss your slot because you spent too long inside the museum.
7. Piazza Vittorio Veneto / One of the biggest squares of the world
The huge Piazza Vittorio Veneto in the east of Turin’s old town, has a length of 360 meters and a width of 111 meters. This makes it one of the largest squares in the world!
Piazza Vittorio Veneto extends from the end of Via Po to the Vittorio Emanuele I Bridge, which crosses the Po River. On 3 sides the square is lined by arcades with many small stores and cafés.
Attention: Piazza Vittorio Veneto is no longer part of the pedestrian zone and there is always heavy car traffic!
Insider tip: Especially in the evening, it is ideal to just sit here and watch the hustle and bustle around and on the square!
Piazza Vittorio Veneto and its bars are very popular with young people, so there is a lot to see here on nice summer evenings. Take a seat and enjoy a Gianduja, a famous hazlenut and chocolate combination. Yummy!
The square offers a very nice view of the Po River, the Gran Madre di Dio Church and the surrounding hills of Turin.
8. Chiesa della Gran Madre di Dio
From Piazza Vittorio Veneto you already have a beautiful view of the church Gran Madre di Dio, which is located across the river Po.
The Pantheon in Rome was the model for this church, built in honor of Victor Emanuel I for his victory over Napoleon in 1814.
From the large and wide staircase, you can once again enjoy a beautiful view of Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
9. Museo Egizio – Egyptian Museum Turin
The Egyptian Museum of Turin is considered the second most important museum of its kind in the world, after Cairo and you definitely feel that when you visit.
With over 40,000 artifacts (around 3,300 on display), the museum is huge and packed with history. You’ll see everything from mummies and statues to detailed reconstructions and everyday objects from ancient Egypt.
It’s genuinely a fascinating and very well-curated museum.
At the same time, it’s worth knowing that the experience can feel quite extensive. After a while, it can become a bit overwhelming, especially if you try to see everything. I tried and failed.
There’s also one important consideration: While the museum is excellent, it doesn’t really have a direct connection to Turin or the Piedmont region.
So if you only have one day in Turin, I would personally skip it and focus more on experiences that are directly connected to the city and the region.
If you have more time and an interest in history, you have to visit it.
My tip: To get the most out of a visit to the outstanding Museo Egizio, I highly recommend a guided tour. This is best done in advance and includes a skip-the-line ticket, so you don’t have to wait in line forever and won’t feel overwhelmed as the guide will focus on the highlights.
10. Porta Palatina
The city gate, Porta Palatina is one of the oldest monuments of Turin. It dates back to Roman times and was built under Emperor Augustus in the 1st century to protect Turin to the north. It is the only preserved of the 4 city gates of Turin.
11. Mercato di Porta Palazzo / Largest open-air market in Europe
An absolute must-see in Turin is the market at Porta Palazzo. It is located not far from Porta Palatina and occupies almost the entire Piazza della Republica.
Over 1000 market vendors on an area of almost 50,000 square meters make it the largest open-air market in Europe.
In three market halls and the huge open market square, there really is everything on offer: fresh fruit and vegetables, other groceries, household goods, Piedmontese specialties and much more. There is nothing here that is not available!
Behind the large market hall, the farmer’s market adjoins to the north, it is mainly reserved for the local farmers and their goods.
Opening times: Monday – Friday from 7:00 – 14:00hrs, Saturday from 7:00 – 19:00hrs and closed on Sundays
12. Piazza San Carlo – Meeting point in Turin old town
Piazza San Carlo is located in the heart of Turin’s old town. Whenever there is something to celebrate in Turin, such as victories of the local football club Juventus Turin, it takes place in Piazza San Carlo.
In the center stands the bronze horse, an imposing equestrian statue by Emanuele Filibertos from 1838. Beautiful arcades and the two churches of Santa Cristina and the church of San Carlo Borromeo adorn the outer sides of Piazza San Carlo.
The exclusive shopping street, Via Rome, runs once across the car-free square and invites to window shopping.
13. Monte dei Cappuccini / Viewpoint high above the Turin sights
After a 5-minute walk uphill from the church of Gran Madre di Dio, you reach Monte dei Cappuccini, my favorite Turin viewpoint.
On the small hill, 284m high, stand both the church of Santa Maria del Monte and the National Museum of Mountains (Museo Nazionale della Montagna).
From the viewing platform, just outside the church, you have a beautiful panorama of the city: you can admire the entire city center and with good weather conditions you also have a view of the Italian Alpine and the Susa Valley.
My tip: Come here for sunset and enjoy the view of Turin in the very special romantic light!
Tips on how to best visit Turin
Torino Piemonte Card
Much mentioned, because really useful, the Torino + Piemonte Card.
If you want to see a lot of Turin and its sights and save money, you should definitely think about buying the Torino + Piemonte Card.
More info: With this card, you’ll have free access to almost all of Torino’s museums and cultural sites. Read and check here if this city pass is worth buying.
In short: Since admission to the museum costs between €10.00 and €15.00, the 2-day Torino + Piemonte Card is worth buying if you need 3 entries. You can buy the Torino + Piemonte Card for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days.
Prices Torino + Piemonte Card for people over 18 years:
- 24hrs Pass: €30.00 p.P. – valid for max. 3 Turin sights
- 2-day Pass: € 40.00 p.P.
- 3-day Pass: € 48.00 p.P.
- 5-day Pass: €53.00 p.P.
The card is valid from the first time it is used.
ATTENTION: this is not a skip-the-line ticket. You cannot skip the queue with this ticket!
Skip-the-Line Tickets (Turin sightseeing without queuing)
You have to queue at many of Turin’s sights. Long queues often form in front of the city’s main attractions, especially in the summer months.
If you don’t want and don’t have the time to queue, online skip-the-line tickets are just what you need!
- Royal Palace Guided Tour and Skip the Line Ticket: € 36.00 per Person
- Egyptian Museum Skip-the-Line Guided Tour: € 69,00 pro Person
Turin City Tours
For those who don’t like walking through the streets with a travel guide or mobile app, the city also offers great and thematically very varied guided tours to the sights of Turin. Below is a small list of different options:
- Underground Walking Tour:
The 3-hour, unique tour shows Turin from a very special side. It goes through secret, subterranean corridors, cellars, and the city’s secret passageways. Different and extraordinary!
- Black Magic and Dark Arts Tour
A 2-2.5 hour guided bus tour that departs at sunset and illuminates the magical and mysterious side of Turin. Here you can learn all about the dark side of Turin’s seedy past.
- 2-Hour City Highlights Walking Tour
Short and sweet for everyone who wants to get a first impression and see the most important places in Turin. Tour Turin’s sights, including squares, churches, and the main market, in small groups of no more than 12 people.
- Royal Palace and Egyptian Museum Guided Tour
The perfect half-day small group tour (max. 10 people) to explore the best of Turin. Skip the long lines to the top 2 museums of Turin, the majestic Royal Palace, and the fascinating Egyptian Museum.
Turin walking sightseeing tour
A really great thing about Turin is that you can explore the old town and its sights on foot. Most of the city center is also closed to cars, so you can fully focus on Turin’s beautiful old buildings, churches, squares and other attractions.
Here you will find a city walk that can be done in one day.
Turin sightseeing by Bus
Alternatively or in addition to a walking city tour, there is the hop on / hop off bus. It passes the main Turin sights and attractions. Very useful for the exploration of Turin old town is the multilingual audio guide.
There are 4 different bus tours of Turin (Line A,B,C&D) and you can hop on and off as you please. Tickets for the red Hop on / Hop off Bus Turin are available for 1 or 2 days.
- Line A passes Turin city center.
- Line B enlarges the Line A radius and includes the Automobile Museum, Lingotto and the Eataly
- Line C takes you to some royal residences, i.e. the Palace of Veneria Reale.
- Line D goes to the Superga, the baroque basilica and tomb of the royal house of Savoy. The dome offers as well a fantastic view of the Alps.
Turin sightseeing by bike
Instead of walking or taking the bus, the highlights of Turin can also be explored by e-bike.
E-Bike Tour: Explore Turin’s landmarks by e-bike on this half-day tour. Delve into the history and culture of Turin, see a stunning panoramic view of the city, and bike through the historic center.
These 4.5 hrs. Bike Tour is a great and very popular way to explore the beautiful city of Turin and see so much more in a short amount of time. Click here to get more information your e-bike tour.
Conclusion
So, is Turin worth visiting? Yes but maybe not for everyone. If you’re looking for iconic, postcard-style Italy, cities like Florence or Venice might suit you better.
But if you enjoy a more relaxed, elegant atmosphere, great food, and a city that still feels local and authentic, Turin is absolutely worth it.
For me, it’s one of the most underrated cities in Italy and a place I’d come back to anytime.
