Turin is a fairytale city set with a backdrop of the Italian Alps, filled with piazzas, palaces and plenty of incredible coffee houses and gorgeous architecture. In the winter, it’s a gateway to Italian skiing and in the summer the city buzzes with the sunny weather. Turin is perfect for a city break on a weekend or to explore more of Piedmont. The city is the birthplace of iconic brands like Fiat, Juventus & Lavazza, all three of which are so varied that you can understand how important and culturally rich Turin is. Read through my guide about how to spend a weekend in this elegantly chic northern Italian city.
1. Get lost along Baroque streets
I must admit that I hadn’t necessarily set out to visit Turin but rather found that the flight times and prices worked well with the weekend that I had on offer to use. However, I was pleasantly surprised with this historic city in northern Italy. The north of Italy is generally far wealthier than the rest of the country and that wealth is apparent in Turin in its stunning Baroque streets and buildings. The city was the seat of the House of Savoy for several hundred years and this level of wealth and royalty always leads to incredible architecture and money being funnelled into a particular city. In the Baroque period, the investment must have been high in Turin!
I love a city in which an activity is simply to stroll the streets because they’re so beautiful as it really makes for a much more interesting, relaxed and photo heavy trip.
2. Book a table at WÉMÁ BOGINO for pizza (and tiramisu)
If you’re in Italy for the Italian food (and let’s be honest this is always one of the reasons you’re in Italy 😉) then do not miss out on a table at WÉMÁ BOGINO for pizza. It’s absolutely worth booking as arriving around 7pm we couldn’t get a table until after 9pm and it’s so good you don’t want to go home without tasting the pizza here. The pizzeria is unpretentious and buzzy with friendly staff. And the pizzas. Super fresh and flavourful ingredients, big and fluffy bases with lovely wine options to go alongside. Plus the prices are all very reasonable.
Finish up with an Italian dessert – I can confirm that the tiramisu was heavenly and worthwhile expanding the jeans for…!
3. Visit the Lavazza Museum
Italy is known as a nation of coffee lovers who take their espresso in particular, very seriously. Lavazaz is one of the enduring names of the coffee industry and Turin is their home. The Lavazza family founded what is now the Lavazza Group in 1895 when Luigi Lavazza opened a grocery store. At this store he experimented with blending coffee beans and understanding their sensory characteristics and their differing origins.
Museo Lavazza tells the story of this longstanding brand, its history, its inventions and more recently, its branding and playful advertising. It’s a must visit for coffee lovers and of course you’ll finish your immersive journey in the Coffee Experience tasting room with a cup included in your ticket price. I visited in winter and the special was a panettone cream espresso – perfect!
You can either visit the Lavazza Museum with the Torino+Piemonte Card (valid for varying lengths of time depending on your stay), book the ticket by itself or together with a Hop on Hop off bus.
4. Royal Museums of Turin
The Royal Museums of Turin collectively refers to the Royal Garden, Armoury and Palace amongst others which take up thirty thousand square metres in the centre of the city. It will take you a whole day to work your way through all of the possible parts of the museums and if understanding more about the royal history of Turin then make sure to take your time.
I enjoyed visiting the Palace and seeing the stately halls and rooms, filled with paintings, gold gilt and just incredible detail. The museums cover various aspects of art and history through the ages of Turin from the Roman amphitheatre to the 17th and 18th century paintings.
5. Brunch at Avocuddle Cafe
I wouldn’t write a city guide without at least one delicious brunch spot and for Turin this is Avocuddle Cafe. This charming cafe is located in one Turin’s beautiful gallerias, Galleria Umberto I. So it’s a gorgeous spot to sit and enjoy a slow brunch. There are so many options on this menu and they’re all fresh and beautifully presented. Opt for one of the Brunch Menus to enjoy a varied selection of brunch toasts, granola bowls, coffee & cake or if you’re feeling fancy go for The Best Brunch to include a cheeky wine or Spritz as well.
An additional suggestion would be Brunch Republic Torino. This is where I had bookmarked to brunch but you definitely need to make a booking to eat here – you can leave me a comment if you visit and tell me how it is!
6. Egyptian Museum
Turin is filled with museums and one which it is famous for is the Egyptian Museum. This is the oldest museum in the world that is exclusively positioned to the Egyptians. From civilisation to archaeology and anthropology, there are more than 40,000 artefacts to explore in the fascinating museum. It’s quite overwhelming with so much to see and information to take in that it’s worth setting aside a couple of hours at least to feel that you’re not rushing through the floors of exhibitions.
If you love cinema then don’t miss Mole Antonelliana which dedicated to the art form. If cars are more you thing then head to Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile (MAUTO).
7. Relax in the piazzas
Turin was the first capital of Italy in the early 1860s and it has consistently been a wealthy city in the country. Prior to this, Turin was the the capital of the wealthy House of Savoy and can owe much of its gorgeous architecture, streets and grandeur to this fact. The piazzas have been the beating heart of Turin for years, their sides filled with intellectuals conversing in coffee houses, priests & church goers convening in the ornate churches, secret passageways and underground tunnels criss crossing beneath the cobble stones above.
Piazza San Carlo (known as the salon) & Piazza Castello are two that should not be missed. They are grand and opulent yet somehow elegant. Of course Italians often have an elegant and old money sense of fashion in the north of the country and somehow the piazzas seem to capture that spirit of fashion and style. If you have the time, grab a coffee and sit in the sun to people watch for an hour.
8. Stroll along the river
The River Po winds its way through the heart of Turin, cutting the city in half and so becoming a dominant feature of Turin. The Po is Italy’s longest river and its source is found high up in the Cottian Alps. As it runs through Turin, you’ll find river paths, parks and boats along its length and is the setting for many urban oases. Wrap up warm in winter or enjoy the sun in the summer and take a stroll along the river or head to one of the parks. Parco del Valentino is the most well known. Alternatively, enjoy the views from the river itself and set out on a boat trip.
9. Admire the church architecture
Turin may be best known for the Turin Shroud. An artefact which is alleged to be the shroud in which Jesus body was wrapped before the resurrection. It is one of the most debated and controversial historical artefacts with many opinions on the subject. No matter its validity, it’s certainly an interesting prospect but if you’re visiting Turin with the hope of seeing it, you’ll be sorely disappointed. The Shroud is housed in the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista and very rarely is on public display. The last time was in 2015.
No matter because Turin does have many other beautiful churches to admire and sit in the sanctuary of. Particularly in the heat of summer, the churches will offer a cool and dark refuge from the hot Piedmontese sun and to take a moment to reflect. Santa Cristina and Chiesa di San Carlo Borromeo sit on Piazza San Carlo whilst Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista can be viewed from the Royal Palace.
10. Pasta at Magno Carlina
Magno Carlina was a fabulous dinner spot, particularly for their pasta dishes. The vibes are great coming from a combination of the friendly staff and the funky decor. Combined with good food, this is a winning combination for one of your dinner options in Turin.
11. Italian street food
At Trapizzino, Piazza Carlina, you can enjoy Italian street food on a budget with a drink outside in the square. Sometimes you want something a little cheap and cheerful or which you can eat on the go and much like all Italian cuisine, Italian street food is an excellent choice.
A trapizzino is essentially a pizza pocket with a fluffy, soft bread exterior which holds classic Italian fillings inside. Yum. Perfect for when you want to keep exploring! We tried a variety of the crocchette and suppli, both of which are other Italian street foods. What’s not to love about deep fried potato or rice (respectively) with cheese, meats & tomato.
12. Taste Piedmont wines
Like much of Italy, Piedmont is a wine growing region with a few specialities that you must try whilst in Turin. For red wine drinkers, the red Nebbiolo grape produces Barolo and Barbaresco red wines, both of which are rich and best served after ageing. For white wine drinkers, Piedmont produces a light, crisp Gavi, perfect for a summer afternoon or terrace. Turin is also where Vermouth (if you’ve heard of Cinzano & Martini & Rossi, they were both founded in Turin) was popularised as an apéritif so order yourself a martini or a negroni and enjoy the early evening.
You can join a wine tasting or visit a local wine bar depending on how in depth you want your tasting to be.
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