🇮🇹Italy · Places to discover
What to see in Turin?
22 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Turin often catches first-time visitors off guard. The city still bears the imprint of its double life: industrial capital of Fiat and former capital of the Savoy kingdom. This tension between Piedmontese austerity and royal refinement is legible in the arcades of the centre, in historic cafés like the Caffè Al Bicerin, and even in the Museo Egizio collection, one of the world's most important outside Cairo.
The best time to visit Turin runs from April to June or September to October, when the heat remains manageable and tourists thin on the ground. Three days are enough to grasp the essentials without rushing. Cycling works well in the city centre; the tram network covers the rest. Skip the restaurants around Piazza Castello, which survive on passing trade and serve heavily watered-down Piedmontese cuisine.
Landmarks & heritage
3 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0Landmark
Mole Antonelliana
Turin's absolute symbol, this 167-metre spire houses the National Cinema Museum, one of Europe's finest thematic museums. The view from the dome via panoramic lift is breathtaking.
2Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0Landmark
Sanctuary of the Consolata
The most beloved Marian sanctuary among the people of Turin, discreet yet laden with emotion, featuring its ex-votos and baroque interior signed by Guarini and Juvara. Inhabitants have come here to pray for centuries – an atmosphere of genuine popular devotion.
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Landmark
Landmark
Borgo Medievale del Valentino
Medieval village built in 1884 for the Universal Exposition, a faithful reconstruction of a fifteenth-century Piedmontese town. Often overlooked, it is a fascinating backdrop beside the Po, especially in the evening.
Museums
4 places
4Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Museum
Galleria Sabauda
The Savoy royal collection, housing Rembrandt, Van Eyck, Memling and Italian masters within the Musei Reali. Lesser-known than the great Milan or Florence museums, it holds absolute treasures.
5Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Museum
Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli
Small gallery perched on the roof of the Lingotto factory, with 25 masterpieces selected by the Agnellis – Canaletto, Matisse, Picasso, Renoir. Absolute quality, reasonable visitor numbers.
6Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Museum
Museo Nazionale del Cinema
One of the world's most innovative cinema museums, housed in the Mole Antonelliana. The central temple room with its sofas and immersive projections is a unique experience.
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Museum
Museum
Museo Egizio di Torino
The world's second-largest Egyptian museum after Cairo, with a collection of 30,000 artefacts including mummies, colossal statues and papyri. Founded in 1824, it is regularly renovated and remains a world reference.
Religious sites
1 place
8Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0Religious site
Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista
A Renaissance cathedral housing the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, one of the most mysterious and debated religious artefacts in history. The interior architecture is of remarkable sobriety.
Castles & fortresses
4 places
9Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0Castle
Castello del Valentino
17th-century castle in French style on the banks of the Po, residence of Christine of France. Today seat of the Faculty of Architecture, it can be visited during events and its surroundings are an appreciated walking spot.
10Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Castle
Palazzo Carignano
Baroque masterpiece by Guarino Guarini with its unique undulating brick façade. It was here that Victor-Emmanuel II was born and Italian unification proclaimed in 1861.
11Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Castle
Palazzo Madama
A thousand-year-old building that was successively a Roman gate, medieval castle and baroque palace designed by Juvara. It houses the Museo Civico d'Arte Antica with collections spanning antiquity to the Renaissance.
12Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Castle
Palazzo Reale di Torino
Principal residence of the Kings of Sardinia for two centuries, with sumptuous royal apartments and royal armoury. The gardens at the rear are often overlooked by rushed tourists.
Nature
1 place
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Nature
Nature
Superga Hill – Piloni Trail
A 5km hiking path linking Gran Madre to Superga through the woodlands of the Turin hills. A complete change of scene just 20 minutes from the centre, walked every weekend by locals.
Parks & gardens
2 places
14Wikimedia CommonsPark
Parco della Pellerina
Turin's largest urban park (840,000 m²), away from the tourist circuit, where Turin families gather on Sundays. Ideal for observing real local life, with sports pitches and play areas.
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Park
Park
Parco del Valentino
Turin's green lung along the Pò, 42 hectares of English gardens frequented by locals for jogging, picnicking or simply strolling. The riverside terrace at sunset is magical.
Viewpoints
4 places
16Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Viewpoint
Roof Track at Lingotto
The former automotive test track atop the Fiat Lingotto factory, built in 1923—one of industrial Turin's most iconic images. Accessible via guided tours, it offers breathtaking views.
17Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Viewpoint
Monte dei Cappuccini – Turin and Alps Viewpoint
A small hill overlooking the Po with a 180° view of Turin, the Po river, and snow-capped Alps as a backdrop. The mountain museum at the summit is also worth visiting for mountaineering enthusiasts.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Terrazza Martini – 7th Floor Panorama
The terrace atop the historic Martini & Rossi headquarters offers 360° views over Turin and the Alps, accessible during events or by reservation. A rare and elegant viewpoint, away from the crowds.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Viewpoint from Gran Madre di Dio
The forecourt of this neoclassical church on the left bank of the Po offers one of the finest views of Turin's centre with the Po in the foreground. Free, accessible on foot, and almost always less crowded than the Mole.
Activities
2 places
20Wikimedia CommonsActivity
Porta Palazzo Market
Europe's largest open-air market, with 800 stalls selling fruit, vegetables, Piedmont cheeses and spices from around the world. The adjoining Balôn neighbourhood is the haunt of antique and second-hand dealers.
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Activity
Activity
Quadrilatero Romano – Aperitivo tour
Turin's Roman quarter, with its medieval alleyways, is the heart of Turinese aperitivo culture. Happy hour (6pm–9pm) with complimentary buffets in bars is an unmissable social institution.
More to discover
1 place
22Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Place
Quartiere San Salvario
Turin's most vibrant and cosmopolitan quarter, with its bistros, independent bookshops and ethnic restaurants. In the evening, this is where Turinese aged 20–35 gather for a drink.
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