Things to do in Turin: the Mole, the Egyptian Museum and the cafés
Turin suits two to four days. It is a grid of arcaded streets and baroque squares with the Alps on the skyline, and the sights sit close together: the Egyptian Museum, the Royal Palace, the Mole Antonelliana and the cafés between them. The one thing to know is that the big museums can be busy on weekends, so book the Egyptian Museum and the Mole's panoramic lift ahead.
The short answer
- First trip
- Start in Piazza Castello and the Royal Palace, walk Via Po under the arcades to the Mole Antonelliana, and give an afternoon to the Egyptian Museum.
- Where to stay
- Near Piazza San Carlo or Piazza Castello for a first visit, in San Salvario for restaurants and bars, or the Quadrilatero for old streets.
- How many days
- Two full days cover the main sights. Three or four add the Reggia di Venaria, Superga and the Langhe wine villages.
- Best time to go
- April to June and September to October are mild. July and August are hot and humid, and winter can be foggy and cold.
- Book ahead
- The Egyptian Museum and the Mole's panoramic lift, a few days ahead on weekends and in holiday weeks.
- From the airport
- From Turin Caselle, the train to Dora station takes about 19 minutes, and the airport bus runs to Porta Susa and Porta Nuova.
Where to stay in Turin, in brief
Around Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello
first visits and short stays
The grand squares, the arcades and most of the main sights are within ten to fifteen minutes on foot. It is the most central and the most expensive part of the city, and quiet once the shops shut.
Quadrilatero Romano
old streets and evening drinks
Narrow streets on the line of the Roman grid, with wine bars and small restaurants near Porta Palatina and the market at Porta Palazzo. It can be loud on weekend nights, so ask for an inner room.
San Salvario
restaurants and nightlife
South of Porta Nuova station, this is the district for bars, cheap eats and a younger crowd, close to the Valentino park. It is noisy late at weekends, and the streets by the station feel rough at night.
Crocetta and Porta Susa
quiet streets and rail links
Calmer residential streets west of the center, with the high-speed station at Porta Susa. The sights are a short tram or metro ride away rather than on your doorstep.
Vanchiglia and the Po riverside
a local feel and the river
East of the Mole, a mix of students, bars and quiet residential blocks, with the Po and the Gran Madre church close by. It is further from the main sights, so expect to take a tram.
Things to do in Turin
Museo Egizio
One of the biggest Egyptian collections outside Cairo, in a building near Via Accademia delle Scienze. Allow three hours, and check the museum's site for opening days and hours before you go.
A few days ahead on weekends and in holiday weeks, from the museum's own site
Mole Antonelliana and the National Cinema Museum
The tower that defines Turin's skyline holds a cinema museum that winds up through the dome. A glass lift runs up through the middle to a viewing terrace over the city and the Alps. Visibility depends on the weather, so pick a clear morning.
A few days ahead in summer and at weekends
Piazza Castello and the Royal Palace
The palace of the Savoy kings stands on the square, with state rooms, the Royal Armoury and the gardens behind. Check the museum's site for the days it is open, since some rooms close on set days.
Via Po and the arcades
Turin is known for kilometers of covered arcades, and Via Po is the grandest, running from Piazza Castello to the river. Walk it in the rain or the heat, and stop at an old café on the way.
Piazza San Carlo and the historic cafés
The elegant square is lined with arcades and cafés, and nearby Caffè Mulassano, Caffè San Carlo and Caffè Torino are old addresses for a coffee or a vermouth. Stand at the bar to pay less than at a table.
Duomo di San Giovanni and Porta Palatina
The cathedral holds the Shroud of Turin, which is kept out of sight and shown only on rare occasions, so expect a copy and the chapel, not the cloth. The Roman gate of Porta Palatina stands a short walk away in the Quadrilatero.
Basilica di Superga
A baroque church on a hill east of the city, with a view over Turin to the Alps on a clear day. The old rack tramway from Sassi station climbs to it, so check its running days before you go.
Parco del Valentino and the Borgo Medievale
The riverside park has the Valentino castle and, in its grounds, a 19th-century copy of a medieval village. It is a good place for a slow afternoon, and the walk along the Po fits between San Salvario and the center.
Museo dell'Automobile
A large museum of cars and car design, fitting for the city of Fiat. It sits south of the center on Corso Unità d'Italia, so take a bus or taxi, and check its closing day first.
Porta Palazzo market
The largest open-air market in Europe, on Piazza della Repubblica. Go in the morning for produce, cheese and bread, and keep an eye on your bag in the crowds.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Turin can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Turin, and which to pick- Museo EgizioA few days ahead
Weekends and holiday weeks fill the time slots, and buying on the museum's own site avoids the queue.
- The Mole Antonelliana panoramic liftA few days ahead in summer
The lift takes a small group at a time, and queues build on clear weekend days.
- A table at a well-known restaurantA few days ahead
The small trattorias and the dinner at Del Cambio fill at weekends. Our Turin food guide lists how to book each one.
What to skip in Turin
- Ticket sites that are not the museum's own
Resellers charge more for the same ticket. Buy the Egyptian Museum, the Royal Palace and the Mole from their own sites.
- A table with a menu board outside on the main squares
You mostly pay for the setting. Walk five minutes into the Quadrilatero or San Salvario and eat at one of the places in our Turin food guide.
- Driving into the center
Most of the center is a limited traffic zone with cameras, and fines are posted to the car's owner months later. The sights are walkable, so leave the car at the hotel or outside the zone.
Best time to visit Turin
April to June and September to October are the most comfortable months for walking. July and August are hot and humid, and some restaurants close for part of August. Winter is cold and can be foggy, but the Alps often show clearly after a cold, dry spell, and the cafés are at their best.
Autumn is the season for white truffles, mushrooms and the markets of the Langhe, so food lovers should aim for October and November. Check opening days of the museums when you plan a Monday.
- From Turin Caselle airportA train runs to Dora station in about 19 minutes, from where a bus connects to the center. The SADEM airport bus runs every 15 to 30 minutes to Porta Susa and Porta Nuova stations, and takes 40 to 55 minutes. A single ticket was €7.50 on the operator's site in October 2026.
- On footThe center is flat and laid out on a grid. Piazza Castello, Piazza San Carlo, the Quadrilatero and Via Po are all within about 15 minutes of each other. Take a tram for the Mole's far side, the Valentino and the Lingotto.
- Metro and tramsTurin has one metro line running north-south, plus a large tram and bus network run by GTT. Tickets cover all of them, and you can validate on the vehicle.
- High-speed trainsFast trains to Milan, Rome and Venice use Porta Nuova, and many also stop at Porta Susa. Check which station your train uses before you leave the hotel.
Turin in three days
- Day 1
Piazza Castello and the Royal Palace in the morning, then Via Po under the arcades to the Mole Antonelliana and the cinema museum. Finish with an aperitivo in the Quadrilatero.
- Day 2
The Egyptian Museum for the morning, then Piazza San Carlo and a coffee in one of the old cafés. Spend the afternoon in the Valentino park, and have dinner in San Salvario.
- Day 3
Porta Palazzo market in the morning, then the Duomo and Porta Palatina. Go up to Superga, or swap in the Reggia di Venaria if you prefer a palace.
Day trips from Turin
- Reggia di VenariaA huge Savoy palace and gardens just north-west of the city. It is reached by bus from the center in under an hour, so allow a half day.
- Langhe and AlbaHills of vineyards around Alba, Barolo and Barbaresco, best seen by car or on a guided tour. Alba has regional train links, and the truffle season runs in autumn.
- Sacra di San MicheleA monastery on a mountain top west of Turin, with views down the Susa valley. It is easiest by car or on a guided trip, since the last stretch is uphill.
Turin: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Turin?
Two full days cover the Egyptian Museum, the Royal Palace, the Mole and the arcades at an easy pace. A third adds the Valentino park, Superga or the Reggia di Venaria, and a fourth gives you a day in the Langhe. One day is enough for the center but not for a museum as well.
Is Turin worth visiting?
Yes, if you like museums, cafés and food more than a long list of famous monuments. It has fewer crowds than Milan, Florence or Venice, and the Alps close by. It is less suited to a trip built around a single famous landmark.
Where should you stay in Turin?
Choose the streets around Piazza San Carlo or Piazza Castello for the shortest walks, or San Salvario for restaurants and bars. If you arrive late by train, a hotel near Porta Nuova saves a transfer. See our full guide to Turin's areas for the detail.
What is the best time to visit Turin?
April to June and September to October are the most comfortable. Avoid July and August if you dislike heat and humidity. Autumn is the time for truffles and the wine villages, and winter is quiet and cold.
What can you do in Turin in November?
Plan around cold and rain. Use the days for the Egyptian Museum, the cinema museum in the Mole, the Royal Palace and the cafés, and keep Superga for a clear morning. November is also truffle season in the Langhe, which makes a good day trip.
How do you get from the airport to Turin city center?
Take the SADEM bus to Porta Susa or Porta Nuova, or the train to Dora station and a bus on. The bus takes 40 to 55 minutes and the train about 19 minutes to Dora. A taxi is faster but dearer.
Is Turin walkable?
The center is flat and walkable, with the main squares, the Royal Palace, the Quadrilatero and Via Po within about 15 minutes of each other. Use the tram or metro for the Valentino, the Lingotto and the Museo dell'Automobile.
What should you know about the Shroud of Turin?
The Shroud is kept out of sight in the cathedral and shown only on rare, announced occasions. On a normal visit you see the chapel and a copy, so do not plan a trip around it.