Turin eats well, and the easiest way to understand how is to follow a local guide through the places where Turinese people actually shop. A food and market tour strings together the open-air stalls, old arcade delicatessens, bakeries and cafés that give the city its flavour, and lets you taste as you go. The route usually moves between the rough, lively energy of the street markets and the polished, gilded rooms of the historic centre, which is exactly the contrast that makes Turin interesting. Piedmont sits at the foot of the Alps and close to the rice fields and vineyards of the plain, and its cooking reflects all three: butter and cream from the hills, rice and vegetables from the valley floor, and some of Italy’s most celebrated wines. Along a tasting route you can expect to meet regional cheeses, cured meats such as salami and cured pork, bread and grissini, a sweet or two, and the hazelnut chocolate that Turin made famous. A guide explains what you are eating, where it comes from and how it fits into the rhythm of a Turinese day, from the early-morning coffee at the bar to the evening aperitivo.
How it works
You meet your guide at a set point in the centre and walk between a series of stops over a few hours. Each stop is a market stall, shop, bakery or café where you taste something and hear the story behind it. The group is small enough to talk to the shopkeepers and ask questions, and the pace is relaxed, with plenty of standing and walking on pavements and under the arcades.
The tour is built around food, so arrive hungry and treat it as a long, varied lunch rather than a snack.
What you taste
Tastings follow the Piedmontese table, so expect a mix of savoury and sweet. Cheeses from the surrounding valleys, cured meats, bread, pastry and chocolate are the usual building blocks, often with a glass of local wine or vermouth. Turin is the home of gianduiotto and the bicerin, and good guides weave both into the route. If you have dietary needs, mention them when you book, so the operator can adjust the stops.
Why do it early in your trip: a food walk is a very good first-day activity, because it gives you a mental map of the centre, introduces you to the arcades and the markets, and leaves you with a list of places to return to. Many visitors use it to choose where they will eat for the rest of the stay. It also works well in poor weather, since so much of the route is covered by porticoes and indoor stops.
Making the most of it
Wear comfortable shoes, bring a small bag for anything you buy, and keep dinner light. Go on a weekday morning or at lunchtime if the market stalls are part of the route, because markets are busiest in the morning and quiet down in the afternoon. Combine it with an afternoon at the Egyptian Museum or the Royal Palace, and finish with an aperitivo in one of the historic cafés. Get tickets ahead for weekends and in spring and autumn, when food tours fill early.
What to expect
The experience
A small-group guided walk between markets, shops and cafés, with tastings of Piedmontese food and drink at each stop.
Best time
A weekday morning or lunchtime, when the markets are at their liveliest and the tastings double as a meal.
How long
Around three to four hours on foot at an easy pace.
Tips
Arrive hungry, wear comfortable shoes, mention dietary needs when you book and keep dinner light.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Food lovers, first-time visitors who want an orientation to the centre and anyone who prefers tasting to museum-going.
- Families
- Older children who enjoy trying new foods will like it, although the pace and the length suit teenagers better than toddlers.
- Couples
- A relaxed, shared way to spend a morning, with enough tastings to replace lunch.
- Pair with
- A vermouth tasting or an evening aperitivo, and the Egyptian Museum in the afternoon.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
Is the Turin food tour a full meal?+
For most people it replaces lunch. The tastings add up across several stops, so arrive hungry and keep the evening meal light.
What food will I try in Turin?+
Expect Piedmontese cheeses, cured meats, bread, pastries and chocolate, often with local wine or vermouth. Turin is the home of gianduiotto and the bicerin.
Is the food tour suitable for vegetarians?+
Often it can be adapted. Tell the operator about dietary needs when you book so the stops can be adjusted.
When is the best time of day to join a market tour?+
Morning or lunchtime, because market stalls are busiest and freshest before the afternoon lull.
Does the tour work in the rain?+
Yes. Much of the route runs under Turin’s arcades or at indoor stops, so rain rarely spoils it.
