Turin surprises almost everyone who visits. It is a grand, orderly city of arcaded avenues and baroque squares, with world-class museums, a serious café culture and the Alps on the horizon, yet it is far calmer than Rome, Florence or Venice. A little planning goes a long way, mostly because several big sights close on different days of the week.
How many days
Two full days cover the essentials of the centre: Piazza Castello and the royal palaces, the Egyptian Museum, the Mole Antonelliana and an evening along Via Po. Three days lets you add the Reggia di Venaria or the hilltop Basilica di Superga, plus a slower café and chocolate morning. With four or five days, Turin becomes a base for the Langhe wine hills or the mountains.
What to book ahead
Book the Egyptian Museum for a fixed time, ideally with a guide, because it is the city’s busiest sight and queues build at weekends. Reserve the Mole Antonelliana lift slot in advance, since capacity is limited and the outside queue can close early. A guided tour of the Royal Palace is worth booking for the small group and the stories. If you want the Torino Sotterranea underground tour, check its departure days early, as it does not run every day.
Closing days to plan around
Turin’s museums do not share a closing day. The Cinema Museum and the Mole lift close on Tuesdays, and Palazzo Madama is also closed on Tuesdays. The Royal Palace and the Musei Reali usually close on Mondays, as does Venaria. The Egyptian Museum and MAUTO stay open on Mondays but only in the morning. In December 2026 the Mole is closed from the 9th to the 14th, and Superga runs on winter hours until the end of February.
Getting in
Turin airport lies north of the city and is linked to the centre by bus, train and taxi; check current timetables before you fly. Most visitors arrive by train at Porta Nuova or Porta Susa, with fast services to Milan in around an hour and connections across Italy and to France.
Getting around
The historic centre is flat, laid out on a grid and best explored on foot under kilometres of porticoes. Metro Line 1 links Porta Susa and Porta Nuova with Lingotto, handy for MAUTO. Trams and buses cover the rest, and the historic rack tramway from Sassi climbs to Superga on a seasonal timetable. Much of the centre is a limited traffic zone, so if you drive, ask your hotel how to register your car. The Torino and Piemonte Card can save money if you plan to see many museums in a short time.
Where the headline sights fit
Day one: start at Piazza Castello with the Royal Palace and the Musei Reali, step into Turin Cathedral next door, then cross the square to Palazzo Madama. After lunch, give the afternoon to the Egyptian Museum. Day two: ride the lift up the Mole Antonelliana and explore the Cinema Museum, walk down Via Po to Piazza Vittorio Veneto by the river, and taste your way through Turin’s chocolate story at Choco-Story. Day three: take a half day at the Reggia di Venaria Reale or ride up to the Basilica di Superga, and finish with an underground tour or a visit to MAUTO if it rains.
Eating and drinking like a local
Turin is the city of the bicerin, a layered drink of coffee, chocolate and cream served in historic cafés, and of gianduiotto, the hazelnut chocolate born here. Early-evening aperitivo with vermouth is a ritual, and the city’s bars set out generous snacks. Look for agnolotti del plin, vitello tonnato and, in autumn, dishes with truffles from nearby Alba.
When to go
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons for walking. Summers can be hot, and August is quiet as many locals leave. Winter is cold and sometimes foggy, but clear days bring sharp views of snowy Alps, and the cafés and museums make it a cosy season to visit.