Turin Travel & Vacation Guide

The Basilica of Superga was built by the orders of Duke Vittorio Amedeo II in the 18th century. It is infamous for being the place where the plane carrying the soccer team Toro crashed in the 1940s. Superga is located on top of the hill bordering Turin, from where you have a wonderful view of both the city and the Alps. To get there, you can take a bus, a mountain railway, or a long-distance footpath; hence, it is also the ideal destination for a hike on a clear day. Turin is surrounded by almost 700 km of hiking paths. The Basilica di Superga, along with the Victory Lighthouse at Colle della Maddalena, is one of the most popular destinations for hiking and trekking tours of the region.

The baroque "Chapel of Merchants, Shopkeepers and Bankers" was built at the end of the 1600s. This lesser known architectural jewel still holds numerous original artworks. The most noteworthy of them is the Perpetual Calendar built by the engineering Giovanni Plana — a primitive computing machine that allows its user to look up details about any date between the years 1 and 4000. Powered by a small wooden crank, the intricate gears and chains put into motion the nine inscribed cylinders, The chapel is only open to the public on the weekends, when mass is held. If you are lucky, you can attend the occasional classical music concert and experience the building's impressive acoustics.

Cesare Lombroso was an Italian criminologist, physician and phrenologist, who posed that crime is a characteristic trait of human nature. His role as the creator of criminal atavism remains controversial. You are invited to learn about the errors in his scientific method. In 2009, to mark the centenary of his death, the museum was revamped to better showcase the macabre collections: anatomical specimens and drawings, photographs, as well as valuable craft and artistic works created by asylum and prison inmates.

Solely dedicated to Egyptian Art, this museum is second only to the one located in Cairo. The wide collection here housed is the result of years of expeditions. Indeed in the past the artefacts used to be shared between the country where they were found and the researchers. Let yourself be amazed by this trip to one of the most mystic ages of history.

This is a must see for all soccer enthusiasts. Visits are normally guided both in Italian and English, and at the end of your tour you can buy Juventus memorabilia in the official shop of the team. You can choose between a visit to the stadium or the museum, or both.

The church of Santa Maria al Monte is visible from Piazza Vittorio, especially at night, when the space-age blue neon lights illuminate it. This late-Renaissance-style church stands on the right bank of the Po, on the so-called Monte dei Cappuccini, and from its terrace you can enjoy one of the best views of both the city and the Alps.

Opened in 2008, the Museum of Eastern Art displays the biggest collection of Asian art and crafts in Italy. It is located in the Quadrilatero neighbourhood, in the ancient Mazzoni Palace. The exhibitions here are varied and change often, taking advantage of the 2200 artefacts that represent cultural and artistic traditions of the Asian continent.

The National Museum of Automobile was founded in 1933, becoming one of the first automotive museums in the world. It hosts a very rare and fine collection of cars from Italy, France, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the US and Poland. The exposition displays the brands of the past and present dating back to the middle of the 19th century, reaching approximately 200 models.

This pub and restaurant is the unique selling point of the unfiltered beer and micro-brewery Birrificio Torino, which was revived a few years ago. A genuine ambience with brick walls and dark wood makes it the perfect place for a bender with friends. Furthermore, for those intrigued by beer, Birrificio Torino even offers guided tours of its brewery.

Bunker is a large and eclectic space, the result of a cultural project which took a dismissed train station and created a meeting point for the people of Turin. Art, music and exchange merge into each other to form something unique. On the weekend big concerts and DJ sets of various kinds are organised, but there are also festivals and daily events in summer and spring.

Cavallerizza Theatre is one of the amazing buildings left by the Savoy family. Having survived a series of accidents throughout the years, today it is a cultural centre run by a group of young locals. Together with cultural and sporting activities, many concerts are held. Dance the night away in its unique atmosphere, between historic treasures and modern music.

Clorophilla is one of the bars under the arcades of Piazza Vittorio. It definitively stands out among the others thanks to its interior decor made to resemble a forest. All the cocktails here are delicious, but its real specialties are the "Zuccherini": lumps of sugar plunged in flavoured liqueurs. An absolute must of Turinese nights.

Cornetti Night is a one-of-a-kind shop, and definitively a favourite place of all the city's party-goers. This croissant parlour is open only at night, just to offer the people of Turin a delicious break between the numerous parties around the city. Inside you will find large croissants of every sort, both sweet and salty.

Hiroshima Mon Amour opened in 1989, and since then it has hosted all kinds of events. Some examples of artists who have performed here? Patti Smith, Kraftwerk, Sinéad O’Connor, Astor Piazzola, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and many more. On its two floors you can find three dancefloors and stages, where something different happens every night.

This bar has a very terrifying theme, as the name "La Casa del Demone" (Devil's House) suggests. The ambience is reminiscent of a horror movie cave, with soft lights, skeletons and a large bar with a big demon's head front and centre. Despite the creepy atmosphere, you can try some of the best cocktails in the city and you can even enjoy several delicious courses.

Open Baladin is a slice of paradise for all enthusiasts of craft beer. This made-in-Piedmont brand opened its stylish bar right in the city centre, just at a few minutes from Piazza Vittorio. The unusual venue at the base of a skate park has two floors where you can taste dozens of artisanal beers, also from other independent Italian brands, together with fine appetizers and local dishes.

This is the most peculiar and attractive section of Porta Palazzo Market. It covers Borgo Dora Street and environs, where you can buy literally anything. It is mainly a flea market, hence great part of the stalls are dedicated to vintage objects, but you will see also plenty of second-hand items and real antiques.

Here is another big made-in-Piedmont name. Bialetti is known to be the biggest Italian coffee-machine producer. Visit its colourful store and choose what you prefer from among its high-quality items: are you a traditional moka pot fan or do you prefer more high-tech machines?

F.R.A.V. is a made-in-Turin brand born a few years ago. From the beginning, its original style seduced the fashion-addicted population of the city, enough to grow and open several shops all around Turin and in Milan. Here you can find unique items which you can't see anywhere else.

If you want to take home a precious souvenir from your stay in Turin, visit Fein Sas. With 30 years of experience, this laboratory offers unique items to remember unique moments. You will have your pick of the litter among all its shining and beautiful jewels.

You can find the tiny Galleria San Federico on Via Roma, just a few metres from Piazza San Carlo. Just as the area where it is located, it is a symbol of elegance and refinement. Come here for an exclusive shopping experience of antiques and art crafts, or simply walk around admiring the shop windows and the frequent exhibitions.

Guido Gobino is one of the big names in Italian haute cuisine. In the best Piedmontese tradition, he specialises in chocolate. Don't miss a visit to one of his shops in the city centre, or to his laboratory on Via Cagliari where once in a while you can also attend exhibitions and contests related to confectionery.

Juventus is the most famous football team in Turin, and one of the most loved around the world. Besides having its own stadium a few minutes from the city centre, you can easily get all original t-shirts and gadgets of the team in the official shop located in Via Garibaldi. Keep an eye on the website, so as not to miss events and meetings with the players.

La Rinascente is an Italian luxury department store. In Turin it is located on the exclusive road Via Lagrange, among the boutiques of the biggest worldwide brands. The mall sells multiple big name brands not only when it comes to fashion, but also in furniture and design.

Turin-Caselle International Airport is located in Torino Caselle, about 15 kilometres from the city centre. You can reach it by train, bus or car. The railway station is located right next to the airport. The train to 'GTT Dora Railway Station' takes approximately 20 minutes and runs from about 5am to 11pm to the airport, and from about 5am to 10pm to the city, departing every 30 minutes. Buses to the city centre depart just outside the departures hall and the journey takes about 50 minutes. The buses run from 5:15am to 11pm to the airport and from 6:10am to midnight to the city. Taxis cost approximately €30-€50 to reach downtown Turin, the journey taking about 30 minutes. Beware of the queues during rush hour traffic.

GTT Company manages the public transport network in Turin. Their network consists of charming trams, trains, one subway line and about 100 bus lines that also extend to the suburbs and the towns nearby. GTT offers a number of tourist services like the historic Superga rack tramway, boats on the river Po and City Sightseeing buses. Daily, weekly or monthly passes and multi-day tickets are available in any tobacconist and newsstand of the city, or you can buy them from the vending machines in the metro stops. Do not forget to stamp your ticket once in the vehicle.

The main taxi company in Turin is Taxi Torino. Italian Taxis are white cars with the number on their side and the sign “TAXI” on top. When you get in, be sure to check if the metre is turned on, and avoid unofficial cabs. Normally, in Italy you find taxi stands in the hotspots of the city and near stations, airports and main squares. Uber ridesharing in not very popular in Italy. Only Uber Black is available, meaning higher prices and nicer vehicles.

220 Volts/50 Hz. Standard European plugs with two round prongs

You can find many pharmacies around the city. Look for the flashing green cross light. Normally they are closed for lunch and during weekend, but in rotation pharmacies provide Sunday and night services. Details are displayed in the shops or on the website of the city council.

Stamps can be bought from authorised tobacconists, or directly at the post office. You can send letters and postcards using the mailboxes scattered all around the city. Normally, post offices are open every morning, but the main one is open all day long during week and on Saturday mornings. The contact details below refer to the main post office of Turin.

Country code: +39 Area code: 011