Itineraries for Your Trip to Turin
2 Days in Turin for First Timers
Take it from me—it’s not hard to fall in love with Turin. The city is one of the most beautiful in Italy, thanks to its extravagant palaces, stately piazzas, and peaceful parks along the Po River. Then there are its exceptional museums (like the Egyptian Museum), its rich cuisine, and its inimitable wine and aperitivo culture.
Those varied attractions have drawn me to Turin time and time again. And while the capital of the Piedmont region still feels strikingly little-explored compared to Italy’s bigger tourist hubs, that just means there’s more for new travelers to discover. To help you plan your trip, here’s the perfect two-day itinerary for first-time visitors.
With its Alpine winters and sticky summers, Turin experiences the extremities of the seasons—be sure to pack accordingly.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a tour of the city’s extravagant Royal Palace and its Chapel of the Holy Shroud.
Start your trip with a biking tour that will offer an immersive way to soak up Turin’s unique ambiance while helping you see the city in a short time frame. You can learn all about Turin’s regal history as you pedal past its grand squares and palaces, visit its historic center (complete with Roman ruins), admire centuries-old churches, and unwind in green spaces like Valentine Park (Parco del Valentino).
Once you’ve hopped off your bike and enjoyed a restorative bite, make a beeline for the Egyptian Museum (Museo Egizio), one of the city’s landmark cultural institutions. The museum is said to contain the greatest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts outside Cairo, but that abundance doesn’t have to be intimidating—book a guided collections tour to head straight to the highlights.
Before you sit down to indulge in Turin’s decadent cuisine, it’s time to roll up your sleeves: One of the best ways to experience Italian culture and cuisine is to book an intimate cooking class, ideally one held in the host’s home. You can learn the secrets behind a range of traditional Piedmontese dishes, walk away with new skills and knowledge, and, of course, enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Begin your second day with a trip to the UNESCO-listed Royal Palace of Turin (Palazzo Reale di Torino), and look for tours that also include entry to adjacent highlights like the Chapel of the Holy Shroud (Cappella della Sacra Sindone)—created to house the Shroud of Turin—and the Turin Duomo (Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista). If you can, pick a private itinerary so you can ask your guide as many questions as you’d like as you stroll through these architectural and historical marvels.
Turin may boast lots of centuries-old monuments, but that doesn’t mean it’s stuck in the past. Located a few short minutes from the Royal Palace is the landmark Mole Antonelliana, which houses the National Museum of Cinema. Book a guided tour to learn all about the history of Italian cinema, then, if the weather cooperates, you can ascend to the building’s viewing deck for sunset panoramas.
Turin is considered the birthplace of Italy’s beloved aperitivo tradition—and after a day out, there’s no better way to unwind. Take an early-evening tour to indulge in a generous array of drinks and bites. You’ll get to try local vermouth, indulge in premium wines like Barolo and Barbaresco, and enjoy cheese and charcuterie platters as well as other authentic nibbles.
