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22 Things to See in Turin

Although it was long associated exclusively with industrial activity, those days are long gone. Today, Turin is a popular destination, packed with attractions, museums, and interesting tourist sights.

Most of Turin's attractions are concentrated in the city center, between Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello. However, there are also many sights located outside the center. To visit these, public transportation will come in handy.

Tip: if you plan to visit multiple tourist attractions in Turin, check first whether it might be more cost-effective to purchase the Torino + Piemonte Card, which gives you free or discounted access to the most important museums and attractions in Turin and the surrounding area.

To visit most of Turin's tourist sights, you'll need around 4–5 days.

1. Mole Antonelliana and the Museum of Cinema

The Mole Antonelliana is the name of Turin's landmark building and one of its most important tourist attractions. Built at the end of the 19th century by architect Alessandro Antonelli - whose name it bears - la Mole was originally intended to be a synagogue.

Today, the building houses the Museum of Cinema, and with the help of a panoramic elevator, you can go up to the terrace on the dome, 85 meters high, where you'll enjoy a stunning view of the city and the Alps.

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2. The Royal Museums

Located in the city center, the Royal Museums complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the 16th to the 19th century, it served as the residence of the House of Savoy. The complex is built around the Royal Palace and includes also the Armory, the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, the Royal Library, the Savoy Gallery, the Museum of Antiquities, the Royal Gardens, and the Chiablese Halls, which host temporary exhibitions.

If you're short on time, be sure to at least visit the Royal Palace, the Armory, and, most importantly, the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, a Baroque masterpiece from the late 17th century.

A walk through the Royal Gardens is one of the free things you can do in Turin.

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3. The Cathedral

The Cathedral of Turin (or the Duomo) is one of the few monuments still preserved in the city from the Renaissance period. Although quite austere, its interior houses one of the most famous and controversial Christian relics: the Shroud of Turin.

4. The Egyptean Museum

The Egyptian Museum of Turin is considered the second most important after the one in Cairo.

Founded in 1824, it was the first museum in the world entirely dedicated to Egyptian civilization and culture. Its collections include over 40,000 objects spread across 4 levels. The visiting route is approximately 2.5 km long and reveals, through astonishing exhibits, the fascinating world of Ancient Egypt.

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Use the CIAO5 code before completing your booking on Tiqets and you will get a 5% discount.

5. The Automobile Museum

Among the most important museums in Turin is the Automobile Museum, considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It is not located in the city center, but it is worth visiting to take a journey through the history of cars - from stunning vintage automobiles to racing cars. The Automobile Museum appeals to both adults and children, whether or not they have a particular interest in cars.

6. Piazza Castello

Designed in 1584 by architect Ascanio Vitozzi and surrounded on three sides by porticoes, Piazza Castello is the lively heart of the city and the meeting point of its most important streets: via Roma, via Po, via Garibaldi, and via Pietro Micca. It is also home to Turin's most important palaces: the Royal Palace, Palazzo Madama, Teatro Regio, the Regional Palace, and the Government Palace (today the Prefecture).

It is said that Piazza Castello is the city's point of maximum positive energy and that it's good luck to be kissed before entering the square.

7. Palazzo Madama

Located in Piazza Castello, Palazzo Madama is an oddity in the city's urban landscape. Depending on which side of the square you view it from, you'll see a Roman gate, a medieval castle, or a Baroque palace. The building thus incorporates different layers of history: the Roman-era city gate was transformed in the Middle Ages into a fortification and then into the castle of the Princes of Acaja, before becoming in the 17th and 18th centuries the residence of the Queens of Savoy.

The "Madama" from whom the palace takes its name is Maria Jeanne of Savoy, wife of Carlo Emanuele II. At her request, architect Filippo Juvarra designed the Baroque façade that the building has today in the 18th century.

In the 19th century, Palazzo Madama housed the art collection of the House of Savoy and later became the seat of the Subalpine Senate.

Included in the UNESCO Heritage as a residence of the House of Savoy, Palazzo Madama today houses the Civic Museum of Ancient Art (il Museo Civico di Arte Antica).

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8. Piazza San Carlo

Piazza San Carlo, nicknamed "the drawing room of the city", is one of the most beautiful and elegant squares in Turin. It is a vast pedestrian area, bordered to the south by the two "twin" churches built in the 17th century in Baroque style: Santa Cristina and San Carlo.

The square is surrounded by arcades where you'll find shops and cafés. At its center stands the equestrian statue of Duke Emanuele Filiberto, who moved the capital to Turin in 1563 (locals refer to the statue as the "bronze horse"). On one side of the square, you'll find two famous historic cafés: Caffè Torino and Caffè San Carlo.

Don't miss the image of the bull embedded in the pavement in front of Caffè Torino. Legend has it that if you step on - let's say - its lower part, you'll have good luck.

9. Monte dei Cappuccini

On the banks of the Po River, on the opposite side from the historic center, rises Monte dei Cappuccini Hill, with an altitude of about 300 meters. It is one of the best spots in Turin for a beautiful panoramic view of the city, especially at sunset.

There you can also visit the Church of Santa Maria al Monte, built in Baroque style, as well as the Mountain Museum (Museo Nazionale della Montagna Duca degli Abruzzi).

10. Superga Basilica

Another spot offering beautiful views over Turin and its surroundings is the Basilica di Superga, a church built in 1731 by the architect Juvarra, at the top of the hill bearing the same name.

This Baroque-style church was erected at the request of King Vittorio Amedeo II, as a sign of gratitude to the Virgin Mary for the victory against the French army in 1706. The basilica served as a mausoleum for the House of Savoy, and its crypt holds 62 tombs of members of the royal family.

Unfortunately, the site is also known for a tragic event. In 1949, the entire Grande Torino football team died here in a plane crash.

To reach the Basilica di Superga, you can take tram 15 from the city center or buses 61 or 68 to Sassi (about 30 minutes). From Sassi, the journey continues on the historic Sassi-Superga rack railway tram up to the church, located at an altitude of 650 meters. If you enjoy nature walks, you can also hike up through the Parco Naturale della Collina di Superga.

11. Villa della Regina

Villa della Regina is another UNESCO site and a scenic viewpoint, located on a hillside. Built in the 17th century and surrounded by a park, the villa served as the residence of the queens of the House of Savoy.

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12. The Galleries of Turin

Inspired by French architecture, the historical galleries of Turin are passageways built in the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. Located between buildings and covered with glass, their main purpose was to allow nobles to stroll even on rainy days. Now part of the city's architectural heritage, they are home to shops, bars, and cafés.

The three most famous galleries in Turin are Galleria dell'Industria Subalpina, Galleria San Federico, and Galleria Umberto I.

Galleria dell'Industria Subalpina is located in Piazza Castello and houses il Cinema Romano and the historic café Baratti e Milano.

Galleria Umberto I lies between Piazza della Repubblica and Via della Basilica. Inside, you’ll find the historic Farmacia Mauriziana, inaugurated in 1575.

Galleria San Federico is near Piazza San Carlo and houses Cinema Lux, designed in the 1930s along with the gallery itself.

13. Porta Palatina

Porta Palatina is a massive brick gate dating back to the Roman era, from the time when Turin was known as Augusta Taurinorum. Built in the 1st century AD, it was one of the main entrance gates to the ancient city. It got its name, Palatina, because it was located near the Palatium, the seat of the Roman senate.

Flanked by replicas of statues of Octavian Augustus and Julius Caesar, Porta Palatina is part of the Parco Archeologico delle Porte Palatine, a green area that contains the remains of Roman-era city walls.

14. Borgo Medievale and Parco del Valentino

Located within Valentino Park, the Borgo Medievale is a reconstruction of a small 15th-century Italian medieval village. It was built for the 1884 Italian General Exhibition. The village features narrow streets, houses, a church, shops where you'll often find local artisans' products, and even a castle (Rocca).

While you're visiting Borgo Medievale, take a stroll through Parco del Valentino, the green lung of the city. The park stretches along the Po River and is home to Valentino Castle, a former residence of the House of Savoy, now a UNESCO monument and the seat of the Faculty of Architecture.

Tip: If you bring some hazelnuts, you can feed the squirrels, which are plentiful in the park.

15. Lavazza Museum

Suitable for both adults and children, the Lavazza Museum is primarily an interactive museum dedicated to the story of coffee and the famous Lavazza family. As you'd expect in a museum celebrating the senses, the visit ends with a coffee tasting.

16. Chocolate Museum

The Choco-Story Chocolate Museum is the newest of Turin's museums, having opened in 2024. It is located in the basement of the chocolate workshop of the historic Pfatisch pastry shop, at Via Sacchi no. 38, near Porta Nuova train station.

With its interactive installations, the museum guides both children and adults through the history and production methods of chocolate.

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Use the CIAO5 code before completing your booking on Tiqets and you will get a 5% discount.

17. Pista Fiat 500

The Fiat Track is one of the lesser-known attractions in the city. It is a legendary track, built in 1927 on the roof of the Fiat factory, originally intended for testing cars. Today, you can walk along the oval circuit, which is about 1 km long, take a look inside the Casa 500 Museum, visit a private art gallery, or enjoy an aperitivo with panoramic views of the city.

18. Venaria Reale

Venaria Reale, another site included in the UNESCO Heritage list, is one of the most beautiful ducal residences in the Piedmont region and one of the most visited in Italy. It is located 10 km from Turin, in the town of the same name.

The palace (Reggia) was built in the second half of the 17th century by order of Carlo Emanuele II. The stunning gardens cover more than 50 hectares, blending historic sections with recent landscaping.

You can reach Venaria Reale by the special Venaria Express line, by line C of the Turin Hop On Hop Off bus (available from April to October), or by train on the Torino Dora-Ceres route.

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Use the CIAO5 code before completing your booking on Tiqets and you will get a 5% discount.

19. GAM Museum

If you are passionate about art, don't miss a visit to the Galleria Civica d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea. Amedeo Modigliani, Andy Warhol, Paul Klee, and Giorgio de Chirico are just a few of the artists whose works you will find here. The museum also offers guided tours.

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20. Mercato di Porta Palazzo

Il Mercato di Porta Palazzo is the largest open-air market in Europe. Every day (except Sunday), you can find everything here for everyone - from fruits, vegetables, and other food products to electronics, clothes, and shoes.

Since 2019, it also houses the Mercato Centrale, a glass building mainly dedicated to gastronomy. On the ground floor, you'll find bars and restaurants serving local products; on the first floor, clothing stores; and on the second floor, various cultural events take place (see also the article about food in Turin).

Il Mercato di Porta Palazzo is situated in the Borgo Dora neighborhood, in Piazza della Repubblica. Every Saturday, the Il Balon market takes place, and on every second Sunday of the month, the Il Gran Balon market is held, both dedicated to antique dealers and collectors.

21. Museum of Oriental Art

Founded in 2008, the Museum of Oriental Art (MAO) is one of the newest museums in Turin. It is housed in Palazzo Mazzonis, a historic 18th-century building, and its collections include, among others, works of Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and Islamic art.

22. Juventus Museum and Allianz Stadium

Focusing on technology and interactivity, the Juventus Museum is dedicated to the history of football and the famous Juventus team. You can choose to visit just the museum or combine the museum visit with a guided tour of the Allianz Stadiumi. If you opt for the guided tour, it's important to know that it is conducted in Italian. For English, you will need to use an audio guide on your own phone for an additional fee (€5) - it;s ideal to have headphones with you.

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