Turin is a regal city. Its beauty lies in that solemn aspect it has never lost, its palaces and residences, the ancient houses, those glimpses of frescoes seen inside palaces when passing through certain streets. Whether you’re traveling by day or want to explore it by night, let’s see the 10 things you absolutely must see in Turin before you leave.
Main Museums and Royal Palaces
There are many museums in the city. Some are particularly famous, like the Egyptian Museum, internationally renowned as the second largest museum in the world dedicated to Egyptian history and culture. Others, like the MAO, are more niche but equally splendid: at the Museum of Oriental Art you can find hundreds of artifacts from the Asian world you wouldn’t expect to see in Italy.
But Turin is not just about museums of the wider world. The palaces that dominate Turin and make it stand out among other Italian cities are also important museums. This is the case of the Royal Palace Museum, which offers various tour options, including small free tours of the kitchens.
Or also Palazzo Madama, the “castle” in Piazza Castello, named after the royal ladies who lived there. Today, different from the usual in Turin, it’s worth visiting the Murazzi, the banks of the Po River near the city center.There you can find various bars or social centers where there’s definitely fun to be had, or simply take a walk along the riverbank. Given the importance of rivers to the city’s layout, the Po riverside is certainly one of the 10 things to see in Turin.
The Po riverside, however, is more than that. On the opposite side from the Murazzi, there is a beautiful nature walk where you’ll find small parks and benches perfect for watching a stunning sunset.
Turin’s Historic Cafés, a Journey into the City’s Elite
If you want to take a journey into Turin’s nobility and upper bourgeoisie, why not visit the city’s historic cafés? From the hot chocolate at Baratti & Milano to the gianduia-flavored gelato at Fiorio there’s certainly no shortage of choice.
It’s also true, however, that historic cafés are not just about what they sell. Much of their charm comes from their unique décor or location. For example, Baratti & Milano is located right in the Galleria Subalpina.
View of the vaults of Galleria San FedericoVisiting Turin’s Covered Galleries
Turin’s galleries have a very special charm. Starting with the Subalpina, which opens onto Piazza Castello and encloses not only architecture embedded in the beauty of the surrounding palaces but also a series of antiquarian bookstores perfect for lovers of the antique.
Galleria Umberto Ifaces Piazza della Repubblica. Inside, a series of venues come alive especially at night when young people go for dinner or an aperitif. Then there’s also Galleria San Federico, which houses the Lux cinema and has a distinctive T-shaped structure; some scenes from Dario Argento’s “Deep Red” were filmed here, making it definitely one of the 10 things to see in Turin.
Monte dei Cappuccini on a foggy dayThe Skyline View: Monte dei Cappuccini and Superga
Last but not least, the beauty of the panoramic viewpoints. The first of all is the Monte dei Cappuccini, easily reachable on foot from Gran Madre. From there, most panoramic photos of Turin taken by tourists are shot, and it’s hard not to find someone there.
Even higher up is the Basilica of Superga, which not only offers a spectacular view over all of Turin and its surroundings but also a nice climb. Every year, in memory of the Superga tragedy (in which the entire Torino football team, then nicknamed “Grande Torino,” died), fans make a true pilgrimage to this site.
Visiting Turin with Friends: Here’s How to Learn More
There’s so much to see in Turin. Whether you decide to travel alone or not, as you can see from these 10 things to see in Turin, opportunities abound. But if you’re with others, everything probably becomes even more fun. For this reason, Meeters organizes some group trips right in the Savoy city, perfect for discovering Turin in a new way and, at the same time, meeting new friends.