How many days in Turin? 3 days of arcades, the Egyptian Museum and aperitivo
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Turin was the first capital of united Italy and the seat of the House of Savoy, and it looks the part: straight streets, about 18 km of arcades, royal palaces and grand cafés, with the Alps visible at the end of many avenues. It is also where vermouth, the gianduiotto chocolate and the modern aperitivo culture took shape. Give it three days: one for the royal centre, one for the Egyptian Museum and the Mole Antonelliana, and one for the market, the river and the hill of Superga. The city is flat and arcaded, so it is easy to walk even in rain.
Short answer
Two days covers the Egyptian Museum, the royal centre and the Mole. Three days adds Porta Palazzo market, the Valentino park, Superga and a slower aperitivo evening.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Piazza Castello and the royal centre
Morning. Start at Piazza Castello, the square at the centre of the old capital. Visit the Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) and the Royal Museums circuit, which includes the Royal Armoury, the Sabauda Gallery and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud (about €15-20; closed Mondays). Allow 2.5-3 hours.
Afternoon. Step into Palazzo Madama on the same square, with Roman, medieval and Baroque layers in one building, then see the Duomo, where the Shroud of Turin is kept but only rarely displayed. Walk 10 minutes down Via Roma under the arcades to Piazza San Carlo, the 'drawing room' of Turin, with its twin churches.
Evening. Have a classic aperitivo around 18:30-20:00: a vermouth or spritz with snacks costs about €9-14 in the cafés of Piazza San Carlo or along Via Po. Dinner in the Quadrilatero Romano, the old Roman grid of lanes, with agnolotti del plin for about €12-16.
The Torino+Piemonte Card (from about €30-40 for 1-3 days) covers most museums; work out whether you will visit enough of them to make it worth it.
Day 2: Egyptian Museum and the Mole Antonelliana
Morning. Be at the Museo Egizio at opening time (about €18-20; book online). It holds one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian objects outside Cairo, including the statue galleries, the intact tomb of Kha and Merit and many papyri. Allow at least 3 hours.
Afternoon. Stop at Caffè Al Bicerin on Piazza della Consolata, open since 1763, for a bicerin, layered espresso, chocolate and cream (about €7). Then walk to the Mole Antonelliana, the city's symbol, about 167 metres tall. Inside is the National Cinema Museum, and a glass lift rises through the hall to a terrace at 85 metres (combined ticket about €20-25).
Evening. Walk down Via Po to Piazza Vittorio Veneto, one of the largest squares in Europe, and cross the bridge to the domed church of Gran Madre di Dio. Climb 10 minutes to the Monte dei Cappuccini terrace for sunset over the city and the Alps, then eat in the Vanchiglia district.
Book the Mole's panoramic lift for a specific slot; queues are long on weekends and the lift closes in strong wind.
Day 3: Porta Palazzo, Valentino and Superga
Morning. Go to Porta Palazzo, the open-air market on Piazza della Repubblica, often called the largest in Europe (mornings Monday to Saturday, all day on Saturday). Wander the fish and cheese halls and the fruit stalls, and on Saturdays the Balon flea market nearby.
Afternoon. Take a tram or bus to the Parco del Valentino on the Po river, with the Borgo Medievale, a reconstructed medieval village built for the 1884 exhibition (free to walk around). Then take the metro to Lingotto, the former Fiat factory, for the rooftop test track known as La Pista 500 and the Pinacoteca Agnelli art collection (about €10-15).
Evening. Ride the Sassi-Superga rack tramway (about 20 minutes uphill; check operating days) to the Basilica of Superga, on a hill at about 670 metres, for the view over Turin and the Alps. The Savoy tombs are in the crypt, and a memorial behind the church remembers the 1949 air crash of the Grande Torino football team.
Turin's chocolate shops sell gianduiotti, made with hazelnuts from the Langhe; buy them by weight in shops like those on Via Garibaldi.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, combine Piazza Castello and the Royal Palace with the Egyptian Museum on Day 1, and the Mole, Via Po and Monte dei Cappuccini on Day 2. You lose Porta Palazzo, Lingotto and Superga.
Got extra days?
A 4th day can go to the Reggia di Venaria, the vast Savoy hunting palace and gardens (about 30-45 minutes by bus), or to the Langhe wine hills for Alba, Barolo and truffles in autumn (about 1-1.5 hours by car). Milan is about 50 minutes away by high-speed train.
Where to stay in Turin
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | San Salvario | Lively, cheaper area by Porta Nuova station and the Valentino park. | €70-110 |
| Mid-range | Centro / Via Roma | Walk to the Egyptian Museum, the Royal Palace and Porta Nuova station. | €110-180 |
| Mid-range | Quadrilatero Romano | Old lanes full of restaurants, close to Porta Palazzo and the Duomo. | €100-170 |
| Comfort | Piazza Castello / Piazza San Carlo | Historic palazzo hotels in the royal centre. | €220-400 |
Getting around
The centre is flat and walkable: Porta Nuova station to Piazza Castello is about 15 minutes along Via Roma. GTT trams and buses cover the city, and the single metro line runs from Fermi through Porta Susa and Porta Nuova to Lingotto and Bengasi; a 100-minute ticket costs about €2 and contactless cards are accepted at metro gates. Torino Caselle airport is linked by bus and train in about 30-45 minutes. High-speed trains reach Milan in about 50 minutes and Rome in about 4-5 hours.
What to eat in Turin
Piedmont cooking is some of Italy's richest. Order agnolotti del plin (small pinched ravioli), tajarin (thin egg pasta, with truffle in autumn), vitello tonnato (veal with tuna sauce), bagna cauda (garlic and anchovy dip) in winter, and bollito misto. Drink Barbera, Dolcetto or Nebbiolo, and finish with bonet (chocolate pudding). For a quick bite, try tramezzini at Caffè Mulassano under the arcades of Piazza Castello. The first Eataly opened in Lingotto in 2007. A trattoria dinner with wine costs about €30-45.
Best time to visit
April to June and September to November, with highs of 15-25°C; October and November are white truffle season in nearby Alba. July and August are hot (around 30°C) and some family restaurants close for holidays in mid-August. Winters are cold and can be foggy, with crisp days that show the snow-covered Alps. The Salone del Gusto/Terra Madre food fair takes place in some autumns.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €40 | €75 | €160 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €55 | €100 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €35 | €50 |
| Local transport | €4 | €8 | €25 |
| Total per person, per day | about €90 | about €175 | about €335 |
Approximate 2026 prices. Turin charges an imposta di soggiorno (tourist tax) of about €2-5 per person per night depending on hotel category.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Turin worth visiting compared with Milan?
Yes, and many travellers prefer it. Turin is calmer, cheaper and more elegant, with royal palaces, long arcades and a world-class Egyptian Museum, and it is the gateway to the Langhe wine country. Milan has the Last Supper, the Duomo and more shopping. With high-speed trains of about 50 minutes, it is easy to see both.
Can I see the Shroud of Turin?
Usually not. The Shroud is kept in a protected case in the Duomo and is shown publicly only during rare official exhibitions announced in advance. Inside the cathedral you can see a photographic copy and the case's location. The Museum of the Shroud (Museo della Sindone) on Via San Domenico explains its history and the scientific debate.
What is the aperitivo in Turin?
It is the early-evening drink with food, roughly from 18:30 to 20:30. Turin claims to have created modern vermouth in the late 18th century, and cafés still serve it. With a drink costing about €9-14, many bars offer a plate of snacks or a buffet of pasta, pizza and vegetables, which for some people becomes a light dinner.
How many hours do I need at the Egyptian Museum?
Plan three hours at least, and up to five if you love the subject. The museum covers several floors, and the highlights include the statue galleries, the tomb of Kha and Merit and the papyrus collection. Book a timed ticket online, arrive at opening, and consider the audio guide or a guided tour.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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