Torino ~ Five Must-Try Activities
Torino is a beautiful, underrated city in the north east of Italy, near the Alps, the capital of the Piedmont region. Even with almost 900,000 inhabitants, it is often overshadowed by Milano, a couple of hours’ drive to the east. But Torino has so much to offer! There is a lot of history, as it was the first capital of Italy between 1861 and 1865; there is a lot of art, with a plethora of museums and statues and castles spread around the city; there is a lot of industry there, with headquarters for Lavazza coffee and Fiat among others; and there is nature, with parks and the river Po crossing the city.
Borgo Medievale, along the Po River.
But without further ado, here are my five must-try activities while visiting Torino.
If you’d prefer to see these recommendations, click here!
Explore the Centro Storico
There is A LOT to see and do in the old center of town, and the baroque architecture is beautiful. There are large plazas (Piazza Castello, Piazza San Carlo, etc.) as well as narrow streets, churches and museums, old buildings… and older buildings.
Even if you don’t have a specific direction or path for your exploration of the Centro Storico, you can spot something cool to go towards at almost each intersection.
There are many restaurants, cafes, little parks, and if you want to do some shopping, Via Roma is an avenue full of fancy stores.
Walk Along the Po River
The Po is the longest river in Italy, at 652km (405 miles), crossing the north of the country from the Alps in the west to the Adriatic Sea in the east.
It is easily accessible from downtown Torino. If you start by the Parco Valentino, you can do a loop using both sides of the river, since both have trails: sometimes dirt sometimes paved.
From the bridge Ponte Alberto I to Ponte France Balbis and back is about a three-mile/5k loop.
The area felt very safe during a morning run. There was a lot of activity, both on the trail (other runners, people walking their dog, etc.) and on the water with many rowers going by.
Visit a museum
There are so many museums in Torino: Museo Lavazza, National Automobile Museum, Royal Palace and Gardens, Museo del Risorgimento… everyone can find something they will like.
We visited three museums: some of the most famous ones such as the Mole Antonelliana, or National Cinema Museum, which we found more interesting for its architecture than its content; we did a short visit oto the Museo Egizio, full of Egiptian artefacts; but my favorite one was without a doubt the GAM, a modern and contemporary art museum with permanent collections from the 19th and 20th century. It has gorgeous paintings, interesting sculptures [inside and outside], and fascinating temporary exhibits.
Go up to the Monte dei Capuccini
Without leaving the city, you can go up to the Monte dei Cappucini, where you can see the church of Santa Maria, and be on a hill that will give you a great view of the city.
If you go at night, the church will be closed, but everything will be lit up. Many locals go there at night to enjoy the fresh air and the views.
On my photo here, you can see the tower of the Mole Antonelliana illuminated in blue.
Wander the city at night
Turin at night is a whole different vibe and it’s beautiful! Feel free to grab a gelato and wander the streets, especially between the Centro Storico and the river.
Check out Piazza Vittorio Veneto for its lights, restaurants and bars.
You can see the imposing Mole Antonelliana illuminated, admire different facets of the architecture as it is lit up, and check out the reflections of the town in the Po River.
Parco archeologico Torre Palatine
So if you have a chance to explore Torino, take it!
There are so many more museums, parks and streets to explore in this beautiful city, I will have to come back!
And if you need recommendations for food, check out my favorite restaurant in Turin here.