What to do in Turin in 1 day

Piazza San Carlo

I recommend you start your visit from Piazza San Carlo (St. Charles Square). It is the beating heart of the city, as well as one of the main squares which contains some of the most renowned historic cafés such as Caffè San Carlo and Caffè Torino. In the center of the square is the equestrian statue of Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, known as "Caval ëd brons" (bronze knight), created in 1838 by Carlo Marocchetti. On the sides of the square, you will find the Toret, the typical fountains of Turin, known for the tap in the shape of a bull's head. Take the opportunity to fill your water bottle because you'll have to walk 😄.

Piazza San Carlo, una delle piazze principali di Torino

Piazza Castello

Proceed to Piazza Castello, another authentic place in Turin where you will find some of the city's major attractions.

Palazzo Madama stands out in the center of the square. The palace has ancient origins, dating back to the Roman period, when it was part of the city walls. Over the centuries it has been remodeled and expanded several times, so much so that the different architectural styles can clearly be seen: seen from behind it is a medieval fortress, seen from the front it is a full-fledged Renaissance palace. Unfortunately there will not be time to visit the palace internally so I advise you to move on. If you are still interested in visiting the palace, you might be interested in:

Royal Palace of Turin

In front of Piazza Castello, the Royal Palace of Turin stands imposingly and served as the residence of the dukes of Savoy, the kings of Sardinia and the Italian sovereigns until the 20th century, today home to the Royal Museums. The Royal Palace is an example of Baroque architecture, with facades adorned with elaborate details and sumptuous interiors decorated with frescoes, stuccoes and regal furnishings. Even if you stay in Turin for just one day, it might be interesting to enter the museum to enjoy an example of the magnificent architecture that characterizes some of the most famous Turin buildings.

Scalinata d'ingresso del Palazzo Reale a Torino

Before you leave, remember that you can visit the Royal Gardens behind the Royal Palace for free. I would only recommend them if you have a lot of time available or decide not to visit the palace internally.

Lunch

There are numerous places near Piazza Castello where you can taste typical Turin specialties. One of the places that has become famous for its low prices and good food is Piola da Cianci, a welcoming trattoria that I had the opportunity to try.

Not far from Piola da Cianci, I would also find Porta Palazzo which boasts one of the largest markets in Europe. Inside Porta Palazzo you will find numerous stands where you can try typical specialties from Turin and around the world.

Caffè al Bicerin

Turin is a magical city that will certainly fascinate you but the post-lunch drowsiness captures everyone. Why not take the opportunity to try one of Turin's specialties? I'm talking about Bicerin, a traditional Turin drink, famous for its delicious combination of chocolate, coffee and milk cream. You will have the opportunity to taste Bicerin in any Turin café but if you want to try the original one in the place where it was invented, you can go to "Caffè Al Bicerin dal 1763", not far from Porta Palazzo.

Mole Antoneliana and Cinema Museum

We finally arrive at Turin's most famous attraction, the Mole Antoneliana. Its construction began in 1863 under the leadership of Alessandro Antonelli with the aim of building a synagogue. However, due to the imposing size and the technical and financial difficulties during construction, the project was modified and transformed into a civic monument dedicated to Italian national unity. The structure features an eclectic neoclassical style and rises over 167 meters, making it the tallest building in Turin. There is the possibility of climbing the dome of the Mole Antoneliana to enjoy a breathtaking view over the entire city. If you still have time available and you are a cinema enthusiast, you can visit the Cinema Museum located inside the Mole, one of the most important museums in the world dedicated to the history and art of cinema. The museum offers a large collection of artifacts, devices and documents related to the history of cinema, as well as interactive installations and temporary exhibitions.

Mole Antoneliana a Torino

Piazza Vittorio Veneto

At this point in the day, it will definitely be evening. A few steps from the Mole Antoneliana, you will find Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. The peculiarity of this square is that it slopes slightly and for this reason it was used for a long time as a "parade ground" for military gatherings, under the Savoy kingdom as well as under the fascist dictatorship. The square is surrounded by numerous cafés and clubs where you can have an aperitif or end the day with a dinner in one of the largest and most majestic squares in Europe.

Map

Conclusions and Alternatives

Seeing all of Turin in a single day could be a challenge, as the city offers a rich variety of cultural, historical and gastronomic attractions. In any case, this little guide can help you understand which are the main attractions to focus on. Another place that I strongly recommend is the Egyptian Museum which however I have not included as it requires at least 2.5/3 hours to visit. You can still try to include it in your visit, avoiding entering, for example, the Royal Museums which require a similar, albeit shorter, visit time. In this case I recommend you go to the Egyptian Museum immediately to maximize your time in Turin and then continue following the itinerary described above.

Do you have more information or do you want to suggest a different itinerary? Please use the comments section below.

Thank you for reading,

Explorer's Tale.