Things to Do in Turin
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Turin, Italy, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Turin. Serious city, serious chocolate, balance it out, home to one of the most debated religious relics anywhere, briefly the first capital of unified Italy before the country settled elsewhere, and closely tied to a major Italian car manufacturer for over a century. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Turin: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the chocolate. Three main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
The Shroud of Turin
Turin is home to a museum housing the Shroud of Turin, a famous, endlessly debated religious relic, a linen cloth bearing a faint image, endlessly debated by scientists and theologians alike, I've perched on the cathedral roof, no opinion offered, officially, a significant piece of religious and scientific controversy, the shroud is rarely on public display, worth checking current exhibition schedules before planning a visit specifically to see it.
The Museum of the Shroud, covering the relic's history and the various scientific studies conducted on it, is open regardless of whether the shroud itself is on display, worth a visit for the wider context either way.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am–7pm
Address Turin Cathedral and Museum of the Shroud
Turin as Italy's First Capital
Turin was the first capital of unified Italy, before the capital later moved to Florence, then Rome, three capitals in a handful of years, while the new country figured itself out, worth understanding this history, Turin held this role during the earliest, most formative years of Italian unification in the 1860s, a significant, if brief, chapter of the country's modern political history.
The Royal Palace of Turin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former residence of the House of Savoy, Italy's royal family, is worth visiting for direct context on this period, worth allowing proper time given the palace's scale and the depth of its state rooms.
Hours Tue–Sun, roughly 9am–7pm
Address Royal Palace of Turin
Turin's Car Manufacturing Heritage
Turin is closely associated with Fiat, a major Italian car manufacturer, headquartered in the city for over a century, Ferrari is actually based in nearby Maranello, not Turin itself, a common mix-up, and a fast way to offend someone from either city, worth knowing this distinction before you bring it up with a local, the Museo dell'Automobile covers Italy's wider automotive history, including Fiat's central role, in real depth.
The Lingotto building, a former Fiat factory with a rooftop test track, now converted into a shopping and exhibition space, is worth a visit for a properly unusual piece of industrial architecture, the rooftop track itself is still accessible and worth the view.
Hours Tue–Sun, roughly 10am–7pm
Address Museo dell'Automobile, Turin
Best time to visit Turin
April through June and September through October give the most comfortable weather for the amount of walking this list involves, mild without summer's peak heat.
Turin's museums and cathedral work well year-round, worth visiting even outside the shoulder seasons if the weather isn't your priority.
Getting around Turin
Turin's metro covers key routes, and central areas, including the Royal Palace and cathedral, are walkable.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Turin worth visiting?
- Yes, easily, notably underrated compared to Rome, Florence, or Milan, the Shroud of Turin's controversy, the Royal Palace, and the city's car manufacturing heritage together give it real, distinctive character.
- How many days do you need in Turin?
- Three days covers the cathedral, the Royal Palace, and the Museo dell'Automobile comfortably.
- Is Turin expensive?
- No, generally affordable, comparable to or cheaper than Milan for dining and accommodation.
- What is Turin famous for?
- The Shroud of Turin, a famous and endlessly debated religious relic, briefly serving as the first capital of unified Italy, and being closely associated with Fiat, the Italian car manufacturer.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
