Turin in 1 Day: all you need to know

Turin, the baroque jewel of Piedmont, enchants travelers with its architectural elegance, cultural heritage and exquisite cuisine. Although a single day may seem brief, the itinerary I'm about to recommend will be an unforgettable experience.

Whether you have a full day (including overnight) to explore every nook and cranny or you're faced with a tighter itinerary, Turin will greet you with its enchanting beauty and welcoming atmosphere. From the majesty of the Royal Palace to the magic of the Egyptian Museum, immerse yourself in a day of discovery and flavors in this Italian city. Also, if you need, I can recommend 10 things to do in Turin with kids. Here we go!

The Royal Palace of Turin, also known as Palazzo Reale, is an architectural and cultural marvel that testifies to the rich history of the city. Built in the 17th century, this majestic palace was the royal residence of the House of Savoy, one of the most influential dynasties in Europe. This emblematic building is a symbol of the city along with the Mole Antonelliana (which, by the way, you can visit along with the Cinema Museum).

If you decide that your first activity in Turin should be the guided tour of the Royal Palace, you will see that there are many rooms to tour, but among the highlights is the Queen's Gallery, adorned with paintings and sculptures by renowned artists, as well as the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, which houses the venerated relic.

Notice its imposing baroque façade when you see it, it is a great example of this architectural style! I'm sure its opulent rooms will remind you of Versailles. They house an impressive collection of art, furniture and objects that reflect the splendor of the Savoyard monarchy.

For all these reasons, a visit to the Royal Palace of Turin is a must on your visit to Turin, and ideally should be the first sightseeing tour you make, first thing in the morning. Do not leave it for the afternoon, as it closes its doors at 6 p.m., and you might not have enough time to see it.

This cultural visit will take about an hour and a half, so you will have time to enjoy the rest of the morning, with the advantage of not having to wait in line, and enjoying a small group experience with more personalized attention.

The Museo delle Antichità Egizie houses one of the most impressive and comprehensive collections of Egyptian art and archaeology outside of Egypt. This museum was founded in 1824, and has grown to include more than 30,000 objects spanning from prehistoric to Greco-Roman times.

And what can you find there? Among its outstanding exhibits are sarcophagi, statues, jewelry and papyri, which captivate fans of Ancient Egyptian culture and those who are not but still enjoy discovering how other cultures lived in other eras. The museum is particularly famous for its collection of the tomb of Kha and Merit, which provides unique insight into the daily life and funerary beliefs of the time. This is why this museum is a must-see in Turin - you won't be disappointed!

If you decide to book a guided tour of the Egyptian Museum of Turin, you will be interested to know that the visit lasts approximately two hours. The experience starts without queuing up, allowing you direct access to the inside of the museum, within walking distance of Palazzo Madama, which you can also visit. Guided by an expert, you will be able to admire the objects that have been collected over more than a century, revealing the secrets of one of the most interesting civilizations in history.

By the time you finish your visit to the museum, it will be close to lunchtime. This is the perfect time to move on to the next stop, where a succulent lunch awaits you to give you the energy you need to enjoy the rest of your day in Turin.

For lunch in Turin, I am not going to recommend a restaurant, but something much better. We know that there is nothing like home cooking, and Italian home cooking is spectacular.

That's why I'm going to recommend a gastronomic experience offered by a Turinese. I assure you that it is a real feast for food lovers and a journey to the heart of Piedmontese gastronomy. You will have approximately 2 and a half hours, in the home of a local, to watch him prepare before your eyes a complete menu including starter, main course, main course and dessert. Throughout the meal, you will be able to taste local wines and finish the experience with a cup of coffee.

And what can you expect from Piedmontese cuisine? It has a strong influence of popular tradition combined with refined recipes. That's why you can find delicacies such as Tomini al verde, Bagna càuda, Agnolotti del plin, Panissa, Fritto misto alla piemontese, Vitello tonnato, and Bonet. but of course, the experience takes place at the host's home and everyone has their own family recipes.

Oh, in case you were wondering what are those local wines to pair the food with, some of them are Barbera d'Asti, Barolo, Dolcetto or Barbaresco. Enjoy the after-dinner conversation, get your strength back, and let's make the most of the afternoon in Turin, as there is still so much to discover in this magical city!

The most prominent monuments that require entrance and a few hours of visitation have a closing time that would not allow you to see them calmly during the afternoon. Besides, after lunch it is not good to go in a hurry. For this reason, I have recommended you to spend the morning with tours in monuments and now I advise you to spend the afternoon in a more relaxed way.

With the tourist bus you can discover the charms of the city, offering three different routes. You can comfortably tour the city in a double-decker open-top bus, which takes you from the historic center to more remote corners of the city. Choose the ticket with the routes that interest you most and enjoy the flexibility to hop on and off at any of the stops or simply relax as you take the tour with on-board commentary about what you are seeing at any given moment.

For example, on Route A, the bus will take you through the historic heart of Turin, passing the impressive Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello, where the Savoy palaces are located. The route then descends, passing the Royal Palace, the beautiful Villa della Regina and Palazzo Madama. You will also pass by the Egyptian Museum, the Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of Cinema. By the way! Do you know what are the 10 best museums in Turin?

If you choose Route B, you will enter modern galleries, such as the Pinacoteca Agnelli and the Automobile Museum, while Route C explores the history of the Lavazza coffee brand, the Juventus Stadium and the beautiful gardens of the Royal Palace of Venaria.

If you are spending the night in Turin, you can take advantage of it to discover the most mysterious side of the city in a fascinating walking tour of about 2 hours and a half, guided by an expert.

I'll tell you more. Turin, according to an ancient esoteric legend, is considered the meeting point of two magical triangles: one associated with black magic (together with London and San Francisco) and the other with white magic (with Lyon and Prague). If you are interested in this kind of mysteries, you cannot miss this experience during your trip, I assure you!

During one of the night tours in Turin, you will explore emblematic and enigmatic places, such as Piazza Statuto, where the monument dedicated to the Frejus tunnel is linked to the gate of hell, the Fontana delle Quattro Stagioni, which has some rather curious statues or Piazza Castello, considered the epicenter of positive energy.

In addition, you will visit the Chiesa della Grande Madre di Dio, an impressive neoclassical church that supposedly houses the Holy Grail, as well as the Portone del Diavolo in Palazzo Trucchi di Levaldigi, whose door contains a somewhat atypical representation of Satan. If you are ready to delve into the mysteries of Turin and spend an unforgettable night, get ready to discover what lurks in the shadows of Turin.

Regardless of whether you choose the night tour, if you are going to spend the night in Turin, you need to dine well! Turin is a city known for delicious Piedmontese cuisine (as you will have seen at lunch), so at dinner you can try the dishes you haven't yet tasted with culinary options to suit all tastes and budgets. For example, with a relaxed and authentic atmosphere, L'Angolo del Gusto is ideal for those who want to enjoy a delicious meal without a big budget.

In addition, Trattoria Ala is another option that combines traditional Turinese food with classic Italian dishes and is quite affordable. This restaurant serves homemade dishes and you can enjoy its cozy atmosphere and reasonable prices making it an excellent choice near the Egyptian Museum.

If you are willing to invest a little more to delight your palate, Ristorante Del Cambio is an elegant option that combines sophistication with tradition. Housed in an elegant 17th century building, this restaurant offers a refined dining experience with exquisitely presented dishes that highlight local flavors.

And if you're looking for an upscale dining experience and are willing to spend more, the Piazza Duomo, located in the iconic Piazza San Carlo, offers a top-notch culinary experience. With a Michelin star, this restaurant fuses culinary creativity with high-quality ingredients, providing diners with a unique and unforgettable experience in the heart of Turin.

Whether you're looking for the authenticity of traditional cuisine, modern elegance or gastronomic exquisiteness, Turin has options for every palate.

If you have only one day to explore a city, it is crucial to plan your itinerary efficiently to make the most of your time.

I recommend starting early to stretch the morning as much as possible, and focus on the most important tourist spots. Do your research beforehand on the most emblematic sights, historical monuments and the best things to do in Turin to make sure you don't miss anything crucial. For example, I have recommended visiting the Royal Palace and the Egyptian Museum in the morning, but you may be more interested in doing the Art Nouveau route or seeing the subway tunnels. It depends on your tastes or the purpose of your visit!

I also recommend using public transportation or the bus to move quickly between distant points. In general, there is not much distance between the most monumental points, but even so, it is good to have located the bus stops I told you about previously, so you can get on and off the bus at any time depending on where you want to go.

As you will have time to do some walking, you can take advantage of that little walk to immerse yourself in the local atmosphere. Enjoying the local gastronomy is another option I have mentioned, even if you don't choose the gastronomic experience at the home of a local, I encourage you to eat at a representative place of the city to taste the typical food.

Are you traveling by bus or train from another Italian city? Calculate the distance from the stations to the first point of your visit, so that you have enough time to arrive calmly.

And one more tip! Don't get overwhelmed by over-planning. You have little time and if you want to do too many things, you may not have time to do some of them.

Traveller Tip

Prioritize the essentials to spend a nice day without stressing. You can always have the chance to come back!