How can I visit Turin in 2 days?

Turin's historic centre is packed with architectural sights, museums and pretty galleries and pedestrianised alleyways to stroll through. Here's a route to discover Turin's picturesque centre on foot.

Piazza Castello

The starting point for the day is this majestic square, a vestige of Turin's royal past. Admire the Royal Palace (Palazzo reale) and the astonishing Palazzo Madam, with its fortified castle section on one side and its Baroque façade on the other. Both are now home to exhibition centres dedicated to art, from Antiquity to the present day.

Museo Egizio, the museum of Egyptian antiquities

Considered to be one of the most important museums of ancient Egypt, its impressive collection appeals to enthusiasts and the curious alike. It's impossible to see it all in just a few hours. The four rooms not to be missed are the Halls of the Kings, the Halls of Papyrus, the Halls of the Gods and the Halls of Funerary Objects.

Piazza San Carlo

Just a 2-minute walk from the Museo Egizio, the charming Piazza San Carlo hides a host of cafés and restaurants beneath its arcades. It's the ideal place to stop for lunch. But before savouring one of the local specialities, under these arcades, right next to the Caffé Torino, you'll find Turin's lucky Toro. According to local belief, taking a few steps on this brass bull inlaid in the ground (precisely on its private parts) brings luck and prosperity. It never hurts to try!

The Galleria Subalpina

This magnificent 18-metre-high shopping arcade is well worth a visit to admire its architecture. It is home to boutiques, restaurants and cafés such as the famous Barrati & Milano.

The Mole Antonelliana

Just 10 minutes away is Turin's landmark: the Mole Antonelliana. This great tower dominates the city. Inaugurated in the same year as the Eiffel Tower, the Mole created the same shock in Turin. Its glass lift is well worth a visit. Anyone with a fear of heights should not attempt it! It takes you to the top for a panoramic view of Turin and the surrounding area. La Mole is also home to the fun-filled cinema museum. If you're keen, you can combine a visit to the museum with a panoramic lift for a special price.

The banks of the Po

To round off the day, we recommend a stroll along the banks of the River Po to watch the sun go down. Many cafés offer the aperitivo, a local institution. The idea is that when you order a drink, you have access to a copious self-service buffet with tramezzini (small sandwiches), salitini (petits fours) and other savoury delights. It's very convivial and economical!

For this second day, we're taking you on a tour of Turin's unexpected and surprising places. A medieval village, an old factory converted into a cultural centre, an underground museum, an endless gallery of arcades - in short, another memorable day!

Valentino Park

To get the day off to a good start, we suggest a stroll through one of Turin's green lungs, overlooking the banks of the River Po. Exceptional varieties of trees and plants grow here, and it's a delight to stroll around. Then, suddenly, like an apparition, the tower of a medieval fortress rises up! This Borgo medievale is a village recreated in 1884 for an exhibition.

The Lingotto, the former Fiat factory

Located in the Lingotto district (hence its name), this former factory has become a cultural centre. Erected on its roof like a futuristic boat, the Pinacoteca Agnelli houses the modern and contemporary art collection of one of the founders of the famous Italian brand, Giovanni Agnelli. Also on the roof, in place of the former car test track, is a green corridor and open-air art gallery: the Pista 500. In the building, several galleries are also dedicated to the history of the famous Fiat 500.

The Pietro Micca Museum and underground Turin

To round off your stay, we suggest an unusual visit: the Underground Turin. The itinerary begins at the Pietro Micca Museum, a Piedmontese military hero who died for his country during the War of the Spanish Succession. From the museum, you can descend 15 metres underground to visit the 18th-century galleries, the royal ice houses of Porta Palazzo and the underground passages of the Baroque palaces. It's a journey to the heart of Turin's history, to these areas of refuge in times of war.

Via Roma and its arcades

Return to the historic centre and finish the day in style with a stroll under the arcades of via Roma. Did you know that Turin has almost 18 km of covered arcades? Along the entire length of via Roma, a gallery of almost 800 metres houses restaurants, cafés, patisseries and all kinds of shops selling clothes, shoes and books. In summer, thanks to the shade and coolness preserved by the stonework, it's a great place to stroll, shop or stop for a snack.