Is Turin Worth Visiting? - Why Italy's Underrated City Will Surprise You

Turin is not one of the first choices that people have when they plan a vacation to Italy. It does however come up as a consideration if you are visiting the north of the country. Is Turin worth visiting? There’s a lot to unpack here. We decided to put Turin on our itinerary because it was on the way to Monaco which was also a city that we wanted to cover.

For us, Turin was our first stop in Italy. That was because we were driving in from the north. It was a quieter city to start off with, a great place to spend Easter and had enough of interesting sites to draw our attention.

There is a lot of talk about when it comes to Turin though. I like to weigh the pros and cons factually so that you can make the decision yourself and base it on your likes and dislikes. So is Turin worth visiting? Read on to find out.

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Transport

Turin is very easy to get about on foot as well as well as by public transport. We stayed a little on the outskirts of the city because we needed a place with parking but managed to walk everywhere. We traveled with children so that’s another important thing to note because they were 4 and 5 years old at the time.

The main modes of public transport in Turin are the buses and trams. I would just recommend staying in the center and walking though. We had our car but didn’t need it during the entire duration.

Is Turin worth visiting when it comes to the transport? I would think so!

Accessibility

Turin was one of the places that we used a stroller for our youngest. It was a long trip to Turin and she was tired. My other daughter had her scooter. We managed to navigate through the streets easily. There was hardly any need to pick up the stroller or the scooter because it wasn’t accessible. Some places were harder to navigate because of the cobble stones but there were alternative routes that could be used.

So if accessibility is your worry and you ask if Turin is worth visiting, I would say yes. It is one of the easier cities to navigate.

Accommodation

Turin isn’t a very large city when compared to Rome or Florence. The footfall in the city is also lower. That being said, it is also a religious pilgrimage site. There are generally a larger influx of people during the Easter season which means the cost of accommodation goes up during this time. By and large accommodation is cheaper here. This makes a big difference if you are on a budget.

Some great places to stay in Turin are

NH Torino Centro (Luxury and central)
NH Collection Torino Piazza Carlina (Luxury and central)
Porta Palace Apartments (In the historic center)
B&B IL SOGNO (Budget)

A general tip is to book your accommodation in advance because you get it for a better price and you get a pick from the best. Things book out quickly especially during peak season.

When it comes to accommodation, is Turin worth visiting. I would say yes.

Safety

Safety is one of the biggest factors that I consider when traveling to a new country or city. This is both as a solo female traveler or when I’m traveling with my kids. Turin is definitely safe. It feels comfortable. In fact I would say that it is safer than cities like Rome or Florence.

So safety wise is Turin worth visiting? I would say yes to that too!

Sights In The City

There are plenty of things to do in Turin. We spent three days here and never got bored. In fact, even if you do cover all the interesting sites, you can still find a great place to chill and relax. Turin is pretty laid back which is one of the reasons why we loved it so much. Here are some of the exciting things to do in Turin that may interest you.

Visit the Imperial Palaces. It is one of the top things to do in the city.
Enjoy the piedmont food.
Museo Egzio is another place worth checking out. Its an Egyptian museum. We ran out of time so couldn’t see this one.
Stroll through the historical center of Turin.
See the shroud of Turin. It is important to note that this is one of the most popular activities for people who have come to the city or those on a pilgrimage.
Visit Sacre di San Michele Monastery.

Is Turin Worth Visiting For Food Lovers?

The Gelato isn't the only item that's heavenly. Is Turin worth visiting for the food. I would think so.

The Piedmont food is heavenly and Turin has some of the best restaurants in Italy. You may have to make a reservation at some of the popular ones but the crowds aren’t like Florence and Rome so it is a little easier.

We are at so many different restaurants and tried so many new dishes. Its important to understand that Italian food is not just pizza and pasta though. There’s so much more to it.

The people here are friendly and warm. They’ll talk about their food and tell you what to order. Noteworthy is that not everyone speaks English so a little Italian will take you far.

First Time In Italy: Is Turin Worth Visiting?

Turin was the first city that we visited on our 3 week road trip through north Italy. It was a great introduction to the country. Not too busy, not insanely expensive and peaceful. It had enough of things to keep us busy but not so much that we were exhausted.

If its your first time in Italy, Turin is definitely worth visiting.

Turin With Kids

Parco del Valentino is one of the best places to spend time with kids in Turin

I’m going to add in a section about traveling to Turin with kids because I went with mine. Turin is very accessible. You can walk everywhere, push your stroller easily so it is easy to get about. Every single place that I went to is kid friendly. We had no issue at all. This is largely due to the culture. People include children in all activities. They are a part of the community so it is just normal there as with pretty much everywhere in Italy.

There is plenty to keep the children entertained too. So is Turin worth visiting with kids? I’m going to say yes.

Budget Travel

Italy is not cheap on any level. I’ve been traveling across Europe and this was something that we noticed almost instantly. Turin however is one of the cheaper cities to live in. Even the accommodation gets cheaper here. You can stay on the outskirts if you want a budget room. Or pay the same as you would for a budget room in Rome and have a really nice place to stay.

Food is also not as expensive as other places. There’s plenty to do without breaking the bank. Which is why I say that if you want a budget location (by Italian standards) then go to Turin.

Day Trips

While it may not seem like it, there are plenty of day trips from Turin that you can take. You could do this on your own by renting a car of just booking a tour. This comes in handy because all the planning is done for you. Here are a couple that you could consider:

Truffle hunting near Turin
Piedmont Winery Tour

As you can see there are a lot of things that make Turin a great place to visit. I struggle to find negatives about the city other than it is quiet (which is a positive in my case). Is Turin worth visiting? I would think so especially if you want to head away from the more popular touristy stuff.