Turin in 1 Day: all you need to know

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

Whether you have a full day (including overnight) to explore every nook and cranny or you are 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 flavour 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 bears witness to the city's rich history. 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 together with the Cinema Museum).

If you decide that your first activity in Turin should be a guided tour of the Royal Palace, you will see that there are many rooms to visit, but among the most outstanding 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's 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 splendour 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 should ideally be the first sightseeing trip you make, first thing in the morning. Don't 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 spend the rest of the morning, with the advantage of not having to queue, and enjoying a small group experience with more personalised 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 ranging from prehistoric to Greco-Roman times.

And what can you find there? Among its outstanding exhibits are sarcophagi, statues, jewellery 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 a 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, allowing you direct access to the inside of the museum, within walking distance of the Palazzo Madama, which you can also visit. Guided by an expert, you can admire the artefacts that have been collected over more than a century, revealing the secrets of one of the most interesting civilisations 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 to give you the energy you need to enjoy the rest of your day in Turin.

For lunch in Turin, I'm 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 two 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. So 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 local wines to pair with the food, 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 important monuments that require an entrance ticket and a few hours of sightseeing have a closing time that would not allow you to see them at leisure during the afternoon. Besides, after lunch it is not good to go in a hurry. That's why I recommended you to spend the morning with monument tours 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 centre 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 make your way around with on-board commentary on 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, home to the Savoy palaces. The route then descends, passing the Royal Palace, the beautiful Villa della Regina and Palazzo Madama. You'll also pass the Egyptian Museum, the Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of Cinema. By the way, do you know what the top 10 museums in Turin are?

If you choose Route B, you'll 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 the 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 the Piazza Castello, considered the epicentre 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're going to spend the night in Turin, you've got to have a good dinner! 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.

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 cosy atmosphere and reasonable prices which make 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 flavours.

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 are looking for the authenticity of traditional cuisine, modern elegance or gastronomic exquisiteness, Turin has options for every palate.

If you only have 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 sights. 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 might be more interested in doing the Art Nouveau route or seeing the underground tunnels. It depends on your taste or the purpose of your visit!

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

As you'll have time to do some walking, you can take advantage of this short 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 place representative of the city to try the typical food.

Are you travelling 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 get there 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 might not have time to do some of them.

Traveller Tip

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