10 Things to Do in Turin with Kids

Turin is one of Italy's most child-friendly cities, packed with fascinating and fun things to do. You'll find everything from educational museums to interactive activities that reveal local secrets. In addition, the little ones can enjoy the benefits of nature, in spaces such as the gardens of the Royal Palace. One advantage is that it has good transport connections, as well as rides on the best tourist buses.

In the Piedmontese capital you can also take the kids on magic tours, rides through underground tunnels and water parks. Of course, the most important element of Turin is of course its gastronomy. The city offers chocolate tastings, Neapolitan, Roman and Piedmontese pizza tours, as well as the opportunity to experience a real Turinese snack.

An exploration game is a way to stimulate the creativity of the little ones. During your trip to Turin you can take advantage of a group dynamic, which includes challenges that will help the whole family improve their motor, social and emotional skills. As such, it is a tour of the old town where you will have to solve puzzles like a professional detective to find special places. At all times you will be on your own, following an interactive route marked on a self-guided application that does not require an Internet connection.

It's not for nothing that it's one of the best local tours, as you can start playing whenever you want. You'll be faced with a great puzzle, as you solve puzzles, get new clues and reach new locations. Some of the iconic sites you can get to visit include Piazza Statuto, the Santuario della Consolata, the Cathedral of St John the Baptist and the Egyptian Museum, where children can spend some time browsing.

The experience can be found from 8 euros and you can participate only with your family or friends, or even on your own if you are travelling unaccompanied. It is best to share it between four people to decipher the clues easily, or create teams to compete. In this way, you will discover what this Italian city was like centuries ago, as well as the myths about ghosts that surround Turin.

Another very interesting experience for children is a visit to the National Automobile Museum in Turin. It has an amazing collection of around 200 cars of 80 different brands. In the company of the little ones, it is preferable to avoid guided tours, as they can get tired. Instead, you can buy a ticket with audio guide to explore on your own, without rushing or crowds.

It is one of the best museums in Turin, due to its age and variety of exhibits. Specifically, it has three floors divided into very interesting themes and activities for children: workshops where they can create their own car, exploration games and guided tours of the rooms of the cars that made history. Here you can see the first car to circulate in Italy, the Peugeot Type 3 dating from 1892. In addition, you will find several informative stops with explanations about each car, engine or motorbike.

I recommend combining this visit with a tour on the best tourist buses in Turin. This way, you will be able to take advantage of your time in the city to visit other tourist sites. If you are thinking of taking the bus, you should bear in mind that the museum is located at stop N°4 on the red line. Additionally, the cost of this type of experience starts at 42 euros and you can visit from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00 hours, and on Mondays from 10:00 to 14:00 hours.

Children tend to get fatigued during long walking tours on the streets, so for sightseeing in the city it's best to take advantage of Turin's best tourist buses. They are a fascinating experience for all ages, as they have several routes that connect to the surrounding area and to the most coveted monuments, buildings and attractions. You can hop on and off whenever you want, take breaks and visit spaces ideal for the little ones, such as the National Automobile Museum.

A fun and educational way to see the city with children, you can choose between a 24 or 48-hour pass, depending on your itinerary. One advantage is that it is usually available in several languages so children will be able to pick up on the interactive commentary during the tour. The main reason I recommend it for the little ones is that it offers a free mobile app known as "Tourist Experience", which has games and activities for children. Note that this bus can be booked from 21 euros. Also, line A is available from November to March, while line ABC is only available from April to October.

To get to know the city from a different perspective, don't miss a tour of its underground passages. You can enjoy it with children, who are sure to be delighted to discover anecdotes, mysteries and local legends. Along the way you'll come across dramatised performances, as well as obstacle courses that will challenge you to decipher riddles. To begin the experience you'll have to descend a few metres underground, be prepared for ancient burial grounds, royal icehouses, World War II shelters and passageways that used to interconnect the old city.

Not surprisingly, these passageways are overshadowed by ghost stories, as most of them were excavated around 1706. It's definitely one of the best things to do in Turin, especially if you go with children full of curiosity and expectation. It is a playful experience that can be found from 40 euros, where you will discover the hidden side of Piedmont. The main advantage of taking a guided tour is that an experienced guide will lead you through the labyrinth of tunnels, pointing out everything you need to know. Please note that it is not suitable for claustrophobic people.

The spaces of the Royal Palace of Turin can be an interesting option for children, who will be attracted by its colourful gardens. Here you will find open areas where children's events such as art workshops, storytelling, plays for all ages, educational walks and more take place. In fact, some areas are free for children under the age of eighteen.

The palace gardens are believed to have been the setting for local mysteries, which adds considerably to their appeal. You can find activities and guided tours that will spark children's imaginations, with quests for historical Piedmontese characters. In addition, the gardens are spacious and full of trees, swings, nature scents and bucolic sounds that will captivate you.

Discover the esoteric perspective of Turin, considered the black and white magic capital of Europe. Its chiaroscuro side is marvellous, as it is full of secrets and contrasts. The little ones will be thrilled to discover magic tricks, hear local legends and visit mysterious enclaves that fit the enigmatic profile of the city. Don't worry! It's suitable for all ages, although children over five years old can get more out of it.

It's certainly one of the best tours of Turin and there is a free option that is conducted in English, although it sells out quickly. In any case, it is more cost-effective to purchase the Torino+Piemonte Card, which includes more than 200 activities and has some magic and legends tours. Additionally, during this type of experience you may get to visit:

• Piazza Statuto: a striking statue known as the heart of Turin's darkness, at this illustrative stop you can discover secrets of alchemy and black magic.
• Devil's Gate: this is the secret entrance to the Royal Palace of Turin, it has Masonic emblems, a type of symbolism used by the early architects of famous cathedrals.
• Alchemical Caves: these are the secret tunnels of the city, but they are different from the underground tour because in this case you will only explore the remains of magic in the places that were the scene of rituals and magic spells.

There's nothing better than an afternoon snack, especially if you enjoy it with your family. In Turin you can feel like a member of royalty, while tasting the typical sweets that the wealthy classes used to eat in the 19th century during the afternoon. Children will surely have a great time, as Piedmontese gastronomy is very generous to the palate.

Note that there are two types of royal afternoon snack, the 1700s snack that accompanies cups of hot chocolate with the oldest sweets in the perimeter, such as the Diablottino, considered one of the oldest chocolates in the world. The 1800's snack is accompanied by Bicerin coffee, a traditional drink made of coffee, cocoa and cream, and offers different types of savoury pastries.

The best places to enjoy an authentic Turinese snack are Caffe Reale and Gelateria Pepino. These types of experiences can be found from 10 euros and can be combined with the pastry route: a tasting activity that explores the best local cafés.

For a break from the ordinary you can head to Turin's water parks, which are small but great fun. They merge rides and attractions with a striking natural setting, and you don't have to go far from the city to find them. Without a doubt, the Piedmontese capital offers its guests the option to combine fun, so the whole family can enjoy themselves. Some of the parks not to be missed include:

• Lido Pool: in the Mirafiori neighbourhood you can locate an interesting theme park, which is surrounded by pools for all ages. It has slides with daring curves, picnic areas, football and volleyball fields, among others.
• Piscina Comunale Trecate: is a colourful theme park, where you can enjoy modern water attractions. It has a variety of pools and slides, Olympic zones, children's play areas, spa and a restaurant.
• Ondaland: is a water park located fifty minutes away from Turin, ideal if you plan to stay at least 2 days in the city. It is the largest and has around twenty attractions with wave pools, water slides, white water rivers and more.

Note that the parks often offer discounts for large families. Tickets usually start at 7 euros, but are almost always cheaper for children.

Pizza is a dish that originated in Italy in the 17th century, so it's a must on your visit to the city. Preparing a pizza route is one of the best things to do in Turin, especially if you're travelling with children. The food here is good and generously priced, with a variety of options to please even the most demanding palates. The traditional pizza of the Piedmontese capital is the pizza al tegamino made in an iron skillet that completely transforms its flavour.

In addition, you can try different styles of pizza: Roman, Neapolitan and Piedmontese, with unique proposals that will take you on a wonderful gastronomic journey. You have the option to design the itinerary on your own, according to your wishes and budget. However, a guided tour is ideal considering that the locals know the best places to eat. There are even routes that explore the best gelaterias and pizzerias, creating an explosive combination.

If you go it alone, you can find the best pizza in Turin at:

• Pizzium: a traditional place where you can try Neapolitan wood-fired pizza, with toppings of your choice.
• La Capannina: one of the best places to try the typical pizza al tegamino, this restaurant has been in the city since 1956 and offers
• Mexico 86: is a restaurant that fuses Mexican and Italian cuisine, offering pizza and tacos as main dishes. Besides, you can find curious options such as pizza with nachos, guacamole and minced meat. Its main attraction is that it has a children's play area with slides and ball pools.
• Pizzeria La Piazzetta: another ideal place to try Piedmontese pizza, with children's areas and activities such as face painting, balloon twisting and magic shows.

Undoubtedly, the Turin Planetarium or Infinito Planetario di Torino is a wonderful place to visit with children. It is immersed in interactive exhibits that make learning about space and astronomy fun. In fact, the highlight is the solar system simulator, where you can walk in real time alongside the planets and observe the night sky, while listening to interesting facts.

Children will surely be thrilled to find out where the planets are in real time. In general, there are activities for all ages such as constellation shows and themed shows for families on the first weekend of every month. There is also a museum, a laboratory with secret missions and a robotic mascot, which is a friendly dog that will captivate the little ones.