Is Turin Worth Visiting? A Surprisingly Underrated City

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Before visiting, I never saw Turin mentioned alongside cities like Rome, Florence or Venice and honestly, that’s probably why I ended up loving it so much.

As I sat in Piazza San Carlo with an aperitivo and wandered the elegant streets with a pistachio gelato in hand, I kept thinking this might be one of the most underrated city breaks in Italy.

Turin has beautiful architecture, historic cafés, indulgent food and stunning Alpine views. It felt calmer, less curated for visitors and far more elegant than I expected. One minute we were sipping espresso beneath chandeliers in grand historic cafés and the next we were looking out across the terracotta rooftops from Monte dei Cappuccini.

If you’re wondering whether Turin is worth visiting for a weekend break, my answer is absolutely yes. Especially if you enjoy slower travel, aperitivo culture and cities that feel atmospheric rather than overly touristy.

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Is Turin Worth Visiting for a Weekend Break?

What makes Turin different from other Italian cities?

Turin feels noticeably different from many of Italy’s more famous destinations.

Unlike Rome, it doesn’t feel chaotic. Unlike Venice, it doesn’t feel overwhelmed by tourism (and the smell!). Unlike Milan, it feels much less rushed and commercial.

Instead, Turin has a quiet elegance to it.

The city is filled with grand piazzas, historic arcades, beautiful cafés and long covered porticos that make wandering around feel incredibly cinematic.

One minute you’re having lunch in a historic café and the next you’re looking at the Alps between the streets.

It feels sophisticated without trying too hard.

One of my favourite things about Turin was how local it still felt. We spent most of our trip surrounded by Italians rather than huge crowds of tourists and it gave the city a much more authentic atmosphere than I expected.

Two older men walk side by side beneath a long arcade lined with cream colored stone columns and vaulted ceilings. Sunlight filters into the covered walkway as café tables and people appear in the distance.

Is a weekend in Turin enough?

For a first visit, I actually think a long weekend in Turin is the perfect amount of time.

Two nights in the city gave us enough time to:

explore the historic centre
visit several major attractions
spend far too much money on coffee and aperitivo
walk along the River Po
hike up to viewpoints like Monte dei Cappuccini
wander without a strict itinerary

Turin is walkable in many areas, but it’s also deceptively spread out once you start adding places like Basilica di Superga or Lingotto into your plans.

If you enjoy slower travel, museums or day trips around Piedmont, you could easily stay longer. But for most people looking for an Italian city break, a long weekend in Turin works really well.

We stayed at Hotel NH Torino Centro which worked really well as a base for exploring the city, especially for a short weekend break.

What I loved most about Turin

The café culture

Turin takes coffee seriously and honestly, I loved that.

Some of my favourite moments from the trip involved sitting in historic cafés watching life unfold around us.

Italians treat coffee very differently from the UK. Many people quickly drink their espresso standing at the bar before carrying on with their day and there’s something I weirdly loved about that rhythm.

Caffè Torino and Caffè San Carlo ended up being two of my favourite spots in the city, both for the atmosphere and the people-watching.

Espresso and layered coffee drinks sit on a small round café table under an arched portico overlooking a busy Italian piazza. Sunlight pours into the open arcade while people relax at nearby outdoor tables.

Aperitivo culture

If you enjoy aperitivo culture, Turin is an excellent city for it.

Turin is often considered the birthplace of aperitivo and after visiting, I completely understand why. There’s something incredibly enjoyable about sitting outside with an Aperol spritz while small plates or a charcuterie board arrive at the table and the city slowly comes alive in the evening.

I’m partial to an Aperol Spritz all year round, but I am not exaggerating when I say that Aperol tastes so much better in Italy. It’s perfection every single time.

It quickly became one of my favourite parts of the trip.

Nishi seated at a small round table near a tall window holding a bright orange cocktail inside an elegant lounge with gold trim and velvet chairs. Plates of snacks and a second cocktail sit on the table as daylight shines through the window behind her.

Honestly, it also saved us a few times when we forgot that many Italian restaurants close in the afternoon before reopening later for dinner. Turin is definitely a city where you need to adjust to Italian eating hours.

The atmosphere

This is probably the hardest thing to explain, but Turin just felt good to wander around.

The elegant architecture, covered arcades, talented street musicians in Piazza San Carlo and Alpine backdrop created an atmosphere that felt far more memorable than I expected.

Monte dei Cappuccini ended up being one of my favourite experiences during the trip. After accidentally taking a much steeper route than intended and arriving sweaty while locals casually strolled past us looking entirely unbothered, the panoramic view over Turin made the climb completely worth it.

Wide panoramic view across Turin with the Mole Antonelliana rising above rows of terracotta rooftops beneath layered grey clouds. Green trees in the foreground frame the historic city skyline and distant mountains.

The lack of English menus and tourist-focused restaurants somehow made Turin feel even more unapologetically Italian.

The fact it still feels underrated

One of the best things about Turin is that it still feels slightly overlooked compared to other Italian cities.

That means:

fewer crowds
shorter queues
less tourist overwhelm
more local atmosphere

Even popular places like Piazza San Carlo still felt relaxed compared to tourist hotspots elsewhere in Italy.

Equestrian statue standing in the centre of the grand Piazza San Carlo Turin square surrounded by ornate cream coloured buildings beneath a vivid blue sky. Bright sunlight highlights the historic architecture and sculpture details.

Is Turin better than Rome?

Honestly, Turin and Rome feel completely different and which one you prefer probably comes down to the kind of trip you want.

Rome is iconic for a reason. You’ve got world-famous landmarks, ancient ruins around every corner and that loud, chaotic energy that makes the city feel exciting. But it can also feel overwhelming, especially during peak season when everywhere seems packed.

I actually shared more of my honest thoughts and practical advice in my Rome travel tips guide, especially if it’s your first time visiting the city.

But honestly, Rome wasn’t for me.

Turin felt calmer, more elegant and far less hectic.

Instead of huge crowds and packed tourist attractions, Turin is more about atmosphere. Think historic cafés, grand piazzas, aperitivo bars, beautiful arcades and long walks beneath the porticos with an espresso in hand. It felt far more local than I expected.

It honestly reminded me of Florence over 20 years ago, before so many Italian cities became overwhelmed by tourism.

If you’re looking for:

bucket-list landmarks
ancient history
famous attractions
nonstop sightseeing

Rome will probably win.

But if you prefer:

slower city breaks
café culture
elegant architecture
fewer crowds
aperitivo
wandering without strict plans

Turin might surprise you in the best possible way.

Turin felt significantly less exhausting and far more relaxing for a weekend city break.

Evening view of Turin’s illuminated arcades with glowing yellow lights reflecting against long rows of stone columns. A man wearing a backpack stands in the center of the wide pedestrian walkway under a deep blue twilight sky.

Things to know before visiting Turin

A few things surprised me during the trip:

Restaurants open late

Like much of Italy, many restaurants close between lunch and dinner service, often reopening around 7pm or later.

Dinner is eaten much later than in the UK, with many restaurants staying busy well into the evening.

If you try getting dinner at 5pm, you will struggle.

Book major attractions in advance

We made the mistake of assuming we could just turn up at Mole Antonelliana and buy tickets for the panoramic lift. There was no availability for three days.

Lesson learned.

You might want to purchase a Torino + Piemonte Card

If you’re planning to visit several museums or royal residences, the Torino + Piemonte Card may actually save you money.

Turin is very walkable

We walked almost everywhere and ended up doing huge step counts every day without even realising.

Comfortable shoes are absolutely essential.

There were occasions when we had to take buses and trains, but public transport in Turin is very easy to use and affordable.

Turin feels more lived-in than touristy

This ended up being one of my favourite things about the city.

It felt like a place Italians actually live in rather than somewhere designed entirely around tourism.

Man in a navy blazer walking down a narrow historic street in Turin lined with elegant cream coloured buildings and wrought iron balconies. Afternoon sunlight brightens the cobblestone road and parked cars along the street.

What some people might not like about Turin

As much as I loved Turin, I can also see why it won’t appeal to everyone.

If you’re looking for huge bucket-list attractions or a city packed with nonstop sightseeing, Turin may feel slightly understated compared to somewhere like Rome. It’s less chaotic, less tourist-focused and definitely slower paced.

There’s also far less English spoken than in some of Italy’s more popular cities, which honestly added to the charm for me, but could feel intimidating for some travellers.

And while I personally loved the calmer atmosphere, people wanting big nightlife, luxury shopping or iconic landmarks around every corner may prefer Milan or Rome instead.

Turin feels more about atmosphere, cafés, aperitivo and wandering than rushing between famous attractions and that’s exactly why I ended up loving it.

Nishi stands in the center of a bright covered shopping gallery with black and white marble floors and curved glass ceilings overhead. Crowds walk through the elegant arcade lined with luxury storefronts and hanging lanterns.

So, is Turin worth visiting?

Absolutely.

Turin ended up being one of the most pleasantly surprising city breaks I’ve taken in Italy.

I lived in Florence over 20 years ago and travelled around parts of Italy while I was there. Over the years, I’ve honestly become more reluctant to visit some of the country’s most popular cities because overtourism has changed them so much.

Places that once felt deeply local and full of character can now feel crowded and heavily geared towards tourists, especially during peak season.

That’s partly why Turin surprised me so much. It still felt unapologetically Italian in a way that’s becoming harder to find in some of the country’s more famous destinations.

Turin has the elegance and beauty you expect from northern Italy, but with a calmer, more authentic atmosphere that makes it feel genuinely refreshing.

Between the grand piazzas, endless porticos, coffee culture, aperitivo bars and Alpine views, Turin slowly wins you over the longer you spend there.

If you love atmospheric cities, excellent food, beautiful architecture and wandering without a rigid plan, Turin is absolutely worth visiting.

If you do decide to visit, I’ve also shared my favourite things to do in Turin after spending a weekend exploring the city.

How to Spend the Perfect 3 Days in Turin 🇮🇹 Is this Italy’s Most Underrated City?

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