Turin city guide

Ever since Rai announced that Turin will be hosting Eurovision 2022, Eurofans from all over the world have begun to organise their trip to this beautiful Italian city.

Even if Turin is not as famous as Rome or Milan, we can assure you that it is just as fascinating!

Turin, located in the Piedmont region, was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. Whether or not you’ll be there next May, it’s always interesting to delve into the history and culture of Eurovision host cities across Europe.

In this guide we will tell you how to best experience Turin during the Eurovision week, how to get to the city, which places to visit and – above all – what to eat to power you through all the Eurovision events!

How to get to Turin

First of all, how do you get there?

The EBU has very strict requirements when it comes to connections and logistics, so Turin (just like every Eurovision host city) is well connected to the rest of Europe.

Here are the three main ways to get to the city:

  • By plane: Turin has its own international airport, called “Caselle” (official name: Aeroporto Internazionale Sandro Pertini), with daily flights departing to and from major Italian and European cities. From the airport, you can reach the city centre either by train (A line of the subway system) or by bus (departing every 15/30 minutes and stopping at the main railway stations in the city). Can’t find a direct flight to Turin? You can land in Milan: there are plenty of shuttles and trains going to Turin – and the trip usually doesn’t take more than one hour.
  • By train: Turin is a major railway hub, connected to most Italian cities as well as part of Europe through the Lyon-Paris route. There are two international stations in the city, Porta Nuova and Porta Susa, both quite close to the city centre.
  • By car: It’s very easy to reach Turin by car, since it’s connected to five major motorways (listed below). Just keep in mind that motorway tolls can get quite expensive in Italy, and it won’t be easy to find a parking spot in the city during the Eurovision week.
    • A4 Trieste-Venezia-Milano-Torino
    • T1/T2-A5 Tunnel Monte Bianco-Aosta-Torino 
    • A6 Savona-Torino
    • A21 Piacenza-Torino
    • T4-A32 Tunnel Fréjus-Torino

More information about getting to Turin is available on the city’s official website.

Turin, Italy

Best areas to stay

As soon as Rai announced that Turin would host Eurovision in 2022, hotel rates in the city skyrocketed – there was even some turmoil in the Italian press, with a lot of people complaining about the ridiculous rates of hotels and guest houses, and demanding that Rai and the city council do something about it.

While we can’t recommend specific hotels, we can give you some advice on the best areas to stay and the ones to avoid.

Like any big city, Turin is divided into several districts.

Turin districts
Turin districts

 

The general rule is to stay in the area south of Corso Regina Margherita, one of the main road arteries of the city covering the districts of Vanchiglia, Borgo Dora, Aurora, San Donato, Campidoglio and Borgata Frassati.

Avoid Via San Donato and the part of Via Nizza that ranges from Porta Nuova to Corso Marconi, as they are not the safest areas especially for tourists.

Here are the best districts to stay, in terms of services, safety and connections, according to locals: 

  • Crocetta
  • Pozzo Strada
  • Cenisia
  • Borgo Rossini

Getting around

Turin is served by buses, trams and a metro system (the first automated one in Italy!) with rides from early morning to late evening. You won’t have any issues getting around.

Tickets can be purchased from GTT authorised resellers and you can use the journey planner on GTT’s website to consult the time plan.

If you fancy cycling around the city, the [TO] Bike bike sharing service is active 24/7, with over 100 points in the city. You can easily subscribe online.

Electric scooters and segways can also freely circulate in the city. There are 8 private companies that allow you to rent electric scooters in different areas of the city. Just find a vehicle and use the QR code to pay for your ride.

 
 
 
 
 
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Pala Alpitour

Pala Alpitour is the designated venue for Eurovision 2022. With a total area of 34000 m², it is one of the largest indoor arenas in Italy, located about 4 km from the city in the heart of the Santa Rita district, right next to the Olympic Stadium.

While you can’t get there with the metro line, there are plenty of buses and trams departing from the city centre:

From the railway stations

  • Porta Nuova: tram line 4
  • Porta Susa: tram line 10
  • Lingotto: bus lines 14, 63

From the city centre 

  • Metro + tram line 4 (Porta Nuova) or tram line 10 (Vinzaglio)
  • Lines 4, 10, 17, 63
  • Only on weekends after 0.30: Blue line 4

From the airport

There is a bus service connecting Turin Caselle airport with the city, running every day from 6am to 12am. The route takes about 45 minutes and costs 6.50 euros. To reach Pala Alpitour, you can get off at either Porta Nuova station or Porta Susa station, and take line 4.

Getting back to the city during weekdays might require you to take a cab, since GTT (the local transportation provider) stops their rides around midnight – but the city will most likely extend its bus schedule to cover for Eurovision events, so make sure to visit the official website to keep up to date with schedule changes. 

 
 
 
 
 
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Sightseeing

Eurovision week is always a busy time, we know. But in between rehearsals and events, you can definitely take a day off and visit the city. The good news is that Turin (at least the city centre) can be easily toured in one day

If you have little time available and want to take the opportunity to see the most interesting attractions the first Italian capital has to offer, here is a list of the main points of interest.

Duomo di Torino

The Cathedral of Turin (Duomo di Torino), also known as Basilica of San Giovanni Battista, is the only example of Renaissance architecture left in the city. It is famous all over the world for housing the relic of the Holy Shroud

According to the Christian tradition, the Holy Shroud is the linen sheet used to wrap the body of Jesus in the sepulchre. Today it is visible in a dedicated chapel inside the Cathedral – next to many more chapels worthy of being admired.

 
 
 
 
 
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Piazza Castello and the Royal Palace

A few steps from the Cathedral you will find Piazza Reale, where you can admire one of the most important buildings of Turin in all its magnificence: the Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale).

The ancient residence of the Savoy dynasty stands out with its skilful mixture of several different architectural styles, and is definitely worth a visit. The Palace is open to the public every day from 8.30 to 19.30 and the entrance ticket costs ten euros.

 
 
 
 
 
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Egyptian Museum

From Piazza Castello you can walk through Accademia delle Scienze street, which will lead you straight to the Egyptian Museum, the second biggest Egyptian exhibition in the world after the one in Cairo.

The 10,000 square meters of exhibitions and 3,300 archaeological finds of inestimable importance will leave you mesmerised. The Egyptian Museum is a must-visit if you are passionate about ancient Egypt.

 
 
 
 
 
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Mole Antonelliana

The last leg of our tour through the centre of Turin leads to the very symbol of the city: Mole Antonelliana.

From the Egyptian Museum you can reach this monument with a ten-minute walk. Take Principe Amedeo street, then turn left onto San Massimo street. You will have no difficulty in finding the “Mole”: just look up and you’ll be able to admire this magnificent piece of architecture.

You can take the elevator to enjoy a 360° view of the city from above, and pay a visit to the National Museum of Cinema located inside the building.

If you have the time, we suggest you enjoy both the view and the museum – they are well worth the price of the ticket (14 euros).

 
 
 
 
 
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Bonus trip: Reggia di Venaria

Have a little more time to spare? Then you can’t miss one of the greatest examples of eighteenth-century architecture, the Reggia di Venaria, or Venaria Reale.

It is a large complex of buildings designed by the architect Amedeo di Castellamonte on commission of the Duke Carlo Emanuele II, who intended to make it a base for his hunting trips: the very choice of the building site was favoured by the proximity of a large forest, still present to this day.

Venaria Reale is a masterpiece of architecture and landscape, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. Plus, its garden was elected the most beautiful public park in Italy in 2019.

Venaria Reale is about ten kilometres from the city of Turin. You can easily reach it by car, train, bus, taxi or bike. There is a convenient shuttle (Venaria Express) departing from the city centre.

 
 
 
 
 
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Food scene

When in Italy you can’t really go wrong with food, but keep in mind that every Italian region has its own specialties, so you may want to ditch pizza for a day or two and taste some local delicacies instead. 

The typical dishes of Turin (and Piedmont in general) are quite elaborate. This is due to the fact that the humble peasant tradition was enriched with noble flavours and ingredients when the royal family of Savoy (Savoia) settled in the city.

Among these refined ingredients, the most used are chocolate, hazelnuts, truffles and meat. Fassone meat in particular (an exceptionally lean type of beef) is the protagonist of the local cuisine.

Here are some typical Turin dishes that we recommend you try.

Agnolotti

The famous Piedmontese agnolotti, square-shaped pasta stuffed with roast meat, are a tasty and rich first course, and certainly a must-have in Turin.

A curiosity about agnolotti is that leftovers of roast (chopped and mixed with other ingredients) are often used for the filling, so there is actually no strict recipe behind it. 

In the past, whatever was available in the kitchen was used, and the modern agnolotti preserve this peasant tradition. 

 
 
 
 
 
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Vitello tonnato

Otherwise known as vitel tonnè, vitello tonnato is a very delicate dish, served cold and particularly suited for spring and summer when temperatures rise. 

It’s made with a special cut of fassone meat marinated in white wine and herbs, then boiled and cut into thin slices.

The slices are covered with a particular tuna sauce (made from mayonnaise, capers, tuna and other spices).

It is truly a tasty appetiser, despite being often offered as a main course. 

 
 
 
 
 
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Bagna cauda

Bagna Cauda is a typical dish of Turin that is eaten mainly in autumn and winter.

The taste is very particular, not everyone likes it, but it is without a doubt the dish that best represents Piedmontese cuisine. Bagna Cauda is a sauce made with garlic, oil and anchovies, involving a long preparation.

In ancient times it was served to reward the harvesters for their hard work. 

Generally it goes well with various types of seasonal vegetables, accompanied by a full-bodied red wine such as a Barbera or Nebbiolo.

 
 
 
 
 
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Gianduiotto

The unmistakable Gianduiotto is the dessert in Piedmont.

It is a gianduia-based chocolate in the shape of an overturned boat, usually wrapped in elegant gilded paper – you can basically find it in every bar or supermarket.

Gianduiotto is obtained by mixing cocoa and sugar with the famous Piedmont round hazelnut, PGI variety, renowned for its high quality.

 
 
 
 
 
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Bicerin

Bicerin is a historic drink consisting of coffee, chocolate and milk cream, served in most coffee shops in Turin.

It is said that Pablo Picasso, Alexandre Dumas, Ernest Hemingway and Umberto Eco were all great admirers of Bicerin!

There are many variations of Bicerin, but tradition has it that it must be heated and served with coffee and cream.

 
 
 
 
 
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Are you going to Turin for Eurovision 2022? Which of the highlights above are you hoping to see (or eat). Let us know in the comments!

15 Comments
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Jete Lee
1 year ago

Amazing and Beautifull city

esc_fl
esc_fl
1 year ago

I’ve always wanted to see the Shroud of Turin! The city is really beautiful; hopefully I’ll get a chance to visit soon. Feeling a bit jealous of the ones who are travelling there for ESC 😉

Seimí
Seimí
1 year ago
Reply to  esc_fl

Except the shroud is not authentic, it’s a medieval forgery.

I wouldn’t get too jealous about not getting to Turin, I’ve been there a couple of times and in my opinion it’s the dullest of all Italy’s larger cities, lots of smaller Italian towns and cities have much more going for them, even Milan which get’s criticised for being too industrial and money driven has is far more interesting.

euroboy
euroboy
1 year ago

Thank you so much. It is so helpful as it will be my first visit to Turin and the first Eurovision trip ever.

Vale
Vale
1 year ago

News about Italy Eurovision entry: N*sty Eurovision fans hating Italy reported en masse ‘Brividi’ official video on Mahmood’s channel and the video is not no longer available on Youtube!
They were not happy just to slander Mahmood or Maneskin.
Italy was right to leave Eurovision for almost two decades.

Jack
Jack
1 year ago
Reply to  Vale

This isn’t even remotely true.

Vale
Vale
1 year ago
Reply to  Jack

It is true. The video is not available since yesterday, because multiple accounts reported it for copyright infringement. Also in the last couple of weeks there is an online intense hating campaign on Mahmood and his song made by some toxic Eurovision fans.

Vincenzo
Vincenzo
1 year ago
Reply to  Vale

I start to be pissed off about such Eurovision fans who, as they are not able to win, they are poisoning the other singers and other nations. There are some crazy fans also here. I guess somebody should take some actions because it’s too late.

Vincenzo
Vincenzo
1 year ago
Reply to  Vale

Video has been restored by all the tens of thousands of comments are lost.

Andy
Andy
1 year ago

I’ve been 9 of all time Eurovision host cities , including Torino. I loved my time there escpecially Palazzo Reale.
My Top4 favourite Eurovision host cities that i visited are :
1.Lisbon
2.Torino
3.Istanbul

Dawid
Dawid
1 year ago

That’s a lot of information. Meaning lots of time spend on research. You should give Susanna more credit for that one

Polegend Godnova
1 year ago

i visited the egyptian museum when i was little, i have fond memories of it. it’s a mazy collection, always full of surprises. i also recommend seeing the superga basilica right outside of turin which can be reached easily by train.

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
1 year ago

I would like to see a Eurobeat act during the interval. The north of Italy nearby has a lot of Eurobeat artists who originate from there.

Jejakterkini
1 year ago

Wow, Turin is such a beautiful city, I hope one day I can go there.

CatcoolH
CatcoolH
1 year ago

I’ve been to Turin once, and I really recommend the bicerin!