Explore Turin: A Guide to Budget-Friendly Attractions
As with every major Italian city, elegant Turin has its fair share of world-class museums and art galleries commanding an admission fee. However, for budget travelers, the wide porticoed streets and grandiose squares of Piedmont’s understated capital make an ideal starting point. Turin’s ornate baroque architecture provides a stunning backdrop to soak up Italian elegance without spending a cent. Moreover, getting to know a local on a free walking tour could enhance your visit.
Free and Discounted Museum Access
Many museums, including the blockbuster Museo Egizio, offer free entry to kids under five, visitors on their birthday (bring ID), and every woman on International Women’s Day (8 March). Alternatively, consider investing in a Torino+Piemonte Card (€29 for 24 hours) to unlock the city’s unmatched treasure trove of UNESCO-listed Savoy palaces and numerous other attractions for free.
Get Around on Foot or by Low-Impact Tram
Turin is relatively compact and more affordable compared to other heavily visited Italian cities like Rome and Florence. It costs nothing to explore downtown Turin on foot, rewarding you with breathtaking views of the surrounding Alps at every turn. Alternatively, for just €4, enjoy unlimited travel by tram all day with a one-day public transport ticket.
Don’t miss the revival of historic tram line 7, which offers an environmentally friendly form of public transport, taking visitors on a circular tour of Turin’s main squares and avenues in vintage tram wagons from the 1930s and 50s.
Poke Around an Icon of Early 20th-Century Architecture
No single building is more evocative of Turin’s Herculean industrial heritage than the landmark Fiat factory in Lingotto. This 1923 car factory closed in 1982 and was later transformed by architect Renzo Piano into a shopping mall, congress center, and exhibition hall. Allow ample time for browsing and taking in the grandeur of this five-story building.
Visit the rooftop, featuring a test track from the 1920s now utilized for new generations of e-Fiat 500s, along with an urban garden designed for yoga and meditation. Access to the rooftop is available through the ticketed Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli. Guests at the DoubleTree by Hilton Turin Lingotto hotel can enjoy free entry.
Time Travel on Piazza Castello
Amble around regal Piazza Castello, the city’s most elegant square, framed by the 17th-century Palazzo Reale and Palazzo Madama. Contemplate the dual-faceted façade as you journey through time, from the 16th century when the palace was owned by the powerful Medici family to 1871 when it became the first seat of the Italian Senate post-unification.
Plog and Play Green at Eataly
Piedmont is home to the global Slow Food movement, and its capital hosts the Eataly mothership— a vast space celebrating regional food, wine, and culinary culture. While themed dinners, masterclasses, and cooking workshops generally involve a fee, the food hall also features numerous free tastings and educational events. Enjoy plogging in the Lingotto neighborhood, which combines jogging with picking up litter, along with various family-friendly workshops.
Weekend with Locals in Parco Valentino
The passeggiata (afternoon stroll) remains a treasured tradition in Turin. At weekends, families flock to the beautiful grounds of 19th-century Parco Valentino to enjoy the riverside, explore botanical gardens, and capture photos in front of the mock chateau Castello del Valentino. The park comes alive with joggers and couples enjoying dusk together. Don’t forget to explore the Borgo Medievale, a replica 15th-century village, complete with a fortress and picturesque gardens.
Get Lost in the Roman Quarter
Venture into the heart of the ancient Roman-era Augusta Taurinorum in the Quadrilatero Romano neighborhood. This historic area features tiny cobblestoned streets and charming squares that echo the city’s storied past. Observe remnants of the Roman city walls and Porta Palatina, the well-preserved gateway from the 1st century BCE. Although little remains of the Roman Amphitheatre, don’t miss the Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista, housing the famous Holy Shroud of Turin.
Promenade Like Royalty in the Giardino Reale
While the Palazzo Reale is ticketed, its manicured gardens, Giardino Reale, are free to explore, providing a tranquil escape from Turin’s bustling streets. The lush trees frame the Mole Antonelliana, a striking 167m-high tower originally built as a synagogue, which serves as a contemporary emblem of Turin.
Window Shop in All Weathers
Window-shopping in Turin is particularly delightful, thanks to the covered porticoes built for the Savoy dynasty in the 1600s. These charming arcades provide safe, dry passage through various parts of the city, including Via Pietro Micca, Via Roma, and Via Po, making them perfect for browsing local boutiques and delightful cafés.
Get High – on the Natural and Sacred
The hills encircling Turin, including the picturesque Colline Torinesi, boast spectacular views. The emblematic Basilica di Superga can be seen from various spots around the city, and while there is a small fee to enter, exploring the expansive grounds allows for a scenic stroll filled with breathtaking vistas.
Quench Your Thirst at Toretti and Stamp for Good Luck
Bring your own water bottle to utilize one of Turin’s water fountains, topped with a bull’s head— a symbol of the city. Be sure to visit Piazza San Carlo, where rubbing your foot across the brass bull embedded in the pavement is believed to bring good luck.
Lap Up Local Life at the Market
An ideal way to engage with local culture, exploring Turin’s famous Porta Palazzo market—the largest outdoor market in Europe— offers a glimpse into the region’s fresh produce and culinary delights. This bustling hub is an opportunity to meet local producers, farmers, and artisans.
Equally exciting is the Gran Balon, an antique and flea market held on the second Sunday of each month. Set against the stunning backdrop of vintage treasures, this vibrant market is a gathering place for bargain hunters and enthusiasts of unique finds.
Hike Along the Po River or Up a Hill
Experience the beauty of the Po River, which flows through Turin. A scenic footpath running alongside the river from the Regina Margherita bridge leads to Parco Valentino, offering stunning views along the way. Additionally, hiking in the Colline Torinesi presents opportunities to traverse forested hills, vibrant meadows, and vineyards while sampling exquisite local wine.
