Turin is Italy’s most underrated great city – Baroque royal palaces, the finest Egyptian collection outside Cairo, the birthplace of Gianduia chocolate, and colonnaded arcades that let you walk the entire historic centre without an umbrella. Two days is enough to see the Royal Palace, the Egyptian Museum, the Mole Antonelliana, and still leave time for a bicerin in a 19th-century café.
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⚡ Before You Go
- Book the Royal Palace and Egyptian Museum skip-the-line tickets in advance – both sell out on weekends and in summer.
- The Torino+Piemonte Card covers the Royal Palace, Egyptian Museum, Mole Antonelliana, and unlimited public transport – excellent value for two days.
- Base yourself near Piazza Castello or Piazza San Carlo – almost everything on this itinerary is within a 20-minute walk.
- The Shroud itself is almost never on public display – don’t plan your trip around seeing it, the Chapel and Museum of the Holy Shroud are the year-round experience.
🏨 Where to Stay for This Itinerary
All three picks below are within a 10-minute walk of Piazza Castello, so this itinerary works whichever budget you land on. For the full breakdown of Turin’s best hotels by category, see our Full Turin Hotel Guide.
- Splurge: Hotel Turin Palace – Art Deco elegance directly across from Porta Nuova station, a 3-minute walk from Via Roma.
- Boutique: Opera 35 Boutique Hotel – individually designed rooms with an on-site art gallery, near Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
- Budget: Le Petit Hotel – genuinely central, a short walk from Piazza Castello and the Royal Theatre.
🗓️ Day 1: Royal Palaces, the Shroud & the Egyptian Museum
- Morning: Start at Piazza Castello and take the skip-the-line guided tour of the Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) – the Savoy dynasty’s principal residence, with its gilded Mirror Room and Royal Armory.
- Midday: Walk next door to Turin Cathedral and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, then visit the Museum of the Holy Shroud a short walk away for the scientific story behind the relic.
- Afternoon: Head to the Egyptian Museum – the finest Egyptian collection outside Cairo – and budget a full 2–3 hours for the seven floors of statues, mummies, and papyri.
- Evening: Aperitivo in Piazza San Carlo, then a bicerin (Turin’s layered espresso, chocolate, and cream drink) at one of the square’s historic cafés.
💡 Insider Tip: Caffè Al Bicerin near the Sanctuary of the Consolata is the original home of the bicerin and worth the 10-minute detour from Piazza Castello – order it alongside an assortment of gianduiotti chocolates.
🎟️ Book the Royal Palace & Shroud Chapel Guided Tour via Viator
🗓️ Day 2: The Mole, Chocolate & Underground Turin
- Morning: Ride the panoramic glass lift up the Mole Antonelliana and explore the National Museum of Cinema inside – one of the most original film museums in the world.
- Midday: Descend into Torino Sotterranea, the guided tour of the city’s underground tunnels, ice depots, and WWII air-raid shelter.
- Afternoon: A guided Gianduia chocolate tasting at one of Turin’s historic chocolatiers – the city invented the gianduiotto, the ancestor of Nutella.
- Evening: Aperitivo and dinner in the Quadrilatero Romano, Turin’s atmospheric grid of Roman-era streets now packed with bars and restaurants – or book the Torino Magica evening tour for a different angle on the city after dark.
💡 Insider Tip: Guido Gobino on Via Lagrange is considered by many the finest chocolate shop in Italy – their small hand-made “tourinot” gianduiotti are made on the premises.
🎟️ Book the Torino Sotterranea® Underground Tour via Viator
🚫 What to Skip
- Planning your trip around seeing the Shroud itself – it’s almost never on public display; the Chapel and Museum are the actual year-round experience.
- A Barolo & Barbaresco day trip in just two days – the Langhe wine region deserves its own half or full day; save it for a third day or a return visit.
- Walking to the Egyptian Museum without a pre-booked timed entry slot – queues build fast on weekends and in summer.
- Rushing the Egyptian Museum – it’s one of the largest Egyptology collections in the world; budget the full 2–3 hours rather than treating it as a quick stop.
🧳 Making the Most of 2 Days
- Traveling with kids: The National Museum of Cinema inside the Mole Antonelliana and Torino Sotterranea’s underground tunnels are both genuinely engaging for older children.
- Not into museums: Swap the Egyptian Museum for a Gourmet Food Tour and more time wandering the arcaded streets and Piazza San Carlo’s cafés.
- Want more time: Add a third day for a Barolo & Barbaresco winery day trip into the Langhe hills, about 65km south of the city.
- Visiting October–November: Build in time for the Alba white truffle fair and the Cioccolatò chocolate festival in Piazza San Carlo – both fall in this window.
Plan the Rest of Your Turin Trip
Where to stay, when to go, and what else to see.
This post contains affiliate links. The Wandering Adventurer may earn a small commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.
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