Turin surprises those who discover it for the first time: Italy’s first capital, elegant and orderly, with forty kilometres of arcades to walk under sheltered from the weather, baroque squares, historic cafés where vermouth and the aperitivo tradition were born, and some of Europe’s most important museums. It’s a city that’s wonderful to explore on foot, with the Alps appearing at the end of the avenues on clear days. Here you’ll find where to stay best, with the small addresses we choose one by one, never by hearsay.
Capital of the House of Savoy before it was capital of Italy, Turin keeps an extraordinary royal heritage: the Royal Palace and the Savoy Residences — from the Palace of Venaria to the Palazzina di Stupinigi, just outside the city — are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s also the city of chocolate, home of the gianduiotto and the bicerin, the hot drink of coffee, chocolate and cream enjoyed in the old cafés; and the city of cinema, with the Mole as its symbol. All of this is best experienced by choosing well where to sleep.
It’s also a fast-growing destination: in recent years tourist arrivals have set new records, thanks to the big events and an ever more lively cultural scene. This means two things: the city is better equipped than ever to welcome visitors, but on the weekends of the headline events it’s worth moving early. So let’s look at the best neighbourhoods to stay in, each with its own character, to choose the right base for what you’re after.
The centre and the Quadrilatero Romano
The centre is the natural choice for a first time in Turin: here everything is on foot. From Piazza Castello, the city’s drawing room, you reach in a few minutes the Royal Palace with the Royal Museums, Palazzo Madama and the Mole Antonelliana, the city’s symbol, which houses the National Cinema Museum and offers from above, with its panoramic lift, a view as far as the Alps. A little further on is the Egyptian Museum, the oldest museum in the world devoted to ancient Egypt: in 2024 it celebrated its bicentenary with the spectacular new Gallery of the Kings and, in 2025, the new Egyptian Square, confirming its place among the most visited cultural sites in Italy.
From here Via Roma runs with its arcades and boutiques, linking Piazza Castello to the scenic Piazza San Carlo — the “drawing room of Turin” — and to Porta Nuova station. Right under these arcades open the 19th-century historic cafés, with their interiors of mirrors and wood, where you can stop for a bicerin or taste the chocolates that made the city famous. A stone’s throw away, the Quadrilatero Romano, the city’s oldest core, is today the heart of the nightlife: a tangle of cobbled streets full of wine bars, bistros and venues, perfect for the aperitivo and the evening. Beside it, the great Porta Palazzo market, among the largest in Europe, brings colours and scents every morning. Staying in this area means living Turin at its best, when evening falls and the arcades light up. The addresses we choose in the heart of the city:
Nel cuore del Centro Storico
A guest house right in the old town, a short walk from Palazzo Madama and Piazza Castello, with air-conditioned rooms and free WiFi. The location is unbeatable: museums, arcades and cafés all on foot the moment you step out. Pets welcome too. Ideal for those who want to experience Turin at its heart, never needing to take transport.
Q71 Timeless Suites
Air-conditioned suites with a private kitchen overlooking Piazza Castello directly: you wake up with the view over the city’s drawing room and the museums at minimum distance. The independence of an apartment with the location of a luxury hotel. Perfect for couples and families who want the absolute centre and their own space.
San Carlo Suite Torino
Air-conditioned apartments with a kitchen a few steps from Piazza San Carlo, in the most scenic spot of the centre, between arcades and historic cafés. The convenience of a real home in the heart of the shopping and city life, with Porta Nuova a short distance away. Great for longer stays and for those who love getting around on foot.
Q suites urban relais
An elegant guest house in the Quadrilatero Romano, with air-conditioned, soundproofed rooms a short walk from Porta Susa. You sleep in the liveliest nightlife district, with wine bars and bistros on the doorstep, yet sheltered from the noise. Perfect for those who want the aperitivo and the evening within walking distance.
All the small hotels in Turin →
San Salvario: nightlife and the Parco del Valentino
Just south of Porta Nuova, San Salvario is the city’s liveliest, most multicultural district: quiet and residential by day, in the evening it lights up with bars, ethnic restaurants and venues, and it’s one of the hearts of Turin nightlife. Its great advantage is the Parco del Valentino, the green lung on the Po with its charming Medieval Village, perfect for a stroll or a run along the river. It’s the ideal area for the young, for those who love the evening, and for those who want to be very close to the station while staying in an authentic neighbourhood.
TOHOUSE Rooms
An air-conditioned bed and breakfast in the heart of San Salvario, a short walk from the Parco del Valentino and the Marconi metro. The location combines the green of the river with the life of the district, with Porta Nuova station a short walk away. Ideal for those who want to move quickly and experience the youngest side of Turin.
B&B Casa Nizza
A snug bed and breakfast a stone’s throw from the Nizza metro, with air-conditioned rooms and an Italian buffet breakfast. The line 1 on the doorstep lets you reach the centre and Lingotto in a few minutes. Small and well-kept, with a genuine welcome. Great for a first visit and for those getting around by public transport.
Crocetta: elegance and convenience
Crocetta is Turin’s genteel, elegant district: tree-lined avenues, Liberty-style buildings, refined shops and the famous Crocetta market, among the chicest in the city. It’s next to Porta Nuova station and the Politecnico, superbly served by trams, and lets you reach the centre on a walk. It’s the choice for those who want quiet and refinement without giving up good connections, ideal for those arriving by train or travelling for work.
Turin Palace Hotel
An elegant four-star right opposite Porta Nuova, with soundproofed, well-designed rooms and an in-house restaurant. The convenience of stepping off the train and already being at your hotel, with the centre a short walk away. The services and style of a grand historic hotel. Ideal for those arriving by train and for a refined stay.
TURINHOMETOWN Residence Apartments
Air-conditioned apartments with a full kitchen in the heart of Crocetta, with the tram right outside the door and quick links to the centre and the station. The independence and space of a home in a genteel, quiet district. Perfect for families and longer stays, with everything within reach.
Lingotto: fairs, museums and concerts
South of the city, Lingotto is one of the symbols of modern Turin: the historic Fiat factory, transformed into a large complex with a shopping centre, cinema, the original Eataly and exhibition spaces. On its roof there’s still the legendary car test track, now overlooking the Pinacoteca Agnelli, while the halls of Lingotto Fiere and the Oval host the big events: in May the International Book Fair, one of the most important cultural events in Italy, fills the pavilions and the city. It’s the ideal base for those coming for a fair, a congress or a concert, conveniently linked to the centre by metro line 1.
Bacio di Dama Lingotto
A well-kept guest house in the Lingotto area, handy for the fairs, congresses and concerts, with metro line 1 taking you to the centre in a few minutes. The right spot for those coming to Turin for an event and wanting to be a stone’s throw from the pavilions. Simple, cordial hospitality, great for short trips for work or leisure.
Vanchiglia and Borgo Po: young and by the river
Between the centre and the river, Vanchiglia is Turin’s youngest, most bohemian district: a university area, full of cafés, bookshops and venues, with the Mole Antonelliana rising a stone’s throw away. Across the Po, Borgo Po climbs towards the hill up to the Gran Madre di Dio, the neoclassical church facing the city, and the Monte dei Cappuccini, one of the finest viewpoints over Turin and the Alps. They’re the ideal areas for those after a lively, creative atmosphere, or the green quiet of the hill while staying close to the centre.
I Reali Bed & Breakfast
A refined bed and breakfast a stone’s throw from the Mole Antonelliana, with air-conditioned rooms and panoramic balconies over the city’s rooftops. The location combines the charm of the centre with the buzz of Vanchiglia, among cafés and student venues. Well-kept and welcoming, with breakfast served in-house. Perfect for a couple who want atmosphere and a view.
La Terrazzina
A quiet holiday home in the heart of Borgo Po, with a private terrace and an equipped kitchen, a stone’s throw from the Gran Madre and the river. The space and calm of a home all to yourself, with the centre reachable on foot across the Po. Pets welcome and parking available. Ideal for those after calm and independence near the heart of the city.
When to go
Spring and autumn
The best times to visit Turin: mild weather for walking among arcades and squares, lovely light and gardens in bloom or in autumn colours. They’re also the seasons richest in events and exhibitions. In May the Book Fair enlivens the city: if you’re there in those days, book well ahead, as demand for accommodation is very high.
Summer
In summer Turin is quieter and more livable, with many locals away, and the evenings on the Murazzi del Po and in the parks are pleasant. In early July the Kappa FuturFestival, at Parco Dora, draws electronic-music fans from all over the world for a weekend: another moment when it’s worth securing your room in good time.
Autumn-winter and the ATP Finals
From November the city lives one of its highlights: the Nitto ATP Finals tennis event, among the biggest sporting events of the year, fills Turin with fans from all over the world. In that period hotels fill up fast, so booking ahead is a must. Winter then brings the atmosphere of the artists’ lights, the markets and museums that are perfect for cold days.
Getting here
Turin is very easy to reach by train: the Porta Nuova station, right in the centre, and Porta Susa are served by high-speed rail, with fast links to Milan and the other major cities. By air you land at Turin-Caselle airport, connected to the city by the Metropolitan Railway Service train.
In the city, metro line 1 links Lingotto to the centre and the two stations, and it’s the fastest means, alongside a dense network of trams and buses. A car in the centre is more of a burden than a convenience: there’s the limited-traffic ZTL zone and parking is scarce, so it’s best to choose a well-connected place or one with parking and get around by public transport. For the full picture on trains, the airport and getting around the region: how to get to Piedmont.
The immediate surroundings are worth a trip too: the Palace of Venaria, among the largest royal residences in Europe with its monumental gardens, is easily reached from the city, while up on the hill the Basilica of Superga, with its dome and its view over the Alps, is climbed by the historic rack tram from Sassi. Turin is also an excellent base for discovering the rest of Piedmont: in about an hour you reach the wine hills of the Langhe, while to the west you climb into the mountains, onto the snow and trails of Val di Susa.
This guide is part of our grand tour of the region: discover all the destinations and areas in Where to Stay in Piedmont.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we’re asked most often about where to stay in Turin.
Which is the best area to stay in Turin?
The old town, between Piazza Castello and the Quadrilatero Romano, is the best choice for a first time: museums, arcades, cafés and venues are all on foot. Those after nightlife can head for San Salvario, those wanting elegance and easy train links for Crocetta, and those arriving for a fair or a concert for Lingotto.
Where to stay in Turin without a car?
Anywhere in the centre: Turin is wonderful to get around on foot and by metro line 1, which links Lingotto, the centre and the Porta Nuova and Porta Susa stations. By choosing a place in the centre, in Crocetta or in San Salvario you reach everything easily, never needing a car.
Is it worth staying near Porta Nuova?
Yes, if you arrive by train: Porta Nuova is right in the centre and Crocetta and San Salvario are a stone’s throw away. It’s a very handy position for getting around on foot towards Via Roma, Piazza San Carlo and the museums, and for taking the metro or trams to the rest of the city.
When should you book in Turin?
Well ahead if your trip falls during the big events: the Book Fair in May, the Kappa FuturFestival in early July and the Nitto ATP Finals in November fill the city and the hotels. Outside these periods you’ll find good availability, but weekends are always in higher demand.
What to see in Turin in a weekend?
In two days you take in the centre with Piazza Castello, the Royal Museums and Piazza San Carlo, the Mole Antonelliana with the Cinema Museum and the Egyptian Museum, one of the most important in the world. There’s still time and appetite for an aperitivo in the Quadrilatero, a stroll in the Parco del Valentino and, if the sky is clear, the view from the hill.
Is Turin a good base for visiting Piedmont?
Excellent: it’s well connected by train and by car with the rest of the region. In about an hour you reach the Langhe and their vineyards, to the west the mountains of Val di Susa, and nearby the Palace of Venaria and the Basilica of Superga. Many choose to sleep in the city and head out on day trips to discover the territory.
