24 Hours in Turin by Train – An Elegant Overnight Itinerary in Italy’s Most Underrated City

If you're heading north by train — or coming from Milan, Genoa, or even France — don’t overlook Turin (Torino). Just a short train ride from Milan, this refined and quietly majestic city offers world-class museums, stunning architecture, and some of Italy’s best food and chocolate… all with half the crowds of better-known cities.

Here’s how to make the most of 24 hours in Turin on an easy overnight rail stop.

🚉 Getting There by Train

Turin is well connected by high-speed train:

• From Milan: 1 hour

• From Genoa: 2 hours

• From Florence or Bologna: 3.5–4 hours

• Arrive at Porta Nuova Station, which places you within walking distance of most attractions.

  
  

🕘 Morning: Arrival, Coffee & Chocolate

Start your visit like a local: with coffee and gianduiotto (hazelnut chocolate) at Caffè Mulassano or Baratti & Milano, historic cafés set under the city's elegant arcades.

Then wander through Piazza San Carlo, Turin’s grand 17th-century square.

Don’t miss:

• Via Roma: chic shops and colonnades

• Portici (porticos): over 18 km of covered walkways

🏛️ Midday: Culture & Curiosities

Turin is home to some of Italy’s most unique museums:

🎥 National Cinema Museum

• Inside the dramatic Mole Antonelliana

• Ride the panoramic glass lift for views over the city

🏺 Egyptian Museum

• One of the best collections outside Cairo

• Mummies, papyri, and ancient art — perfect for a hot afternoon

🧲 Alternative option: Museo dell’Automobile or Museo Lavazza for coffee fans

🍝 Afternoon: Aperitivo, Views & Strolling

Turin claims to have invented aperitivo, and they do it right.

🧀 Stop at Piola da Cianci for a relaxed local lunch or enjoy tramezzini (Italian tea sandwiches) with a glass of vermouth.

🌄 Head to Monte dei Cappuccini or Villa della Regina for sweeping hilltop views.

🛍️ Wander Via Lagrange or Quadrilatero Romano, the oldest part of the city full of wine bars and boutiques.

🌙 Evening: Sleep in Style

Stay overnight in one of Turin’s stylish boutique hotels:

🛏️ Hotel Victoria & Iside Spa – central and serene

🛏️ NH Collection Piazza Carlina – with rooftop views

🛏️ Combo Torino – modern, cool stay in a former firehouse in Porta Palazzo

☕ Bonus: Start Day 2 with Bicerin

Before catching your morning train, try a Bicerin — Turin’s signature drink made of espresso, chocolate, and cream — at Caffè Al Bicerin, a historic haunt dating back to the 1700s.

Why Make Time for Turin?

Turin is:✔️ Easy to reach✔️ Walkable and elegant✔️ Packed with museums, history, and style✔️ Known for chocolate, coffee, aperitivo & cinema✔️ Still overlooked — so it’s peaceful, even in August