Everyone knows Milan for its grandiose edifices and artwork galleries, excessive style, and ornate Duomo––is there actually a extra lovely Gothic cathedral?––however there is no denying it’s kind of out of the price range for the typical traveler.
Between $202-a-night on accommodations, and $107 on meals and transportation each day, a one-week metropolis break in Italy’s elegant Northern metropolis doesn’t come low-cost, and that is with out factoring within the lengthy wait to get into museums and hordes of vacationers.
Fortunately, there’s this off-path gem a brief 55-minute train ride from Milan that is each comparatively cheaper and much less crowded:


What Is Turin Well-known For?
The capital and largest metropolis of Piedmont, an alpine area in northwestern Italy, Turin is every little thing vacationers want Milan could be:
A unique aspect of Italy than that you simply could be hoping to search out if it is Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast you’ve got bought your coronary heart set on, it isn’t precisely a maze of pastel-colored homes and cobblestones––in actual fact, it is oftentimes referred to as Paris of the East as a consequence of its Belle époque cityscape.
It has Milan’s grandiose structure, with lovely large avenues lined by stately buildings, and the unequalled meals scene, besides it isn’t precisely overpriced nor crumbling beneath the burden of mass tourism as its sisterly metropolis.


It’s best characterised by its plethora of Savoyard monuments, most notably Palazzo Reale and Palazzo Madama, and public squares so magnificent they appear to be palace courtyards, bordered by cafes that exude Outdated World attraction.
Turin Is One Of Italy’s Most Traditionally-Important Cities
Turin can also be extremely wealthy in historical past, having served as the primary capital of Italy when the nation was unified within the nineteenth century, and previous to that, it was the seat of the Home of Savoy, considered one of Europe’s wealthiest royal homes.
A go to to Turin may be summarized in people-watching alfresco as you sip some cappuccino at Piazza Castello, exploring palaces, shopping the outlets at By way of Roma (Turin’s liveliest thoroughfare and its response to Paris’ Champs-Élysées), and strolling the scenic Po riverside.


After all, there are some points of interest you should not miss out on, just like the hovering spire that dominates the skyline: Mole Antonelliana. Upon its completion, it was the tallest masonry constructing in Europe and now a everlasting house to the Nationwide Museum of Cinema.
Should you’re not a cinephile, you’ll be able to nonetheless take a raise to the highest of the Mole for round $9.41 (the views of Turin’s grid-like design backed by snow-capped mountains are breathtaking).
To our fellow museum geeks, the native Museo Egizio, opened as early as 1824, is considered one of Europe’s best collections of Egyptian artifacts, and when visiting the richly-decorated, marble-domed Chapel of the Holy Shroud, search for the Holy Shroud itself.


Sure, in line with historic custom, the linen material utilized in Jesus’ burial is correct right here in Turin––some archeologists will dispute that, however within the very least, it is a good looking Baroque church price testing.
Distinctive Issues To Do In Turin In 2025
In search of distinctive actions to make your time in Turin much more memorable?
There is not any visiting Turin with out sampling its world-class cocoa merchandise:
Chocolate-making is a long-standing Torinese custom, a lot so it’s thought-about considered one of Europe’s chocolate capitals.
It is no surprise the Turin Chocolate Tasting Expertise is a best-seller on GetYourGuide, combining sightseeing with visits to native chocolatiers, for less than $39.77.


All that speak of meals making you hungry but?
You need to positively add this market tour, guided by a cesarina (an Italian feminine house prepare dinner) and topped with lunch again at hers, for $145.47.
This Is How Reasonably priced Turin Is
On that be aware, Turin is surprisingly affordable by Northern Italy requirements.
Contemplating it’s so near Milan, being beneath an hour away by practice, you’d anticipate it to be as costly because the Capital of Vogue––in actuality, accommodations right here common a much-cheaper $165, and vacationers will discover themselves spending $77 on meals per day.


In actuality, costs may be manner decrease, even:
The most affordable personal room in Turin in summer season, with an exterior toilet, will set you again by $40 per evening, at Hotel Serenella, whereas the 3-star Green Class Hotel Astoria, within the coronary heart of the historic middle, prices $80 to ebook.
Do not thoughts splurging slightly?
The luxurious Grand Hotel Sitea, on the well-frequented By way of Carlo Alberto, and simply behind Piazza San Carlo, has in a single day charges ranging from $196 for single rooms, an outstanding breakfast included.
You can all the time treat yourself to dinner with a view at an upscale restaurant, although we would argue discovering an inexpensive, locally-run trattoria the place dinner appears to have been ready by somebody’s nonna is rather more satisfying.


Attempt Pizzeria e Panozzeria La Sarda for scrumptious $8 pizzas, or the highly-rated Monegato Primi Secondi a Nessuno for glorious do-it-yourself pasta (and A+ service that will not break the financial institution).
You get the gist of it:
Turin is comparatively low-cost, it has lovely structure, and it is the right various to Milan if you cannot stand the Instagrammer crowds.
Are we actually stunned, then, Europe-based journey company TUI has named it best European getaway this February?
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