If you’re reading this, it means you’re visiting Turin for more than just a day, and… as a Torinese, I couldn’t be happier nor more excited for you!😍 Born and raised in Turin before moving to the States, I’ve made it my mission to show people just how incredible my hometown is.
When it comes to the best areas to stay in Turin as a tourist, the fastest answer I can give you is: Centro, Center. Or, “technically” speaking, staying as close to the center as possible.
Torino is a large city with several great areas to pick and stay in, but if you’re visiting for a short period of time – the historic center always wins. It is the most convenient, most walkable, and lively area to be in.
Because I know the Center like the back of my hand, I will be doing a deep dive of the center to show you the best areas for tourists to stay in, along with my personal favorite hotel, and other popular-best-rated places.
Without further ado, keep reading this deep-dive-guide to find the perfect stay for your future Turin trip!😍👇
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Everything You Need to Know about Turin’s Historic Center
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Why the Historic Center Is the Best Area to Stay in Turin
Unless you’re staying for an extended period of time and want to be in a quiet, residential area, the historic center of Torino is the perfect place for tourists to stay in for several reasons.
For starters, when you’re in the historic center, you are a short walk from all the main attractions and local favorites. Whether you’re in Turin for 3 days or a week, this is an area that is incredibly convenient – and one you could never get tired of.
Not only is it convenient, but the center is completely walkable. Sure, the whole city is walkable for the most part, but the city center prioritizes pedestrians – allowing you to truly walk everywhere, and not just on sidewalks.
The center is also nothing short of breathtaking and vibrant with life. Whether you’re walking through the historic center, or the Quadrilatero Romano, you’re always surrounded by the most incredible Baroque, or even Medieval, architecture.
Furthermore, there are always people walking around, others are at cafes sipping on a Bicerin or cappuccino, and others are street musicians performing songs by Ludovico Einaudi.
“But Laura… Can’t I just take public transportation into the center?” Yes, you can! But having gone through this myself recently, I don’t recommend it – especially for shorter stays. While the transportation works well, I’ve personally felt like a canned sardine so many times taking the tram to the center and I do NOT recommend this experience.😅
Not only does transportation cram up really quick, and to absurd levels, but you don’t want to depend on the schedule. By staying in the city center, you can go wherever you want whenever you want with no worries.
Top Areas Within the City Center of Turin
Let’s dive into the different areas within the center plus two central neighborhoods right outside the border of the “city center”! Overall, these are all great areas to be in and are some of the safest zones of Turin.
Centro (Historic Center)
The Centro, “center”, to no surprise given the name, is the most central you can get. Here you are just a few steps from all the main attractions – from Piazza Castello with the Royal Palace and Palazzo Madama, to Turin’s other most beautiful squares, historic cafes, and the Mole Antonelliana.
This is the liveliest and most convenient area to be in. When you get a hotel, or apartment, in this area, the world is your oyster. You can go out at any time and reach any place you want to visit – whether it’s a museum, a cafe, park, or restaurant.
My personal favorite hotel in Turin, arguably the most beloved hotel in the city, is Turin Palace Hotel. This hotel is nothing short of dreamy, nor wonderful!😍 Here you will find incredible amenities, a rooftop with views over Turin, and may I say… the most GORGEOUS dining hall ever!
This hotel is in the city center and right next to the main train station, Porta Nuova – making it very convenient with your Italy travels. While the hotel is perfectly safe, as a local I want to give the tip to not hang out outside of the hotel.
This hotel books out quickly, so make sure to book your Turin Palace Hotel stay today or ASAP – before it sells out!🤩👇
Quadrilatero
The Quadrilatero Romano is a part of the city center, in the same “map confinement” as the Centro. This area is side-by-side to the Centro, making it, for the most part, just as central and convenient.
What’s nice about the Quadrilatero Romano is that it has a medieval look and feel to it, and tends to be slightly more residential than the Centro. This is a great spot to stay in if you want to surround yourself with endless, delicious restaurants and vibrant night vibes.
A great hotel in this area, just a few steps from some of my favorite restaurants and Piazza Castello, where you have the Royal Palace, is the NH Hotel Collection Santo Stefano.
I personally haven’t been to this location just yet, but have been a long-time customer of the NH Hotels and have always enjoyed my stays. Based on the high-ratings and location (the most central you can get), this is a great option! Book your stay today, or soon, before it sells out.👇
Crocetta
Crocetta is a fairly central area, and depending on where you stay in the Crocetta, you will be a 20-30 minute walk or 15 minute tram ride from the true city center.
This is a more residential area, making it the perfect spot if you want to surround yourself more with locals and be in a more quiet area. It is perfectly connected to the city center with public transportation, so it’s very convenient to get in and out the center.
A hotel I highly recommend is the NH Hotel Torino Centro. This hotel sits right on the border of Crocetta and the Center of Turin, so it’s a bit of a farther walk but overall a very nice hotel with more affordable prices.
Cit Turin
This area sits side-by-side with the Quadrilatero Romano, the city center. This neighborhood is full of incredible Art Nouveau architecture, Portici to walk under, and several shops and restaurants.
This is a slightly more residential area and more quiet compared to the Center and Quadrilatero Romano. It’s a safe area and, depending where your stay is, it’s about a 20 minute walk from the Quadrilatero Romano, and 30 minute walk from the Centro.
I personally haven’t stayed in this area yet, but thought I’d do the research for you and help you check out two best-rated hotel options in this area! What’s nice about these two stays, 4 minutes from each other, is that they are both a short walk from the Porta Susa train station. This makes them extra convenient when traveling around Italy, or flying into / out from Turin’s airport, Caselle.
Hotel Torino Porta Susa is perfect if you’re looking for a nice, more traditional hotel stay. If you’re looking for a cozy Bed & Breakfast experience, Trnapt is an artsy-looking stay with stellar ratings. Both receive high reviews for cleanliness and location.
For a classic hotel stay, Hotel Torino Porta Susa is a great pick — clean, convenient, and comfortable. If you’re looking for something more homey, TRNAPT is a artsy B&B-style apartment with stellar reviews.
If you are on a budget, Tnrapt is the more affordable option between the two!
Tips for Booking Your Stay in Turin
- Book your stay in advance – especially during high season. If you want the best deal on your stay, or have a specific place in mind you want to stay in, it’s always best to book your stay as early as possible!
- Prioritize walkability to minimize public transportation. While public transportation in Turin is great, it tends to get really crammed the closer you get to the center.
Once you’ve booked your stay, get these things sorted to make your stay in Turin stress-free:
- eSim Card. This will be your best friend! There is not much free wifi in Turin so between maps, Google, and probably some social media – having an eSim card is a must-have. This is especially if you want to avoid horrific oversea charges. I personally use Airalo and love it!
- Travel Insurance. If you don’t have travel insurance, this is something very important to look into! I personally use SafetyWing, which has a very affordable plan and gives me peace of mind. I haven’t had to use it for anything bad, but it’s good to have it just in case.
🧳 Need to store bags before check-in, or after check-out? I always use Bounce for luggage storage, and I highly recommend it! It shows you all the places you can drop off your belongings for a very affordable price. These places all have reviews, allowing you to pick the one you’re most comfortable with.
2 Areas to Avoid in Turin + Local Note
If you don’t want to stay in the city center, that is perfectly fine! However, please keep these two names as neighborhoods to avoid staying in: Barreria di Milano and Aurora.
Turin, Turin, aside from the typical pickpocketing found across major Italian cities, is a very safe city overall. Unfortunately, these two areas are the exception as they have higher crime rates and a less welcoming atmosphere for tourists, especially at night.
In terms my local tip, if you are someone who enjoys visiting markets, make sure you do NOT go to Porta Palazzo / Mercato Centrale – also known as Piazza della Repubblica. Turin will occasionally have artisan markets to visit, which are all incredible and worth visiting. However, Porta Palazzo is a rough spot with a market that you do not want to visit – especially at night time.
Turin FAQs
How many days in Turin is enough?
Many people tend to treat Turin as a day trip from Milano or other, more famous, Italian destinations. As Italy’s first capital, Turin is a breathtaking city full of incredible things to do – ranging from historic cafes to the grandest palaces, to world-renowned museums.
One day in Turin is better than not visiting Turin at all, and with my itinerary you’ll be able to maximize your day here and enjoy the main sights.
I personally recommend staying at least 3 days in Turin! This allows you to enjoy the city at a slower pace and to dive deeper into the culture, history, and local favorites and hidden gems.
Is Turin a walkable city?
Yes, Turin is a perfectly walkable city – especially the city center, which prioritizes pedestrians!
Is Turin an expensive city?
If there was a spectrum for Italian destination prices, Turin is in the middle – leaning slightest-bit-more to the expensive side. Overall, prices here are always very reasonable and it is more affordable than Milan!
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I have to ask…
In which of this areas are you planning to stay? Did this guide help you feel more at ease? Let me know in the comments!😊
Wherever you choose to stay in Turin, I hope this guide helped you feel more confident in planning your visit. If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comment – I love helping people discover and experience the best of my hometown! 🇮🇹💛
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Hi Laura,Appreciate your inside guide to Turin.
What would you say and recommend about Park Ruffini and near by areas?
Please share your insights.
Hi Yan! Thank you for your kind words, I’m glad you enjoyed this guide. I actually grew up nearby Park Ruffini, and it’s a nice residential area. If you’re visiting Turin for a longer period of time, it’s definitely a nice place to base yourself in. For a shorter period of time though, you’ll spend quite a bit of time on public transportation – which I personally wouldn’t recommend. Let me know if you have further questions.😊