The Best Day Trips from Turin

Turin is well placed: royal residences, a spectacular mountain abbey and one of the world's most famous wine regions are all within day-trip distance. This overview sorts the most worthwhile destinations by how to get there, opening hours and prices, so you can plan a realistic day. Many venues close on Mondays – that's the single most important rule to build your plans around.

Reggia di Venaria Reale

The Reggia di Venaria is the most spectacular residence just outside the city and part of the Savoy UNESCO World Heritage site – with Juvarra's light-filled Galleria Grande and expansive Baroque gardens. Based on typical visit lengths, allow half a day to a full day, depending on whether you take in just the Piano Nobile or also the gardens and special exhibitions.

It's worth comparing tickets – the main options for 2026:

• Reggia + Giardini (palace and gardens) – €18, concession €8.
• Tutto in una Reggia (combined ticket including Castello and La Mandria) – €25, concession €10.
• Gardens only – €6, concession €2.

Concessions apply to young people aged 6 to 20 and students under 26. The Piano Nobile and the exhibitions are open Tuesday to Friday from 9:30 to 17:00, and at weekends and on public holidays until 18:30; the gardens are open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 to 17:00 (until 18:00 in March). Closed on Mondays, except public holidays.

Without a car, the GTT shuttle bus Venaria Express (line 3990) gets you there, departing from Piazza Castello and Piazza Vittorio Veneto in the centre, among other stops; the journey takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes. The hop-on-hop-off day ticket costs €7 at weekends, or €4 with the Torino+Piemonte Card. Alternatively, the regular GTT line 11 runs from the area around Porta Nuova.

Basilica di Superga

High above Turin stands Juvarra's Baroque basilica, home to the royal crypt of the House of Savoy and a magnificent view over the city as far as the Alps. The most atmospheric way to get there is on the historic rack railway (Tranvia Sassi–Superga). In 2026 it switches to summer service on 3 April and runs Monday to Friday (except Wednesdays) hourly from 10:00 to 18:00, and at weekends and on public holidays hourly from 9:00 to 20:00. The railway doesn't run on Wednesdays. Buy tickets at the Sassi valley station.

Prices vary by day of the week:

• Weekdays – single €4, return €6.
• Saturdays and public holidays – single €6, return €9.
• Concessions (over 65s, student groups, with the Torino+Piemonte Card or Abbonamento Musei) – €4 return on weekdays.

From the hilltop station it's just a few minutes' walk to the square in front of the basilica. From 1 March 2026 it's open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:30 and 14:30 to 18:00, and at weekends and on public holidays continuously from 10:00 to 19:00. For more, climb the 131 steps of a spiral staircase to the viewing terrace roughly 75 metres up – admission is €4, concession €3, free under 12. The Alpine panorama, taking in Monviso, Rocciamelone, Gran Paradiso and Monte Rosa, only shows itself in clear weather, though; the dome stays closed in rain, fog or snow. More details on our page about the Basilica di Superga.

Sacra di San Michele

Piedmont's landmark sits dramatically on a cliff above the Val di Susa. The Benedictine abbey was founded, according to the sources, around the year 1000 – the monk William, writing in the late 11th century, names the year 966 as well as the pontificate of Sylvester II (999–1003), so the origins fall somewhere between 983 and 1003. The abbey is considered one of the inspirations for Umberto Eco's "The Name of the Rose"; a direct quote from Eco confirming this isn't firmly documented, but the connection is widely repeated.

The Sacra is open March to October daily from 9:30 to 17:30, and November to February Monday to Saturday from 9:30 to 16:30. Standard admission is around €8; the extended tour through the library, Piano Nobile and museum rooms costs €15 (concession €13, special categories €7), free under 6.

By car, take the A32 towards Frejus, exit at Avigliana Ovest – roughly a 45-minute drive from Turin. The more energetic option is the walk up from Sant'Ambrogio along the 15 Stations of the Cross starting at the parish church of San Giovanni Vincenzo: about 1 hour 30 minutes up, around an hour back down, some 600 metres of ascent, difficulty grade E (hiking). A scenic alternative is the "Sentiero dei Principi" starting from Mortera. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for the walk.

The Langhe and Alba

Southeast of Turin lies the UNESCO wine landscape of the Langhe, with its rolling hills, castles and wine villages – home to Barolo and Barbaresco. By car it's about an hour away – the road distance to Alba is roughly 84 kilometres. Public transport is considerably more cumbersome, which is why a car is worth having for this region.

Winery visits are generally possible with advance booking – usually via an online enquiry form confirmed by the producer. A truffle hunt with a dog and guide can also be booked. Dining around Alba tends to be upmarket, and truffle dishes in particular are pricey in season; exact prices vary considerably.

The highlight is the International Alba White Truffle Fair, in its 96th edition in 2026: it runs on weekends from Saturday 10 October to Sunday 6 December at the Palazzo Mostre e Congressi. White truffle season falls in October and November (the official collection period runs from 1 October to 31 January). Alba gets very busy during the fair weekends – if you prefer it quieter, visit outside those dates.

More Savoy residences

If you want to see more royal splendour, there are several more destinations around Turin to choose from – all good for half a day:

• Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi – the magnificent hunting lodge to the south, open Tuesday to Friday 10:00–17:30, weekends and public holidays 10:00–18:30, closed Mondays, last admission 30 minutes before closing. Admission €12, concession (18–26 years) €8, Young (6–17 years) €5, free under 6. Getting there from Porta Nuova: take tram 4 to the terminus, then bus 41 towards Orbassano/Ospedale San Luigi to Stupinigi; by car via the Tangenziale Sud, with free parking on Viale Torino.
• Castello Reale di Racconigi – palace and park about 29 minutes from Turin by train on the Torino–Savona line, roughly a 10-minute walk from the station, tickets from around €5. The palace is open Thursdays 10:00–18:00 (guided tours) and Friday to Sunday 9:00–13:00 and 14:00–19:00 (self-guided), and the park daily 9:30–18:00 (last admission 17:15); closed Monday to Wednesday.
• Castello di Rivoli – the museum of contemporary art on the western axis, open Tuesday to Friday 10:00–17:00, weekends 10:00–19:00, closed Mondays. Admission €6.50, concession €4.50, free under 11. Combines well with the Sacra di San Michele on a day trip towards the Susa Valley.

If you're visiting several of these houses in a day, the Torino+Piemonte Card often works out cheaper: Venaria, Stupinigi and Rivoli are all included with free admission. In 2026 it costs €29.90 for 24 hours, €39.90 for 48 hours, €45.90 for 72 hours and €52.90 for 120 hours, and covers around 80 museums, castles and royal residences in Turin and Piedmont. Transport isn't included, but GTT day tickets, the Sassi–Superga railway and the Venaria Express all come at a discount with it.