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Museums & Galleries

National Automobile Museum

One of the oldest car museums in the world

Turin's Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile (MAUTO) shows over 200 original vehicles from around 80 makes – from pioneering cars to racing legends.

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Turin, city of the automobile

Turin is the industrial city where Fiat was founded in 1899 – the car has shaped its history more than almost anything else. The Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile (MAUTO for short), in the south of the city on Corso Unità d'Italia, ranks among the oldest and most important automobile museums in the world and occupies a striking modern building on the banks of the Po.

Over 200 vehicles from around 80 makes

The exhibition shows more than 200 original vehicles from roughly 80 makes worldwide, spanning the arc from pioneering machines to modern motorsport. Highlights include:

  • Virginio Bordino's steam vehicle (1854) and a Bernardi (1896)
  • the first Fiat, from 1899, and a Benz from 1893
  • a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost (1914)
  • racing cars from Ferrari and Alfa Romeo
  • design work by Pininfarina, Bertone, Ghia and Italdesign Giugiaro

Elaborately staged rooms set the cars in their cultural and design context, so even visitors without a technical interest get plenty out of it. Alongside the permanent collection, rotating special exhibitions run at no extra cost, included in the full ticket price.

Tickets, prices and opening hours

Full admission costs €18 and covers the museum plus current temporary exhibitions; the reduced rate is €15 (over 65s, ages 18–25, groups of 10 or more), the youth ticket for 6- to 17-year-olds is €8, and children under 5 go free. Admission is included with the Torino+Piemonte Card – if you're planning several museums, the card is often the better value (see Torino+Piemonte Card).

Individual visitors don't need a booking and can buy a ticket on site or online through the ticket portal. Only groups of more than ten people and school groups need to reserve in advance by email. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00, and Mondays only half-day until 14:00; last admission is one hour before closing.

For families and car enthusiasts

The MAUTO is family-friendly: the route is step-free, there are baby-changing facilities and high chairs for parents with young children, and educational workshops are offered for schools. Audio guides are available. As a paid extra, driving simulators (€15, cheaper at the reduced rate) let you get behind the wheel.

Practical tips for your visit

The MAUTO sits in the south of Turin, a little outside the centre but easily reached by metro (Lingotto station) or bus. Allow two to two and a half hours. It's quietest Tuesday to Friday right after opening; weekends and public holidays get busier. The visit pairs well with a stop at nearby Lingotto, the former Fiat factory famous for its rooftop test track. If you're planning more museums, the museums overview has further suggestions.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need to book ahead for the MAUTO?+
Individual visitors can turn up without a booking and buy a ticket on site. Only groups of more than ten people and school groups need to reserve in advance by email.
How much does it cost to enter the Automobile Museum?+
Full admission is €18 and covers the museum plus current temporary exhibitions. The reduced rate is €15, the youth ticket (ages 6–17) costs €8, and children under 5 go free. Admission is included with the Torino+Piemonte Card.
Is the MAUTO worth visiting without a technical interest in cars?+
Yes. The vehicles are staged in elaborately designed rooms that place the car in its social and design context. Design work by Pininfarina, Bertone and Giugiaro also makes the visit interesting beyond pure engineering.

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