Turin on foot from Portico Garibaldi

From Portico Garibaldi you explore the historic centre on foot: step out of the main door and you are already in the Quadrilatero Romano, a step from Via Garibaldi.

What to see on foot

• Via Garibaldi: about 1 minute. One of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe, from Piazza Castello to Piazza Statuto: shops, workshops and, in the evening, the bars of the Quadrilatero in the side streets.
• Piazza Castello: about 5 minutes. Home to the Royal Museums (Royal Palace, Armoury, Galleria Sabauda and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud), Palazzo Madama and the Teatro Regio. Allow at least half a day for the Royal Museums.
• Piazza Solferino: about 5 minutes. Wide and tree-lined, with the Angelica fountain: a good starting point for an aperitivo in the surrounding streets.
• Piazza San Carlo: about 7 minutes. Turin's "drawing room", with its twin churches, arcades and historic cafés; from here Via Roma leads on foot to Porta Nuova.
• Egyptian Museum: about 8 minutes. One of the most visited museums in Italy: book your ticket online, especially at weekends.

Also within walking distance:

• Porta Palazzo: the city's big open-air market, Monday to Saturday in the morning; on Saturdays the Balon flea market fills the nearby streets.
• Santuario della Consolata: one of the churches the people of Turin love most, right opposite Caffè Al Bicerin.
• Mole Antonelliana and National Cinema Museum: the symbol of the city; a panoramic lift takes you up to the terrace.
• The River Po and Valentino Park: from Piazza Vittorio Veneto, for a walk along the river.

Breakfast and where to eat

The historic cafés are worth a visit at least once, ideally for a bicerin (coffee, chocolate and cream) or a tramezzino sandwich:

• Caffè Al Bicerin, Piazza della Consolata 5: open since 1763, it is where the drink was born. Only a few tables, so you may have to wait; check its weekly closing day.
• Baratti & Milano, in Piazza Castello at the entrance to Galleria Subalpina: historic pastry and chocolate shop.
• Caffè Mulassano, in Piazza Castello: small and Art Nouveau, credited with inventing the tramezzino.
• Piazza San Carlo has more historic cafés under the arcades, handy for breakfast at a table.

For lunch and dinner in the Quadrilatero:

• Tre Galline, Via Bellezia 37: Piedmontese cooking in a historic dining room; booking recommended.
• Tre Galli, Via Sant'Agostino 25: wine bar with kitchen and a very large wine list.
• Consorzio: popular Piedmontese cooking; book well in advance.

For simpler food look for a piola, a traditional Piedmontese tavern: agnolotti, vitello tonnato, bollito and a glass of house wine. Opening hours and closing days change: always check the restaurant's website or call ahead.

Getting here

• Porta Susa station: about 12 minutes on foot, for high-speed trains and the airport train.
• Porta Nuova station: about 14 minutes on foot, the main railway hub, with the metro.

From Turin-Caselle airport:

• Train from Porta Susa (lines SFM4, SFM6 and SFM7): on weekdays about every 30 minutes, in about half an hour; a single ticket costs about €3.80.
• Arriva bus (airport line) from Porta Nuova and Porta Susa: every 15–30 minutes, about 45–50 minutes (less on Express runs); a single ticket costs about €7.50, with a surcharge if bought on board.
• Flibco: direct bus from Porta Nuova with no stops, in about 25 minutes; tickets are cheaper online.
• Taxi: there are taxi ranks at the airport and the stations; you can also book by phone.

Times and fares change: check the websites of Turin airport (aeroportoditorino.it), Trenitalia (trenitalia.com) and Arriva (torino.arriva.it) before you travel.

Cars, parking and ZTL

Turin's centre is a limited traffic zone (ZTL). The main rules according to the City of Turin (comune.torino.it, ZTL section):

• Central ZTL: closed Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 10:30; open on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
• Roman Area ZTL (the streets of the Quadrilatero Romano, around Portico Garibaldi): closed to traffic and parking every day from 21:00 to 7:30.
• Bus and tram lanes and streets: closed every day from 7:00 to 20:00.

The gates have cameras and fines are sent home, including to foreign cars: if you are coming by car, write to us before you arrive and we will give you directions.

Nearby covered car parks:

• Emanuele Filiberto car park (APCOA), Piazza Emanuele Filiberto 14, open 24 hours: about €1.90 per hour, about €19–20 per day.
• Porta Palazzo car park (APCOA), Corso XI Febbraio 3: about €1.85 per hour, about €16 per day.

Rates are indicative: check them on the car park operator's website. On-street parking in the blue bays is paid.

Events in the city

Some events that return every year:

• Salone Internazionale del Libro (book fair), in May at Lingotto.
• Artissima, contemporary art fair, in early November.
• Torino Film Festival, in November.
• Nitto ATP Finals, the tennis tournament of the top eight players, in November.
• Luci d'Artista, light installations in the streets and squares, from late October or November to January.

Dates, programmes and more events on Turismo Torino (turismotorino.org), which also has an information point in the centre.