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The Piedmontese capital of Turin shows why la vita in Northern Italy is dolce indeed.

The pleasures here don鈥檛 take the full-throttle, scooter-screeching style of the hot south. Rather, Turin embodies a composed dignity that befits an elegant city shaped by the noble House of Savoy and politically explosive unification movement. (In the 1860s, Turin served as the first capital of the Republic of Italy.)

Turin鈥檚 refined vibe might feel more 蹿谤补苍莽补颈蝉 than italiano 鈥 yet after a quick walk through the city鈥檚 porticoed streets and palazzo-laced squares, you鈥檒l quickly find a place all but screaming 鈥滿ade in Italy.鈥 Between its top-notch museums, chandelier-lit cafes and vibe of urban Italianate living, Turin hits the sweet spot any time of year.

Here are the best things to do when you get there.

1. Shop vintage and design in the Quadrilatero Romano

While the city鈥檚 elegant porticoes on the main street of Via Roma house chic boutiques of all the big fashion houses, Quadrilatero Romano is the neighborhood for upmarket vintage and fashionable pieces by young designers. is a cafe and live-music venue that also sells a small and carefully curated selection of clothing and accessories, while is designer atelier and boutique in the heart of the district. Make your shopping spree memorable by booking a lunch table well in advance at .

Bargain hunters can follow urbanites on weekends to Balon, a sprawling and raucous flea market that鈥檚 been taking place north of Porta Palazzo since 1857. More-specialized antique and vintage dealers move in on the second Sunday of the month at the .

An aerial view of the Mole Antonelliana, an iconic building of the city, and the red rooftops of the central city, Turin, Italy. Snow-capped Alps are visible in the distance.
An icon of Turin鈥檚 skyline, the Mole Antonelliana houses the Museo Nazionale del Cinema 鈥 and boasts stupendous views from its tower. Shutterstock

2. Take in truly cinematic views of the city

A visit to the superlative Museo Nazionale del Cinema 鈥 a firm family favorite 鈥 is not just about watching silent movies, overdosing on looping virtual-reality films and learning about Turin鈥檚 fascinating movie-making heritage.

As engaging as the evocative and well-curated exhibits is the building that houses the museum. The eclectic, spire-capped tower of Mole Antonelliana was conceived and designed as a synagogue in 1863, yet only ever used as a museum. Scaling its dome to ogle at the panorama atop the 167.5m-tall (550ft-tall) tower is a rite of passage.

3. Enjoy drinks with a view at Italy鈥檚 highest bar

Dizzying views of the city and the Alps that surround it unfold from the 37th floor of the city鈥檚 lofty Intesa Sanpaolo skyscraper, designed by celebrity Italian architect Renzo Piano. Its crowning glory is the futuristic rooftop, where skilled mixologists behind the bar at shake up sassy spins on Italian classics. Order a signature Bicerin cocktail (sweet Mancino vermouth with coffee liqueur, sherry and milk) or Spritz No More (vodka, elderflower liqueur, sake and chili pepper) 鈥 and watch the city twinkle all around you.

A Vintage red Ferrari on display in a dramatically lit gallery at Museo Nazionale dell Automobile (National Automobile Museum car museum), Turin, Italy
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Anyone who loves Italian design and beautiful cars will love the superb Museo Nazionale dell鈥橝utomobile. Claudio Divizia/Shutterstock

4. Spend a day museum-hopping

Few Italian cities sport such a varied portfolio of museums; there really is one in Turin to suit every taste and interest. The blockbuster Museo Egizio is among the world鈥檚 best when it comes to anthropomorphic coffins, animal mummies and other priceless artifacts from ancient Egypt.

The Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano suits anyone interested in modern Italian history, while car buffs and families rave about Turin鈥檚 superlative Museo Nazionale dell鈥橝utomobile.

This being Italy, art and design lovers are well served: Palazzo Reale displays the personal art collection of the Savoy monarchy, and the sensational Pinateco Giovanni e Marella Agnelli showcases masterpieces acquired by the late Fiat head Gianni Agnelli.

Galleria Civica d鈥橝rte e Contemporanea is the place to go for 19th- and 20th-century Italian and European art, and Fondazione Merz, Fondazione Sandretto re Rebaudengo and Museo Ettore Fico for influential contemporary art.

Detour: Head to out of town Castello di Rivoli to see works associated with Italy鈥檚 Arte Povera movement in the 1960s and 1970s.

5. Perfect the Turinese art of aperitivi

The early-evening aperitivo (aperitif) crawl is a golden opportunity to taste exceptional wine from Piedmont and sample savory delicacies such as acciughe al verde (anchovies in pea-green, garlic-parsley sauce) or carne cruda all鈥檃lbese (raw beef) while finding yourself in neighborhoods you might not otherwise get to.

Favorite addresses to hobnob with locals over well-mixed cocktails, Campari or Aperol spritz, and generous snack buffets 鈥 ranging from complimentary to 鈧15 with one drink 鈥 include historical Bar Cavour; Farmacia Del Cambo, in an 1830s pharmacy; and fashionable bookshop-cafe-bar .

A close-up of fountains in front of people walking through porticoes of old buildings at dusk in the Piazzo Castello, Turin, Italy
Piazza Castello is the epitome of Turinese elegance. Chiara Salvadori/Getty Images

6. Live the good life on Piazza Castello

Nowhere does the pulse of la dolce vita make itself felt as fiercely as on Piazza Castello, the city鈥檚 central square and the heart of Savoy from the 16th to 18th centuries. Framed on all sides by grandiose buildings that house palace museums, cafes and the city鈥檚 opera house, the square is a hub of cultural life and the epitome of Turinese elegance.

You can鈥檛 miss the square鈥檚 majestic porticoes (Turin boasts an extraordinary 18km/11 miles of these covered sidewalks), built under Vittorio Emanuele I in the 18th century so the royal family could promenade between palace and river in comfort and relative privacy.

7. See how Savoy kings lived at a flurry of royal residences

Turin has six royal residences in its city center alone, all with lavish interiors, priceless artworks and tapestries, and occasional museum collections.

Find medieval-to-modern decorative arts in Palazzo Madama; a top-drawer history museum exploring the city鈥檚 role in the Risorgimento (Italian Unification) at Palazzo Carignano; and dazzling Greek and Roman archaeological treasures in Palazzo Reale.

If time is limited at the last attraction, head straight for the Savoys鈥 personal art collection, on display in the Royal Palace鈥檚 Galleria Sabauda. If time is endless, linger over afternoon tea on the stone-balustrade terrace of the palace鈥檚 romantic Caff猫 degli Argenti: the views of lush green lawns and the Alps beyond are beautiful.

8. Share the Turin鈥檚 love affair with chocolate

Cioccolato (chocolate) is Turin鈥檚 lifeblood, and family-run chocolate makers have been hard at work in Turin for centuries. There is no point resisting.

Bicerin, the city鈥檚 signature cream-topped chocolate-coffee hot drink, has been a reason to flock to elegant Caff猫 Al Bicerin since 1763. Turin鈥檚 favorite contemporary chocolatier, Guido Gobino is loved for tiny, tile-like ganache chocolates flavored with such decadent extras as vermouth or Barolo wine, as well as his classic gianduiotto (triangular chocolates made from gianduja, Turin鈥檚 hazelnut paste).

Planning tip: Don鈥檛 miss Turin鈥檚 10-day chocolate festival, , which happens every November.

The interior of Officine Grandi Riparazioni with people moving around looking at displays of modern art
Officine Grandi Riparazioni is a cultural hub at the center of Turin鈥檚 contemporary-art scene. Getty Images

9. Tap into Turin鈥檚 art and music scene

It鈥檚 no surprise that Turin is part of 鈥 and there鈥檚 no better evidence of why it belongs there than . This hub for experimental cultural and innovation resides in a regenerated train depot, now the site of ever-changing public art installations, seasonal exhibitions, live gigs and other cultural happenings. A visit here is as much an opportunity to ogle the industrial architecture of the gargantuan U-shaped space as it is to tap into contemporary Turin鈥檚 explosive visual and performing arts scene.

EDM fans: you鈥檙e in the right place. Turin generates some of Italy鈥檚 best dance music, with clubs and live-music bars in industrial and residential neighborhoods such as Vanchiglia, San Salvario, Dora and Lingotto pounding well into the early hours.

Planning tip: Going strong for 20-odd years, Lingotto鈥檚 remains one of Europe鈥檚 top avant-pop music festivals.

10. Taste Vermouth in hip San Salvario

Savoring Turin鈥檚 homegrown 鈥 aromatized fortified wine infused with 30-odd botanicals 鈥 has been a tradition since 1786, when the liqueur was first distilled by Antonio Benedetto Carpano for the royal court. The tourist office offers (鈧18) in select city bars.

Or opt for homegrown vermouth on the rocks or in a cocktail at funky music bar in the hip district of San Salvario. Its Torino Milano Via Novara cocktail mixing Vermouth di Torino with Campari, Cynar (a bitter aperitif blending 13 herbs and plants, including artichoke), chocolate and rock salt is akin to tasting Turin in a glass.

Flowers and other plantings on the roof of La Pista 500, the former site of Fiat鈥檚 Lingotto factory and test track in Turin, Italy
After a renovation and redevelopment, greenery now sprouts next to the famous former Fiat test track in Lingotto. Antonello Marangi/Shutterstock

11. Take a spin (on foot) around Fiat鈥檚 rooftop e-track

Turin is synonymous with Fiat cars. Its 1920s factory in industrial Lingotto was once Europe鈥檚 largest, and walking around the rooftop track where cars were tested until 1982 (when the iconic factory closed) is exhilarating. (To get a feel for the historic track in advance, screen the classic 1969 movie The Italian Job.)

New-generation electric Fiats spin around the 1km-long (0.6-mile) loop today. In 2021, the surrounding rooftop was planted with 40,000 indigenous trees, shrubs and wildflowers to create a public garden: .

Yoga, fitness and meditation areas shaded with hazelnut trees and giant sunflowers inject a contemplative zen into the green public space. Views of the city and surrounding Alps are naturally magnificent.

12. Track down street art with a purpose

Meander off the beaten tourist track into the northern working-class suburb of Barriera di Milano to uncover old warehouses covered in graffiti, public baths rejuvenated as community centers, and 13 pavement-to-sky, black-and-white wall murals by Italian street artist Millo (from Puglia in southern Italy). Piazza Bottesini is your best bet for starting your Millo safari.

When you're done, take a DIY walking tour of the city鈥檚 , 17 striking wall murals by international artists illustrating global goals for sustainable development in 2030. Murals range from No Poverty (Lungo Po Antonelli 15), featuring Florentine street artist Zed1鈥檚 comic egg-headed humans, to Good Health by Venezuelan-Italian Gomez (Via Berthollet 6) and Gender Equality (Corso Belgio 9) by Rome-based Camilla Falsini.

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