Looking for Europe’s best affordable city break? Want to know how I made a profit on mine? Good news – you’ve found Turin!
I stumbled upon Turin (or Torino) accidentally while browsing the luckytrip app, and couldn’t believe how cheap a weekend away was.
In my brief research beforehand, I found it was small, and famous for its chocolate and coffee.
Little did I know Turin was so much more, and still the best European city break I’ve taken. Here’s why you need to visit before everyone else notices it:
Turin wouldn’t be Turin without the drama of the Alps at every turn.
From the top of the Mole Antonelliana or between café lined alleys, you stop dead in your tracks every time they force themselves into view, towering over you from miles away.
Skiing in the Swiss Alps is needless to say beautiful, but my favourite ever Alps view was just from the street outside my hotel in Turin. Their breath-taking size is even more impactful from the city than the summit.
Turin’s most identifiable landmark doesn’t disappoint. The unique skyline it creates from afar is no comparison to the view from the top. After I’d spent nearly an hour gazing over the city and the Alps in the distance, my friends had to drag me away.
The building itself is beautiful, and the trip you take in the glass elevator to get to the top just as memorable.
Most amazingly, the queues are very short – the pros of exploring a small city! Book your tickets ahead of time and you won’t wait in line long at all, a welcome surprise compared to other landmarks.
Whatever your budget, Turin has the shopping for you. Flea and street markets that could keep even the most casual shopper occupied for hours are scattered between the dramatic avenues of designer brands.
If you’re like me and enjoy walking around Gucci for the experience of it, then retreat to the moderately priced stores to actually spend your money, Turin will also serve you well. Many of the streets like Via Roma are lined with covered archways, so even in the rain or snow you can comfortably wander between the boutiques.
And if you’re here for the food, those markets are overflowing with local produce, meats, and cheese that’ll blow you away. Though be warned, you may have an animal carcass walked past you by a local butcher.
Turin feels how I wanted Rome and Paris to feel – for 2 main reasons, it’s walkable and not overcrowded.
Have you ever tried to walk all of New York City? I have, and don’t recommend it.
Walking is the best way to experience a city, but some are just too huge! Turin’s humble size, being a city of less than 2 million inhabitants, fixes this problem. You can comfortably walk the city in a day, and it feels designed to do so.
The architecture is effortlessly stunning at every turn, it feels like the essence of Europe foreigners daydream about being immersed in. So many of the streets are pedestrianised, also contributing to the spacious, quiet feel.
Every other street is dotted with cafes serving Bicerin – one of the best coffees you’ll ever drink.
Originating from the Piedmont region Turin is nestled in, Bicerin is layered espresso, hot chocolate, and whipped cream. I personally don’t like mochas, but I was downing Bicerins all weekend long. If you travel for this reason alone, it’ll be worth your while.
My pet peeve with city breaks is how insanely busy all these cities are.
Of course you can try find ways around it like visiting at quieter times of year, or on weekdays. But cities like Rome and Paris are always heaving – in Rome a couple of years ago, I felt so conscious of pickpockets in the crowds that I walked with my backpack on my front, practical but very annoying.
Turin’s magic is it’s perfect balance of quiet-but-not-too-quiet.
The airport is small, streets aren’t crowded, and queues for attractions are short. Your photo’s aren’t full of thousands of other tourists. But being a city, it’s never uncomfortably empty. There’s enough people around that you feel safe without feeling overwhelmed. Perfect.
Those are 4 reasons you have to visit Turin – it’s the perfect wintery European city. On top of that, it’s overshadowed by all the other iconic cities across Italy, so few tourists are noticing it! For now, it’s a very affordable trip.
If you are flying to and from a European airport and your flight is delayed, you are entitled to compensation. The route from London to Turin runs notoriously late, which is how I made a profit on my holiday.
I spent £189 on flights and three nights in a hotel. When my flight back to the UK was delayed by 4 hours, British Airways paid me £220 in compensation.
I came away from my city break £31 richer! Except all the money I’d spent on pasta and coffee, of course.
It may not happen to you, but if you do get delayed, make sure to request compensation from your airline, you might just make your money back.
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think or ask any questions you have in the comments! Follow me on twitter for more.
