Turin, or Torino to locals, is one of Europe’s great luxury cities.

Baroque palazzi, café society, chocolate, vermouth, Alps on the horizon, and a dining scene that quietly competes with Italy’s headline acts.

If you want a weekend that runs like clockwork, here is a simple plan that locks in a palazzo-style suite, chef’s counter seats, and a private driver in one tidy itinerary.

Check-in: Palazzo Poise, right in the centre

For a classic five-star welcome, book Principi di Piemonte | UNA Esperienze.

The Rationalist icon sits just off Piazza San Carlo so that you can stroll to museums and boutiques in minutes. Service is polished, spa is proper, and rooms are soundproofed against the buzz of the centre.

Prefer heritage charm and a discreet garden? Grand Hotel Sitea is a long-running house of Turin hospitality with an old-school concierge desk that actually gets things done.

If you like contemporary lines set inside history, NH Collection Torino Piazza Carlina occupies a 17th-century complex wrapped around tranquil courtyards, with rooftop terraces for sunset over the hills.

Those who love a boutique personality can aim for Hotel Victoria Torino, a refined townhouse with a luxurious spa in a quiet, pedestrian-friendly pocket two blocks from Via Roma.

Tip for Torino first-timers: ask your hotel to hold a small luggage valet for Sunday shopping.

Many boutiques close at lunch, so a quick pit stop helps you keep the day light.

Afternoon aperitivo, then chef’s-counter theatre

This city was built for aperitivo.

Start in Piazza Carignano or Piazza San Carlo, order a local vermouth and a little plate of grissini and tajarin fritti, then walk to dinner.

Book the counter at Unforgettable. There are just ten seats, and the team serves a blind tasting menu from across the counter, equal parts playful and precise.

It is the most intimate fine-dining room in Turin, and the format makes a solo diner feel like a regular. If your style leans stately and historic, Del Cambio on Piazza Carignano is the grande dame, all polished parquet floors and Piedmontese classics done with quiet confidence.

For creative cooking with a modern Turin accent, Cannavacciuolo Bistrot delivers refined plates in a handsome residential quarter.

High-rise romance is a thing here too, so consider Piano35, perched in the Renzo Piano-designed Intesa Sanpaolo tower with views across the rooftops to the Alps.

Andrea Larossa rounds out a compact constellation with elegant, contemporary Italian cuisine in a calm, minimal room.

Reservations in Torino are essential at this level. Counter seats go first, so lock those in when you lock the suite.

Private drivers on call

Torino runs on NCC, Italy’s licensed chauffeur network.

It is the smoothest way to manage dinner transfers, airport runs, and half-day excursions. Book a car by the hour for museum-hopping and shopping, then keep it rolling for dinner pick-ups.

If you want a simple, app-first option that works the same in Milan or Paris, book an executive-class service with a global provider. Prefer a local set-up with a driver who knows where to drop off on Via Po without fuss?

Ask your concierge for a boutique NCC operator, or request an English-speaking driver when you reserve. Cars are typically Mercedes E-Class or V-Class, and you can secure child seats or extra luggage space in advance.

A 48-hour Torino plan that just works

Saturday morning
 Arrive at Torino Porta Nuova or Torino Caselle. Your driver meets you on the platform or at arrivals, then takes you straight to your hotel. Freshen up, then walk to the Egyptian Museum or the Royal Palace. If you are staying at Piazza Carlina, the Po River and Valentino Park are within easy walking distance.

Saturday lunch
 Keep it light at a Slow Food-leaning trattoria in the centre, then espresso at a historic café. Save appetite for the evening.

Saturday aperitivo and dinner
 Vermouth hour around Piazza Carignano. Dinner at Unforgettable for counter theatre, or Del Cambio for Piedmontese ceremony. Ask your driver for a post-dinner loop via Monte dei Cappuccini for the best night view of Turin’s skyline.

Sunday
 Breakfast, then a 20-minute drive to the Reggia di Venaria. Visit the palace and gardens, then lunch at Dolce Stil Novo alla Reggia, the palace’s fine-dining room with a terrace over the formal parterres. If you would rather stay in town, book Piano35 for a high-altitude lunch with Piedmont on the plate and Turin at your feet. Mid-afternoon, swing back to the hotel, have a quick spa or gelato stop near Piazza Vittorio Veneto, then back to the station or airport. Smooth.

Suites and tables to request

• Ask Principi di Piemonte for a high-floor corner suite facing Piazza San Carlo.
• At Grand Hotel Sitea, request a garden-side room for maximum quiet.
• At NH Collection Torino Piazza Carlina, request a courtyard room for dawn silence, and use the terrace for sunset.
• For Unforgettable, request counter seating. It is the experience.
• For Del Cambio, ask for a table in the historic Sala Risorgimento if available.
• For Piano35, request window seating and arrive fifteen minutes early to enjoy the terrace view.
  
  

Travelling solo

Turin is easy and safe to navigate, and chef’s counters make a solo dinner feel convivial. Travelling solo and want company for dinner? Browse this curated Torino escort directory.

Final touches

Ask your driver to keep the car during dinner so you can enjoy a spontaneous nightcap or take a quick photo stop.

Pack a light jacket even in summer; the river breeze can be sharp after dark. In autumn, Torino’s truffle season kicks in, so add a market stop or a tasting if you have time. Two days will not be enough, which is precisely the point. Turin, Torino, has a way of getting under the skin.