Day Trip to Turin from Sauze d'Oulx — What to See, Do and Eat
Published 12 December 2025
Turin is one of Italy’s most underrated cities and it’s sitting right at the foot of the Val di Susa — barely 80km from Sauze d’Oulx. A day trip here is one of the best off-piste experiences you can have during a ski week, whatever the snow conditions.
Why Turin?
Turin (Torino) was Italy’s first capital city and the seat of the House of Savoy. That royal heritage left it with a wealth of grand Baroque architecture, world-class museums, and a food culture that is arguably the finest in Italy. It’s also remarkably tourist-light compared to Florence, Rome or Venice — you can visit the Egyptian Museum or stroll the colonnaded arcades of the city centre without fighting crowds.
The city feels authentically Italian in a way that heavily-touristed destinations sometimes don’t. Drink a coffee at the bar, buy fresh pasta from the market, sit in a piazza with an Aperol spritz — it’s genuinely relaxed and enjoyable.
How to get there from Sauze d’Oulx
By car: The most flexible option. From Sauze d’Oulx, take the road down the Val di Susa to the A32 motorway and follow signs for Turin. Journey time is approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. Parking in central Turin is available at various car parks — expect to pay €2–€4 per hour approximately.
By train: Drive or taxi down to Oulx train station (about 15 minutes from Sauze d’Oulx), then take a direct regional train to Turin Porta Susa or Porta Nuova. Journey time approximately 50–60 minutes. Trains run regularly throughout the day.
By transfer/taxi: If you don’t have a hire car, a private taxi from the resort to Turin for the day can be arranged through your accommodation. More expensive but door-to-door convenient.
What to see
Egyptian Museum (Museo Egizio) ⭐
The most important Egyptian antiquity collection in the world outside of Cairo. The collection is vast, beautifully displayed and genuinely extraordinary — mummies, sarcophagi, papyrus texts, sculpture and artefacts spanning thousands of years of Egyptian history. Allow 2–3 hours minimum. Book tickets online in advance to avoid queuing.
Book Egyptian Museum tickets on Viator →
Mole Antonelliana
Turin’s iconic building — a towering 19th-century structure originally built as a synagogue, now housing the National Cinema Museum. The building alone is worth seeing from outside; the panoramic lift to the top gives the best views over the city and back towards the Alps.
Piazza Castello and the Royal Palace
The heart of old Turin. The Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) sits at one end, with the Cathedral just beyond it (home to the Shroud of Turin). The piazza is ringed by covered arcades and grand buildings. Walk through it, stop for coffee, and get your bearings.
Porta Palazzo Market
The largest open-air market in Europe, held in the vast Piazza della Repubblica. Best visited in the morning — by midday many stalls begin packing up. Fresh produce, cheese, cured meats, street food, clothing and general goods spread across the entire piazza and surrounding streets. Genuinely spectacular in scale.
The arcaded streets (portici)
Turin has miles of covered colonnaded arcades lining its main streets. Walking the portici is one of the great simple pleasures of the city — sheltered from rain or sun, lined with coffee bars, pastry shops, bookshops and delis. Via Roma, Via Po and the streets around Piazza San Carlo are the best for this.
Where to eat
Breakfast: Go to any bar in the city and order a cappuccino and a cornetto at the counter. Standing breakfast at an Italian bar is one of life’s small pleasures. Price: approximately €2–€3.
Lunch: Turin’s food culture is Piedmontese — rich, satisfying and deeply good. Look for a proper sit-down trattoria rather than a tourist-facing restaurant. Dishes to try: tajarin (thin egg pasta, often with a meat ragù or truffle), vitello tonnato (cold veal with tuna sauce — better than it sounds), bagna cauda (warm anchovy and garlic dip with vegetables), fonduta (Italian fondue).
Aperitivo: Turin invented the aperitivo tradition. From around 6pm, bars across the city put out free food (substantial snacks or even a proper buffet) to accompany drinks. A Negroni, Campari soda or Aperol spritz costs €5–€8 and comes with food. This is one of the great bargains in Italian dining.
Chocolate: Turin is also famous for its chocolate — it invented gianduja (the hazelnut-chocolate blend that became Nutella) and gianduiotto chocolates. Stop at a Baratti & Milano or Peyrano shop.
How long do you need?
A comfortable day trip: leave Sauze by 9am, arrive in Turin by 10:30am, head back by 6–7pm. This gives you 7–8 hours in the city — enough for one major museum, a walk through the city centre, lunch, and an aperitivo.
If you’re driving, you have full flexibility on timing.
Tips
- Book the Egyptian Museum in advance — it can sell out, especially in peak season
- Tuesday to Friday are the best days to visit — Monday sees some museums closed; weekends are busier
- Parking: Use a GPS or maps app for parking — the ZTL (restricted traffic zone) in the city centre applies to cars and carries automatic fines if you enter it. Stick to designated car parks.
- The city is very walkable — most major sights are within 20 minutes’ walk of each other
Browse Turin tours and skip-the-line tickets →
Frequently asked questions
How far is Turin from Sauze d’Oulx?
Approximately 80km by road — around 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes by car depending on conditions. By train from Oulx station (15 minutes from the village by road), it’s 50–60 minutes to Turin.
Is Turin worth a day trip from a ski resort?
Definitely. Turin is one of Italy’s best cities and sees a fraction of the tourist traffic of Florence or Rome. The Egyptian Museum alone justifies the trip for many visitors. Combined with the city’s food culture and architecture, it’s an excellent use of a rest day.
What is Turin famous for?
Turin is famous for: the Egyptian Museum (world’s second largest Egyptian collection), the Shroud of Turin, the Mole Antonelliana building, being the home of Fiat and Juventus FC, its Baroque architecture, the invention of gianduja chocolate (which became Nutella), and a strong food and wine culture representing Piedmontese cuisine.
Can you do Turin as a day trip without a car?
Yes — take a taxi or arrange transport to Oulx train station, then take a direct regional train to Turin (50–60 minutes). Trains run regularly throughout the day. Turin city centre is walkable once you arrive at Porta Nuova or Porta Susa station.
What is the best museum to visit in Turin?
The Museo Egizio (Egyptian Museum) is the standout attraction — genuinely world-class and unlike anything else in Italy. Book tickets in advance. If you have more time, the National Cinema Museum in the Mole Antonelliana is also excellent.
Planning more day trips from the resort? See our day trips guide → for Montgenèvre, Val di Susa and car hire.