Need advice for best food city that is convenient to get to Torino, Italy

Posted by chefdavehorn on 06/04/25 12:20 AM

Hello everyone,

I'm a chef travelling to Italy to take a course at Slow Food University in Pollenzo from June 30 to July 3. I have 3 nights prior to arrival in Torino on the 29th that I was hoping to use to visit France. I'd love to hear from those with experience where you think I should go for 3 nights before heading to Torino. I was considering Marseilles. My only interest is cuisine and I'd like the easiest travel from France to Italy possible since I don't have a lot of time. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

-Dave

Posted by jcmdunc3

Phoenix, Arizona

06/04/25 12:29 AM

66 posts

Does it have to be in France? The world goes to Italy for dinner; Italy goes to Bologna.

Posted by Philip

🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️

06/04/25 12:30 AM

3377 posts

I would definitely recommend Marseille. Because of the African, Italian and Corsican influences, cuisines are varied and unique.

Posted by Judy

Long Beach, Ca, usa

06/04/25 02:29 AM

2159 posts

Marseille, for sure!
I don't know the best way for you to get from there to Torino. Maybe others will have suggestions for that.

Posted by janettravels44

Chicago

06/04/25 06:04 AM

9099 posts

I'd choose Bologna and stay in Italy.

Posted by WengenK

Wengen

06/04/25 06:42 AM

3143 posts

Lyon. The Food Capital of France.

Paul Bocuse's hometown. And easy to get to from Torino.

Posted by Badger

Uppsala, Sweden

06/04/25 08:56 AM

7569 posts

I'd also vote for Lyon. It's often called the gastronomic capital of France and is an easy train trip from Turin.

Posted by Elizabeth

L'Occitanie, France

06/04/25 09:04 AM

11139 posts

Lyon. The food capital of France. TrenItalia has direct trains to Torino from Lyon.

Posted by jphbucks

SoCal

06/04/25 12:21 PM

1801 posts

One more vote for Lyon. No better food city on earth.

Posted by Elizabeth

L'Occitanie, France

06/05/25 07:40 AM

11139 posts

There's a lot of, shall we say "enthusiasm". LOL I'm not sure it's still the best in the world, but this from Wikipedia is a quick history:
"In the 19th century, middle-class women, nicknamed the "Lyonnaise mothers", left their homes to work as cooks and created brand new culinary traditions incorporating their regional roots.

In 1935, the food critic Curnonsky described the city of Lyon as the "world capital of gastronomy".

In the 21st century, Lyon's cuisine is defined by simplicity and quality, and is exported to other parts of France and abroad. With more than a thousand eateries, the city of Lyon has one of the highest concentrations of restaurants per capita in France. "