My husband and I are planning our biennial trip to Italy in October 2019 and are running into a couple snafus: Originally, we had 5 nights in florence planned (with day trips), 2 nights in bologna, 3 nights in Torino (we have a 2 day wine tour to the piedmont and only half a day of daylight in torino, except the evening) and 3 nights in Venice (one day spent in the dolomites). So my question is, do we have enough time in Torino, given the fact that we will always be there at night but only a partial day? Is there a lot to see there? This is more train hopping than we are used to but I'm pretty set on doing the the wine tour next year. We fly into rome, out of venezia. Btw, I'm not a serial poster, I am also planning a trip with my dad to Italy in the spring. So I'm probably going to be blowing up the feed, as I'm traveling to parts of Italy both times, that I'm not well aquainted.
Posted by
Freedonia
14944 posts
I liked Torino. Spent one full day and two nights.
One of the highlights for me was the automobile museum. It was excellent. Torino is the home of Fiat and the museum is on the grounds of the former Fiat Factory.
Posted by
Washington DC
27062 posts
Haven't been to Torino yet, but one day in the Dolomites seems really short. I don't know where you plan to go, but Cortina d'Ampezzo's a 2 hr. 45 min. drive from Venice, according to ViaMichelin.com.
Posted by
Hayden, Idaho, USA
7248 posts
We really enjoyed our two days in Torino. We took the cogwheel train up to the Superga, went through the Royal Palace, my husband took the glass elevator up through the Mole, and we had a fantastic time participating in the MITO Music Festival finale in the San Carlo piazza. Check your day-of-week because some museums, etc. are closed on specific days. The Egyptian museum was closed the days we were there.
Personally, I think you need more days in the Venice & Dolomite count. I would drop Bologna to spend more time in the other locations.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11300 posts
You should have a full day in Torino. It is underestimated and oft-missed. Yet hose scurrying about Italy. I concur with Jean: Drop Bologna, add a night to Torino and the other to Venice. Save the Dolomites for another tip when you have time to spend 3 or 4 nights at a minimum there..
Posted by
OP
newark, DE, United States
110 posts
Ok, I am going to speak to my husband about adding a day in Torino. I was worried that it might not be enough time. As for Venice, we have been there every couple years, for as long as I can remember, so I don't feel the need to add any time there. I do love it but prefer it at night and to day trip from there while the throngs of people engulf the city. But we will be leaving from there. I hadn't really considered doing anything but spending a full day seeing the dolomites. I guess I'll have to look into it to see what my options are.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
I agree with Laurel about dropping Bologna. If you're interested in museums, the quality and variety are better in Torino. I never run out of things to do in Venice. But you could day trip to or make a short stop in Padua, if you haven't been there, for university trappings that rival or best Bologna's (e.g., each has a historic dissection theater).
Posted by
OP
newark, DE, United States
110 posts
@Laura, we have been to padova before. I'm not as concerned with museums (although we do visit them) as the local food. We go to Italy primarily to eat. We go to Paris for art... although we've admittedly gotten lucky at the Strozzi in Florence, the last several times we've been. So I would definitely be interested in some of the museums that Torino has to offer but I'm VERY interested in the food that bologna has to offer. And I've read that the local food in Torino is excellent as well. Ideally, I'd be there for a month at a time but it's just not feasible with our schedules. Guess I'll have to sacrifice something....