Stay a little longer: royal palaces, wine hills, Alpine peaks and the sea, all within two hours of Turin.
The Congress closes on Friday 28 May, just in time for a weekend in Piedmont. Turin sits at the centre of a remarkably varied region: UNESCO-listed royal residences on the edge of the city, the vineyards of Barolo and Barbaresco an hour to the south, the lakes and the highest peaks of the Alps to the north, and the Italian Riviera less than two hours away. Late May is one of the best times to explore: long days, mild temperatures, gardens in full bloom and snow still on the mountain tops.
Below are our favourite ideas, with honest travel times and the essentials you need to plan them.
At a glance
| Destination | Why go | From Turin | Time needed |
| Royal residences around Turin | Savoy palaces and gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site | 30–40 min by public transport or car | Half day |
| Superga & the Turin hills | Baroque basilica and the best view over the city and the Alps | About 40 min (tram + rack railway) | Half day |
| Sacra di San Michele | Thousand-year-old abbey perched on a rocky peak | About 1 h by car | Half day |
| Langhe, Roero & Monferrato | UNESCO wine landscapes: Barolo, Barbaresco, Alba | About 1 h by car; 1 h 15–1 h 30 by train to Alba | 1–2 days |
| Lake Maggiore & Lake Orta | Borromean Islands, villas and lakeside villages | About 1 h 45 by car; around 2 h by train | 1–2 days |
| Aosta Valley & Mont Blanc | Roman Aosta, castles, the Skyway cable car | 1 h 15–2 h by car or train | 1–2 days |
| Genoa & the Riviera | Historic port city, Portofino, Cinque Terre | About 2 h to Genoa by train | 1–3 days |
| Milan | The Last Supper, the Duomo, fashion and design | About 1 h by high-speed train | 1 day |
Times are indicative, one way. Check current timetables on trenitalia.com before you set off.
Without leaving Turin: the Savoy heritage
For two centuries the House of Savoy ringed its capital with palaces, hunting lodges and gardens, now together a UNESCO World Heritage site. All are easy to fit around the Congress programme:
Tip: the Torino+Piemonte Card gives free entry to the main museums and royal residences and discounts on many attractions. It pays for itself quickly if you plan to visit two or three sites.
Day trips and weekend escapes
Langhe, Roero & Monferrato — wine country
Rolling hills striped with vineyards, medieval villages and some of Italy’s greatest wines: Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Moscato. The landscapes are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Base yourself in Alba or one of the hilltop villages, visit a family winery and stay for a long lunch: this is the home of the Slow Food movement.
Lake Maggiore & Lake Orta
Belle Époque villas, palm-lined promenades and the Borromean Islands, with their palaces and terraced gardens at their most beautiful in late spring. Nearby, quieter Lake Orta hides the romantic village of Orta San Giulio and its island.
Aosta Valley & Mont Blanc
Roman ruins in the heart of Aosta, medieval castles along the valley and, at its head, Mont Blanc. The Skyway Monte Bianco cable car rises from Courmayeur to almost 3,500 metres: an unforgettable view, even in May.
Genoa & the Italian Riviera
A maze of medieval alleys, the Renaissance palaces of the Strade Nuove (another UNESCO site) and one of Europe’s largest aquariums. From Genoa, the coast leads east to Camogli, Portofino and the Cinque Terre.
Milan
Leonardo’s Last Supper, the Duomo and its rooftop terraces, the Brera district and the fashion streets of the Quadrilatero: Milan is just an hour away by high-speed train, an easy day trip or a convenient last stop before flying home from Malpensa.
Further afield
Turin is on Italy’s high-speed rail network, so a longer journey is easy to add to your trip: Florence and Venice are about 3 hours away, Rome around 4 hours 30, while Lyon and Paris are reachable by direct international trains. See Getting to Turin for operators and booking.
Plan your trip