9 popular things for students to do in Turin

There's plenty to do in Turin as an international student, from visiting nearby cities to attending some world famous music events.

Shreya

4 minute read

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Updated on 23 Apr 2024

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Studying

When you’re trying to decide which city to study abroad at, it takes more than just award-winning universities to make a good decision. After all, the city you pick will be your new home, even if it’s only for a few months. If Turin is on your list, we’re here to tell you that this city is a solid option for students!

Turin or Torino is an up and coming city in Italy where there’re a lot of free, unusual, unique, and cultural things to do, such as visiting the medieval village, the largest European outdoor food market, or trying out Bicerin — the local chocolate-coffee drink adored by everyone. Besides that list, there’re also some things to do that are particularly popular among international students studying at the universities in Turin.

Turin is known throughout Italy and beyond for its musical events, whether it be artists playing on an open-air stage or a festival drawing in tens of thousands of people. Most people have to travel to Turin to experience these world-famous music festivals, but not you. As an international student living in Turin, you can attend any of them easily!

Electronic music festivals that are popular in Turin include:

• Kappa FuturFestival in July
• C2C Festival (Club to Club Festival) in November
• Movement Music Festival in October
• Bonus- Eurovision Song Contest in May

For those with a more relaxed taste, try classical music at the MiTo Settembre Musica or the Jazz Festival.

Turin is almost like Italy’s artistic capital. Whether you’re just walking down the street or actively looking for art, you won’t be disappointed with what you see.

When it comes to art, Turin proudly shows off its contemporary and urban art to the rest of the world. Catch the Artissima Art Fair for some contemporary art or witness the elaborate installations of the Contemporary Art Network Torino + Piemonte. For some free art, walk through the streets of Barriera di Milano to see Millo’s famous street art pieces or see the Museum of Urban Art, an open-air museum.

Every winter, you can also find the streets in Salerno lit up by magical light-based artworks called Luci d’artista. It’s a wonderful treat for the eyes that’ll make your Christmas abroad even more magical.

Interested in cinema? Each year, you can attend the Torino Film Festival and the Torino Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.

Turin is a fantastic place for any sporting fan, but especially for those who love football. Turin has 2 well-known football teams: the Juventus F.C., who play at the Juventus Stadium, and the Torino F.C., who thrill fans at the state-of-the-art Olympic Stadium.

You’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants in the bustling vibrant area of Piazza Vittorio. Go for a meal after class or enjoy a few drinks after submitting your assignment.

If you’re looking for a place to dance the night away, go to San Salvario, a multicultural neighbourhood known for its eclectic bars, nightclubs and restaurants. The area offers plenty of late-night fun experiences throughout the week.

Some places that are frequented by students include Mad Dog Social Club, Smile Tree, Porto di Savona or Flora.

Want to stand where the Romans once stood? Quadrilatero Romano is the area that boasts captivating ruins from the Roman era. Beyond experiencing the remnants of this fascinating civilization, you can also enjoy strolling through its narrow streets, exploring the vintage shops and boutiques or stepping into one of the many lovely restaurants and bars. Today, the area is also popular among students as one of the nightlife areas.

Cortile del Maglio, known as Maglio’s Courtyard, is conveniently located in the Aurora neighbourhood. Once a part of the military arsenal, today it’s a large covered square, surrounded by multiple bars and places to host exhibitions. It has become a busy hub for theatre performances, exhibitions, fairs, dance recitals, concerts and even local markets.

If you’re searching for even more things to do in your spare time in Turin, stay up-to-date with the events organized by the student associations at your university. Such events are great for meeting new friends and getting to know more about Turin. Typical events organised by student associations include beer tasting, bar hopping, trips to nearby cities, game nights, etc.

Turin is located close to a lot of fun and exciting locations. So while you’re studying abroad in Turin, you can easily visit these locations by train or bus. Some nearby places include;

• Sestriere for skiing
• Milan
• Bologna
• Florence
• The Alps
• Barolo, a UNESCO Heritage site that’s also a wine region
• Aosta, a place for hikes, Roman ruins, or skiing.

As a student, you’re more likely to be on a tighter budget. You might also want to save up more to travel or spend on eating out or going to the many weekly student parties.

Thankfully Turin’s cost of living is affordable. One way students in Turin can save money is by going to the local weekly markets, such as the Porta Palazzo Market, Mercato Central Torino, or Gran Balon* for antiques.

Turin offers a lot of things to do for students. You might be wondering, how can I keep to my student budget and also enjoy my time abroad? As a student under 29, you should purchase a PYOU card for €5. Although this card is a contactless travel card for the Turin public transport system, you can also use it to enter museums, concerts, events, sports facilities and more at discounted rates.

Now that you know of the handful of things to do in Turin as an international student, you’re ready to start exploring the city! Are you on your way to Turin? Make sure to search for housing in Turin right away as there’s fierce competition, especially for a single room. Check out some of the best neighbourhoods to live in Turin.

Want to know more about Studying in Italy? Download the free e-book by filling out the form below.