The ultimate expat guide to Turin’s top 7 neighbourhoods

Discover the 7 best neighbourhoods in Turin and find out which one is the best based on quality of life, safety and internationality.

Stefano

5 minute read

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Updated on 22 Apr 2024

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Living

Turin is one of the best cities in Italy to live. It's charming, affordable and offer plenty of activities.

If you’re thinking of living in Turin and decide to find houses for rent in Turin, here’s the ultimate guide to its neighbourhoods to help you choose the one best suited to your needs.

Important note: if you’re planning to study in Turin, keep in mind that not all universities are in the same area. Check your university’s location before you decide on where to rent apartment in Turin for students. Turin is a city of 130 square km and around one million inhabitants: if you don't do your maths right, you can easily spend more than an hour on public transport.

The Centro is Turin's oldest district and walking through its streets you can breathe in the history of the city through the centuries.

The perimeter still roughly coincides with the colony of Augusta Taurinorum, the camp built by the Romans around 28 BC. The typical 'chessboard' structure has been preserved and the remains of the defensive walls are still visible!

Quality of Life

The centre of Turin offers all the amenities of a modern European city: Shops of a wide range of brands, bars, restaurants and offices. The streets of the centre are characterised by a well-organized sequence of wide, winding streets and majestic squares, including the famous Piazza Castello. In this part of the city public transport is well organized and available 24 hours a day.

All this luxury comes with a cost: the house prices here are among the highest in the city. The relative rental prices are as follows:

• Room: €470
• Apartment: €1200
• Studio: €850

Internationality

The centre of Turin attracts national and international tourists all year round, who come to admire its beauty, museums and events. Even though the majority of the permanent residents are locals, you’ll certainly come across expats.

Safety

The centre of Turin is generally one of the safest areas. Beware of the area beyond Corso Regina Margherita: from there you enter the so-called 'Porta Palazzo' district, you should definitely keep an eye out at night.

To the south of the historic centre you’ll find Crocetta - literally “little cross” - which derives its name from the 18th-century Beata Vergine delle Grazie church.

Quality of Life

Crocetta is a residential area just outside the centre. It offers many green spaces where you can relax and is well connected by public transport, as it is located halfway between the Porta Susa and Porta Nuova train stations.

These characteristics make it one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in Turin and the high demand translates into above-average rental prices.

This is what you can expect from the average rental prices in Crocetta:

• Room: € 450
• Apartment: € 1100
• Studio: € 800

Internationality

Its proximity to the centre and quality of life, make Crocetta attractive to locals and internationals alike. In addition, Politecnico University attracts many international students to its streets.

Safety

Crocetta has always been one of the safest neighbourhoods in the city.

San Salvario: the bohemian face of Turin to the southeast of the centre.

Quality of Life

Until ten years ago, San Salvario was one of the city's least preferred neighbourhoods. Nowadays, it’s multicultural face has made it a favourite destination for students and internationals when it comes to partying. Among its streets, you can find many affordable restaurants and clubs offering cocktails and live music.

This district is also home to one of the city's green lungs: Parco del Valentino, perfect for Sunday walks.

The prices in this neighbourhood are generally affordable. You should make sure that the street where you’re planning to rent doesn’t get too loud at night.

The average rental prices in San Salvario are:

• Room: € 400
• Apartment: € 850
• Studio: € 550

Internationality

Due to its characteristics, San Salvario attracts local artists and musicians, but also many students and internationals looking for fun.

Safety

Be careful of where you look for accommodation. The area around Porta Nuova Station is not very recommendable, both during the day and especially at night.

One of Turin's historic districts, north-east of the centre, nestled between the rivers Po and Dora Riparia and with a radical-chich soul.

Quality of Life

Vanchiglia is undoubtedly one of the youngest and fastest-growing neighbourhoods, and the rents are following this trend as well.

You should be prepared to pay the following rental prices:

• Room: € 450
• Apartment: € 1000
• Studio: € 700

Its narrow streets offer indie bars, typical Piemontese restaurants, but also vegan fast-food and organic shops. Given the short distance from the centre and the efficient public transport, it is also becoming populated by art workshops, start-ups and galleries. The nightlife is anything but boring, especially on weekends. Lastly, the proximity to the two rivers offers perfect green spaces for running.

Internationality

The district attracts both locals and internationals, drawn by the modern lifestyle and the fewer tourists roaming around. The Universities of Literature and Law are located here.

Safety

In general, Vanchiglia is considered a safe area to live in, although the nightlife can often lead to a lowering of safety standards.

Just outside the centre going west, Cenisia and Cit Turin are two areas with a shared past.

Quality of Life

Cenisia and Cit Turin have a past as industrial districts. They have still preserved some buildings that once were old factories, which have been complemented by modern architectural pieces. In addition to the mix, you can also find some art nouveau houses.

Given their proximity to the centre, to which they are well connected by trams and buses, prices in these districts are quite high. Although students can find better offers, you can expect the following rental prices:

• Room: € 400
• Apartment: € 1000
• Studio: € 800

The only negative aspect: Cenisia and Cit Turin are quite busy and there aren’t many green spaces.

Internationality

Cenisia and Cit Turin are considered two of the best neighbourhoods to live in Turin and are often chosen by locals. Due to the presence of Politecnico University, the student population is also high.

Safety

These are two residential and semi-central neighbourhoods, which offer good standards of safety.

Another story of transformation can be found in Turin's Borgo Po district. From a small and poor hamlet to a prestigious residential district.

Quality of Life

Borgo Po was once a small village on the outskirts of the city, inhabited by fishermen and washerwomen.

Today it’s one of Turin's most desirable - and expensive residential districts. It’s located not far from the centre, in the eastern part of the city.

With the exception of the part closest to the city though, the rest of Borgo Po is in a hilly area and therefore not well served by public transport.

• Room: € 450
• Apartment: € 1300
• Studio: € 850

Internationality

The district, given its high prices and upscale nature, is inhabited mainly by local families.

Safety

Borgo Po ranks as one of the safest neighbourhoods in Turin.

To the north-east of the city centre, just above Vanchiglia across the river Dora, Borgo Rossini is one of the neighbourhoods in which the city is investing right now.

Quality of Life

If you are thinking of moving to Turin and want to personally experience the changes that have seen various areas of the city completely transformed over the years, Borgo Rossini is the neighbourhood for you.

The condition of the neighbourhood was deteriorating, but thanks to intense urban redevelopment, it is now flourishing.

Rental prices, although still affordable, are slowly rising. The neighbourhood is well connected to the centre and its streets are lined with restaurants, bars and discrete nightlife. Art galleries and design studios are also opening up.

The relative accommodation costs in the area are:

• Room: € 450
• Apartment: € 900
• Studio: € 650

Internationality

Borgo Rossini is mainly inhabited by locals. The trend in recent years is for the area to increasingly attract the interest of students, including international ones. New student residences are going to be built here soon as well.

Safety

Safety in the area is improving compared to the past, but it’s still best to keep your eyes open.

Excited to start your life in Turin as an expat? Now that you know all there is about Turin’s ever-transforming neighbourhoods, you’re ready to make your informed decision and get to the rest of the items on your relocation checklist.

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