Hop-on hop-off bus in Turin: routes, stops and tickets

How the Turin sightseeing bus works

Turin’s hop-on hop-off service is run by City Sightseeing: red double-deckers with an open top deck, recorded commentary in eight languages and free on-board Wi-Fi. Your ticket lets you get on and off at every stop for as long as it is valid, so the bus works both as a scenic tour and as a shuttle between museums.

Every route starts from stop 1 in Piazza Castello, at the corner of Via Po, where the operator also has an information point. From there you are a few steps from the Royal Palace, Palazzo Madama and the arcades of Via Po that lead towards the Mole.

The three routes and where they go

Each route covers a different part of the city, and not all of them run year-round.

Red route – centre and river Po (all year)

The classic loop, about 50 minutes: it passes the main museums in the centre, runs along the Po to Valentino Park with its Medieval Village and Castle, and climbs towards the hill, where the city opens up with the Alps behind it. It is the only route that also runs from November to March.

Blue route – Lingotto and industrial Turin (April–October)

About 70 minutes heading south: the National Automobile Museum, Lingotto with its rooftop test track and the Pinacoteca Agnelli, Eataly and the Winter Olympics sites. This is the route that best justifies the ticket, because these areas are a long walk from the centre.

Green route – Lavazza, the stadium and Venaria (April–October)

The longest, about 80 minutes: it passes the Lavazza Museum and the Parco Dora district, reaches the Allianz Stadium and Juventus Museum and continues to the Palace of Venaria. The service has been suspended at times, so if this is the route you want, check that it is running on your dates.

When it is worth it, and when it is not

Turin’s historic centre is compact: from Piazza Castello the Egyptian Museum is five minutes on foot, the Mole Antonelliana under ten, and the arcades keep you dry even when it rains. If you only want the centre, you do not need the bus.

It earns its keep in other situations:

• on your first day, to get a feel for the city before deciding where to return;
• if you want to reach Valentino, Lingotto or the Automobile Museum without changing lines;
• with children or anyone who cannot walk far, since every stop doubles as a rest;
• in summer, when the open deck is the nicest way to ride along the tree-lined boulevards.

If you just need to get from A to B, the GTT network costs far less: a day ticket is €3.70 in digital form and the metro reaches Lingotto in a few minutes from Porta Nuova. Everything is in our guide to getting around Turin.

Which ticket to choose

On Tiqets the sightseeing bus ticket starts at €28; the product page shows its validity and the routes included. If you have already decided to visit a museum along the way, a combo saves you a queue and a separate purchase:

• National Cinema Museum + bus, from €48: entry to the museum inside the Mole without queuing. The panoramic lift, which rises to a terrace at about 85 metres, has its own ticket and time slots and does not appear to be included.
• Automobile Museum + bus, from €45: handy with the Blue route, which stops outside the museum.
• Palace of Venaria + bus, from €48: only makes sense when the Green route is running.

The Torino+Piemonte Card, from €29.90, covers entry to many museums but not the bus: it gives a reduction on the City Sightseeing fare. It pays off if you visit several paid museums in two or three days; for the bus alone you do not need it.

Practical tips for the ride

• Go early: in the morning the top deck is quieter and the light on the hill is better.
• In summer there is no shade upstairs, so bring a hat and water. In rain or cold the lower deck is enclosed and heated.
• Timetables and frequency change with the season: check the operator’s schedule, especially the last afternoon departure, so you are not stranded at Lingotto or Venaria.
• Keep your ticket on your phone: you show it to the driver each time you board.
• Your own earphones are often more comfortable than the ones handed out for the audio guide.

A sample day

Morning: the Egyptian Museum on foot, with entry booked for opening time. Lunch around Piazza Carignano. Afternoon: the Red route from Piazza Castello, off at Valentino for the Medieval Village and a walk by the Po, then back on and into the centre. Evening: the Mole Antonelliana, when the queue for the lift is usually shorter.

From April to October you could instead give the afternoon to the Blue route: the Automobile Museum, lunch or a snack at Eataly and the rooftop track at Lingotto. For more ideas see things to do in Turin.