Walking tours · pay what you like
Free walking tours in Turin: the city centre on a tip-based tour
Free walking tours are guided walks you book at no cost and pay for with a tip at the end, in whatever amount feels fair. In Turin they are run by a few local guides and organisations, usually along a classic route that links Porta Nuova, Piazza Castello and the Mole in about three hours.
- CostFree to book, tip what you like at the end
- Usual meeting pointPiazza Carlo Felice, Porta Nuova metro exit
- DurationAbout 2.5–3 hours, 4–5 km on foot
- LanguagesUsually English, Spanish and Italian
- Museum entryNot included: you see the exteriors
- Usual tipAbout €10–20 per person
Which ticket to choose
| Ticket | Best for | from | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tour of the historic centre | New arrivals who want to get their bearings in a morning | €0 + tip | Book on the organiser’s website and cancel if you cannot make it |
| Free tour on a booking platform | Those who want to compare several guides and times in one place | €0 + tip | See our page on GuruWalk |
| Paid guided tour | Visitors who prefer a small group, a specific theme or museum entry | fixed price, varies | Useful for the Egyptian Museum or the Royal Palace, which free tours do not enter |
| Themed evening tour | Those who have seen the centre and want legends and underground Turin | about €32–39 | For example Somewhere’s Magic Turin and Underground Turin tours |
How a free walking tour works
The free walking tour began in Europe’s capitals and is now found almost everywhere: a guide leads a group on foot for two or three hours around the city’s main sights, with no ticket to buy. You sign up online for free, turn up at the meeting point on time and at the end everyone gives the guide a tip of their choice. With no fixed price, the quality of the storytelling matters a great deal: guides live on what they receive and are often people who love their city.
They are ideal on your first day, to get your bearings, understand how Turin is laid out and pick up practical tips on where to eat and what to see next.
Who runs them in Turin
There is no single company behind the “free walking tour” label in Turin: a few local organisations and several independent guides offer them. One of the best known is Free Tour Turin, a social enterprise that runs a city-centre walk starting from Piazza Carlo Felice, at the Porta Nuova metro exit next to the tourist information point. According to its website, tours in English and Spanish usually run Thursday to Monday at 10:30 and tours in Italian at weekends; the same route also appears on the Free Walking Tour Italia network’s website.
Other guides publish their tours on dedicated platforms such as GuruWalk, where you can compare times, languages and reviews for several options: see our page on GuruWalk in Turin. Days and times change with the seasons, so always check the calendar before planning your morning.
The classic route through the centre
The most common walk crosses the city’s Baroque heart in about 4–5 km:
- Piazza Carlo Felice and Via Roma, the grand arcaded street linking Porta Nuova station to the centre.
- Piazza San Carlo, Turin’s “drawing room”, with its twin churches and historic cafés.
- Piazza Carignano, with the palace that housed Italy’s first parliament.
- Piazza Castello, with Palazzo Madama and the Royal Palace.
- The Cathedral and Porta Palatina, between the Duomo and the remains of Roman Turin.
- Via Po and the Mole Antonelliana, the city’s symbol, and on some versions on to Piazza Vittorio Veneto and the Gran Madre church.
Along the way the guide covers the House of Savoy, Turin’s time as Italy’s first capital, its industries and its sweet traditions, from bicerin to gianduiotti.
Tipping and etiquette
- The tip is the guide’s pay: €10–20 per person is what many participants consider fair for a good three-hour tour. Give more or less depending on how it went.
- Cancel if you are not coming: on some platforms the guide pays a fee for every person booked, and places are limited.
- Be on time: the group leaves at the stated time and catching up along the route is not always easy.
- Bring water and comfortable shoes, plus a hat in summer: many stops are in sunny squares.
After the tour: museums and tickets
A free tour shows you the city from the outside. If you want to go inside the places the guide described, plan your afternoon: the Egyptian Museum is a few steps from Piazza Carignano, the Royal Museums and Palazzo Madama face Piazza Castello, and the Mole with the Cinema Museum is at the end of the route. For the busiest museums it is worth booking, especially at weekends; if you plan to see many in a few days, consider the Torino+Piemonte Card.
Free tour or paid tour?
A free tour is perfect for a first look, for travellers on a budget and for anyone who likes deciding what to pay. A paid tour has a fixed price and usually offers smaller groups, a specific theme or museum entry with the guide inside. If you are interested in the city’s legends and underground spaces, there are also themed evening tours such as those run by Somewhere. The two are not mutually exclusive: many visitors take a free tour in the morning and a guided museum visit in the afternoon.
Photos
FAQ
Is a free walking tour really free?
Booking is free and there is no set price, but you are expected to tip the guide at the end according to how much you enjoyed it. For the guides, that tip is their pay.
How much should I tip?
There is no required amount. Many people give €10–20 per person for a three-hour tour; children usually do not count. Carry some cash, although some guides also accept card or app payments.
Is there a company called Turin Free Walking Tour?
The name is generally used for the city’s tip-based tours, which several organisers run. One of the best known is Free Tour Turin, which starts from Piazza Carlo Felice; other tours are listed on platforms such as GuruWalk.
Do I need to book?
Yes, almost always. Booking is free and lets the guide know how many people to expect. If your plans change, cancel: it is a courtesy to the guide and to anyone on the waiting list.
Does the tour go inside museums or the Cathedral?
No, it covers squares, streets and façades. Museums such as the Egyptian Museum, the Royal Museums or the Mole need a separate ticket, before or after the tour.
Is it suitable for children and people who cannot walk far?
The route is flat but covers 4–5 km with some standing stops. It works for children who are used to walking; a pushchair is manageable thanks to the arcades and wide pavements in the centre.
What happens if it rains?
Tours usually go ahead, making use of the city’s arcades. In very bad weather the organiser may cancel and let people who booked know.