How to avoid overtourism on a trip to Italy

Smaller is more beautiful: while Paris, London, Amsterdam or Milan struggle with overtourism, smaller cities such as Lyon, Manchester, Turin, Rotterdam or Izmir invite you to enjoy a more relaxed visit.

Few cities rival Milan, the capital of bella figura, in elegance — but beauty here comes at a price, quite literally. If you continue by high-speed train to the capital of Piedmont, you embark on a small journey through time. Compared to fashion powerhouse Milan, Turin feels almost like it is still asleep. Its days as a royal residence city are long gone, and historic Art Deco passages like the Galleria San Federico exude a relaxed charm. Along the Po River, scenic walking paths invite you to slow down — especially atmospheric at the Murazzi del Po. Yet discoveries await around every corner, above all culinary ones.

Turin is considered Italy’s secret coffee capital: as early as 1839, the city counted 98 cafés for just 120,000 inhabitants. Under the arcades of Piazza San Carlo, historic establishments like Caffè Torino tell their stories over a giandujotto or a bicerin. Next door, Caffè San Carlo, opened in 1822, was Italy’s first gas-lit café. At Caffè Platti on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, even the tramezzino sandwich was invented. The city is also home to Italy’s largest open-air market — a ​“sea of cultures” at Piazza della Repubblica. Opposite the former Fiat factories, now an industrial landmark, lies Eataly: the world’s largest gourmet marketplace and a curated best-of Italian cuisine. Its global success story began here in Turin in 2007.

In the main gallery of the Savoy royal residence, you’ll find the Armeria Reale, part of the Polo Reale museum complex — an essential stop in the city. But even older treasures await: Turin hosts the second-largest collection of Egyptian antiquities after Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum. The Museo Egizio features around 30,000 exhibits, including a perfectly preserved mummy and a statue of Ramses II carved from black diorite.

Piedmont is a paradise for food lovers and the birthplace of the Slow Food movement. Its distinctive cuisine — shaped by historic trade routes between the Ligurian coast and the Alps — is reflected in the high density of Michelin-starred restaurants. A standout is the historic Del Cambio on Piazza Carignano, in operation since the 18th century. Contemporary Italian cuisine is reinterpreted by rising star Cesare Grandi at La Limonaia. Turin is also a vermouth stronghold — the drink was invented here in 1786. One of the best places to experience it is Affini Torino on Via Belfiore, a cornerstone of the lively San Salvario district.

Italy’s first fashion capital? Historically, that was Turin: in 1911, the first woman appeared in long trousers at the Expo; in 1912, the Ente Nazionale della Moda was founded; and in 1950, the country’s first fashion fair took place here. Today, shopping highlights include Verdelilla, a 400-square-metre boutique offering Faliero Sarti scarves and Ibrigu designs. For airy, playful fashion, visit designer Kristina Ti’s store on Via Maria Vittoria 18.

A reliable choice: just a few minutes’ walk from the Museo Egizio, a former bank building has been transformed into one of the city’s most exclusive addresses. The elegant Hilton Turin Centre also sets new standards in wellness: at the Orya Spa, you can experience authentic hammam rituals and a 24K gold facial treatment by Orlane Paris.

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