Car Rental in Turin

Why rent a car in Turin?

Turin is a fascinating place to explore. Although large and impressive, it is more relaxed than the other great cities of Italy such as Rome and Milan. Its castles and churches are breathtaking, it has some of the best museums in the country, and its local cuisine will surprise even the most demanding gormets. With the freedom of a car, you can later continue your travels to the nearby Alps, the sea, or even neighboring countries like Switzerland and France.

Top ways to enter Turin

• Turin Airport: Also known as Turin-Caselle and Sandro Pertini Airport, Turin Airport serves around 4 million passengers every year. A hub for Blue Air, it has flights by more than 20 other airlines connecting the airport to destinations in all parts of Europe as well as some in North Africa. The airport is located about 16km (10 miles) north of Turin’s city center.
• Milan Malpensa Airport: The largest airport in Northern Italy and among the 25 busiest in Europe, Malpensa Airport handles nearly 25 million passengers every year. The airport offers flights to countless destinations in Europe as well as some in Africa, the Middle East, East and South Asia, and the Americas. Located about 130km (81 miles) northeast of Turin, the airport can be reached by car in about 90 minutes.
• Genoa Airport: Also known as Cristoforo Colombo Airport (the famous explorer was born in the city), Genoa Airport has flights by more than 20 different airlines including low-cost carriers like easyJet, Vueling, and Volotea. Serving the capital of the Liguria Region, the airport is located 163km (101 miles) southeast of Turin and can be reached in less than two hours.
• Milan Linate Airport: Another international airport serving Milan, Linate Airport is a big hub for the national carrier Alitalia and is also served by 11 other airlines. The airport hosts a number of domestic flights as well as flights to and from France, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, Romania, and other countries. Located near the city center of Milan, Linate Airport is about 160km (99 miles) northeast of Turin and can be reached by car in less than two hours.
• By rail: If arriving in Turin by train, you can conveniently pick up your rental car at the Porta Nuova Railway Station or the Porta Susa Railway Station.

City facts

• Turin enjoys a subtropical climate with drier winters and more humid summers than the rest of Italy. The average temperature is 22°C  (72°F) in July, the warmest month, although temperature can be significantly higher on some summer days and heat waves are not uncommon. The average temperature is 2°C  (36°F) in January, the coldest month, making Turin one of the coldest large cities in Italy. 
• The first known civilization to have inhabited Turin was the Taurini, a Celto-Ligurian people who gave the city its name. Over its long history, Turin has seen many legendary rulers including the Ancient Romans, Ostrogoths, Lombards, and Carolingians. Nowadays, Turin is the capital city of Piedmont, a region made distinct by its accent, culture, and traditions.
• Turin is also known for its importance in the automotive industry. Home to iconic brands such as Fiat, Lancia, and Alfa Romeo, Turin has been at the forefront of automobile production since the 19th century. The city has taken this legacy further by investing heavily in green technologies and electric vehicles.

Top sights and activities

• Villa della Regina. The impressive royal palace was built by the House of Savoy, the rulers of Turin, in the 17th century and has been one of the city’s landmarks ever since. The palace is surrounded by a garden as well as a vineyard that’s older than the building itself and has been providing grapes for wine since the late 16th century.
• Egyptian Museum. Known as Egizio in Italian, this unique museum has the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts outside Egypt itself. With exhibitions on Ancient Egypt as well as on the later Coptic Christian and Muslim civilizations that came to rule that land, the museum houses many unique artifacts such as the Altar of Isis and the cliff temple of Ellesjia. The museum was renovated in late 2015 and is now even more impressive than before.
• Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. Turin’s main Duomo, this impressive cathedral was first built more than 500 years ago and was later enlarged to house the mysterious Shroud of Turin. Although the shroud itself is rarely displayed, the cathedral is nonetheless a very impressive place to visit thanks to its ornate chapels, towers, and church organ.
• Risorgimento Museum. Located a stone’s throw from the Egyptian Museum, the Resurgence Museum is dedicated to the tumultuous unification of Italy in the 19th century. Turin was at the very heart of these events, and the museum is located in the building where Victor Emmanuel was proclaimed the king of Italy in 1861 (Turin even served as the capital of the newfound kingdom for the first four years of its existence).
• Mole Antonelliana. This iconic symbol of Turin is a 167-meter-tall tower that originally served as a synagogue before being repurposed as a museum dedicated to Italian cinema. The tower’s observation deck offers panoramic views of the city and the surrounding Alps, while the museum’s collection includes memorabilia from classic Italian films like Fellini’s La Dolce Vita and De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves.
• Turin’s Coffee Culture. Turin is famous for its coffee, and a visit to the city is incomplete without experiencing its vibrant café scene. Some of the most popular and historic coffee shops in Turin include Caffè San Carlo, Caffè Torino, and Caffè Mulassano. Take a break from sightseeing and enjoy a classic espresso or cappuccino in one of these elegant and historic cafes.
• National Museum of Cinema. The National Museum of Cinema is located inside the Mole Antonelliana and is one of the most unique museums in the world. It is home to a vast collection of films, cameras, and other movie-making equipment, as well as interactive exhibits that allow visitors to experience the history of cinema firsthand. The museum also has a panoramic elevator that takes visitors to the top of the Mole Antonelliana for breathtaking views of the city.
• Superga Basilica. Perched on a hill overlooking the city, Superga Basilica is one of Turin’s most iconic landmarks. The basilica was built in the 18th century to commemorate a battle won by the House of Savoy, and it houses the tombs of many members of the royal family. Visitors can take a funicular railway to the top of the hill for stunning views of Turin and the surrounding countryside.
• Borgo Medioevale. One of the most interesting of its kind in Italy, Borgo Mediovale is an open-air museum that showcases the typical architecture of Turin from the late medieval period. The park itself, which is located on the banks of the Po River south of the city center, dates back to the late 19th century and nowadays welcomes about 150,000 visitors every year.

Traffic and parking

• The speed limit in cities is 50km/h, although in certain areas the speed limit may be reduced to 30km/h. 
• Main highways are limited to 130km/h, non-major highways to 110km/h, and local roads to 90km/h. During the rain the limits are respectively lowered to 110km/h, 100km/h, and 80km/h. The general speed limit is lowered to 50km/h during heavy fog or other cases of bad visibility.
• Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation need to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.00% for novice drivers. Being over the allowed limit can result in hefty fines and even imprisonment. 
• The emergency number, like elsewhere in the EU, is 112.

Toll roads

There are numerous toll roads in Italy. The exact fee depends on the route of your choice and type of vehicle. See the official Italian toll road website for more information. Use the website’s toll road calculator to find out exactly how much you’ll have to pay for using the toll roads along your planned route. 

Ideas for day trips

• La Venaria Reale. Located in the town of the same name, this immense palace was first built in the 17th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it houses impressive baroque structures such as the chapel of Sant’Uberto, the Galleria Grande, and the Diana’s Salon. Located just 14km (8.7 miles) northeast of Turin, La Venaria can be reached in about 20 minutes by car.
• Alba. Located about an hour’s drive southeast, the town of Alba is one of the most popular destinations for a day trip in the area. Known for its well-preserved architecture that includes Ancient Roman walls and a mountain slope setting, it is also surrounded by some of the most bucolic vineyards in all of Piedmont.
• The Italian Alps. Turin is a city that feels its mountain legacy and their proximity is why so many inhabitants have second homes in the thousands of little villages in the valleys. During summer, if you have a day and want to relax, take a trip to Gran Paradiso National Park, Orsiera Rocciavrè Park, or Val Varaita Park. During winter, the Alps offer a wide range of ski resorts from one of the world's greatest, Via Lattea, to a number of small ski areas which are less crowded and cheaper.
• Aosta Valley. One of the smallest regions of Italy, the Aosta Valley is also one of the most picturesque. Home to the impressive Alps, it borders some of Europe’s highest summits such as Mont Blanc (which is located on the French side of the border) and the Matterhorn (which is in Switzerland). Should the heights get you dizzy, drive down to the valleys where you’ll find plenty of cute, historic villages, each with their own story to tell and their own special delicacy to offer. Aosta, the capital city of the region, is located about 115km (71.4 miles) northwest of Turin and can be reached in about 90 minutes.
• Lake Maggiore. Not to be confused with Maggiore, one of the most notable Italian rental car companies, this is one of the largest lakes in the country, with its northern end extending into neighboring Switzerland. Known for the alpine landscape that surrounds it, the coastline of the lake is dotted by picturesque towns and villages. Other attractions include several large botanical gardens, as well as the small, but beautiful Borromean Archipelago off the town of Verbania. The drive from Turin to the southern tip of the lake can be made in about 90 minutes.
• Cuneo. Nowadays a quaint town of about 55,000 people, Cuneo is known for its heroic past as it was one of the places to put up the fiercest resistance against Nazi Germany during the Second World War, with several landmarks dedicated to it. The town is also known for its well-preserved architecture and as a gateway to the nearby Langhe region that boasts some of the best red wines in Italy. The drive from Turin to Cuneo can be done in under 90 minutes.
• Gran Paradiso National Park. Possibly the most scenic nature area in Italy, Gran Paradiso is the perfect place for long hikes in the mountains or simply for a refreshing day outdoors. The park is home to a number of unique species of wildlife, including the Alpine ibex (Gran Paradiso was originally built to protect this wild goat from overhunting), the grey wolf, and the Eurasian eagle-owl. About 150km (93 miles) northeast of Turin, the national park can be reached in two hours.
• Courmayeur. Located in the Aosta Valley and just 118km (73 miles) from Turin, Courmayeur is a stunning ski resort surrounded by alpine vistas and spectacular glaciers. From skiing to snowboarding or even just strolling around its idyllic streets and enjoying the scenery, a day trip to this gorgeous town will certainly be worth it.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car types in Turin are mini, economy, and compact. The most popular rental cars are the Citroën C1, the Fiat 500, and the Peugeot 308.

Further destinations

• Milan. Not only the most stylish city in Italy, Milan is also home to a wealth of famous landmarks from its gothic cathedral to the La Scala opera house, the Brera art gallery, and the modernist Pirelli tower. From here, you can also explore the rest of the Lombardy region starting with the beautiful Lake Como. Milan is about a two hour drive northeast of Turin.
• Genoa. Perhaps a little rougher around the edges than Turin, the famous port city is nonetheless a great travel destination. The independent spirit of the former maritime republic survives to this day, as do the countless landmarks of its well-preserved old town and the scenic area of the old port. The drive from Turin will take about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
• Switzerland. Turin is located near many interesting destinations in neighboring Switzerland. To the west is Geneva, the center of the French-speaking part of Switzerland and home to a stunning alpine lake. To the east is Ticino, the Italian-speaking part of the country that’s famous for picturesque towns like Lugano and Locarno. Both destinations can be reached in a couple of hours. Whichever way you choose to drive, you’ll be richly rewarded with culture, cuisine, and scenery. Keep in mind that to go from Italy to Switzerland you’ll have to cross an international border, so ask your car rental provider in advance if they permit it.
• Italian Riviera. Also known as La Riviera di Levante to differentiate it from the French part of the riviera, this beautiful stretch of coast in the province of Liguria is one of the favorite vacation spots for Italians. With plenty of options for sunbathing and doing water sports, the region is also famous for the town of Sanremo and its impressive historic center as well as for the Cinque Terre, five small fishing villages located in the rocky hills that are washed by the Mediterranean waves. Sanremo is just 230km (143 miles) south of Turin and you can explore the rest of the coastline from there.

Car rental prices in Turin

• Small cars - from $13 per day
• Medium cars - from $16 per day
• Large cars - from $25 per day
• Station wagons - from $36 per day
• SUVs - from $18 per day
• Vans - from $59 per day
• Premium cars - from $88 per day
• Convertibles - from $82 per day

Money-saving and other tips

There are things you can do to land a great rental car in Turin:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Turin is the cheapest in November when renting a car is a whole 75% cheaper than the yearly average. Come visit Piedmont in autumn!