10 Things to Do in Turin with Kids

Turin is one of Italy's most child-friendly cities, offering a wealth of fascinating and entertaining activities. You'll find everything from educational museums to interactive activities that reveal local secrets. In addition, younger visitors can enjoy the benefits of nature in places such as the gardens of the Royal Palace. One advantage is that it has good transport links, as well as tours on the best tourist buses.

In the Piedmontese capital, you can also take your children on magic tours, walks through underground tunnels and water parks. Of course, you can't miss the most important thing about Turin: its cuisine. The city offers chocolate tastings, Neapolitan, Roman and Piedmontese pizza tours, as well as the opportunity to experience a royal Turin snack.

An exploration game is a way to stimulate children's creativity. During your trip to Turin, you can take advantage of a group activity that includes challenges that will help the whole family improve their motor, social and emotional skills. It is a tour of the old town in which you will have to solve puzzles like a professional detective to find special places. You will be on your own at all times, following an interactive route marked on a self-guided app that does not require an internet connection.

It is one of the best local tours for a reason, as you can start playing whenever you want. You will face a great puzzle, and as you solve the riddles, you will get new clues and reach new locations. Some of the iconic sites you may visit include Piazza Statuto, the Santuario della Consolata, St. John the Baptist Cathedral and the Egyptian Museum, where children can spend some time exploring.

The experience is available from £8 and you can participate with your family or friends, or even on your own if you are travelling unaccompanied. It is best to share the experience with four people to easily decipher the clues, or create teams to compete against each other. This way, you will discover what this Italian city was like centuries ago, as well as the ghost myths that surround Turin.

Another very interesting experience for children is a visit to the National Automobile Museum in Turin. It has an amazing collection of around 200 cars from 80 different brands. When accompanied by young children, it is best to avoid guided tours, as they can be tiring. Instead, you can purchase a ticket with an audio guide to explore on your own, without rushing or crowds.

This is one of the best museums in Turin, due to its age and variety of exhibits. Specifically, it has three floors divided into very interesting themes and activities for children: workshops where they can create their own car, exploration games and guided tours of the rooms displaying cars that have made history. Here you can see the first car to drive in Italy, the Peugeot Type 3, dating from 1892. You will also find several information points with explanations about each car, engine or motorcycle.

I recommend combining this visit with a tour on one of Turin's best tourist buses. This way, you can make the most of your time in the city and discover other tourist attractions. If you decide to take the bus, keep in mind that the museum is located at stop No. 4 on the red line. The cost of this type of experience ranges from £37, and you can visit from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00, and on Mondays from 10:00 to 14:00.

Children tend to get tired during long walks, so it's best to take advantage of Turin's excellent tourist buses to visit the city. They are a fascinating experience for all ages, with several routes connecting the surrounding area with the most popular monuments, buildings and attractions. You can hop on and off whenever you want, take breaks and visit places that are ideal for children, such as the National Automobile Museum.

This is a fun and educational way to see the city with children. You can choose between a 24-hour or 48-hour pass, depending on your itinerary. One advantage is that it is usually available in several languages, so children can understand the interactive commentary during the tour. The main reason I recommend it for children is that it offers a free mobile app called "Tourist Experience", which has games and activities for children. Keep in mind that this bus can be booked from £21. In addition, line A is available from November to March, while line ABC is only available from April to October.

To see the city from a different perspective, don't miss a tour of its underground passageways. It's great fun for children, who are sure to be thrilled by the local anecdotes, mysteries and legends. Along the way, you'll encounter theatrical performances and obstacle courses that will challenge you to solve riddles. To begin the experience, you'll have to descend a few metres underground. Be prepared to encounter ancient cemeteries, royal ice cellars, World War II shelters and passageways that used to connect the old city.

It is not surprising that these passageways are overshadowed by ghost stories, as most of them were excavated around 1706. Without a doubt, this is one of the best things to do in Turin, especially if you are travelling with children who are full of curiosity and expectations. It is a fun experience that starts at £35, where you will discover the hidden side of Piedmont. The main advantage of taking a guided tour is that an experienced guide will take you through the labyrinth of tunnels, pointing out everything you need to know. Please note that it is not suitable for people who are claustrophobic.

The grounds of the Royal Palace of Turin can be an interesting option for children, who will be drawn to its colourful gardens. Here you will find open areas where children's events are held, such as art workshops, storytelling, plays for all ages, educational walks and more. In fact, some areas are free for children under the age of 18.

The palace gardens are believed to have been the setting for local mysteries, which greatly adds to their appeal. You can find activities and guided tours that will spark children's imaginations, with searches for historical Piedmontese characters. In addition, the gardens are spacious and full of trees, swings, the scents of nature and bucolic sounds that will captivate you.

Discover the esoteric side of Turin, considered the capital of white and black magic in Europe. Its chiaroscuro is wonderful, as it is full of secrets and contrasts. The little ones will be thrilled to discover magic tricks, listen to local legends and visit mysterious places that fit in with the city's enigmatic profile. Don't worry! It is suitable for all ages, although children over five will get more out of it.

This is undoubtedly one of the best tours in Turin and there is a free option in Spanish, although it sells out quickly. In any case, it is more cost-effective to purchase the Torino+Piemonte Card, which includes more than 200 activities and some magic and legend tours. Additionally, during this type of experience, you may visit:

• Piazza Statuto: a striking statue known as the heart of darkness in Turin, where you can discover secrets of alchemy and black magic.
• Devil's Gate: this is the secret entrance to the Royal Palace of Turin, featuring Masonic emblems, a type of symbolism used by the first architects of famous cathedrals.
• Alchemical caves: these are the city's secret tunnels, but they differ from the underground tour in that in this case you will only explore the remains of magic in places that were once the scene of rituals and spells.

There's nothing better than teatime, especially when enjoyed with the family. In Turin, you can feel like royalty as you sample the traditional sweets that the upper classes used to eat in the 19th century. Children are sure to have a great time, as Piedmontese cuisine is very generous on the palate.

Keep in mind that there are two types of royal afternoon tea: the 1700s version, which accompanies cups of hot chocolate with the oldest sweets in the area, such as the Diablottino, considered one of the oldest chocolates in the world. The 1800 snack is accompanied by Bicerin coffee, a traditional drink made with coffee, cocoa and milk cream, and offers different types of savoury pastries.

The best places to enjoy an authentic Turin afternoon snack are Caffe Reale and Gelateria Pepino. This type of experience starts at £10 and can be combined with the pastry route: a tasting activity that explores the best local cafés.

For something out of the ordinary, head to Turin's water parks, which are small but great fun. They combine attractions with striking natural surroundings, and you won't have to travel far from the city to find them. The Piedmontese capital certainly offers its visitors the option of combining fun for the whole family. Some of the parks not to be missed include:

• Piscina Lido: in the Mirafiori neighbourhood, you will find an interesting theme park surrounded by swimming pools for all ages. It has slides with daring curves, picnic areas, a football pitch and volleyball court, among other things.
• Piscina Comunale Trecate: this is a colourful theme park where you can enjoy modern water attractions. It has a variety of pools and slides, Olympic-size pools, children's play areas, a spa and a restaurant.
• Ondaland: This water park is located fifty minutes from Turin and is ideal if you plan to spend at least two days in the city. It is the largest water park and has around twenty attractions, including wave pools, slides, wild wave rivers and more.

Keep in mind that parks often offer discounts for large families. In addition, tickets usually start at £7, but are almost always cheaper for children.

Pizza is a dish that originated in Italy in the 17th century, so it's a must-try during your visit to the city. Planning a pizza route is one of the best things to do in Turin, especially if you're travelling with children. Here you can eat well at reasonable prices, with a variety of options to please even the most demanding palates. The traditional pizza of the Piedmontese capital is pizza al tegamino, made in an iron pan that completely transforms its flavour.

You can also try different styles of pizza: Roman, Neapolitan and Piedmontese, with unique offerings that will take you on a wonderful gastronomic journey. You have the option of designing your own itinerary according to your preferences and budget. However, a guided tour is ideal considering that the locals know the best hidden gems. There are even routes that explore the best ice cream parlours and pizzerias, creating an explosive combination.

If you're going it alone, you can find the best pizza in Turin at:

• Pizzium: a traditional place where you can try wood-fired Neapolitan pizza with your choice of toppings.
• La Capannina: one of the best places to try the typical pizza al tegamino, this restaurant has been in the city since 1956 and offers
• México 86: a restaurant that fuses Mexican and Italian cuisine, offering pizza and tacos as its main dishes. You can also find unusual options such as pizza with nachos, guacamole and minced meat. Its main attraction is that it has a children's play area with slides and ball pools.
• Pizzeria La Piazzetta: another ideal place to try Piedmontese pizza, with children's areas and activities such as face painting, balloon modelling and magic shows.

The Turin Planetarium, or Infinito Planetario di Torino, is undoubtedly a wonderful place to visit with children. This venue immerses visitors in interactive exhibitions that make learning about space and astronomy fun. The highlight is the solar system simulator, where you can walk alongside the planets in real time and observe the night sky while listening to interesting facts.

Children will surely be thrilled to discover the real-time positions of the planets. In general, there are activities for all ages, such as constellation shows and themed shows for families on the first weekend of each month. It also has a museum, a laboratory with secret missions and a robotic mascot, a friendly dog that will captivate the little ones.