Experience in Turin, Italy by Francoise

What is it like to live in Turín? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Turin is a beautiful city with a very lively center. Culturally there is a lot to do : exhibitions, musea, concerts.

The surroundings are wonderful : the Alps are right there for skiing in winter and hiking, climbing,... in the rest of the year. But also the coast is not far away.

There are a lot of good wines, chocolate, olive oils, fruits, nuts, all locally harvested. There are also a lot of good restaurants, nice bars.

The climate : we have cold but nice winters. The last years we had very little snow (in town) and summers are hot.

What is the student lifestyle like in Turín?

As Turin has a big university, you see everywhere students and there must be a lot going on also in the sense of partying. But personally I do not know any specifics.

How much does it cost to live in Turín?

The cost of living is probably a bit lower than in the more northern parts of Europe but higher than in the more southern parts.

Rent is rather high but the price for food is OK.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Turín? Is there any advice you can give?

I'm part of the International Women's Club of Turin (IWCT. Even if you could not attend their activities, they have a lot of great members with contacts in all fields, a great source of info.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

I like everything : Italian specialties but also Mexican or Japanese food. And in Turin you can find nearly everything of course a lot of typical Italian pizzerias but nearly everything you could ask for.

What places would you recommend visiting in Turín?

There are a lot of great musea, royal palaces in and close to Turin. Depending on your taste, you should visit the royal palace in the centre but there is a great museum of contemporary art, pinacotecas,...

What advice would you give future students heading to Turín?

The same advice for whereever you may go:be open-minded and take initiatives.