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How to meet people in Turin, from aperitivo hour to evenings by the Po

Updated: · Hellohood

In short

Start with a free walking tour from Piazza Carlo Felice, then do what the torinesi do at 7pm: aperitivo, ideally in San Salvario or the Quadrilatero Romano. On summer nights the Murazzi del Po and Parco del Valentino fill with students. Hellohood shows small plans nearby on a map that you can join today.

Turin is not a backpacker magnet like Rome or Florence, and that is part of its charm. It is a big university city, with the Politecnico and the Università di Torino drawing students and Erasmus crowds from everywhere, and evening life revolves around the aperitivo, a ritual the city claims as its own along with vermouth. Arcaded streets make it easy to wander in any weather. The flip side: torinesi have a reputation for being reserved, and friendships here are built slowly, over repeated evenings rather than one wild night.

That is where small, regular plans help. Hellohood puts them on a map, for example an aperitivo in Vanchiglia, a run in the Valentino or a Saturday at the Balon, and one tap gets you into the group chat. The Turin city chat is handy for questions, and adding a trip shows who else is in town on your dates. The app is still new in Turin, so if the map is quiet, post something simple like sunset at Monte dei Cappuccini and see who turns up.

Where people meet in Turin

  • Parco del Valentino — The riverside park where Turin runs, picnics and sits on the grass; on summer evenings it is full of groups of friends.
  • Murazzi del Po — The old riverside arches below Piazza Vittorio, a classic place for a drink by the water on warm nights.
  • Piazza Vittorio Veneto — One of the largest squares in Europe, ringed by arcades and cafés, with a view of the Gran Madre across the bridge.
  • Monte dei Cappuccini — A short climb from the river to a terrace with the whole city and, on clear days, the Alps behind; best at sunset.
  • Porta Palazzo — The huge open-air market in Piazza della Repubblica, loud and colourful, best on a weekday or Saturday morning.

Neighbourhoods where people hang out in Turin

  • San Salvario — Next to Porta Nuova and the Valentino park, a multicultural neighbourhood whose streets around Largo Saluzzo get lively from aperitivo onwards.
  • Quadrilatero Romano — The old Roman grid behind Piazza Castello, with small squares and bars where people spill onto the pavement on warm evenings.
  • Vanchiglia — The student quarter near the university campus, with a relaxed crowd around Piazza Santa Giulia.
  • Borgo Po and Gran Madre — Across the river below the hills, quieter and green, good for an evening walk followed by a drink.
  • Via Po and Piazza Vittorio Veneto — Long arcades full of students lead to the huge square by the river, a natural meeting point at any hour.

Things to do alone in Turin (that easily turn social)

  1. Climb to Monte dei Cappuccini for sunset, where people linger on the terrace and talk.
  2. Take a seat at an aperitivo bar in San Salvario around 7pm; sharing the buffet table makes conversations easy.
  3. Browse the Balon on a Saturday morning and finish with coffee in Borgo Dora.
  4. Run or walk the river path through Parco del Valentino, where the same faces come back every evening.
  5. Ride the rack railway up to Superga and share the view with whoever is on the terrace.

Hostels, pub crawls & the social scene

Turin has fewer hostels than Milan or Venice, and most sit near Porta Nuova and San Salvario, in the centre and around Porta Palazzo and Borgo Dora. Because the hostel scene is small, the common room matters: ask at breakfast who is heading to the Mole or the Egyptian Museum and go together. A free walking tour on your first day gives you a ready-made group for aperitivo afterwards. Pub crawls run mainly when students are in town, through the centre and San Salvario. If you do not drink, a morning hike to Superga or a coffee and bicerin crawl through the arcades works just as well.

Regular things you can just show up to

  • Free walking tours — Tip-based tours start at Piazza Carlo Felice by Porta Nuova and cover Via Roma, Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello, a good first-day icebreaker.
  • Balon and Gran Balon — The Balon flea market fills Borgo Dora every Saturday, and the bigger Gran Balon takes over on the second Sunday of each month.
  • Aperitivo — Every evening bars across the city serve drinks with food, the moment when Turin goes out and groups form.
  • Festa di San Giovanni — On 24 June the city celebrates its patron saint, with fireworks over the Po that draw crowds to the river.
  • Salone del Libro — The big international book fair at the Lingotto each May, busy with readers, students and talks.

Tips for solo travellers & newcomers

  • The arcades along Via Po, Via Roma and around Piazza Castello mean you can explore on foot even in rain, so do not let grey weather keep you in.
  • Turin is generally calm, but watch your bag on busy trams and at Porta Palazzo, and some streets around the stations are quieter and less pleasant late at night.
  • Solo female travellers can join women-only plans on Hellohood, and a first meeting at a busy aperitivo bar or square is a good idea.
  • English is less common than in Milan, so a few words of Italian go a long way; students and younger torinesi usually switch happily.
  • Aperitivo starts around 7pm and dinner comes late, while the Murazzi and San Salvario only get busy after 11pm.

Day trips that are better together

  • Sacra di San Michele — Take the train to Sant'Ambrogio di Torino and hike up to the abbey on its rock, a climb that is more fun with company.
  • Superga — A tram to Sassi and the old rack railway take you up to the basilica and its view over the city and the Alps, easy for a small group.
  • Langhe — The wine hills around Alba are reachable by train or car, and a group makes it easier to share a ride between villages.

Best time to go

Spring and autumn are mild and ideal, summers are hot and sticky, and winters are cold and often foggy but with clear Alpine views.

Plan ideas to start on Hellohood

  • Sunset at Monte dei Cappuccini
  • Aperitivo in San Salvario
  • Saturday morning at the Balon
  • Evening run in Parco del Valentino
  • Rack railway up to Superga

How Hellohood works

  1. Open the map and see small plans nearby — today, tonight, this weekend.
  2. Tap to join: a group chat opens so you can say hi first.
  3. Meet in a public place. Or start your own plan in seconds.

FAQ

Is Turin good for solo travellers?

Yes, if you like cities with a local feel rather than tourist crowds. Turin is walkable, has great museums and an aperitivo culture that makes evenings social. There are fewer backpackers than in Rome or Venice, so walking tours and small group plans are the easiest way to find company.

Is Turin safe to travel alone, also for women?

Turin is generally considered safe for solo travellers, women included. Keep an eye on bags on crowded trams and at Porta Palazzo, and avoid deserted streets around the stations late at night. Meet new people in busy public places first, and use women-only plans on Hellohood if you prefer.

Where should solo travellers stay in Turin?

San Salvario puts you between Porta Nuova station, the Valentino park and plenty of bars. The centre around Piazza Castello and the Quadrilatero Romano is the most convenient for sightseeing, and Vanchiglia suits anyone who wants a student atmosphere.

How do I make friends in Turin as an expat or student?

Turin rewards consistency. Go back to the same aperitivo spot, join a running group in the Valentino or a weekly language tandem, and accept invitations to dinners at home, which is where friendships here really start. Starting your own small plan is a quick way to meet people outside the Erasmus bubble.

Is there a language exchange in Turin?

With so many international students, tandems are common, but there is no big regular event like Mundo Lingo. The simplest option is to post your own plan, for example Italian and English over a bicerin near Piazza Castello, and let people nearby join.

Is Hellohood free?

Yes. There is no paywall and no ads: joining plans, creating your own, using the Turin city chat and adding trips are all free. The same account works everywhere, useful if Milan or Nice is your next stop.

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