My sister and teenage daughter are now accompanying us on our trip to Nice and Northern Italy. What started as a slow week in Piemonte is now evolving into a much more fast-paced trip.

Looks like we may stay two nights in the country in Piemonte and two in Turino with a day trip to Venice (I know that may be crazy).

Question 1: Where should the four of us stay in Turin? We need easy access to the train station that will take us to Venice? And we will have a car.

Question 2: Which train station do we take to Venice in Turin?

Question 3: What are the four must-see must do in Turin?

Question 4: Where do I take my family for an amazing meal (lunch) in Venice? My wife and I have been to Venice once before.

Thanks especially to Bob the Navigator for earlier help with this trip. We will be staying at the Villa Sampaguita.

A day trip to Venezia from Torino is out of the question. The train simply don't make it doable. Look at Trenitalia and see how long a trip it is. Actually, you'd be better off trying to drive it -- but you will scarcely even see Venezia even if you left at dawn from Piemonte.

If you have a car, you probably don't want to stay right inside Torino, even though Torino is the home of the Italian auto industry. (That just means people drive faster there.) You might check out hotels in the Lingotto area if you have a car. If you are staying on Villa Sampaguita, you can reach Torino from there on day trips.

I don't know why you've settled on "four" must see-must do things for Torino, but nothing in quirky Torino is "must-see" unless you personally find it interesting. Unique to Torino is the cinema museum, a fanstastic place, and the best museum of its kind in the world, a famous auto museum, contemporary and classic art museum, wooden fruit museum, Egyptian museum, unique shopping along the via Po, and the list goes on and on. Check out this website:

http://www.extratorino.it/ENG/

If you want to go to Venezia, see if you can rearrange your flights so that you begin your trip earlier and fly into Venezia and take a flight from there to Nice. Very expensive, however.

I agree with Zeppole 100%. There is no way to do a day trip to Venizia from Turino.

You will have to decide what's more important - Turino or Venizia.

Thanks for the advice zeppole. No reason on four must-sees. Looks like I will find what you have suggested a great place to start.

...and please give an idea of budget on the Venice restaurant query..

Oops. Family of four. Lunch for 100 euros ish.

Could you do it any cheaper and still have an amazing meal?

Sure. If it's your sister and teenage daughter who really want to see Venezia, can they tack it onto the beginning or end of the trip without you?

By the way, just for the record -- because it's important when you are looking up train schedules on Trenitalia -- the Italians spell it "Torino" and "Venezia."

Wow. I am acting as if I have never been of Fodors before!

Our posts crossed, and my "sure" referred to your thanking me (like, "it's nothing&quot rather than "sure, you can eat fabulously for 100 euros." I actually don't know what 25 euros per person gets you in Venezia these days. Will those be dollars your spending?

But I would avoid trying to make it for lunch if you are starting in Torino. Besides, the food in Torino is far, far better!

Question 1: Where should the four of us stay in Turin? We need easy access to the train station that will take us to Venice? And we will have a car.
Question 2: Which train station do we take to Venice in Turin?

Main train station is Torino Porta Nuova, which is also central to the main sights of Torino.

Torino PN to Venezia SL is about 5 hours each way by train, not including waiting time, connecting from station to sights at each end. I can't imagine that you could make this trip any faster by car. This is NOT a good scenario for a daytrip.

Question 3: What are the four must-see must do in Turin?
For me:
- Cinema Museum and elevator to observation deck of Mole Antoinella
- Egyptian Museum
- wandering the portici-covered streets
- Chocolate shops

Question 4: Where do I take my family for an amazing meal (lunch) in Venice?
I wouldn't take anyone to lunch in Venice from Torino.

Ellenem:

How could you not mention the cathedral with the shroud of Turin? I know, I know, it's not the real shroud which is on display, but it's still a must see...

Here's the URL to the shroud "home page":
http://www.shroud.com/

sssteve,

I don't find the church of the shroud a must-see. I've visited Torino half a dozen times and remain unimpressed by it after my one visit to the church. Perhaps if the visit was during a time when the actual shroud was on display I'd reconsider.

I posed the "four must-sees" question to my friend who lived in Torino for 15 years. Without prompting, her list was Identical to mine. I guess that's why we're friends.

I always return to the Sanctuario della Consolata for its interesting interior and its amazing collection of ex votos drawn by people to commemorate miracles on display is a side hall. It doesn't hurt that just across the street is the historic cafe, Caffe Al Bicerin--any visit to Torino should include having a bicerin (a delicious coffee/chocolate drink) at Al Bicerin.