Elisabeth54

This September I'm planning a week's stay in Turin by myself in order to follow an intensive Italian language course. Afterwards my husband will join me for a week's vacation.
Any recommendations on places to visit (both in and around Torino), restaurants and accommodation are more than welcome.

asps

If you can afford it, Hotel NH Santo Stefano is outstanding

Elisabeth54

Thanks you ASPS. I'm actually not only looking for a hotel but would welcome all information about Torino and Piemonte in general. Fortunately I found a wonderful and useful (very long and detailed!) trip report here on Fodors. I'm looking forward to lots of reading pleasure.

ellenem

Torino has a great museum discount card you might consider. It includes a multitude of museums, transportation, and other attractions both in Torino and the surrounding area.

http://www.turismotorino.org/card/EN/home

Marija

We found this article very useful for finding great aperitivi in Turin:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/200...nk-italy/print

HappyTrvlr

Visit the villages of the Piemonte with a base in Alba. Or, head south to Liguria, Santa Maria Ligure, Camogli.

stevewith

What do you want to do? Rent a car and tour the wine country, or go hiking in the Alps, or stay in the city?

Torino is also a very short train trip to some other very lovely parts of Italy in September (the Italian Riviera, the lakes, Lombardy, the western half of the Emilia-Romagna), so that's a possibility too.

Have you looked at guidebooks for Piemonte and northern Italy?

Elisabeth54

Wow, thank you all for your interest and information. Stevewith, yes I have just bought a guidebook. Frankly though, the information I usually get from you Fodorites in the past has proven to be more valuable than the average guidebook. I have never been to the Piemonte and probably would not have gone if it weren't for this language course I intend to take. It's with Italstudio. They offer courses all over the place in Italy but the Torino one has been recommended for it's quality. Mille grazie a tutti!

yorkshire

I agree, you get amazing info here, but I always find it works out better if I narrow down the options myself first. For example, tell us what has stood out to you already and what you have in mind, and as you know, you'll get valuable information. Otherwise, it's a shot in the dark. But to add my shot: the towns of Alba, Asti, and the rest of wine country will be an amazing trip! I read about the regions and places in those towns here--many good trip reports.