3 Day Trips from Turin by Train: Nature Escapes for Non-Drivers

With the warmer spring days and with summer coming it’s time to find some perfect day trips from Turin, preferably to immerse yourself in nature, enjoy a pleasant walk, and admire beautiful views. But what can you do if you don’t have a car to move around freely and go wherever you please? Fortunately, there are many options to reach different destinations in nature by train in just over an hour, perfect for spending a beautiful day away from the city’s concrete jungle. These are my top recommendations for 3 day trips from Turin by train, perfect for those without a car and for those with a car alike.

I recommend these trips not only during summer but also in early autumn when temperatures are still mild and trees begin to turn red and gold, creating even more spectacular landscapes.

Bardonecchia: Trails and Excursions

How to get to Bardonecchia by train

The first option I recommend is to take the train sfm 26920 train from Porta Nuova Station with Bardonecchia as its final destination. This train will take you from the city center to this Val Di Susa town in about 1.5 hours.

What to do in Bardonecchia

While Bardonecchia is known for its ski resorts in winter, it offers many options for beautiful and easy hikes during the warm season.

You could, for example, take the “passeggiata del canale”, a beautiful hike among trees along a canal dating back to 1860, originally used for the Frejus tunnel construction site. Along the path, which winds between Borgovecchio and Les Arnauds, you’ll also find beautiful wooden sculptures created since the 1980s for the International Symposium of Sculpture in the Alps. To access the trail from the station, walk about 20 minutes to Via Tre Croci, cross the bridge, and then follow the signs.

Alternatively, you can do a loop hike to the Chapel of Montserrat, a circular route starting from Hotel Europa, at the top of Viale San Rocco in Borgo Vecchio. You can find directions for these two routes at this link, where you’ll also find other suggestions for excursions in this area, although not all are convenient for those arriving in Bardonecchia by train.

Lanzo Torinese

How to get to Lanzo Torinese by train

The charming town of Lanzo Torinese can be reached in just over an hour thanks to Turin’s metropolitan railway service (servizio ferroviario metropolitano “sfm”). Take the sfm26463 direction Ciriè from Porta Susa station and then change at Ciriè station to line sfm22577 direction Germagnano.

What to do in Lanzo Torinese

This small mountain village at the foot of the Alps has an ancient charm that transports visitors back in time. With its medieval architecture, stone houses, and narrow winding streets, Lanzo preserves the authentic atmosphere of a traditional Piedmontese mountain settlement. The town is known especially for its magnificent stone bridge crossing the Stura River, called the Devil’s Bridge (Ponte del Diavolo), built in 1378. According to local legend, the bridge was constructed with the devil’s help, who demanded the soul of the first living being to cross it in exchange. The clever townsfolk outsmarted him by sending a dog across first, much to the devil’s fury.

This historic bridge, with its distinctive humpback shape and imposing 16-meter-high arch, is not just a remarkable piece of medieval engineering but also the starting point of a pleasant trail that climbs up the slopes of Monte Basso. As you ascend, the path rewards hikers with increasingly splendid viewpoints overlooking the river valley and the town below. The full trail can lead you all the way to the Viù valley if you’re up for a longer adventure. The surrounding area is a protected nature reserve with rich biodiversity, and patient observers might be able to spot grey herons, kingfishers, and other water birds on the riverbed or flying over the crystal-clear waters of the Stura.

If you prefer to relax rather than hike, you can simply stop on the smooth stones of the riverbank near the bridge and enjoy the sunshine while listening to the soothing sounds of flowing water. The area around the bridge has several flat rocks perfect for picnicking or simply sitting to admire the bridge from different angles. In summer, locals often swim in the natural pools formed by the river, though be cautious as currents can be strong after rainfall.

You can find more information about the hiking trail here.

Hiking to the Sacra di San Michele

Hoe to get to Sacra di San Michele by train

For the excursion to the Sacra di San Michele, rely once again on the convenient metropolitan railway service: from Porta Nuova Station, take the sfm26360 towards Susa and after about half an hour, get off at S.Ambrogio station.

Trail to the Sacra di San Michele

This town is the starting point for the walking path to the Sacra di San Michele, a climb that should take approximately an hour and a half (depending on your fitness level) via trail 502.

The hike doesn’t present particular difficulties; however, it shouldn’t be underestimated as the elevation gain is quite significant and requires some training. Wear appropriate shoes and bring a blanket to rest on the grass once you reach the top while enjoying the panorama. You can bring supplies for a pleasant picnic, or you’ll also find a bar with a panoramic terrace where you can buy excellent sandwiches and drinks.

The Sacra is an abbey dating back to around 987 AD that apparently inspired Umberto Eco when writing “The Name of the Rose.” Once you reach the top, you can first admire a breathtaking panorama from the summit of Mount Pirchiriano on which it is built, and secondly, you can naturally visit the Sacra itself. Opening hours from March to October are Monday to Saturday: 9:30 AM-5:30 PM, Sunday: 10:45 AM-5:30 PM, and you can purchase tickets online or on-site. A full-price ticket costs €8, but for all information on rates, to discover ongoing events, and for further details, I invite you to take a look at the official website.

These three day trips from Turin are accessible to everyone and perfect for spending a beautiful day outdoors combining relaxation and hiking, but they’re certainly not the only options. If you have other suggestions, share them in the comments!

If you are also planning you visit in the city take a look at this article about the best royal palaces in Turin with all the information to plan a tour.