It all makes sense when you see a map!  Red = high-speed line to Milan & Rome. Taken from the excellent Rail Map of Europe, I recommend buying a copy at europeanrailtimetable.eu.

Which station in Turin?

Turin has two major stations, Porta Nuova & Porta Susa, often abbreviated to P.Nuova & P.Susa or Torino PN & Torino PS, Torino is Italian for Turin.  Turin Porta Nuova is the city's main terminus, right in the city centre.  Turin Porta Susa is a modern glass-&-steel through station with platforms underground, also close to the centre.

Italian high-speed trains to Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples start at Porta Nuova then call at Porta Susa 8-10 minutes later, so you can board at either station.  However, trains to Genoa & Pisa leave from Porta Nuova and don't serve Porta Susa.  The Paris-Milan TGVs use Porta Susa.

If you're travelling within Italy, for example between Turin & Rome, Porta Nuova is more central and boarding a train where it starts is more relaxed than joining it en route.  However, the TGVs from Paris arrive at Porta Susa, so if you're travelling from London or Paris to Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples (or vice versa), it's easiest to make a same-station change at Porta Susa.  Personally, I'd stop off in Turin, one of Italy's most underrated cities, staying at the excellent Turin Palace Hotel near Porta Nuova station and boarding my onward train to Florence or Rome there...

  Turin Porta Susa

  Turin Porta Nuova

  Visiting the city of Turin & why you should stop off...

Turin Porta Susa:  Location map

There's been a Turin Porta Susa station since 1868, but between 2006 & 2013 a large part of the line around Turin through Porta Susa was quadrupled, lowered and covered with a roadway.  A new 300m long 19m high glass-and-steel station was constructed, with 6 platforms hidden alongside it beneath the tree-lined boulevard Corso Inghilterra.  Most high-speed trains to Venice, Florence, Rome & Naples call here 10 minutes after leaving Turin Porta Nuova.  The TGVs to Paris go from here.  The old Porta Susa station (1868 to 2009) still stands, immediately to the north of the new station on the Piazza XVIII Dicembre.

The station in pictures

Turin Porta Susa station, southern end.  The tracks & platforms are underground alongside this 300m long building, directly below the wide roadway you can see in the foreground.  Courtesy of travellingherd.uk

Inside Turin Porta Susa.  Courtesy of John Hadfield...

Turin Porta Susa concourse.  This photo is taken from street level, looking at the main concourse below.  In the foreground, a short bridge leads into one of the four passageways under the street and over the tracks from which escalators descend to the platforms.  In the background, a longer bridge leads to an exit onto the street (the Corso Inghilterra).  Courtesy of Frédéric Pardé.

Turin Porta Susa platforms 1-6.  You can see one of the four passageways which link the concourse to the platforms (it's above the tracks, with 3 small windows).  Cars are driving along the Corso Inghilterra directly above these platforms. Courtesy of Michael Kiesling.

Which platform for your train?

• Turin Porta Susa has just 6 platforms, located underground beneath the adjacent boulevard.  The station concourse is one level down from street level, and four pedestrian passageways run from this concourse under the street, over all the tracks with escalators & lifts down to each platform. 

• The departure screens dotted around the station show which platform each train leaves from.  There are train departure indicators showing the train destination and calling points on each platform.

• Check your departure platform on your phone

  Stay one step ahead!  If you go to www.viaggiatreno.it/infomobilita/index.jsp on your phone and select Torino P. Susa you'll see a list of departures with the planned platform number (Binario previsto) for Trenitalia trains (but not Italo trains) even before the actual platform (Binario reale) is announced on the station departure boards.  Just remember that they can sometimes switch platforms on the day.

  Alternatively, you can see actual departure platforms for all trains including Italo by selecting Torino P. Susa at www.rfi.it/en/stations/station-page/quality-services/Public-information/Live-departures-Arrivals-Monitor.html.

Changing trains at Porta Susa

• Changing trains at Porta Susa is very straightforward, you can easily walk between any two platforms in just a minute or two, with escalators or lifts so luggage is not a problem.  It only takes a few minutes to change trains, even if you were changing from platform 1 to platform 6.

• However, I'd allow at least 45 minutes when interchanging between a Paris-Turin TGV and a Trenitalia or Italo high-speed train, ideally a bit longer, as you will have separate train-specific tickets from two different operators - although if the first train is delayed and you miss your connection, the operator of the onward train may still help you out and let you take a later onward train under the inter-operator Agreement for Journey Continuation explained here.  SNCF & Trenitalia are both signatories to the AJC, but Italo is not so beware of using a TGV to connect with Italo or vice versa - it may be better to stick with TGV + Trenitalia.  You can always enjoy a coffee, beer or meal between trains!

Ticket offices

• The Trenitalia ticket office and separate Italo ticket office are both on the main concourse, one level down from street level.

• The TGVs to Paris are run by SNCF with no Trenitalia involvement, so you cannot buy tickets at the Trenitalia ticket office.  TGV tickets must be bought online, at www.sncf-connect.com or www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

Free WiFi

• Turin Porta Susa has free WiFi.  Select the WiFiStation, network and on https://portale.wifistation.it either sign in with a Facebook or Twitter account or enter your mobile number to have a verification text sent to you (this works with international numbers including UK +44 mobiles).

Left luggage, ATMs & security

• There is no left luggage facility at Porta Susa.  You can find places near Porta Susa station that will store your bags using radicalstorage.com, or use the left luggage office at Turin Porta Nuova instead, for prices & opening times see the left luggage page.

• There are ATMs in various locations around the station.

• There is nothing particularly unsafe about any Italian station, but as in any busy place, be aware of the possibility of pickpockets.

Places to eat & drink

• Porta Susa a busy transport hub with various retail & food outlets including small bar and a cafe in the main building, but nowhere stands out.  There's a MacDonalds next to the the Piazza XVIII exit.

• You'll find nicer places for a meal, coffee or beer between trains outside the station, let me know if you find somewhere good.

  One seat 61 correspondent recommends the Trattoria Forchetta e Scarpetta (www.forchettaescarpetta.it) at Corso Inghilterra 23B, for Piedmont specialities at reasonable prices with great service.  It's directly across the road from the station, see walking map - however, from the main concourse (one floor down from street level), you can walk through any of the four passageways under the boulevard and over all the platforms to reach the other side without battling the traffic.

  Another recommends the Restaurant Cernaia 31 (www.ristorantecernaia31.it) for unpretentious decently-priced pizza and pasta.  It's 3 minutes walk away, leave the station at its north end, turn right at the old 1868 Porta Susa station building into the via Cernaia, the restaurant is on the right hand side opposite the Hotel Diplomatic, see walking map.

  As well as the Trattoria Forchetta e Scarpetta there's also a Japanese restaurant, Irish pub & ice cream parlour on the far side of the Corso Inghilterra, the boulevard which runs along the west side of the station.  Use any of the four passageways under the boulevard to reach the other side of the road.

Local transport: Walking, metro, taxis

• Walking:  It's a 1.7 km 22-minute walk from Porta Susa to Turin Porta Nuova station, a 1.5 km 19-minute walk to the Piazza San Carlo or a 2.5 km 33-minute walk from Porta Susa to the Antonelliana tower.

• Buses, trams, metro, Turin urban transport = GTT:  Porta Susa is on Turin's metro line.  For urban transport see www.gtt.to.it.

• Taxis:  For a taxi fare calculator see www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Turin-Italy&lang=en.

How to transfer from P.Susa to P.Nuova

• Walking:  It's a 1.7 km 22-minute walk from Porta Susa to Porta Nuova.

• Metro:  Direct metro trains on Metro Line 1 link Porta Susa with Porta Nuova every few minutes, just 3 stops.  A metro ticket costs around €2.

• Trenitalia local trains link Porta Susa & Porta Nuova 2 or 3 times each hour, taking 8 or 9 minutes.  Fare around €2 at the urban tariff.  Look for a train with destination Torino Porta Nuova, it's just one stop.

• Taxi:  A taxi will take 5 minutes and cost around €10.  See taxi fare calculator.

Suggested hotels in Turin

Which platform for your train?

• Turin Porta Nuova is a terminus with 20 platforms.  Walk into the main entrance, walk past the various retail units into the circulating area behind the buffer stops.  You'll find the platforms lined up in front of you, numbered 1 to 20 from left to right.

• Being a terminus, there is easy level access from street to concourse to platforms, so luggage is no problem.  The station departure screens show which platform each train leaves from and there are train departure indicators on every platform. 

• For a plan of the station see www.torinoportanuova.it click ENG top right for English then select Maps.

• Tip:  If you go to www.viaggiatreno.it/viaggiatrenonew on your phone, click on Torino then select Torino P.Nuova you'll see the planned platform number for your train even before it is announced on the station departure boards.  A good way to stay one step ahead!

Ticket offices

• The main Trenitalia ticket office is on the circulating area behind the platforms, opposite the buffer stops to platforms 16 & 17.

• Italo has its own ticket office also on the circulating area behind the platforms, opposite the buffer stops to platforms 12 & 13.

Free WiFi

• Turin Porta Nuova has free WiFi.  Select the WiFiStation, network and on https://portale.wifistation.it either sign in with a Facebook or Twitter account or enter your mobile number to have a verification text sent to you (this works with international numbers including UK +44 mobiles).

Left luggage, ATMs & security

• There is a staffed left luggage facility at Porta Nuova located near platform 1, for prices & opening times see the left luggage page.

• There are ATMs in various locations around the station.

• There is nothing particularly unsafe about any Italian station, but as in any busy place, be aware of the possibility of pickpockets.

Places to eat & drink

• There are various retail & food outlets including several cafes.  There's a MacDonald's & a Chef Express buffet on the circulating area behind all the buffer stops, in the centre of the station opposite the buffer stops for platforms 8 to 11.  If you fancy a Wild West American dining experience, try the Old Wild West bar & restaurant upstairs from the main station lobby.

• For stocking up for a journey, there's a full-scale Esselunga supermarket inside the station at the via Sacchi exit.  Open 07:30-21:00 Monday-Saturday, 08:00-20:00 Sundays.

Local transport: Walking, metro, taxis

• Walking:  Turin is a city you can walk around.  For example, it's a 750m 9-minute walk from Porta Nuova station to the Piazza San Carlo, or a 1.7 km 21-minute walk to the Antonelliana tower.

• Buses, trams, metro, Turin urban transport = GTT:  Porta Susa is on Turin's metro line.  For urban transport see www.gtt.to.it.

• Taxis:  The main taxi rank is on the northwest side of the building, outside the Via Sacchi exit.  For a taxi fare calculator see www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Turin-Italy&lang=en.

How to transfer from P. Nuova to P. Susa

• Walking:  It's a 1.7 km 22-minute walk from Porta Nuova to Porta Susa.

• Metro:  Direct metro trains on Metro Line 1 link Porta Nuova with Porta Susa every few minutes, just 3 stops.  A metro ticket costs around €2.

• Trenitalia local trains link Porta Susa & Porta Nuova 2 or 3 times each hour, taking 8 or 9 minutes.  Fare around €2 at the urban tariff.  The train's final destination might be Genoa or Milan, so look closely for a regional train with next stop Porta Susa.

• Taxi:  A taxi will take 5 minutes and cost around €10.  See taxi fare calculator.

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Visiting the city of Turin

Don't just pass through!  I consider Turin & Trieste the two most underrated cities in Italy.  Capital of the Duchy of Savoy from 1563, and the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 to 1865, Turin is well worth a stop, whether for a few hours or a day - even if you're not a fan of the 1969 Michael Caine film 'The Italian Job" which is set here (and I am).  It's a supremely elegant city, easy to wander round.

• The Antonelliana tower is the symbol of Turin, take the lift to the Templetto for views over the city.  It also houses the Museum of Cinema.

• See the Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello.

• The old FIAT factory at Turin Lingotto is just out of the city centre.  It closed in 1982 and is now a shopping centre, but you can still visit the test track on the roof, featured in the The Italian Job's famous Mini chase scenes.

• Take a ride on the Sassi-Superga Tramway up to the Basilica of Superga on top of its hill overlooking the city.

For tourist information see www.turismotorino.org - although the women in the Tourist Information kiosk in Turin were completely unaware of any Italian Job filming locations in spite of my very best Michael Caine impressions...

Turin's Piazza San Carlo...

Piazza Castello...		Antonelliana Tower.

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