Things to Do in Turin in December

For those seeking an adrenaline increase away from the winter chill, the Flight Simulator HI SPEED has a completely different perspective on Turin. You will strap into a professional-grade cockpit for a half-hour session that mimics the extreme forces of aerobatic maneuvers, a stark contrast to the city's stately pace. The experience is a visceral rush of simulated G-forces and a panoramic digital landscape that might just feature the Alpine foothills that cradle Turin.

The Langhe region, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of rolling hills southwest of Turin, presents a different face in December, often draped in mist that clings to the bare vines. This private tour with an expert sommelier guides you through the cellars of esteemed wineries, where the focus turns to the strong, aged Barolos and Barbarescos that define Piedmontese winters. You will taste these complex reds in the atmospheric quiet of a cantina, hearing the sommelier's insights on terroir and tradition while smelling the distinct aroma of oak barrels and damp earth.

To understand Turin's elegant symmetry and layered history, a walking tour in a small English-speaking group is an ideal starting point. A knowledgeable guide will lead you through the geometric grid of the Roman quarter, into the grandiose Piazza Castello, and beneath the endless porticoes that define the city center, offering shelter from December's variable conditions. You will see the gleaming copper domes of historic churches, hear stories of the House of Savoy, and feel the texture of centuries-old cobblestones underfoot.

Turin's culinary identity is one of hearty elegance, well suited for a December day. This hands-on cooking class immerses you in that tradition, teaching you to craft potato gnocchi, a pillowy pasta that is a staple of colder months, followed by a lesson in the city's famed chocolate, notably gianduja. You will smell the nutty aroma of roasted hazelnuts, feel the dough's texture as you shape it, and finally taste the fruits of your labor paired with local wines in a convivial setting.

The Museo Egizio holds the second most important collection of Egyptian antiquities in the world, a find housed in a grand building in central Turin. This guided experience combines a tour of its mesmerizing artifacts, from colossal statues to intricate papyrus scrolls, with an overview of the city's key landmarks, creating an easy introduction to Turin's dual character. You will see the dramatic lighting on ancient sarcophagi, hear the echoes in vast museum halls, and feel the awe of standing before relics collected centuries ago by the Savoy kings.

This private tour to discover Langhe wines has a tailored immersion into Piedmont's vinicultural heart, with the undivided attention of an expert sommelier as your guide. The experience is intimate and flexible, allowing for deep dialogue among the silent, foggy vineyards and within the hallowed quiet of family-run winery cellars. You will taste the profound depth of a well-aged Nebbiolo, see the frost on the dormant vines through the cellar window, and discuss pairing principles with an authority on the region.