Turin is a university city, considered to be one of the best both for the quality of its educational offer and for the affordability of life.
If you have decided to do Erasmus in Italy, Turin is certainly an advantageous destination. It is a city that offers many opportunities and is chosen by both national and international students as a place to start or continue their studies. But not only that, it is a city with a vast job offer, so there are many young workers looking for career opportunities in Turin.
In addition, both the University of Turin and the Polytechnic are included in the latest QS University Ranking, another favourable and prestigious point for the Piedmonts’ capital. Among the analysed indicators are: the general performance of the universities, internationality, concrete job opportunities for graduates, and affordability.
In any case, moving to a new city is always a challenge and it is normal to make sure you make the right choice.
There are many variables to consider in addition to the university to attend, for example the cost of living in Turin for students, the best places to live, but also the entertainment possibilities.
Let's explore Piedmont's capital city together so that you can get an overview and clear your head about your future as a university student on Erasmus project.
Being an Erasmus student in Turin
Turin is a great city to live in and to go on Erasmus, there are many students both from other Italian cities and from foreign countries. It is a city that is always buzzing, active in all respects. There are always plenty of things to do and see from a cultural and landscape point of view, and there is no shortage of entertainment.
Turin's nightlife is very lively, there are many clubs and parties, evenings and events are always organised. Some are specifically dedicated to Erasmus students who have moved to the city.
Another plus point of Turin is that it is a city on a human scale. This means that it allows all the opportunities and conveniences of a large centre, but is less chaotic, for example compared to Milan, and with a more popular lifestyle.
Young people meet in the squares, parks and more central areas, it is easy to make friends because it is not a dispersed city. Moreover, it is one of the European cities with more history behind it and this can be perceived when walking through its streets, especially those in the centre where there are some of the most important palaces and monuments.
But let's not forget the universities: Turin offers a wide variety of educational paths: from engineering and architecture faculties, to humanities, scientific, political, economic, linguistic and social subjects.
In short, it is all round a perfect half for your university and working career, or even just for an unforgettable experience abroad.
Finding accommodation in Turin for students
One of the main fears when it comes time to move is the search for accommodation. In short, if you are going to a city you do not know, you will find it difficult to understand which area to live in, which ones to avoid, which neighbourhoods are the most convenient and which are expensive, and so on.
Now take a deep breath and relax, because we at DoveVivo will help you find the right solution for you. If you want to have a real experience in the city and outside the student halls of residence, the best choice is a flat to rent and share with other boys and girls in the same situation as you.
Sharing a flat is very advantageous for several reasons, first of all to save money because the expenses will be shared, but also to meet different people potentially from all over the world.
The apartments we provide are specially designed for students and young workers. There are common rooms where you can get together to have dinner, watch a film or play board games. On the other hand, you will have the possibility of having your own room to maintain your privacy and to manage as you wish.
Prices vary depending on the area and the type of flat, but in general in Turin you have the possibility of keeping costs down without being too far from the centre.
The best neighbourhoods to live in
The areas in the centre, in Turin as in other cities, are very nice but also more expensive.
In general, it is an orderly and clean city with more than ninety areas divided into eight districts. All areas are well connected by public transport, so you have the possibility to find a flat in cheaper locations and still reach all other parts of the city comfortably.
There are, however, neighbourhoods not far from the centre that are great to live in, for example Santa Rita and Mirafiori Nord. Or the Vanchiglia area, a young neighbourhood full of students, is also favourable due to its proximity to clubs and shops.
Another interesting neighbourhood is San Salvario, the presence of the Valentino Park makes the area one of the green lungs of the city.
Let us also remember Borgo San Paolo, which has seen the construction of large factories such as those of Lancia, SIP, Ansaldo and Pininfarina. Or San Donato, an area that is part of a major urban transformation.
The possibilities of finding accommodation are varied, but many require in-depth knowledge of the city and experience in the field. But don't worry, we can help you find the housing solution that's right for you, so all you have to do is think about making the most of your Erasmus student experience.
The cost of living in Turin
We cannot deny that over the years prices in Turin have also risen a little, just as they have in all other cities both in Italy and abroad. The good news is that this is a location that still offers the opportunity to live more cheaply than in other cities, you just have to be a little careful.
One of the biggest expenses you will have to face will be for accommodation, but as we have seen if you share it with other people even that will be halved. Everything else will depend on your lifestyle, but if you get used to Turin student life, we are sure you will have no problems.
In the following paragraphs we will give you some useful advice on how to integrate yourself into city life, from shopping and getting around the city to having fun in the evenings.
Convenient shopping
In Turin you can still find favourable offers, for example, when it comes to food, there are plenty of supermarkets in the city, you just have to choose the right products in the right places to be able to save money.
But the real feature of the city is that it really has a lot of district markets where you can find many offers and buy fresh products while spending less than at the supermarket. Here are the most popular ones:
- Porta Palazzo market, the largest and most well-stocked;
- market in Corso Racconigi;
- market in via Onorato Vigliani;
- Benfica market in Piazza Martini.
By doing a little research, you are sure to find a market that is easy to reach from where you are going to live.
Besides foodstuffs, you will also find clothes, objects, books and much more at traditional or other specific markets. Perfect if you like to peek in search of vintage and special goods that you would not find in shops.
Getting around the city
One of the advantages of Turin is that it is also pleasant to get around on foot or by bicycle. Of course, it always depends on where you have to go, but the whole centre and surroundings are walkable. Moreover, taking nice walks is the best way to get to know the city and discover its beauty.
On the other hand, it also boasts an excellent public transport service. The network is managed by GTT - Gruppo Torinese Trasporti and includes buses, trams and the metro. The service runs from 5:00 a.m. to midnight, and on Fridays and Saturdays the metro runs until 1:30 a.m.
The City ticket costs €1.70 and is valid for 100 minutes after validation and must be validated each time you change vehicles. In addition, weekly, monthly or annual passes are also available with reduced fares for young people under 26 years of age. Please note: due to a necessary price adjustment, as of 1 October 2023, some prices will see a small increase. Thus, the City ticket valid for 100 minutes will increase to €1.90 in the digital version, to €2 in the paper version. The good news is that season ticket prices will remain the same, so if you stay for a long period, you will still benefit.
Turin is perfectly connected to other Italian cities via the railway network, so it is convenient to travel by train on the way home or for some weekend trips out of town.
Where to have fun at night in Turin
Turin is a city that provides plenty of entertainment for everyone, especially students. If during the day it is more focused on work, in the evening it changes clothes and turns into a sort of toyland.
Squares light up, nightclubs open to gather myriads of young people ready to party. In the city centre, there are plenty of bars and pubs, some with live music and most open until late.
There is no shortage of wine bars and craft breweries for those who like to sip sophisticated, quality drinks. Or cocktail bars where you can meet friends or have the opportunity to make new acquaintances.
All the squares in the centre are meeting places for young people, and right from Piazza Vittorio you can reach the famous Murazzi, a series of clubs located next to each other along the river. But also famous are the neighbourhoods of San Salvario, where part of Turin's movida is concentrated, the Valentino Park, which is transformed into a location for perfect summer evenings, and the entire Lungo Po area, where there are places to have an aperitif.
Turin is a young and dynamic city, and it can be said that it really does have everything you could possibly need and even what you might not expect yet. In fact, it is a place to be discovered little by little that hides even more beauty than we have mentioned. You just have to make your own experience!
