Turin Entertainment

Once the sun has gone down, Turin has plenty to offer in the way of entertainment and visitors of all backgrounds will find venues catering to those with sedate, lively or cultured agendas. The city’s annual festivals are an ideal time to catch some culture if that’s your thing, with the city’s vast selection of bars, restaurants, nightclubs, theatres and cinemas enough to keep both visitors and residents occupied at all other times of the year.

Nightlife

Nightlife in Turin is a varied affair and whatever your inclinations, you’ll find a venue to suit. Whether you’re looking for a quiet drink with friends or a place to dance the night away, the city’s 1,600 bars and 200 discos provide ample opportunity for both. Bars can be found in various spots dotted around the city centre, while for nightclubs, head to the old industrial docks located to the northwest of Porta Palazzo where you’ll find a trendy area that’s home to some chic little nightspots. If a quieter night is more your thing, then the city is home to some 800 restaurants where you can easily while away the evening with some fantastic food in the company of family or friends.

Theatre and music

Turin has a good reputation in terms of its cultural nightlife, with venues offering this kind of entertainment being plentiful. Indeed, with 12 theatres spread across the city, there is ample opportunity to catch live performances with a wide selection of styles, discipline and media. Live music lovers will find regular dance, opera and classical music performances at Teatro Regio and other selected venues. Various festivals in the city’s calendar also cater to those seeking cultural performances.

Festivals

There are a number of annual summer festivals that are unique to the city, with highlights including:

• Fiera del Libro is a book fair lasting four days and is held in the Torino Esposizioni exhibition hall. Literary lovers get the chance to view works of fiction and non-fiction by publishers from all over the country (May).
• Festa di San Giovanni is the city’s celebration of its patron saint and see various indoor and outdoor events across the city culminating in a giant fireworks display at night (June).
• Torino International Jazz Festival is a well attended event that celebrates all that is good about classic and contemporary jazz, with performances by internationally-known musicians (July).
• The annual Torino Film Festival brings together the cinematic works of contemporary independent film makers from all over the world and provides the opportunity for both the airing and discussion of these works. Original themes, unique direction and camera work as well as fine scripts and performances are just some of the prerequisites for movies screened at the festival (November).

It’s also worth noting that Turin has a total of 53 cinema screens spread across a selection of independent and multiplex venues, with movies available range from typical Hollywood productions, Italian films and international movies with subtitles.