Best Hotels With Rooftop Pools in Turin for Skyline Swims

Photo by  Alexander Schimmeck

14 min read · Turin, Italy · hotels with rooftop pools ·

Best Hotels With Rooftop Pools in Turin for Skyline Swims

GR

Words by

Giulia Rossi

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The first time I swam above Turin's rooftops, the Alps were turning pink behind the Mole Antonelliana, and I understood why this city rewards anyone willing to look up. If you are searching for the best hotels with rooftop pools in Turin, you are in for a treat, because this is a city where the Po River, the Superga hill, and the distant mountain ridges all converge into a panorama that feels almost cinematic from the right terrace. I have spent years chasing these elevated swimming spots, and what follows is the list I hand to friends who want to combine a proper city break with the kind of skyline swim that makes you forget you are in a former industrial capital better known for Fiat and chocolate.

The Historic Centre and Its Elevated Escapes

Turin's centro storico is where most visitors spend their days, wandering between Piazza Castello and the Egyptian Museum, but the real magic happens when you duck into a hotel lobby and take the lift to the top floor. The rooftop pool hotel Turin scene is concentrated in this zone, and the views stretch from the domes of San Lorenzo to the spires of the Gran Madre church across the Po. What surprises most people is how quiet these pools feel even in July, because the surrounding buildings create a kind of acoustic bowl that swallows the street noise below.

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NH Collection Torino Piazza San Carlo

Piazza San Carlo is one of the most elegant squares in Europe, framed by twin churches and lined with Caffè Torino and Caffè San Carlo, both of which have been serving espresso since the 1800s. The NH Collection sits right on this square, and its rooftop pool is a narrow, heated rectangle that faces west toward the hills. I usually go in the late afternoon, around five or six, when the light hits the porticoed facades and the whole piazza glows amber. The pool itself is not large, maybe twelve metres long, but the water is kept at a comfortable temperature well into October, which matters because Turin's autumns are cool and misty. What most tourists do not know is that the rooftop bar serves a Negroni made with a local vermouth from the Carpano factory, the very brand that invented the drink in 1920. Ask for it with their house vermouth and you will taste something you cannot get anywhere else. The one complaint I have is that the pool area gets crowded with hotel guests on Saturday evenings, so if you want a peaceful swim, aim for a weekday morning before ten.

Principi di Piemonte

Via Garibaldi is Turin's most fashionable pedestrian street, running from Piazza Castello toward the old Roman gate, and the Principi di Piemonte occupies a grand Liberty-style building right on this stretch. The rooftop pool here is small but perfectly positioned, giving you a direct line of sight to the Mole Antonelliana, which at 167 metres is the tallest masonry building in Europe. I have swum here at sunset more times than I can count, and the Mole lit up against a darkening sky never gets old. The hotel's spa feeds directly into the pool area, so you can alternate between a sauna and a dip without going back to your room. A detail most visitors miss is the small terrace on the opposite side of the roof, which is not advertised but is accessible if you walk past the pool bar. It faces north toward the Alps and is almost always empty. The pool is open from May through September, and the water is not heated, so early-season swimmers should brace themselves. This hotel connects to Turin's identity as the capital of the Savoy dynasty, because the building itself was once part of the royal court's extended residential quarter.

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The San Salvario Neighbourhood and Its Modern Pools

San Salvario is the neighbourhood that has changed the most in the last two decades, transforming from a working-class district into Turin's most creative quarter. The infinity pool hotel Turin options here tend to be in newer or recently renovated buildings, and the vibe is younger, louder, and more eclectic. You will find street art on the walls, vintage shops on almost every corner, and a food scene that mixes Piedmontese tradition with Middle Eastern and North African influences. The rooftop pools in this area tend to attract a crowd that has been out all night and wants to start the next day with a swim and an aperitivo.

DoubleTree by Hilton Turin Lingotto

The Lingotto building is one of the most famous industrial structures in the world, a former Fiat factory with a rooftop test track that appeared in The Italian Job. The DoubleTree by Hilton occupies a modern wing attached to this complex, and its rooftop pool sits at a height that lets you look down on the old test track while you swim. I find this pool most enjoyable in the early morning, before the day-trippers arrive to tour the Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli art gallery on the top floor. The water is heated, and the pool is long enough for actual laps, which is rare among Turin's rooftop options. What most people do not realise is that the Lingotto rooftop is also accessible to non-guests through the Agnelli gallery ticket, so you can walk the test track and then come back to the pool area for a drink. The connection to Turin's industrial past is impossible to miss here, because the entire building is a monument to the city's identity as the birthplace of Italian car manufacturing. My only gripe is that the pool bar closes at seven in the evening, which feels early given that the best light does not arrive until eight in summer.

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B&B Hotel Torino Lingotto

Just a short walk from the main Lingotto complex, this B&B Hotel offers a more budget-friendly rooftop pool experience that still delivers the same industrial-chic atmosphere. The pool is smaller than the DoubleTree's, but the view includes the Parco del Valentino and the Po River, which is a perspective you do not get from the Lingotto rooftop itself. I recommend coming here on a weekday afternoon, because weekends bring families with children and the pool can feel cramped. The hotel is on Via Nizza, a long commercial street that most tourists ignore, but it is worth walking down for the independent boutiques and the excellent gelateria halfway toward Piazza Statuto. A local tip: the rooftop is also used for occasional yoga classes in summer, and if you ask at reception, they will tell you the schedule. The pool is unheated and only open from June to September, so plan accordingly.

The Vanchiglia Quarter and the River Po

Vanchiglia is the neighbourhood that sits between the Po River and the Gran Madre church, and it has a bohemian character that sets it apart from the more polished centro storico. The pool view hotel Turin options here tend to be in smaller boutique properties, and the atmosphere is intimate rather than grand. This is where Turin's university crowd mixes with artists and musicians, and the streets around Piazza Madama Filiberta are full of small galleries and wine bars that stay open late. The river views from the rooftops in this area are spectacular, especially at dawn when the fog lifts off the water.

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Hotel Victoria

The Hotel Victoria on Via Nino Costa is a boutique property that has been quietly building a reputation among in-the-know travellers for years. Its rooftop pool is tiny, more of a plunge pool really, but the view encompasses the Po, the Gran Madre, and the hill of Superga in the distance. I have always preferred this pool in the early morning, before the city wakes up, when the only sound is the river and the occasional tram rattling along Corso Casale. The hotel's bar serves a superb Barolo Chinato, a fortified wine infused with cinchona bark that is a traditional Piedmontese digestivo, and sipping one of these on the rooftop after a swim is one of my favourite Turin rituals. What most tourists do not know is that the hotel's owner is a collector of vintage Turin photography, and the walls of the rooftop terrace are lined with black-and-white images of the city from the 1920s and 1930s. The pool is open from May to September, and because it is unheated, the water is best from late June onward. The one downside is that the rooftop space is very small, with room for maybe six loungers, so if someone beats you to it, you may have to wait.

Artua & Solferino

This small hotel on Via Solferino sits at the edge of Vanchiglia, close enough to the river to catch the breeze on hot August days. The rooftop pool is another compact affair, but the terrace surrounding it is spacious enough to lounge for hours, and the view takes in the dome of the Gran Madre and the tree-lined banks of the Po. I like coming here in the late afternoon, around four or five, when the light is soft and the terrace is shaded by the building next door. The hotel has a partnership with a nearby enoteca, and they will deliver a plate of local cheeses and a bottle of Erbaluce directly to your lounger if you ask. A detail most visitors miss is that the rooftop is also a popular spot for small private events, so it is worth calling ahead to make sure it is open to guests. The pool is seasonal, open June through September, and the water temperature depends entirely on the weather, so a cold snap in early June can make it bracing. This neighbourhood connects to Turin's history as a river city, because the Po was the commercial artery that brought wealth to the Savoy court for centuries.

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The Crocetta District and Academic Elegance

Crocetta is Turin's most residential elegant quarter, a grid of wide streets and Liberty-style apartment buildings that houses the university's humanities faculty and a concentration of antique dealers. The rooftop pools here are found in hotels that cater to business travellers and academics, which means they tend to be well-maintained, quiet, and open longer into the evening. The views from Crocetta rooftops are less dramatic than those from the centre or the river, but they offer a sweeping perspective over the city's terracotta rooftops toward the hills.

Starhotels Majestic

Corso Vittorio Emanuele II is one of Turin's grandest boulevards, running from the train station toward the heart of the city, and the Starhotels Majestic sits on this thoroughfare in the Crocetta district. The rooftop pool here is a proper swimming pool, not a plunge pool, and it is surrounded by a terrace that catches sun from mid-morning until late afternoon. I find this pool most appealing on a Sunday morning, when the streets below are quiet and the city feels like it belongs to you alone. The hotel's restaurant is known for its Piedmontese tasting menus, and after a swim, I usually order the vitello tonnato, a cold veal dish with tuna sauce that is one of Turin's signature plates. What most tourists do not know is that the hotel was built in the early 1900s as a residence for visiting diplomats, and the rooftop was originally a garden where guests would take tea. The pool is heated and open from April through October, which gives it one of the longest seasons in the city. My only complaint is that the loungers are the narrow, European-style kind that are fine for sitting but nearly impossible to actually sleep on.

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Hotel Liberty

A short walk from the Starhotels Majestic, on a quieter side street off Corso Turati, the Hotel Liberty is a smaller property with a rooftop pool that feels like a secret. The pool is modest in size but the terrace is surrounded by potted lemon trees and climbing jasmine, which makes it feel more like a private garden than a hotel facility. I recommend visiting in the early evening, around seven or eight, when the jasmine is fragrant and the city below is starting to light up. The hotel does not have a full restaurant, but the breakfast spread includes local hazelnut cake and fresh ricotta from the Langhe, both of which are worth waking up for. A local tip: the hotel is a five-minute walk from the Cavour metro station, which means you can easily reach it from Porta Nuova station with a single metro ride. The pool is open from May to September, and because the terrace is enclosed by walls on three sides, it stays warm even on cooler evenings. The one drawback is that there are only four loungers, so this is not the place to come with a group.

When to Go and What to Know

Turin's rooftop pool season generally runs from May through September, with some hotels opening as early as April and closing as late as October. July and August are the hottest months, with temperatures regularly above 30 degrees Celsius, and this is when the pools are most crowded. If you prefer a quieter experience, aim for May, June, or September, when the weather is still warm enough to swim but the city is less overrun with visitors. Weekday mornings are almost always the best time for a peaceful swim, because weekends bring both hotel guests and, at some properties, day-pass visitors. Turin's weather can be unpredictable in spring and early summer, with sudden thunderstorms rolling in from the Alps, so always check the forecast before heading to a rooftop. Most hotels require you to be a guest to use the pool, but a few, particularly the Lingotto properties, offer day passes or allow access through their spa facilities. It is always worth calling ahead to confirm the policy, because some hotels restrict pool access during private events without posting this information online.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Turin expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.**

A mid-tier traveler in Turin should budget around 120 to 160 euros per day, which covers a double room at a three or four-star hotel (80 to 110 euros), two meals at trattorias or casual restaurants (30 to 40 euros), and local transport including a metro day pass (around 5 euros). Museum entry fees range from 10 to 15 euros per site, and a coffee at a historic bar costs between 1.50 and 3 euros depending on where you sit.

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What is the standard tipping etiquette or service charge policy at restaurants in Turin?

Most restaurants in Turin include a coperto, a cover charge of 1.50 to 3 euros per person, which replaces the need for a tip. If the service is exceptional, leaving an additional 5 to 10 percent is appreciated but not expected. At bars and cafes, rounding up the bill or leaving small change is common practice.

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How many days are needed to see the major tourist attractions in Turin without feeling rushed?

Three full days are sufficient to cover the major sights, including the Egyptian Museum, the Mole Antonelliana, the Royal Palace, and the Basilica of Superga. Adding a fourth day allows for a more relaxed pace and time to explore neighbourhoods like San Salvario and Vanchiglia, which are best experienced slowly.

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What is the average cost of a specialty coffee or local tea in Turin?

A standard espresso at the bar costs between 1.10 and 1.50 euros, while a cappuccino ranges from 1.50 to 2.50 euros. Specialty coffee drinks, such as those made with single-origin beans or alternative milks, cost between 3 and 5 euros. A pot of local herbal tea, often made with Alpine herbs, runs about 3 to 4 euros.

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Are credit cards widely accepted across Turin, or is it necessary to carry cash for daily expenses?

Credit and debit cards are accepted at virtually all hotels, restaurants, and shops in Turin, including contactless payments. However, it is advisable to carry 20 to 30 euros in cash for small purchases at market stalls, some historic cafes that prefer cash, and for tipping. ATMs are widely available throughout the city centre.

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