Turin Eye, Hot air balloon attraction in Borgo Dora, Turin, Italy

Turin Eye is a hot air balloon ride in the Borgo Dora district that carries visitors in a secured basket up to 150 meters high. From this altitude, the view stretches across the entire metropolitan area and surrounding regions.

The Turin Eye balloon was set up in 2009 in the Borgo Dora district, on the left bank of the Dora Riparia. It replaced the fixed viewing platform that had stood there, offering instead a slow ascent in a tethered basket. The change allowed visitors to rise above the rooftops and see the city's Roman grid and the Alpine skyline in one sweep.

The balloon is tethered in the Borgo Dora district, near the Dora Riparia river and the Porta Palazzo market area, a neighbourhood shaped by workers' housing and later immigration. Riders look down on the grid of the Roman city centre and, beyond it, the Alpine arc that frames Turin.

The balloon operates year-round with scheduled flights during daylight hours, though service depends on weather and wind conditions for safety reasons. Visitors should plan flexibly, as unfavorable conditions may result in cancellations or rescheduling.

On clear days, observers at the highest point can spot the Monviso peak and the Cottian Alps far beyond the city boundaries. These distant mountain ranges offer a surprising view of Turin's location in relation to the broader Alpine region.