About Eurovision
You don’t need Grand Final tickets to enjoy the Contest
If the rush for Grand Final tickets didn’t work out in your favour, don’t be too disappointed. There will be plenty of venues screening the Eurovision Song Contest in and around the city. The Eurovision Village always has a fabulous atmosphere, and is a great place to hang out with fellow fans. This year it will be located at Parco del Valentino, one of Italy’s most beautiful public gardens.
If you do want a taste of the arena experience, tickets to the Semi Finals and the Family Shows are generally cheaper and more available via resale sites and on the ground through the box office. There may well be late returns on the day, so it’s worth popping by the Box Office to check.
It’s only a game show
Seriously, we’re all gathering in Turin and around screens across the world in a massive subjective exercise of picking one song. The world will keep on turning if another song beats the song you like, and the result is not a rejection of your choice. After all, nobody has taken away ‘Ciao Ciao‘ from us after Sanremo…
Travel
Covid is still out there
Although restrictions around the coronavirus pandemic are lessening, there are many rules still in place that you should be aware of – and be aware that they may change at short notice. This applies not only to Turin, but also to your flights into Italy, any airport transits, public transport, and more. Read up on what is expected, pack some FFP2 masks, and be smart.
If it goes wrong
Travel insurance covers many different areas of your trip; it’s not just about your travel but can help with medical expenses, lost property, and more. But you need to have it in place before you start to travel, so try to make the necessary arrangements before you leave.
Pack spare meds
For those of you on regular medication make sure you have more than enough to get through the trip. That includes thinking about what might happen if you have to go into Covid isolation, or if any go missing. Handing a small number “in case of emergency” to a trusted friend is always a good idea.
It’s also valuable to have someone who you can check in with through your time in Turin – whether it’s a quick “I’m just going to go and chill outside for ten minutes” to “I’m going on this trip to San Marino and will be away all day”.
Enjoying Turin
Wear comfortable shoes
Between sightseeing, running to the venue and dancing the night away at one of the ten official Euroclub venues running in Turin this season, it’s safe to say that your feet will be getting a fairly intense workout – making a hardy, comfortable set of shoes an absolute must-have addition to your suitcase. And if you are bringing new shows, make a point to break them in before you get to Italy… blisters are not built for bopping with.
Explore the city
We all love the Contest, but believe us when we say that getting out of the Eurovision bubble from time to time is an absolute must. Turin is a beautiful city, and the chances are this is your first holiday in a while. Give yourself time to step away from the madness and just soak in your surroundings. Consider booking a walking tour, or visiting one of the city’s many world-famous museums and galleries.
Stay an extra day
The vast majority of fans book the first flight back on the Sunday morning after the Grand Final. If it’s feasible for you, spending an extra day in the city is a great way to decompress, squeeze in some last-minute tourism and avoid the pain of travelling with a hangover!
Be good to yourself
Don’t spread yourself too thin
At this point in the Eurovision Song Contest season, everything is often a mad rush with plenty of things clamouring for your attention. Take some time to stop and recharge every once in a while – and don’t put pressure on yourself to attend every single show and event. The burnout effect is real!
Exercise self-care
There are plenty of small things you can do to prevent yourself from getting too run down.
Sleep is important. The pace of Turin is going to be focused on the evening, and there’s not going to be much on in the city until mid-afternoon. Use that to your advantage. Try not to live on Pizza and Pasta alone. Turin is filled with beautiful open air markets where you can pick up some nutritious fruit and vegetables. Drink plenty of water too and don’t forget to wear sunscreen (singing along with Baz Luhrmann is optional).
Wash your hands
…and not just because COVID-19 is still lurking. With so many people from so many different parts of the world, any Eurovision gathering is going to be a mixer for bugs and germs as well as the community. Avoid the lurgy and wash your hands!
Enjoy It!
You might be attending a Eurovision event on your own, but you can safely bet that you have something in common with everyone around you in the Arena, Eurovillage, Press Room, or wherever you’re enjoying the show.
We’ve met many great friends through Eurovision over the years, so don’t be afraid to talk to people and get involved in the wonderful Contest Community. You might just meet some friends for life!