If you find yourself spending some time in northern Italy, a Verona day trip needs to be at the top of your travel list. We’ve been wanting to go for ages so while we were staying down by Lake Garda, we decided to pop over for a day to explore the city. We really loved it. Even if you’re coming from Milan or Venice, it’s very easy to reach for an afternoon of exploring and even better if you stay and watch the sunset from the Castel San Pietro. Verona has a perfect mix of ancient Roman history, lovely architecture and the whole Romeo and Juliet connection!
We didn’t bother with a strict itinerary for this one. We had an idea of what we wanted to see but just wandered around the streets of the old town and soaked up the atmosphere. It’s a brilliant spot and well worth a visit.
Quick Verona Travel Guide
- Budget: Moderate
- Currency: Euro (€)
- Language: Italian but English is widely spoken
- Getting around: Entirely on foot in the centre
- Best for: Roman history, beautiful piazzas and chilled vibes
A Little Bit About Verona
Verona is a beautiful city in the Veneto region of northern Italy. It’s probably most famous for being the setting of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet but there’s so much more to it than that. The city is packed with ancient Roman architecture, medieval bridges and beautiful piazzas. To use a cliché (wouldn’t be like us!) it’s quintessentially Italian!
Despite being a major tourist destination, it actually has a very relaxed and authentic feel. We found it much less intense than places like Rome or Venice. The whole centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site and it’s very easy to see why once you start wandering around the cobbled streets. It didn’t feel packed and we never felt rushed.
Getting There
We actually visited Verona as a day trip while staying in Gardaland on our theme park trip to the southern end of Lake Garda. It’s really easy to reach from there but it’s also well connected to other major Italian cities!
By Train
Getting the train is definitely the easiest way to do a Verona day trip. If you’re staying by Lake Garda you can get a direct train from Desenzano del Garda or Peschiera del Garda straight to Verona Porta Nuova. The journey only takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
If you’re coming from further afield, it’s still really simple. The fast trains from Venice or Milan take just over an hour. We always use Omio to check train times and book our tickets on our phones so we can skip the station queues. Just a quick tip: make sure you stay on the train until Verona Porta Nuova as that’s the main station for the city centre.
By Car
If you’ve rented a car for your holiday, it’s a short drive via the A4 motorway. It takes about 30 minutes from the bottom of Lake Garda depending on traffic. Just keep in mind that parking in Verona city centre can be expensive and very busy. If you’re driving, your best bet is to head for a large car park just outside the old town walls like Parcheggio Centro or Parcheggio Cittadella. If you’re planning to rent a car to explore the region, we recommend checking Discover Cars to compare local prices.
Getting Around the City
Once you arrive at Verona Porta Nuova train station, you have a couple of options. The city centre is very compact and walkable. You can walk straight from the station to Piazza Bra in about 15 to 20 minutes. It’s a very straightforward and flat walk.
If you prefer to save your legs for exploring the sights, you can easily hop on one of the local buses right outside the train station. They run every few minutes and drop you right at the edge of the historic centre. Once you’re in the old town itself, you’ll be walking everywhere as it’s mostly pedestrianised.
Your Perfect Verona Day Trip Itinerary
We didn’t have a strict itinerary so we didn’t plan anything in advance. We just wanted to soak up the atmosphere of the city. Because the historic centre is so compact it’s very easy to tick off the main sights in just a few hours without feeling rushed. Here are the main spots we explored during our evening, which you can see in detail in the video above.
1. Piazza Bra & The Verona Arena
Our evening began in Piazza Bra. It’s the largest piazza in Verona and the perfect place to start any tour. You’re immediately greeted by Verona Arena which is a Roman amphitheatre built in the 1st century AD that’s still in use today. It’s actually older than the Colosseum in Rome! While it once hosted gladiator fights, it’s now world-famous for its open-air opera festival and massive concerts. We found out the Italian Music Awards were taking place on the evening of our visit so we didn’t get to see inside but even from the exterior, it’s very impressive. If you do want to look inside, we were recommended the priority access guided tour so you should try that if there’s not a national awards ceremony on!
2. Via Mazzini & Piazza delle Erbe
From the Arena, we strolled down Via Mazzini. This is Verona’s main shopping street and it’s famous for being paved with elegant marble rather than cobblestones. It connects the two main squares and is lined with fashion boutiques, though we made a very important pit stop at Captain Candy for some pick ‘n’ mix! This street leads you straight into Piazza delle Erbe which is the city’s ancient Roman Forum. Today it’s the heart of the city, filled with market stalls and surrounded by buildings featuring medieval frescoes and the historic Madonna Verona fountain. Just through the archway is the quieter Piazza dei Signori, home to the statue of Dante Alighieri, famous for his Inferno and 9 levels of hell!
3. Visiting Juliet’s House
Of course, Verona is the home of Romeo and Juliet. You can visit both of their houses (a plague on them!) and Juliet’s House (Casa di Giulietta) in particular is one of the most popular sights in Verona. The 13th-century building features the famous balcony (which we later found out was actually added in the 20th century!) and a bronze statue of Juliet in the courtyard. Legend says that rubbing the statue brings luck in love, although we’re already married. However, learn from our mistake: We arrived just as the gates were closing! The courtyard closes earlier than you might expect (often around 7:00 PM) and they stop letting people in before that. If this is on your bucket list, make it your first stop, not your last! If you’re worried about missing out or want to learn the real history behind the tragedy, you can book a specific Romeo & Juliet Walking Tour that ensures you get to see the balcony and hear the stories.
4. Castelvecchio Bridge & The Adige River
Moving away from the busy centre, we walked along the riverbank to the Castelvecchio Bridge (Ponte Scaligero). This medieval bridge was built in the 14th century with red brick and white marble. It was originally designed as an escape route for the ruling Scaliger family. We read that on a sign. It’s really beautiful and has fantastic views over the Adige River. It’s a great spot for photos, especially in the evening light.
5. The Best View in Verona from Castel San Pietro
We saved the best for last. For the most amazing panoramic views of the city, head to Castel San Pietro. While you can hike up the stairs, we recommend taking the Funicolare di Castel San Pietro (funicular) because it’s a bit of a trek. From the terrace at the top, there’s a breathtaking view of Verona’s red terracotta rooftops, the Adige River and the stone bridges. We timed our visit for sunset, which we were told is the best time to go as the city looks magical. It was the perfect end to our evening in Verona.
Where to Eat & Drink
You’re in Italy so food is a huge part of the experience! While we were wandering around, we noticed lots of people sitting outside drinking Aperol Spritz. We found out it’s called the aperitivo ritual and happens around 6:00 PM. The piazzas really seemed buzzing with people heading out for a drink and some snacks before dinner. We heard it’s the best way to soak up the atmosphere, though we were too busy exploring to stop! Just keep in mind that Italians eat much later than we do, so you’ll find that most restaurants don’t even open their doors until 7:00 PM or 7:30 PM.
Our Restaurant Recommendation:
We decided to eat right in the heart of the action at daPino 1972 on Piazza Bra. Usually, restaurants right on the main square can be a bit of a tourist trap but we really liked this one. It’s famous for its “Pizzalonga” (a very long pizza served on a wooden board) which is perfect for sharing. Sitting outside with a view of the Arena while you eat is a brilliant experience and it didn’t break the bank either!
Our Sweet Treat Recommendation:
You can’t really go on a day trip in Italy without getting a gelato. We popped into Amorino for a quick fix. Even though it’s a big chain that you see in plenty of cities, their gelato is really good and we can’t pass it by whenever we see it!
Verona Day Trip FAQs
Is one day in Verona enough?
We would say yes. One day is really plenty of time to see the main sights. Because the historic centre is so compact and flat, you can easily walk between the Arena, the bridges and the castle without feeling like you’re rushing. We saw everything we wanted to in just a single afternoon and evening.
Is a Verona day trip expensive?
Not particularly! If you avoid eating right next to the Arena, you can find very reasonably priced food and drinks in the side streets. Even our meal in daPino 1972 on Piazza Bra wasn’t too expensive though! Train tickets from Lake Garda or other cities in the region are also very cheap if you book them a bit in advance on Omio.
Is the Verona Card worth it?
We looked into this but decided not to get one because we were happy just wandering around the streets and soaking up the atmosphere. However, if you plan on going inside several attractions like the Arena, Juliet’s House and using the Castel San Pietro Funicular, it’s a brilliant idea and will save you money. You can buy the 24-hour pass online here so you have it ready on your phone when you arrive.
Do they speak English in Verona?
Yes, most people do. We had no issues at all getting by with English in the restaurants, train stations and shops around the city centre. Most people are very helpful and used to tourists visiting for the day.
Is Juliet’s balcony worth seeing?
How would we know? We got there too late so we missed out on the balcony itself! Learn from our mistake and make sure you check the opening times because the courtyard usually closes around 7:00 PM. We heard it gets very crowded during the day, so if it’s on your list, try to make it your first stop.
Is a Verona Day Trip Worth it?
We honestly fell in love with Verona. It’s got that perfect mix of Roman history but it still feels like a proper, vibrant Italian city. Unlike some of the bigger spots that can feel a bit much, Verona is just really manageable, safe and easy to walk around.
If you’re staying down by Lake Garda or just travelling through northern Italy, you really should add this to your list. Because it’s so compact, you can easily see all the best bits in a single afternoon and still be back in time for dinner. Or you could do what we did and just have a lovely evening stroll and a pizza in the city itself. We really can’t recommend it enough!
