Before you go

Your trip to Verona.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Verona – Vêneto Destination Verona and Lago de Garda about 120 km from Veneza

How to get there

Aeroporto di Verona-Villafranca Valerio Catullo (VRN) Villafranca di Verona · 12 km
Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo (VCE) Veneza · 125 km
Verona Porta Nuova 2 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Confirm before buying. Verona Villafranca airport (VRN) is about 12 km away, connected to the station by bus. From Milão (about 1h15) and from Veneza (about 1h10), high-speed trains from Trenitalia and Italo arrive at Verona Porta Nuova; from Bolonha, about 50 minutes. Check schedules. Regional paper tickets must be validated before boarding.

How many days

One day is enough for the Arena, the Piazza delle Erbe, the Casa di Giulietta, the Piazza dei Signori and the view from the Castel San Pietro. With two days you can calmly include the Castelvecchio, San Zeno, the Duomo, Sant'Anastasia, the Teatro Romano and the Giardino Giusti. Adding the Lago de Garda, allow two more days.

When to go

April to June and September to October usually have pleasant weather for walking. From June to August it's hot, and the Arena's opera festival usually runs from June to September, with the city crowded. Winter, from December to February, is cold and can be foggy, but there is less activity and the Christmas market on the Piazza dei Signori.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The historic centre is explored on foot, and there are urban buses. The centre has a ZTL, a limited-traffic zone closed to cars from outside: if you arrive by car, leave it in a car park outside the centre or at your accommodation. A car only helps to reach Lago de Garda or Valpolicella outside bus and train schedules.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Verona

Morning
Arena and Piazza Bra
Start at the Piazza Bra and enter the Arena di Verona right at opening. Climb to the highest steps to see the square and the rooftops. Then walk along the Liston and continue down Via Mazzini, a pedestrian street with shops, toward the medieval centre.
Afternoon
Julieta, Erbe and Signori
Visit the Casa di Giulietta at the reserved time and have lunch around 1:00 pm near the Piazza delle Erbe. Then climb the Torre dei Lamberti, pass through the Arco della Costa to the Piazza dei Signori and see the Arche Scaligere, next to Santa Maria Antica.
Late afternoon
Ponte Pietra and Castel San Pietro
Pass by Sant'Anastasia and cross the Ponte Pietra. On the other side, take the funicular up to the terrace of the Castel San Pietro to see the Ádige and the centre in the late-day light. Walk down the stairs.
Evening
Dinner and aperitivo in the centre
Return to the Piazza delle Erbe at aperitivo time and have dinner in an osteria on the neighbouring streets, from 7:30 pm. In opera season, from June to September, the evening may be at the Arena.

2 days in Verona

Day 1

Morning
Arena and Piazza Bra
Start the day at the Arena di Verona, before the tour groups, and walk around the Piazza Bra. Continue along Via Mazzini to the Piazza delle Erbe and see the stalls and the houses with frescoes.
Afternoon
Casa di Giulietta and Torre dei Lamberti
After lunch, enter the Casa di Giulietta at the reserved time. Then climb the Torre dei Lamberti and visit the Piazza dei Signori, with the statue of Dante and the Arche Scaligere.
Late afternoon
Sant'Anastasia and the Duomo
Enter the Basilica di Santa Anastasia to see the fresco by Pisanello and walk to the Duomo, with the Assumption by Titian. Finish at the Ponte Pietra looking at the river.
Evening
Dinner in the center
Dine in an osteria in the centre, from 7:30 pm. Order a dish from Veronese cuisine, such as risotto all'Amarone, made with the red wine of the Valpolicella region.

Day 2

Morning
Castelvecchio and the bridge
Visit the Museo di Castelvecchio, featuring Carlo Scarpa's route and the statue of Cangrande I. On exit, cross the Ponte di Castelvecchio and return along the bank of the Ádige.
Afternoon
San Zeno
Walk to the San Zeno neighbourhood and have lunch near the basilica square. Enter the Basilica di San Zeno to see the bronze doors, Mantegna's triptych, the crypt and the cloister.
Late afternoon
Teatro Romano and Castel San Pietro
Cross the centre to the Ponte Pietra and visit the Teatro Romano and the archaeological museum. Then take the funicular up to the Castel San Pietro to see the city at the end of the day.
Evening
Giardino Giusti and Veronetta
If there's still daylight, visit the Giardino Giusti before closing. Dine in the Veronetta neighbourhood, on the other side of the river, which has osterie frequented by students and locals.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to reserve the Casa de Julieta?

Yes. The courtyard, with the statue and the balcony, and the rooms of the house are visited only with a reservation and timed entry. Make the reservation before going, especially from May to September.

Is the Verona Card worth it?

For those visiting several sites in one or two days, it's usually worth it: the card includes entry to museums, monuments and churches in the city and urban buses. The Casa de Julieta requires a reservation even with the card. Check the list of included places before buying.

Can you attend an opera at the Arena?

Yes, during the festival season, which usually runs from June to September. The places on the stone steps are the cheapest and have no assigned seats. Buy in advance and bring a cushion.

Is Verona a good base for the Lago de Garda?

Yes. Sirmione is about 40 km away, with regional trains to Desenzano or Peschiera and buses. Malcesine and Riva del Garda, in the north, are farther away: for them, it's worth staying overnight on the lake.

Is the centre of Verona flat?

Almost all of it. The main climb is to the Castel San Pietro, which can be done by funicular. Wear comfortable shoes for the stone pavement.

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